When in equatorial mode, the RST mount tracks the east target and stops tracking itself when it encounters the meridian.
If the target crosses the meridian and then slews the mount again, it flips itself.
However, you can postpone the flip in the following way or flip it in advance.

Postpone flip
In the hand controller’s [7 Menu] – Limit menu, you can enter an angle to track further past the meridian.
For example, if you enter 30deg in Meridian, the mount tracks 30deg further, even if it encounters the meridian, then stops tracking itself.
30deg equals 2 hours.

Flip in advance
It is as if the target has already crossed the meridian and flipping the mount in advance.
Be careful not to bump the telescope or camera with a tripod.
There are two ways, hand controller and ASCOM driver.

1. Using a hand controller
On the target screen, press the [1 GOTO] button twice.
The warning message “Reverse Mode!!” appears on the screen.
When you press the ENT key, the mount flips in advance and aims it.

2. Using ASCOM Driver
Select “Force flip” in the GUI of the ASCOM Driver.
Afterwards, if you slew to the target, the mount flips in advance and aims it.

Yes. You can also use a common ethernet cable(CAT5, CAT6, CAT7) for PC as a hand controller cable.

Various error values calculated through Star alignment can be checked in the Align angle menu.
A total of 6 error values can be checked, and each value has the following meaning.
5-star alignment is recommended for more accurate error values.
The units are all angles(degrees).

① Polar alignment error: Azimuth
A sign of + means that the polar axis of the mount is looking westward than the actual polar axis.

② Polar alignment error: Altitude
A sign of + means that the polar axis of the mount is looking lower than the actual polar axis.

③ Initial position error: right ascension
It means the initial starting position error of the right ascension axis, the time error, and the longitude error of the location.

④ Initial position error – declination
It means the initial starting position error of the DEC axis, and the latitude error of the location.

⑤ Orthogonal error of the OTA
The degree to which the OTA and DEC axes are not orthogonal.

⑥ RA/DEC axis orthogonal error
It indicates the degree to which the axis of DE and the axis of RA are not orthogonal.

Mount recalculates the planet’s position in real time each time you enter the Planet menu.
As a result, the accuracy of the RA/DEC value of the planet is within few arc seconds.

Through the star alignment of the mount, the cone error caused by the optical system (telescope) not being orthogonal to the DEC axis can be solved.
With 3-star alignment, the mount calculates orthogonal errors but a 5-star alignment is recommended for more accurate calibration.
The mount points to reflect orthogonal errors.

The Epoch used by the RST mount is JNow.
All the right ascension/declination values used in the hand controller and ASCOM driver are based on JNow.

The mount stores some data even when the power is turned off.
The types (menu) are as follows.

• Time & Date – Stores data entered by the user or received from GPS and is automatically updated with real-time data.
  Save the time zone (UTC offset) entered by the user.
• Location – Stores data entered by the user or received from GPS.
• Speed ​​setup
• Mount Config
• Parking
• User Define
• Communication – The selected communication method is being saved.
• Back light, Contrast
• Limit
• Drift Correct – On/Off status is stored.
• Drive

When the Auto Resume function is on, the following data is also saved.

• Star Alignment Data (Alignment angle)
• The last position – remembers the last position before the power is turned off and recognizes it as the position when the power is turned on again.

Yes. ZWO’s ASIAIR officially supports the RST mount. Connect the mount and ASIAIR with a USB cable and select Rainbow RST / MC700GE from the mount list.
Not only GOTO and Plate solving but also pier flip and polar alignment work well. ASIAIR is a great tool to make using the RST mount easier and more enjoyable.