Oortraged

Heya folks, thanks to @happy-kat for guiding me to this thread! I recently joined the AZ GTi club, and have today received a powerpack, from the well recommended TalentCell. I tested it out today with the included cable as I don't have the Lynx Astro one just yet (on order), all working well. I attached it to the pier with velcro straps as the cable was very short. I then did a test fit of my intended position, on the tripod leg spreader. I've included a 'belt and bracers' approach, carabiner and length of paracord to the leg spreader. Since testing both configurations though, I have to admit that mounting it on the pier would be my preference. However, I feel I am missing something obvious that would make this a bad idea, but I can't come up with what that something might be? Grateful for any thoughts!

Power pack and molle pouch arrived today! Really impressed with the build quality of the battery shroud and the enclosed extras (incidentally, it did come with a UK plug attached, and there was a bonus 12v car accessory socket charger included for the power pack). I tested it out today with the included cable as I don't have the Lynx Astro one just yet. When I did so, I attached it to the pier with velcro straps as the cable was very short. I then did a test fit of my intended position, on the tripod leg spreader. I've included a 'belt and bracers' approach, carabiner and length of paracord to the leg spreader. I figure the velcro loops could get a bit fiddly with cold hands - the power pack I've gone for is quite a bit heavier than the one @ScouseSpaceCadet has used, so better safe than sorry! Since testing both configurations though, I have to admit that mounting it on the pier would be my preference. However, I feel I am missing something obvious that would make this a bad idea, but I can't come up with what that something might be!

Argh, this is exactly the sort of encouragement I don't need, haha! I've been following the Quark since release, and have had it in the basket on more than one occasion, and have managed to rationalise not bending the plastic based on the variable performance reports. At some point I will have to bite the bullet, especially as I have already talked myself up from a Lunt LS40 to an LS50 whilst pondering the starting point... if I wait much longer, I'll be into LS60 territory and needing to sell my organs, haha! I think the measured response is to see how much use the S50 sees in the daytime (I suspect quite a lot), before trying to justify the next expenditure to myself! Really appreciate your feedback @LDW1.

Thanks @LDW1! I appreciate the encouragement! You're right, reading that back I worded it rather poorly - to my understanding, its a white light sort of view offered from the S50? I rather meant, if I catch the bug for getting out and having a peek whenever it is clear through the S50, then I can be assured that a dedicated Ha solution is a solid investment if that makes sense? The S50 seems to potentially be an astronomical gateway drug into a multitude of rather more expensive 'hobbies within the hobby'!

Hi folks, apologies if I am running afoul of any moderation rules by responding to a post that has been inactive this long. I just wanted to say a big thanks to @ScouseSpaceCadet for the information here - your neat solution has prompted me to follow a similar route for powering my new AZ GTi (and, yes, I also ordered the ADM saddle on your advice!). As this was the best source of information I found on the topic from a google search, I thought I would weigh in with the approach I have taken - order placed today, will keep updated with once it all arrives. I have opted for the slightly newer chemistry version of the battery. There is a seller that is a bit cheaper on Amazon for the same product, however that certainly comes with an EU plug on the charging brick. The one I have purchased does not specify, but is sent from UK, so I thought I would chance it and hopefully will receive a UK plug: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CGMTDC5Y/ref=pe_27063361_485629781_TE_item I am also shamelessly stealing the molle pouch idea for holding the battery in use - will secure either similarly using velcro straps to tripod legs, or if it proves to be too heavy for that, use the D-ring to hang it from the leg spreader on a carabiner. This was the best match I could find size-wise for the above TalentCell still leaving room to store the cable. There may be cheaper, better options, but being childish, the unfortunately translated (presumably?!) company name and badge swung it for me: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CM91N3ZV/ref=pe_27063361_485629781_TE_item_image?th=1 Finally, I have opted for the Lynx Astro cable linked in earlier posts as it seems to be a quality piece of kit. Will update on the plug type once it arrives, and sort some images in the hope they can be as much help to someone as this thread has been to me! Ryan

Heya folks, I'm in the process of joining the SeeStar S50 club after a long time researching, going backwards and forwards on relative merits and detriments. Order placed with FLO this afternoon Apologies, given the length of the thread already I am not going to catch fully up to speed, but shall read with interest from now on - and I have really enjoyed looking at some of the images people have captured and shared! Personal motivations were: I could justify the price for the amount of kit, as a chance to see how I take to the processing side of imaging - because if I don't enjoy that, then spending more in time and resources on AP gear could be for nought. Similarly, an introduction into Solar - I've always loved the idea of visual Ha, but have repeatedly talked myself out of it in case it didn't get the use. This provides a good acid test of my interest in Solar! A companion scope to my much loved ED80 that is purely used for visual - I lack the space to store a large Dobsonian currently, and this seemed a neat alternative whilst also trying something new. Sharing my hobby with friends, family and anyone else who will listen - personally I love looking at faint fuzzies through the eyepiece, but I really hope this can convince some more of my nearest and dearest that those smudges I have made them stand in the cold and squint at really ARE interesting. Portability (and this really was the final decision maker) - I can be in the Brecon Beacons in half an hour or so from home (apologies, Bannau Brycheiniog, keep forgetting), and the little S50 case will fit in my rucksack with a bivvy and sleeping bag and some 8*50 binoculars, and let me walk out into some of the best dark skies available to us here. Anyway, glad to be here, and looking forward to learning from you all about how to get the most out of this new and exciting way to look up! Ryan

Well, good as gold from FLO as usual - about 3pm the kit ordered Monday evening was in my hands! Really impressed with the quality of all the kit that arrived. The M10 to 3/8" puck fitted with no modifications required to the pin on my mount, which was great! The small pier extension has a satisfying heft to it, and the diminutive little AZ GTi is a lovely thing! Outrageously, I even managed to see a couple of hours of clear sky tonight! Im very much at the start of the learning curve (it took me a moment to realise why, when on the two star alignment, having located Jupiter and slewing to my second automatically, the mount seemed adamant that Duhbe was a subterranean object!). Once I had the telescope on the mount pointing the right way however... how embarrassing! My back garden isn't ideally situated North Easterly facing, and on an estate so lots of rooftops, lights and fences about! However, I managed to have a look at Jupiter, Pleadies, M31 and my first time ever being convinced I'd located Uranus, which was nice! Was really impressed how well centered Jupiter remained at 150x magnification, with what I'm sure was a less than stellar initial set up of the mount from me. Lots of reading to come to learn more about getting the best out of it - looking forward to learning more. First bit of research is a rather off 'knocking' noise whilst it was tracking on point and go - a quick check of threads shows there's lots of discussion on it, so I'm sure it will be user error (clutch tightness most likely, or the fact its on AA batteries currently). Next month's acquisitions will be a TalentCell 12v LiFePO4 portable power pack, and a red dot finder - to reduce the weight a little, and also to make my life easier on the star alignment - I was at the edge of my capability with the 9x50 finderscope tonight in truth. Thrilled with the kit and the quick hour I managed at the eyepiece after set up - can't wait to get more familiar with the kit in the coming weeks, and the summer dark site camping with the new capability in the coming months! Cheers, Ryan

Hey and welcome! I've only recently joined the site, but people have been very generous with their time and friendly already. I'm sure you'll have a similar experience! Cheers, Ryan

Heya Darth - stunning part of the world you're in there, and with some very dark skies I can imagine! I'm on the Marches here in Ledbury, and have already had folks here reach out to me about astro socs - sounds like you would be doing something very positive chap. All the best with it, keep us updated please!

Thanks for that link Kat! I've just read through your Barn Door thread in your signature - very impressive stuff, and I'm glad to be in the company of a fellow tinkerer!

Heya folks, apologies if this is the incorrect category to post this topic under - I had a look through, and couldn't see anywhere more appropriate! I've just placed an order for a Skywatcher AZ GTi, an extension tube and a converting puck to utilise my M10 threaded existing tripod (currently carrying an AZ4 head). As always FLO have been exceptional in their customer service - on this occasion particularly Ian and Grant. This is my inaugural foray into using a mount with electronic assistance - and I'm very excited! Just wanted to share with likeminded people, and with the promise that I shall update the thread in due course with some pictures and perspectives. Big thanks to @fwm891 Francis, who has helped get me out of my funk of 'paralysis by analysis' with the astro gear, and spurred me on to make a purchase! Clear skies, Ryan

Thanks @Carbon Brush! And great advice about squeezing some IPA (isopropyl alcohol rather than a nice Indian Pale Ale) into localised areas where the water residue is slow to clear. Just to give @John Edwards an explanation as to why that's a good idea - alcohol has a far lower boiling point than water, so adding this in will facilitate the unwanted water evaporating much faster - as counterintuitive as it may seem to add a liquid to solve a problem with water!

The main thing to remember with electronics is to resist the urge to turn them on and 'check' they're working still before you're absolutely sure they're dry. Metal, silicon and plastic all have no problem with water - the issue comes when a current is put through the components and water creates nasty bridges and shorts between parts. As tempting as it is to reassure yourself sooner, once you're sure it's dry - wait 48 hours! I'm sure you'll have no lasting issues 👍

Haha, I'm not in fact, but I can see how you could arrive at that possibility! Thanks for this - the idea of switching over to a Mak has been nagging away in the back of my mind, and I've so far managed to ignore it... just looked on FLO and seen that they offer the AZ Gti with a well regarded 127 skywatcher Mak for an irresponsibly reasonable price... Food for thought! Thanks again for the welcome and guidance

Hi there, and thanks for having me! I've spent the last 10 years or so skirting around the edge of the hobby, and am now in a position to pursue it more meaningfully, so here I am! I've owned a few scopes through the years, starting out with a 130mm Celestron - I can't remember the type specifically, I know it was a modified Newtonian of some description. Impulse purchase on a camping trip, and once I saw Saturn through it I was hooked! Alas, I quickly fell out of love with it once discovered aperture fever, and moved onto a Skywatcher 200p. Loved this scope, and got so much pleasure out of learning to collimate it and enjoying the 'fettling' side of owning this kind of scope - lazy Susan dob mods, cooling fans for the main mirror - great fun for tinkering! A change of circumstances meant that space came at more of a premium, so we parted ways, and I picked up another Skywatcher, the ED80. The logic was it would be the ideal 'Swiss army knife' scope for me. It has been leveraged into DSLR AP, quick set up backyard solar system visual, as well as dark site camping trips! It doesn't do any one thing perfectly, but it's certainly the scope that has got the most use - so by any meaningful definition, the best one for me to this point! I'm definitely at the point of wanting to make some changes to the set up, as I'm clearer in what I enjoy observing now - for visual, solar system objects and lunar are where i spend most of my eyepiece time. To this point I've been using the Alt-az Skywatcher AZ4 on a really sturdy steel tripod, working from 'Turn left at Orion'. However, I think its time for me to add a new mount in for visual use - and the AZ GTi seems an easy pick for my purposes! I'm hoping the tracking will help make it easier to pick out finer details on planets compared to pushing the scope, thanks to the smoother motion of it. I'd also really like to switch to a binoviewer, as I find it stereo observing far more comfortable, but am a bit wary as to the limits of 80mm of aperture with this much glass? Anyway! Thanks for reading my rather rambling introduction, any insights or guidance readily and gratefully invited! Clear skies, Ryan