A lot went wrong just minutes before it was time to image.

It seem to start out alright shortly after setup...

1.) I found that the software froze...  not typical for this version.  Re-boot solved it, but…

2.) BUT... The Computer went into an update mode.  WHAT? HERE?  Where is the signal coming from?  Fortunately, it finished quickly. 

3.) I unknowingly turned off the live feed to the camera.  After trying to understand the error message, I found that the camera needed to be recording to show the image on the screen.  This is a function I would ever use.   

It wasn’t until after the Eclipse and after I was out of the hot glaring Sun that I located that button on the tool bar.
 
4.) The mount started to loose tracking.  I found that the thumb tightening assembly to save packing space, is not reliable. This was a new iOptron mount that did not have fine adjustment on the declination axis, but tests and rehearsing prior to the trip proved that it was very easy to adjust.  However, the short cut of using a lightweight ball head for latitude adjustment and my rebuild of the tube saddle, parts seemed to loosen up.  Attempts to center the Sun met with backlash.  Also, the counterweight was removed in order to save weight and use the telescope being out of balance as a gravity assist to the tracking motor.  But this made the fine adjustment, again, clumsy, but not impossible. 

When I got home, I looked a the mount closely.  It then that I actually discovered all the fasteners that were loose.  I replaced the thumb screws with set screws.  I drilled small holes so the setscrews would nest better to the components they were attached to.  I also replaced the tube saddle with a more robust William’s Optics aftermarket Saddle…  and not more Ball Heads to save weight and space.

5.) Another new problem was that there was a delayed reaction of the image on the screen.  I have 2 software’s that the camera will talk to, but I went back to the old one thinking it was more reliable.  I was also using the camera I thought would give me a better screen reaction to pointing adjustments.

Again, backhome, I tested the my 2 softwares and found that the newer one worked better. 
 
6.) Still trying to center the Image and fight backlash, I finally braced one hand against the Telescope to hold in place and used the other to clumsily bracket exposure.  It was good enough.

As Totality neared, I was literally seconds from grabbing my Sony Camera with the 70-200 f/4 zoom lens with the 1.4x Teleconverter attached.  I even removed the Solar Filter from the Telescope early just in case I bumped the Telescope and there was needed reacquire the Sun. 

But it worked out and a solid collection of images were collected.  And for the first time, it appears there is a defined Chromosphere just prior to second contact.