OVERVIEW
With PEMPro Version 3 you can now correct your mounts periodic error, polar alignment and backlash using your Camera or Webcam to dramatically improve tracking and guiding.
What's New
Numerous user interface changes to make PEMPro visually more current, easier to use, and more intuitive.
Support for new cameras and camera control programs including:
- All cameras with an ASCOM Camera driver
- Sequence Generator Pro
- PEMPro-enhanced PHD2 (free download)
- TheSkyX and TheSky64 Camera Add On
Improved support for cameras and camera control programs previously supported in PEMPro V2:
- All Cameras supported by MaximDL Pro v4, v5, and v6
- CCDSoft V5
- AstroArt
- Meade DSI series
- All video cameras that have standard Direct Show or WDM drivers
The Create PEC curve window has improvements to better select wanted and filter unwanted frequencies
A new 3D FFT graph shows frequency/time relationships
Numerous user interface improvements have been made to the Polar Alignment Wizard
The Backlash exerciser now supports the ASCOM MoveAxis method
One-click PEC automated the whole process of programming periodic error for some mounts (coming soon)
Programmable API to automate PEMPro (coming soon)
Programmable API to allow mount vendors to add support for their own mounts (coming soon)
Polar alignment via Plate Solving (coming soon).
PEC Features
PEMPro collects and graphically displays periodic error data in real-time
Calculates the most accurate periodic error data PEMPro by taking into account camera image scale, camera binning, exposure time, camera rotation, refraction, and star declination
Steady skies are not needed. PEMPro fits the periodic error data to an optimized and smoothed curve
Perfect polar alignment is not needed. PEMPro can subtract drift from the periodic curves
Easy to use Wizards that set up parameters accurately
Uses the main camera to provide more area of the sky than an autoguider to find a suitable star
Natively supports inexpensive webcams and video cameras
The Calibration Wizard can slew the telescope to a good sky position, and nudge the scope to find or center a star
The Frequency Spectrum graphs can show worm gear fundamentals, giving insight into where in the gear train the periodic errors are coming from
Analyzes collected data and creates a smoothed periodic error correction curve. Advanced control features that allow you to tweak the resulting PEC curve
Directly uploads a PEC curve to most commonly used mounts
For mounts without direct PEC upload, “play back” of the inverse of the periodic error curve for the mount to capture, thus eliminating effects from drift and random seeing conditions that usually happen when an autoguider is used to program PEC
Refine a previously created PEC Curve to reduce residual periodic error not removed by the PEC curve.
Polar Alignment Features
Uses Electronic drift alignment is considered the most accurate polar alignment method
Polar Alignment Wizard leads you through the steps to achieve the best possible polar alignment quickly and painlessly
Accounts for refraction to produce a more accurate result than other drift alignment methods
Automatically selects a suitable star for tracking declination drift
A new star is automatically found and used if the star is lost because of the mount’s alignment change
Uses the main camera to provide more area of the sky than an autoguider to find a suitable star
Support for video cameras allows you to use an inexpensive webcam.
Other Features
The Star Finder tab is helpful if you have a small CCD field of view to locate a star or other object when your mount’s alignment is not perfect. Press one button to calibrate, then another to start building a spiral mosaic, which is displayed directly on the screen. Once the star you are looking for shows up on the mosaic you can click on it and the scope will slew to it
The Backlash Exerciser issues alternating North/South moves to the mount while exposing an image. It allows you to assess the state of backlash of your mount. Too much backlash could result in poor auto-guider performance
PEMPro can be used to evaluate unguided tracking accuracy of the next mount you are planning to purchase
Online support by experts in mount tracking characteristics is available on the CCDWare PEMPro forum.