Hello Michael,

> -- When is an automatic meridian flip required?

I think the most important is during gotos. (with both handpaddle and
planetarium software)

I understand that a form tracking/slew limits are therefore to be
implemented.

It is important to allow some "extra time" during tracking (some
mounts/OTAs combos allow to track about an extra hour or more when
crossing the meridian ...and this is a desirable feature!)

I think the limits could be set as: "how long I have to track past the
meridian before stopping and alarming?" sort of parameter :-)
I always found (in other motorizations) numerical settings for these
limits really confusing/appalling.

I find the time/date input a drawback abudantly compensated by the new
feature!
Can't time/date be stored it permanently?
Automatically acquired by GPS? (external)
Automatically from the computer clock (if connected)
...IF you follow this last route ...implement it for Apple users as
well PLEASE!!!!!!!!! ;-)


The meridian flip during imaging session (even if highly desirable) is
of course out of range cause it needs some kind of acknoledgment and
integration with the image acquiring software, autoguiding calibration
routines and so on!

Hope to have been useful...


Ciao
Riccardo


OT ...well not really too much
here is a project I'm workin on with some friends ..if you want to
step by
http://nocktis.com/





________
jazz & astronomy
http://www.riccardoballerini.com
http://www.myspace.com/riccardoballerini