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First Time Configuration

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The first time that you run the application, it will not have any idea where you are located and will not know which serial port to use for communicating with your mount. Whilst in this mode, the main window will have most of the controls disabled and the LST (local sidereal time) display will not be accurate (unless you happen to be at latitude 0, longitude 0).

The first thing to do is open the Preferences window (Mount -> Preferences...). Then select the Location tab so we can tell the software where you are located.

  1. Click the + button below the empty list on the left. A new site will be added to the list and its name will be in edit mode.
  2. Type in an appropriate name for your site and press ENTER.
  3. Once your site is named, head over to the right hand side and edit the latitude and longitude for your site.
  4. If you like, add any other sites that you may wish to use.
  5. Choose your current/default site in the pulldown menu in the bottom right of the Preferences window.

Next, plug in the serial port that you intend to use with your mount and follow this procedure:

  1. Close the Preferences window, and then open it again (sorry, this is a small bug). This will cause the software to refresh the list of serial ports it knows about, otherwise the one you just plugged in would not be shown in the list.
  2. Select the Serial Port tab.
  3. The current serial port should show as “No Value”. Use the drop down menu to select the port that you just plugged in.
  4. Leave all the other settings as they are.
  5. Close the Preferences window.

That’s it! You should now be fully configured for use. You should notice that the LST display is now accurate for your location and the Sky Chart should now correctly represent the sky as it appears in your chosen location (although it may take up to 30 seconds to update once you change site).