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Periodic Error Correction (PEC)
PEC for short, is a system that improves the tracking accuracy of the drive by reducing the number of user corrections
needed to keep a guide star centered in the eyepiece. PEC is designed to improve photographic quality by reducing the
amplitude of the worm errors. Using the PEC function is a three-step process. First, the CGE Pro needs to know the current
position of its worm gear so that it has a reference when playing back the recorded error. Next, you must guide for at least 6
minutes during which time the system records the correction you make. (It takes the worm gear 5.6 minutes to make one
complete revolution). This "teaches" the PEC chip the characteristics of the worm. The periodic error of the worm gear drive
will be stored in the PEC chip and used to correct periodic error. The last step is to play back the corrections you made
during the recording phase. Keep in mind, this feature is for advanced astrophotography and still requires careful guiding
since all telescope drives have some periodic error.
Using Periodic Error Correction
Once the telescope has been properly polar aligned, select PEC from the Utilities menu and select the Record option. Here's
how to use the PEC function.
1.
Find a bright star relatively close to the object you want to photograph.
2.
Insert a high power eyepiece with illuminated cross hairs into your telescope (see Optional Accessories). Orient the
guiding eyepiece cross hairs so that one is parallel to the declination while the other is parallel to the R.A. axis.
3.
Center the guide star on the illuminated cross hairs, focus the telescope, and study the periodic movement.
4.
Before actually recording the periodic error, take a few minutes to practice guiding. Set the hand control slew rate to
an appropriate guide rate (rate 1 = .5x, rate 2 = 1x) and practice centering the guide star in the cross hairs for several
minutes. This will help you familiarize yourself with the periodic error of the drive and the operation of the hand
control. Remember to ignore declination drift when programming the PEC.
Note: When recording PEC only the photo guide rates (rates 1 and 2) will be operational. This eliminates the possibility of
moving the telescope suddenly while recording.
5.
To begin recording the drive's periodic error, press the MENU button and select PEC from the Utilities menu. Use
the Up/Down scroll buttons to display the Record option and press ENTER. Once ready to begin recording, press the
ENTER button again to begin. You will have 5 seconds before the system starts to record. The first time each
observing session that PEC record or play is selected, the worm gear must rotate in order to mark its starting
position. If the rotation of the worm gear moves your guide star outside the field of view of the eyepiece, it will
have to be re-centered before the recording begins.
Helpful
Hint
Once the worm gear is indexed, it will not need to be positioned again until the telescope is turned-off. So, to
give yourself more time to prepare for guiding, it may be necessary to restart PEC recording after the worm gear
has found its index.
6.
After approximately 6 minutes PEC will automatically stop recording.
7.
Point the telescope at the object you want to photograph and center the guide star on the illuminated cross hairs and
you are ready to play back the periodic error correction.
8.
Once the drive's periodic error has been recorded, use the Playback function to begin playing back the correction for
future photographic guiding. If you want to re-record the periodic error, select Record and repeat the recording
processes again. The previously recorded information will be replaced with the current information. Repeat steps 7
and 8 to playback the PEC corrections for your next object.
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