Synscan (its not as easy to set up as you think)

how do you make a goto / synscan scope work ? well you need power outside firstly.
This can be achieved by purchasing a Maplins power tank (or another supplier) OR buy buying a power pack which plugs in to the wall and a ring tongue set of leads and then you can use mains power - personally i bought both as i didn't know which i would use.

I'm using the power tank ! charged it up overnight and then popped in in the garden on the scope base  (so as not to fall over it or get the wires wound round the goto base whilst its slewing)

i then turned it on and after scratching my head a bit realised how to star align (in other words make the scope realise where its looking at all times - it can't know until you tell it - no built in GPS)

you need to know your GPS globally - use google maps or bing maps - when you find your co ordinates you then need to convert it to decimal minute (websites available to do this) - DONT use your iPhone - i think thats what i did wrong last night - its wrong and always on the move - a fixed gps point on a road in google maps will never change.

so last night i was instructed to find either the brightest star or choose 1 of my own, luckily i know vega, polaris and a few bright others, however both methods didn't work for me - the 2nd star was nowhere to be seen in the scope once it had slewed there... also its worth noting you need to know your sky and really where the stars are going to be when you start, you can't wait a few minutes deciding which stars to use etc (the alignment will have moved by then) vega, polaris, arcturus etc are all very bright and id recommend those (assuming i get it to work) )

so the plan is to input google maps co ordinates this evening, make sure the ground is totally flat (spirit level needed) and ensure i have set daylight savings correctly - then ill try again - fingers crossed ill find the 2nd star... more later on this if i get it to work