Chris M48

Hi, does anyone know if an EQM-35 pro mount will fit onto a mount designed for an EQ5 Pro pier or tripod? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Clear nights

Thanks Martin. Exactly what I did but the moon and the mist proved too strong for decent results. Even so looks promising enough for better conditions. I can wait. Thanks for your assist.

My setup: SW Evostar120ED on EQ5 Pro, SW .85 Reducer/Flattener, ZWO Duo band filter 1.25”, ZWOasi294mc cooled camera. Filter is 6.6mm in front of sensor, Reducer is 55mm in front of sensor. LP is not too bad here but Moon is overhead. what should I look for to assess how badly the filter has affected the image? I will try and find a subject as far from the moons influence as possible. I tried to place the filter between the scope and the reducer but had reflections and generally poor results. It would be really handy if it works but I’m expecting it not to. Any advice will be very welcome. Clear skies and stay safe.

Mount: SW EQ5 Pro - Scope : SW Evostar 80ED + SWFlattener/Reducer - Filter: ZWO Duo (Ha + OIII) - camera: ZWOasi294mc Pro 18 x 240sec 185gain -10c 20subs 18darks 30flats. All in all I’m pleased with the image and the Duo.

My setup is SW Evostar 80ED - SW Flattener/Reducer - ZWOasi294mc Pro. I want to place it before Flattener/Reducer. Will that work? Thanks

My name’s Chris and live near Blandford Forum for the last few years. Started stargazing about 12 years ago and have tried most things in the budget category in that time. Mainly, Skywatcher products but that’s no surprise. Pier in the garden next to mission control (summer-house). I’m an oldie but still love it, despite all the frustrations. Clear skies and catch you later.

If so, what do you think of it? I’m thinking of getting one for AP to compliment my SW Evostar80ED and Asi294mc pro. Thanks.

Hi, Thanks Martin and Dave. I did download the ZWO ASCOM driver which enabled instances 1 & 2. That did not resolve the problem directly but may well have come into play with Martins suggestions. Martin, worked 1st time with suggestion 2 although it knocked out PHD2’s hold on asi120mini in favour of asi294. Shut both down. Restarted PHD2 and successfully connected to asi120 and started looping. Restarted APT and re-did your suggestion and enabled asi294 live view. Left them running for a while then stopped and started PHD2 to test. All ok so far. I’ll be glad to see the same result tomorrow evening when trying with the full setup. Can’t thank you enough for all your great advice. Cheers.

I use PHD2 for guiding and APT for imaging and overall control. ASI120mini mono for PHD2 and ASI294mc pro for APT. Both cameras run perfectly when run independently but together ....... nightmare. I know that this is a known problem but can’t find a satisfactory solution. Device Manager shows both with no problems. Neither PHD2 nor APT Allows specific selection of either but automatically selects one or the other. Can anyone help please. Thanks.

Thanks Peter. I’ve discarded StellariumScope as you suggested but I still get same error when trying to connect via PHD 2 and APT. I can set up to slew in Stellarium but not Sync or Cancel. I cannot bring up the ASCOM virtual handset like I used to, even though the checkbox is set. I want to manoeuvre and guide the scope from my PC. I’ve been doing this for years (albeit,via EQDIR and EQMOD) with Synscan but am halted when using Celestron Adv GT (CG5) and NexStar. update: Tried it on another pc with same drivers and settings, started first time with no problems at all. We carry on.

Hi, Has anyone come across this error when connecting a scope via PC? Object reference not set to an instance of an object. No problems at all when connecting direct to handset. I’m using stellariumscope and/or PHD 2. Driving me nuts! I’m an old hand but obviously missing something. I can slew via Stellarium but can’t Sync or Cancel. I need to connect via StellariumScope if I want to guide, which I do. Any help appreciated. Thanks

I’ve reluctantly decided to sell my EQ6-R in favour of a grab and go. Now that it’s gone I can categorically say the it is without doubt the best mount I’ve ever had or used. I know it’s not cheap but worth every penny in my view. Just sayin’.....

Will my SW reducer for 100ED work equally as well for 120ED? l ask because I’m upgrading my scope and trying to limit the expense. Thanks for looking.

Thanks Peter, It shows me that I’m on the right path but just a bit further to go. Wish me luck! success! Choice of 2 COM ports and I picked the wrong one. Changed it over and works a treat. thanks again. Chris

I have a Celestron Advanced GT Mount which is controlled using a laptop via handset. I want to do this wirelessly via Bluetooth with my RS232 serial adapter. The adapter has been successfully paired with my laptop and 2 virtual COM ports are assigned and showing as linked with Bluetooth for sending and receiving data. l’m not sure which COM port to select for overall control. I expected COM port dev8 to be available but no such thing. Can anyone please help with this? Thank you.

Indeed it does Steve but it didn’t look like it at first sight. A lack of confidence and knowledge on my part. I hope this might help someone else in the future. Thanks Knobby, Steve and Avocette for helping sort this out for me. SGL strikes again. Clear skies everyone.

Thanks for that. My problem is that the focuser is set up for EOS and thus has a bayonet connector attached with grub screws. It needs to have a connection suited to my new asi camera. Thanks again.

Hi, I have a SW 100ED Refractor with .85 Focal Reducer Set up for Canon EOS camera. I want to use it in conjunction with my new ZWOasi294mc Pro. Is there an adapter that I can use to enable this. Any help will be much appreciated. Thanks.

Telescopes: SW Evostar 120 & SW ED100 APO Cameras: Altair GPcamAR0130, ZWOASI290MC & Canon T3 Rebel DSLR What new cooled camera Will best suit my scopes for imaging DSO’s? Budget: £750 - £1200 Been looking at ZWOASI183MC PRO & ATIK HORIZON II. All suggestions welcome. Thanks.

Thanks Bryan. Lots of stuff there to keep me going a while. wish me luck. ATB & Clear skies.

I’m thinking of making a cool box for my DSLR to assist with AP. I have made a peltier cooler for my ZWO camera that was OK but not great. Looking to create a similar system to cool a thermal lined Balsa wood box for my 1100D to at least replicate a cool winters night. I foresee some problems such as battery replacement during a session but a dummy battery option might solve that. I’m assuming there will be many more problems to solve. Has anyone tried something like this successfully? Any assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Mine has a glass cover seated on a rubber ring and it was that I removed to reveal the sensor. Hopefully, I won’t need to repeat the process.

Paul: The fluid I used was Baader Optical Wonder. Gordon: Horror story but you seem to have got away with it. BTW, I did give it a good blow with my puffer. He who dares doesn’t always win. good luck all. Stay safe.

I was aghast to find my ZWO camera had collected a few nasty specks on its sensor thus ruining several image sessions. It was with great trepidation that I decided to attempt to remove them. Having needing to do this occasionally in the past with my DSLR’s I decided to have a go. I of course, first cleaned the glass protective cover and all lenses and filters in the train and tested, before accessing the sensor itself. I used a cleaning swab with minimal fluid. In fact, making sure of removing any excess moisture on the already cleaned glass. Do not rub the sensor but use the lightest touch. I’m glad to say all was well with excellent results. Not for the faint hearted though. Clear skies, stay safe.

Thanks fireshipjohn for some good guidance. FLO are sending me the adapter. Great stuff.