Setup (calibrate) polarscope- HELP!

[spacemouses]

I am going around in circles. I have read so many different instructions and seen so many videos and am getting nowhere fast! I am getting some kind of a mental block now. It must be easy, but I can't see it!
US Navy site says Polaris transits at 1501hrs on 24 March (nice round figures and I can't see how using a date a few days in advance will make much difference), from my position. Those are the figures I am using. I have tried several variations on trying to 'calibrate' the index mark etc on polarscope. When I use Polarfinder (set to todays time/date) to get an idea of where the wee circle in polarscope ought to be- it's nowhere near! (and in different places on different attempts!).
The mark on the 'index ring' is not upwards towards the pointer on base of mount as shown in all the drawings I have seen, when I have finished (before I attempt to polar align).
I am missing something easy and doing something silly, but I just can't see it!
David

[perfrej]

Do you use EQMOD to control your scope? If so, then it's a piece of cake. Unfortunately I know nothing about the dial and such.

With EQMOD, you just center polaris in the polarscope with the bolts. After that, you screw altitude bolt until polaris touches the large circle at the six o'clock position.

Now, from your computer you slew RA until polaris is centered in the little circle. Then you open the polar align function in EQMOD and set the polarscope home position.

When this is done, polar align in EQMOD can always slew your RA for you to the exact correct position. Unbeatable!

Note! Even though an equatorial mount doesn't have to be leveled, the polarscope align function certainly does require it.

/per

[spacemouses]

Only had the mount a week! Never had anything this complicated before! No computer control- just the handset. I am quite sure that I can do a polar align now. Just need a clearish night to make sure. And clear nights don't seem to come very often these days!
David

[Roger]

I never bother with that section . never had any trouble with guiding , just polar align, thats all you need to do , unless you are using setting circles of course

[PeterJohn]

As a new member please excuse me for wanting to add a bit to this discussion.
My EQ5 mount has a polar scope showing a ring with a tiny circle located on it. This circle is not where you position the pole star. It is there mearly to indicate that the pole star is located somewhere on the ring.
Where to locate the pole star is shown by a free programme caller PolarFinder (Google it). First you enter you location coordinates then choose the time when you want to see where the pole star is.
The programme will then show you the position of the pole star on the ring in you polar scope 24/7.
All the polar alignment should be finished before even switching on the GoTo system.