This wiki is setup to document the features and use of the EQMOD driver. It may also document other related topics. This documentation is created in a collaborative approach so your feedback and input is essential. Please send private mail to JonD (use the “Contact Us” menu item on the Welsh Dragon Computing Web Site to give suggestions, explanations or corrections.

Since the EQMOD software is continually evolving, the absolute latest details may not be included here. If you have not done so already, you should consider joining the Yahoo technical group dedicated to EQMOD where you may find more up to date information. Also check http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net

Note: If you are using an older release, you may need to update to a more recent version in order to use some of the features that are documented here.

If any of the main index links are in red, they are links to non-existent pages that will be added at some later time. You may find some items are marked with This indicates that the topic needs further editing or updates.

You can download an older PDF version of the documentation here that applies to versions before v117. This PDF is no longer being maintained.

An updated PDF for current releases is available here

Recent documentation changes:

• click the following link for a summary of recent important changes
  • Summary of recent option changes and additions
• references to versions previous to 1.17 have been removed. If you are using a version before the 1.17 series, you may want to download the old PDF version here

This version of the documentation was created:

   2010-08-21  07:22:01 PM EDT

and was based upon v1.22g of EQMOD and v101 of EQASCOM_Run and v1.12 of EQMosaic and v1.12 of EQTour.
Check Summary of Recent Version Changes

The latest releases can be found here.

Please note: This 140+ page PDF & Wiki, is fairly up to date. There have been many changes (none of which change the basic operation) since this version of documentation was created but the changes are well described on the Yahoo news group. I anticipate doing a complete review and update of this documentation over the next few weeks. If you find something incorrect, please drop me an email via the “Contact Us” menu item on the
Welsh Dragon Computing Web Site or mention it on the news group (JonD)

Note: The links in the PDF version work with Adobe Reader 8 and later. Other readers or versions may not support linking within the PDF document. The free PDF reader “Foxit” also works: http://www.foxitsoftware.com/pdf/reader/download.php

• Introduction
• Credits and Copyright
• Disclaimer & Warning
• Reporting Bugs and Requesting New Features
• Installation Requirements
  • Hardware
  • Software

In addition to the information provided in this wiki and the associated pdf, you can download a Quickstart guide here

• Summary of recent changes and additions
• Installation
  • Downloading the EQMOD software
  • Installing the EQMOD driver
  • Upgrading from Previous Versions
  • Initial Setup
  • Initial setup with EQASCOM_Run
  • Initial setup with Planetarium program
• Using EQMOD
  • Using EQMOD with a Planetarium program
  • Using GPS
  • Controlling the Mount
    • Slew Controls
    • Using a Planetarium program
    • Using a Gamepad/Joystick
      • Defining the Mapping of Buttons
      • Notes on Defining Buttons
      • Calibrating Joystick
      • Joystick System Options
    • Using a mouse and slew pad
    • Using a keypad
    • Slew Presets
    • Ways of Controlling Slew rate
    • Using Spiral Search Feature
    • Auto Pier Flip Option
    • Manual Goto
  • Alignment
    • Alignment Overview
    • Setting up the mount
      • Levelling the Mount
      • Polar alignment
      • EQASCOM PolarScope Alignment Tool
      • Setting Home Position
    • What is N-Point Alignment?
    • N-Point Alignment Using SYNC (recommended alignment method)
    • One Point Alignment
    • Dialog Based Alignment (old alignment method)
    • Alignment Points List Editor
    • Saving N-Point Alignment Data
    • Strategies for Recovering Lost Alignments (including [Resync Encoders] option)
    • Points List And Pointing Accuracy
    • Detailed description of how alignments are processed
    • Other Information About Alignment
  • Parking the mount
  • Setting Mount Limits
  • Saving the ini files
  • Other Settings
    • RA reverse and Dec reverse
    • “PierSide Points Only” checkbox (originally “Local to Pier” checkbox)
    • Always on top option
    • Color option
    • Alignment Behavior – Nearest Point
    • Alignment Behavior – 3‑Point + Nearest Point
    • Sounds option (formerly Beep option)
  • Using the EQMOD simulator
  • Guiding
    • Autoguider Port Rate
    • ASCOM PulseGuide settings
    • Custom track rate
  • Periodic Error (PE)
• FAQ's
• Location of .ini files
• Miscellaneous Facts
  • Typical Configurations
  • A detailed description of how EQMOD gets the equatorial coordinates
  • EQMOD Goto Accuracy – Explained (Author: Mon)
  • Value of using a GPS device
  • The advantage of using pulseguide with EQDIR
• Problems
• Glossary
• Lists of accessories that work & don't work
• Resources
• Add on Software that can be used with EQMOD (but is not required)
  • EQASCOM_RUN
  • EQMOD Mosaic
    • Basic Operation of EQMOD Mosaic
    • Summary of Using Mosaic
    • Using the [Spiral] button in Mosaic
    • EQMOD Mosaic Settings
    • EQMosaic and Meridian Flips
    • Mosaic Sessions
    • Setting the Framesize Default
    • Notes about EQMOD Mosaic
    • About Mosaic FOV settings:
    • EQMOD Mosaic – Interface Images
    • EQMOD Mosaic – Moon Images
  • EQTour
    • EQMOD Tour - Tours & Object lists
    • EQMOD Tour - Slewing to an Object
    • EQMOD Tour - Adding and Deleting Object entries
    • EQTour - Tour Files
    • More on the EQTOUR !J2000 option
    • Additional Notes about EQMOD Tour
  • Language Customization for EQMOD Mosaic and EQMOD Tour
• Summary of Recent Version Changes