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My HEM27 has arrived. I’ve had some fun today making an adapter for the top of my tripod to take it. Weathers closed in so I’ve just been setting up my laptop and NINA with its drivers, my ASIAIR Plus’s too now recognises it. 
Bit of a fiddle changing the saddle over to take losmandy plates. It now doesn’t go back in it’s case without removing the saddle clamp screw.

Aim to get the rasa on it tomorrow and drive it around a little indoors.

Be good to go back and get some more of the hamburger to strengthen that and add the comet back in again. Just a thought...

Great combo. I've used the 533 with a RASA and really had great results from them. As Olly says you won't have the tilt problems of an APS-C  chip (I currently use a 2600 Duo or 585 on the RASA) but luckily both are fine.

Looking forward to seeing your Horsie when you've finished. Much to enjoy from now on. Remember to curve your cables at the front end to cut down on diffraction effects.... The printed cable guides FLO sells are great for that.

I had a go at the Crab nebula tonight 15x 300s OO VX10 f4.8 ASI2600MC Duo ASKar Ha/OIII 6nm NB filter...

Cropped down just to make processing a bit faster!

Just warmed up and a quick process of IC434 old Horsie...

Thanks for the write up. Waiting for my HEM27 to arrive, noted about the handset although I’ll be running an asiair plus to do pa etc., which worked well with my AZ-GTi mount. Already using Commander with a CEM60 so familiar with that. Intending to use an 80mm f6 or RASA 8 on the mount… 

I’m using an ASIAIR Plus and have an HEM 27 on order. I went for the standard 27 because I intend using it via the air plus. I’d read about conflicts between the EC and PC controllers of the mount so decided to save some money. The airplus’s PA is said to be better than the iPolar too.

I guess if your reasonably local then a 'Window shop' is an option at an event like that. But having travelled lots of miles you just feel you need to come away with a 'little'🤫 trinket to make the effort worth while...

Superb image(s). An area you don't normally see as a single frame. I like that.

Don’t discount the iOptron CEM 70 & 120 mounts great workhorses. I have an older CEM 60 which ( touch wood) is going strong still. iOptron are known more for their mounts.

What sort of kit are you wanting the mount to handle?

-22° C and he's complaining! At least Gorann you have clear skies. Great imaging as usual.

Hi, I've just added a ZWO EAF focus motor unit to my set-up.

Although I've jogged the focuser back-n-forth and found a 'focus' with ASIAIR, I haven't been able to find a how-to or do a calibration of the EAF focus motor. I'd like to know the extent of it's 'numerical travel' rather than just the position it focus' in after being attached to the focuser and switched on/connected.

Other focusers I've had give a calibration routine to take the focuser fully one way set either a max or zero point run the motor in the opposite direction and set the opposing point. The awkward thing here is that I've fitted it to a rasa so visually there is no movement of the focuser to know when a min or max position have been reached.

Using:  ASIAIR V2.1.1(10.74) Any help greatly appreciated.

Splendid imaging Gorann.

Waiting for my HEM27 to arrive that 10-15 days seems to have been there a long time FLO…

Any further set-up hints/tips guys while I wait for the postie…

10 hours ago, Dr Strange said:

Very nice Francis! Do you use a EQ wedge or just use it in alt/az mode?

@DrStrange Thank you. A wedge. Necessary to get the length of sub frames.

Ordered an HEM27 from FLO. Will update and a review in due course.

I know that feeling. But for me a result like that was back as a teenager in the 60’s after holding a film camera to an ep and getting my first moon shots. I’m still doing it, you get hooked…

I've come to the decision to sell my AZ-GTi in the New Year along with my home made eq mounting. It's been great for the 80mm scope I've been using it with but I'm looking to get a longer and heavier scope and I think that will just be pushing things a little too far.  Definitely retaining the 80mm that's a great little scope but my next scope up is my 10 inch f4 newt and that is way too big for the GTi. No I'm after something in the 115 / 120 frac range. I've had an Altair Wave Series 115 and like all things you sell you wish you hadn't.

https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/408199-diy-pantilt-tripod-head-for-my-az-gti/

So keep an eye on the classifieds in the new year...

NOW IN CLASSIFIEDS 

Decided to get the HEM27. Hoping one of the shows in the new year will offer a discount on one but given the cost of getting there it’s probably cheaper to just order online anyway. 
 Here’s hoping 🤞 Santa 🎅 makes you all happy this year! 

@Elp and @knobby many thanks for the link and the notes on the HEM27. I currently use the ASIAIR Plus's PA routine to align my AZ-GTi so would be more than happy to carry on in that mode. My thoughts just went along the lines of will I use the mount without the AA+ in which case the iPolar would be useful... Jury out on that ATM.

Thanks

Hi,

I've been dithering for a while now about changing my grab-n-go mount for something that will take more weight, will operate via an ASIAIR Plus and last for 3-4 hours on something like the smaller Celestron battery pack.

Originally I considered the HEM15 and the AM3 (I've seen the iOptron video of the mount swinging an 8 inch ScT around) but I don't like running a mount at it's maximum therefore I've since been thinking that possibly the HEM27(A) would give me more than enough grunt to handle my 8 inch RASA which would be the largest scope I'd look to use for grab-n-go. The AM5 is too expensive although it is getting good reviews?

I currently use an AZ-GTi on a Surveyors tripod as my grab-n-go kit with an 80mm f6 triplet (1x & 0.8x red/flat) and either an ASI585 or ASI 2600MC Duo cameras, ASIAIR Plus, EAF and 9x 50 guidescope +120mm camera.

If there are users here of the HEM 27 how are you finding the mount. I've read some reviews which seem mixed on CN but I'd like to hear from users this side of the pond preferably.

Many thanks

4 hours ago, AstroNebulee said:

Very good images indeed. I'm really pleased your AzGti performed well for you last night. 😊

What camera were you using and how many pixels did you dither? The asiair should goto and plate solve your target for you I thought. That's what my asiair pro does. 

Lee 

Hi Lee,

I use an ASI585 MC uncooled camera normally with the 80mm (Altair f6 Ascent triplet + 0.8 Red/Flat) I sometime use an ASI2600 Duo for big FoV's.

Dither I think is set for 5 pixels every third sub, but I need to check that. It's just it seemed to do its dithering in one direction?

Image with the ASI2600Duo + 80mm+0.8 red. on the AZ-GTi

Short break in the clouds last night so out with the AZ-GTi with my 80mm frac mounted. Control via ASIAIR Plus and captured letting it  live stack 30 second subs. 1st was of NGC281 with 24 subs collected. 2nd was part of the Califoria nubula (NGC1499) with 63 subs collected.

These were transferred to my desktop PC via usb stick and processed in PI. Really pleased as it is a quick and easy mount to set-up. Provided you take it back to its 'home' position after a PA alignment goto's are very close and ASIAIR alignment completes the job. I need to cut down on the dither movement as it's ended up needing a good crop on the California neb image after 63 subs.

Hope you like

Treated myself to a new Celestron  battery pack to replace my old motorcycle lead acid battery which has really had it's day. Set-up went as normal so no problems with the battery and I just left it chugging away while I went and did the washing up! (one has to be practical to get brownie points).

Scope used was an Altair 80mm triplet with 0.8x reducer fitted and an ASI 585 uncooled camera. The AZ-GTi was controlled via an ASIAIR Plus. No filter other than a UV/IR cut filter (Baader) the moon had risen but still quite low and was about ¾ illuminated. I used 30s live view stacking via the ASIAIR Plus.

I used GraXpert to remove the moon gradient and PI to stack and the remaining processing.

Main stars have blown out but it's the surrounding nebulosity of M45 that's the main feature.

Hope you like.