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In order to make hand control reflect your correct local time, time zone information has to be entered.
Press ◄ or ► key, move the cursor to the second line “300 Min. behind UT” to set the time zone
information (add or subtract 60 minutes per time zone). Enter minutes “ahead of” or “behind” UT (universal
time). For Example,
• Boston is 300 minutes “behind” UT
• Los Angeles is 480 minutes “behind” UT
• Rome is 60 minutes “ahead of” UT
• Beijing is 480 minutes “ahead of” UT
• Sydney is 600 minutes “ahead of” UT
All the time zones in North America are behind UT, as shown in the following table. So make sure it
shows “behind” instead of “ahead of” UT.
Time Zone Hawaii Alaska Pacific Mountain Central Eastern
Hour behind UT -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5
Enter Minutes 600 540 480 420 360 300
To adjust minutes, move the cursor to each digit and use the number keys to input number directly.
To change the “behind” or “ahead of” UT, move the cursor to “ahead” and using ▲ or ▼ key to toggle
between “behind” and “ahead of”. When the number is correct, press ENTER and go back to the previous
screen.
For other parts of the world you can find your “time zone” information from iOptron website
(http://www.ioptron.com/support.cfm?module=faq#). DO NOT COUNT DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME. Fraction
time zone can be entered as well.
Observation Site Coordinate Set
The third and fourth lines display the longitude and latitude coordinates, respectively. “W/E” means
western/eastern hemisphere; “N/S” means northern/southern hemisphere; “d” means degree; “m” means
minute; and “s” means second.
The site coordinates information can be found from your GPS navigator, a GPS capable cell phone,
or from internet, such as at Support section in iOptron website, under Controller Set-up
(http://www.ioptron.com/support.cfm?module=faq#). By entering the city name or address, you can find its
latitude and longitude. In case you only find the site information in decimal format you can convert them into
d:m:s format by multiplying the decimal numbers by 60. For example, N47.53 can be changed to
N47º31'48”: 47.53º = 47º +0.53º, 0.53º=0.53x60'=31.8', 0.8'=0.8x60"=48". Therefore, 47.53º=47º31'48" or
47d31m48s.
Press ◄ or ► key to move the cursor and using ▲ or ▼ key to toggle between “W” and “E”, “N” and
“S”, using number key to change the numbers. It is always a good idea to do your home work to get the
GPS coordinates before traveling to a new observation site.
N/S Hemisphere Selection
If the polar axis is aligned to North Celestial Pole, then set the mount to Northern Hemisphere. If the
polar axis is pointing to South Celestial Pole, set the mount to Southern Hemisphere. Press ◄ or ► key to
move the cursor and using ▲ or ▼ key to toggle between “Northern Hemisphere” and “Southern
Hemisphere”.
Select Northern Hemisphere if you are located in US and press ENTER to go back to the main menu.
The time and site information will be stored inside the HC memory chip. If you are not traveling to
another observation site, they do not need to be changed.
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