That's my 2nd StarDiscovery mount. So I've already had some experience with the software & the payload capacity. It was used with the whole assortment of scopes I own - up to my C8 workhorse and it's 2" equipment.

Therefore I felt confident when I ordered the mount together with an 6.5 kg OTA Startravel 150/750.

The secret: Most are not aware that the FLO advertized payload capacity of 5 kg is 1.5 kg less than that of an identical mount from the same factory, labeled & sold by an also respectable US retailer brand. But be careful too: The lever introduced by the telescope tube length matters more than it's weight when working at the mounts limits.

The short Startravel OTA is therefore carried w/o any problems within the mounts specs - albeit better for imaging, because dampening times are not hampered by focussing. When used visually & when imaging the mount purs steadily and is well suited for EAA and lucky imaging with IMX290 type CMOS cameras.

There is a trick w/ alignment:

If your choosen alignment routine doesn't allow you to center on one of the offered alignment stars (because of blocking buildings etc.) then choose any of the stars from the much larger list, press Goto and align w/ the motor controls until the star is centered in your eyepiece. Then take another star and repeat. Check with a Goto to any previous selection.

And another trick for those who keep their mount at a fixed place (say indoors & watching thru an open window):

Use the hibernation function to store the current position of the mount for your next days session. When again switched on, all previous made alignment steps are preserved and the time lapsed properly calculated.

CS,
Peter

Before that I've had regular Explorer 130P, which is a good tube, but this 130PDS feels so much more serious. A pleasant OTA for a tiny cost.