Software – PekDar – Astrophotography Engineering

SynScan controller firmware update – NEQ6Pro

PekDar — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 11:51:00 +0000

WARNING – the author of this manual accepts no responsibility, for any damages that may occur as a result of following this manual. All actions described in this manual are undertaken at your own risk.

SynScan controller firmware update – Introduction

Starting from version 3.0, users can independently update the firmware of SynScan controllers for NEQ mounts. Simply download the latest software version from the Sky-Watcher website and perform the update following the instructions provided here.

Requirements

SynScan™ Hand Control of version 3.0 or later.
Windows 8.1 or later
An available RS-232C communication port on the PC
RS232-USB hardware converter in case of missing DB9 COM port in your laptop / PC
PC link cable that comes with the SynScan™ hand control
DC power supply with 12~14V/1A output. Power plug should be 2.1mm diameter, tip positive.

SynScan firmware update – example hardware required

Preparation for update

Create a directory called SynScan, preferably on your C:\ drive.

Visit the Support Page of the Sky-Watcher website at htt ps://www.skywatcher.com/download/software/

Download and save two files, follow with example:

Windows program: SynScan Firmware Loader, Version 3.5 – click with Download button.

SynScan V4 – webpage with loader download

you’ll save a file with name: synscan_verXXXXXX_firmware_release.zip

where XXXXXX – is a version nr

Next download Firmware: SynScan V4/V5 Hand Controller For All GO-TO Mounts, Version 4.39.21 – click on Download button

SynScan V4 – webpage with firmware download

you’ll save a file with name: synscanfirmwareloader_verXX.zip

where XX – is version nr

Connecting devices

Connect the USB-COM (RS232) adapter to the computer’s USB port.

SynScan firmware update – USB-COM adapter

Connect the male COM plug of the adapter to the female COM plug of the SynScan controller cable.

SynScan firmware update – COM connection between H.C. and laptop

Connect the RJ-11 plug of the controller’s COM cable to the RJ-11 port on the controller. Ensure that the plug is securely inserted—you should hear a distinct “click” as the plug snaps firmly into place in the controller’s socket.

SynScan V4 COM RJ-11 plugged

Connect the controller to the mount using the dedicated cable – RJ45 plug to the COM port on the mount. Ensure the cable is securely connected to both the controller and the mount for proper communication during operation.

SynScan firmware update – connected equipment

We now have the following connection setup – example:

SynScan firmware update – connected equipment

Firmware update the SynScan™ Hand Control

On the controller, simultaneously press and hold the buttons “0” and “8.” Turn on the mount’s power as shown in below photo.

The controller will emit a “beep” sound during startup and then display the message “SynScan Update Ver….” as shown in the image. The controller has now been set to firmware update mode.

This indicates that the device is ready for the next steps in the firmware update process.

SynScan V4 – firmware version 04.39.21

On your computer, run the Computer Manager and find the COM port which will be used for update. With this example it is COM5.

Check the COM port number on your system. Open Computer Management and locate the COM port.

To do this on a Windows system:

Press Win + X and select Computer Management from the menu.
In the Computer Management window, navigate to Device Manager.
Expand the section labeled Ports (COM & LPT).
Here, you will see a list of available COM ports along with their assigned numbers (e.g., COM1, COM2).

With this example it is COM5.

Computer Manager – COM port

Run the SynScanFirmwareLoader.exe software on your PC.

SynScan V4 Update – file explorer view

Once the program is launched, you should see a window SynScan Firmware Loader , make sure the “Auto-detect COM Port” checkbox has been unchecked. Set the COM port.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader program COM setup

Click the HC Version button. The program will attempt to connect to the controller and retrieve information about the hardware version, firmware, and the celestial object database. You will see the version numbers at the bottom of the Firmware Loader as shown on below picture.

If the program is unable to communicate with the controller, enable the Auto-detect COM Port option and click the HC Version button again.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – present firmware version

If the Loader program cannot detect an available COM port, check the connection between the controller and the computer.

Click Browse to select the SynScanVXXXX.ssf file in the SynScan folder.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – File selection

It is recommended to enable the – Enforce database update – option and then click the Update button to start the update procedure. This ensures that the entire database is refreshed during the update process, reducing the risk of any errors or omissions.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – selected update file

The update status can be monitored under the Update and HC. Version buttons.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – Erasing flash ROM process

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – Firmware update in progress

Update Complete.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – Update process completed

Click on the HC. Version button and check if the controller has reported a new Firmware version.

The update was fully successful.

SynScan V4 Update – Loader – New firmware version

Close the Loader program and turn off mount power suppl.

Turn the mount’s power back on and check whether the controller displays the new firmware version.

SynScan V4 – firmware version 04.39.21

Check if the mount and H.C. works properly.

As you can see, the firmware update process for the SynScan V4 controller is not overly complicated, but it does require careful attention. It’s crucial to follow all the steps outlined in this guide in the correct sequence, with focus and precision.

I hope the description provided could be at least somewhat helpful.

It’s worth mentioning that the mount performs excellently in the field when used with the PERUN II power bank.

EQDIRect for NEQ and EQ mounts

PekDar — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:25:38 +0000

The GOTO controller is extremely convenient and practical to use, when you want to look at interesting night sky objects, with your own eye through the eyepiece mounted in the telescope’s focuser. The ability to quickly select an object using the GOTO controller, is invaluable. It’s way better using mount with PC and Here it comes the EQDIRect for NEQ and EQ mounts.

In astrophotography, however, the GOTO controller isn’t necessarily as convenient. I admit there were times when it actually got in my way.

I decided to remove the controller so it would no longer intermediate the mount control; its role has been taken over by Astroberry combined with an EQDirect solution. My own implementation is based on descriptions for EQDirect available on the Internet.

The topic seemed simple, however, when it came to actually building the device myself, things weren’t so obvious anymore. Some important information is missing online. It’s easy to make a mistake that could seriously damage the mount’s electronics, as well as the Astroberry or another computer to which the EQDirect is connected. Repairing these devices can be very expensive!

Once I had gathered all the necessary pieces of the “puzzle”, analyzed and double-checked the subject several times, I assembled the whole thing. Then, with a slightly trembling hand, I switched on the power to the mount.

Luckily, nothing exploded 😉 What’s more, everything works – and it works like a charm! The mount responds to and executes all commands issued to it by the KStars+EKOS duo, along with the EQMod with INDI driver, and all of this resides together in Astroberry.

EQDIRect for NEQ and EQ mounts – Astroberry configuration

Of course, EQDIRect will also work with ASCOM and other software that requires such a technical solution to control the Sky-Watcher EQ6, NEQ6Pro mounts.

It works really well, even in slightly freezing conditions – tested – see the attached photos 🙂

To protect the expensive mount from damage, my EQDIRect unit is equipped with several additional electrical protections.

Mount performs excellently in the field together with EQDirect when used together with PERUN II power bank.

If you are interested in acquiring EQDIRect made by me, please don’t hesitate to reach out me by filling out the contact form.

Astro Pixel Processor – Basic Tutorial (Step‑by‑Step Guide)

PekDar — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 17:22:56 +0000

The main goal of this Astro Pixel Processor tutorial is to provide you, with the ability to quickly stack photos using the APP program, in the shortest possible time with minimal the baggage of knowledge need. I share with you what I know. I have gained experience using the APP program on my own.

Remember that each photo of collected lights is different and the examples below, will not necessarily work for your collected photo lights. You should always look for the optimal settings and solutions for each lights. Please, note that I am not the Developer of the APP (Astro Pixel Processor), but only I’m user like you. I don’t know answer to every question that bothers you. Nor am I any representative of the APP Developer or its publisher.

APP provides flexible stacking algorithms compared to DSS, supports mosaics, gradient correction, and multi‑session integration. A great balance between simplicity and power.

StarStaX and Star Trails – Photo Stacking and Gap Filling

PekDar — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 20:36:41 +0000

Why StarStaX?

In modern landscape astrophotography, creating Star Trails by taking hundreds of shorter exposures is preferred over a single, hours-long shot. This approach has a key practical advantage: if a flashlight shines into the lens, a car passes by, or the tripod gets bumped, you simply discard that single frame rather than losing the entire night’s work. To combine these frames into a final image, StarStaX is the go-to free software. It is lightweight, fast, and dedicated specifically to this task.

How It Works?

The “Lighten” Mode StarStaX does not sum up light in the traditional way (which would result in an overexposed, white image). It uses the “Lighten” blending mode. The software analyzes every pixel across all images and selects only the one with the highest brightness value for the final output.

This ensures bright stars “overwrite” the dark sky background.
Noise in the shadows does not accumulate, keeping the final image clean.

The Gap Problem and “Gap Filling”

There is always a tiny delay between shots (time for the camera to write the file to the card). As a result, after stacking, star trails might look like dashed lines (“beads on a string”). StarStaX solves this with the Gap Filling feature. The algorithm analyzes the end of a star trail on one frame and the beginning on the next, mathematically interpolating the missing segment. The result is perfectly smooth arcs, even if your camera has a slower buffer.

“Comet Mode” Option

An interesting addition is the Comet Mode. The software simulates a gradual fading of the star trail, adding dynamics and a sense of motion to the image, resembling a meteor shower or comets.

Creating Star Trails is one of the most spectacular astrophotography techniques. In this comprehensive step-by-step tutorial, you will learn how to stack a series of individual frames into one stunning image using the free StarStax software. This guide includes the essential step of RAW file conversion to a lossless 16-bit PNG format using RawTherapee, and it’s friendly for Linux users (as it uses free, multi-platform tools).

Capturing Star Trails in a photo is not to difficult task. There are several schools to do this. The Internet has many descriptions and videos on how to do this. I think I’ll never become a YouTuber, personally I prefer to create a document or simple instruction that describe the whole ho-to process in clear technical language and this was what it guide me during preparation this description.

AutoStakkert! and Lucky Imaging: The Mathematical Battle Against Atmosphere

PekDar — Fri, 15 May 2020 06:27:12 +0000

AutoStakkert 2

Learn the best settings and a step-by-step process to stack your Lunar light frames in AutoStakkert and achieve sharper, high-resolution Moon images.

The Seeing Problem

Why is a single DSLR photo of the Moon rarely perfectly sharp? The culprit is Earth’s atmosphere. Air masses of different temperatures mix, creating turbulence that acts like lenses with varying focal lengths. This phenomenon is called seeing. In classical photography (long exposures), seeing blurs details. The engineering solution is the Lucky Imaging technique.

Mechanism: Statistics and Video

Instead of a single photo, we record thousands of video frames with very short exposure times (milliseconds). Statistically, within a second, there are moments when the atmosphere “freezes” for a fraction of a time and becomes perfectly transparent. The role of AutoStakkert! is to analyze each of the thousands of frames, grade their quality (sharpness), and select only the “lucky” ones (e.g., the best 10-20%).

At first impression, the AutoStakkert user interface does not seem easy to use. However, after getting to know the key options and understanding how the program works, its interface not more to be a secret. We will go through the stacking procedure, processing sample of Moon light frames, which I collected in the early spring of this year.

AutoStakkert! on Linux: Installation via Wine and PlayOnLinux

PekDar — Fri, 08 May 2020 19:02:24 +0000

AutoStakkert Linux installation

Windows is Not Required Many astrophotographers keep a Windows partition strictly for one piece of software: AutoStakkert!. This is an unjustified waste of resources. The stacking engine of this software runs perfectly in a Linux environment, often offering better RAM management than Microsoft’s native system due to the lightweight nature of the Linux kernel.

How It Works: Wine Is Not an Emulator

The key to success is Wine (acronym: Wine Is Not an Emulator). It is a compatibility layer that translates Windows API calls into POSIX (Linux) instructions on the fly. This allows the application to run with near-native performance, without the overhead of emulating an entire operating system. The PlayOnLinux (POL) tool described in this guide is used to easily manage so-called Wine “prefixes”—isolated containers with specific configurations.

Why this works?

AutoStakkert! is a portable app — no classic MSI installer.
Wine supports most API calls required by AS!3/AS!4.
Linux filesystems (ext4, btrfs) handle large SER/AVI files better than NTFS.

Shortened deployment Guide (Universal Method)

Since AutoStakkert! does not have a classic installer (it is a “portable” application), the process in PlayOnLinux differs slightly from the norm:

Download: Get the latest stable version (AS!3 or AS!4) as a ZIP archive.
POL Configuration: Select “Install a program,” then “Install a non-listed program.”
Virtual Drive Creation: Choose “Create a new virtual drive” (preferably 64-bit architecture to handle large SER/AVI video files).
No Installer: When POL asks for the installation file, point it to the AutoStakkert .exe. The program won’t “install” into the system registry but will be executed within the Wine directory structure.
Shortcut: Finally, create a shortcut directly to AutoStakkert.exe.

Performance and Memory

When working with massive files from planetary cameras (often 50-100 GB), Linux file systems (ext4 or btrfs) handle I/O operations significantly better than NTFS. Stacking proceeds smoothly, provided that the Wine configuration has been allocated sufficient video memory access.

Warnings

Use Wine ≥ 6.x — older versions may cause errors.
Don’t copy files into system directories — keep them inside the Wine prefix.
Test with a small SER file before processing large sessions.

Stellarium: Why Can’t I See DSOs? Configuration and DSS

PekDar — Tue, 05 May 2020 18:30:44 +0000

Stellarium configuration – Empty Markers

A common scenario after installing Stellarium is zooming in on a famous object (e.g., the Andromeda Galaxy) only to see a marker symbol against a black background or a few stars. Users often try to fix this by downloading additional “Star Catalogs” (1 through 9) in the settings. This is a fundamental error. Star catalogs only contain positional data for points of light (stars), not graphical image files of nebulae or galaxies.

In the default configuration, Stellarium displays a large number of images of known DSOs, but not all we would need. To increase the number of DSO images displayed, you need to enable an additional catlaog that will complement the displayed images, but still they will not be all visible.

As an example would be the galaxy NGC 3077, which in my version of Stellarium 0.19.3 is not displayed, although it is in the DSO database and is indicated on Stellarium sky screen.

Lets start Stellarium and go to the object search, click the magnifying glass – Search window (F3)

Enter NGC 3077 in the text search field and click the magnifying glass

As you can see in the image below, the object was found but it is not visible.

Solution 1: Atmosphere and Light Pollution Simulation

Stellarium is a realistic simulator. If you selected a city location and the “Atmosphere” is enabled on the bottom bar (shortcut A), the software will hide objects whose surface brightness is too low for the conditions.

Fix: Disable the atmosphere (key A) or increase the limiting magnitude for DSOs in the “Sky and Viewing Options” window [F4].

Solution 2: Digitized Sky Survey (DSS)

Stellarium only has built-in textures for the brightest objects (Messier catalog). To see fainter nebulae (e.g., from the NGC or IC catalogs) as they appear in photographs, you must use the Sky Survey feature.

Find the “Deep Sky Surveys” (DSS) icon in the bottom menu or enable it in the plugins.
Once activated, Stellarium downloads real photo mosaics from professional observatories (Palomar/UK Schmidt) servers.
This allows for precise framing of your astrophotography session, as you see the actual shape of the nebula, not just an arbitrary symbol.

Cache Memory

Using DSS mode requires an internet connection. Stellarium buffers these images on your disk, so over time, the “map” of your most frequently visited sky regions will become available offline.

Guiding step by step configuration

Let’s move to the settings window for the sky view. In the left menu, click Sky and viewing options windows [F4] or press the F4 key.

Click the Surveys tab, select Deep Sky from the drop-down list and then find and enable DSS colored in the list. We close the window.

Now on the sky view, NGC 3077 is already visible.

SynScan: Manually Adding Comets and Custom Objects (User Object)

PekDar — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 11:00:08 +0000

SynScan User Object – The Database is Not Enough

The object database in SynScan hand controllers (used in Sky-Watcher NEQ6, HEQ5, EQ6-R mounts) contains thousands of entries from the Messier, NGC, and IC catalogs. However, it is helpless against dynamic objects: new comets, fast-moving asteroids, or supernovae. To point the telescope at such an object without using a computer (EQMOD), we must use the User Object function and manually input equatorial coordinates.

Step 1: Obtaining Ephemerides (J2000)

Before touching the controller, you must know the object’s current position. Comets move relative to the background stars. Yesterday’s coordinates might be useless today.

Source: Use TheSkyLive or Minor Planet Center.
Format: You need Right Ascension (RA) and Declination (Dec).
Important: Ensure the coordinates are for the J2000.0 epoch (standard for SynScan), not “JNow” (Topocentric), although for wide fields the difference might be negligible, in astrophotography it matters.

Step 2: Shortened SynScan Procedure

Power up the mount and perform the standard alignment (1, 2, or 3-Star Alignment).
In the main menu, select: Object List -> User Object.
Select New Object (or edit an existing one).
Enter the coordinates:
- RA (Right Ascension): In HH:MM:SS format.
- Dec (Declination): In DD:MM:SS format. Remember to toggle the + / - sign depending on the celestial hemisphere.
Confirm and select View Object -> Slew. The mount will point to the defined position.

Technical Limitation: Tracking

By entering an object this way, the mount treats it like a fixed star. It will track it at the sidereal rate. However, comets have their own proper motion. During long exposures (over 60-120 seconds) or with comets very close to Earth, the comet’s nucleus might appear trailed on the image, even if the stars are pinpoint sharp.

Solution: This is a “point-in-time” method. If the comet is fast, you must update the coordinates in the controller every 30-60 minutes using fresh ephemeris data.

PIPP (Planetary Imaging PreProcessor): The Essential Step Before Stacking

PekDar — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 11:20:37 +0000

PIPP astrophotography – Why Not AutoStakkert! Immediately?

After recording a Moon video (in SER, AVI, or other formats), many beginners skip the pre-processing step in PIPP and directly load files into AutoStakkert!. However, PIPP solves critical recording issues that significantly improve the efficiency and quality of the final stack.

Problem 1: Motion and Jitter (Dynamic Tracking)

During video recording, even with a perfectly aligned mount, subtle vibrations, tracking errors (PEC), and object shifts (e.g., the Moon drifting out of the center) occur.

PIPP’s Role: PIPP analyzes each frame and shifts the image so that the key object (e.g., the Moon disk) remains perfectly centered (dynamic centering) and stable in the X and Y axes.
Benefit for AS!: AutoStakkert! performs alignment much faster and more precisely when the target object is not moving chaotically throughout the video.

Problem 2: Optimization and Conversion (Frames Optimization)

Planetary cameras often record video in formats and resolutions that are not optimal for AutoStakkert! (e.g., 8-bit Y8/MONO format).

Conversion: PIPP provides fast and lossless video conversion to the most preferred formats. It allows conversion from uncompressed to efficient formats, as well as converting a monochrome Y8 signal to simulated RGB.
Cropping for Efficiency: PIPP allows for precise cropping of the Region of Interest (ROI). If the entire Moon disk takes up 1000×1000 pixels, but the rest of the frame is a black void, PIPP cuts out this unnecessary black area.

PIPP Step-by-Step

Usage of the PIPP program is relatively simple. It is recommended to follow the step rules – from left to right, going through all the tabs of the program, starting from the Source Files tab and ending with the Do Processing tab. We will go successively through the tabs, processing the Moon with an example light frames that I collected. I will focus only on those options that I need to use. It is not my goal, to describe every available option, that’s why the manual is available on the PIPP page.

Stellarium: Adding New Comets and Asteroids

PekDar — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 11:51:51 +0000

Stellarium – Beyond the Standard Catalog

The Solar System database in Stellarium is updated regularly, but new comets appear faster than official data packages. To plan a photography session for an object that has “just arrived,” you must use the Solar System Editor plugin.

The Mechanism: Orbital Elements (MPC)

Stellarium does not store images of comets but rather their orbital elements (including perihelion, eccentricity, inclination). Based on these, the software engine calculates the object’s current position in the sky for your specific location. The most reliable source for this data is the Minor Planet Center (MPC).

Shortened Step-by-Step Instructions

Activate the Plugin: Go to “Configuration Window” [F2] -> “Plugins” -> “Solar System Editor”. Ensure “Load at startup” is checked and restart the program.
Import Data: In the plugin settings, select the “Solar System” tab and click “Import orbital elements in MPC format”.
Select Object Type: Choose “Comets” or “Asteroids.”
Online Source: Select an MPC server from the list (e.g., MPC’s list of observable comets). The program will connect to the web and download the list.
Search: Type the comet’s name (e.g., “C/2023 A3”). Once it appears, check it and click “Add objects”.

Why is this better than manual entry?

Manual entry of orbital elements is prone to formatting errors, leading to incorrect position calculations. Automatic import from the MPC ensures that parameters are up-to-date, which is crucial as comet orbits undergo subtle changes due to planetary gravity.