Gasman

Just trying your software now Paul and wondering why when clicking on my profile at top right it takes you to a billing page?. Do you plan on charging for this software in the future?. Steve

Raw Therapee,Darktable,Digikam,Ansul to name but 4 and all free and very useful for any type of imaging (I don't think any work with .fits files though, are they still used with astro?) Steve

I've often heard the term 'old friends' referring to the constellationsand that's how I tend to look at them, if I can't see them this year no big I can always see them next (health etc willing 😆). I popped out the other night and noticed Lyra high in the sky, gave her a quick nod and thought see you later 😄!. Steve

Been there Stu and got the T shirt on that and switched to microscopy which obviously is not weather dependent BUT funnily enough I'm presently reviving my trusty old NEQ6 mount and Esprit refractor which has been sitting patiently in my dome for over 4 yes. I very nearly sold all my gear but glad I hung onto it now. A nice surprise was to find the mount spring back to life when I powered it up. I'm sussing out Nina at the moment so haven't done any observing yet but the astro interest is starting to return, maybe the weather frustration will return who knows 👍. Steve

Bit of a long shot maybe but I recently restarted my Neq6 mount after having Ascom problems where I had to use the GS server from the Green Swamp site to connect to my laptop. Post here if interested!. HTH Steve

I've had a break from astro for some 4yrs now and my old Neq6 mount and Esprit refractor have been under cover in my Observatory all this time. I'm wanting to start observing again and wondered if/how the mount would start up again. I bought a new power supply and Lynx eqmod cable (thanks Flo) downloaded all (so I thought) the latest Ascom stuff and with everything crossed plugged the eqmod cable in to laptop the file downloaded no probs com port 3 great!. Plugged power cable into mount turned it on, red led lit up phew!. Plugged eqmod plug into mount and nothing....damn bet the mounts circuitry is kaput!!. Long story short turned out I didn't have the Neq6 driver. The Ascom stuff is not as easy as the last time I used it and couldn't find the driver on the Ascom site and so I came across Rob Morgan and his Green Swamp site, downloaded the GS server and voila my trusty little mount sprung into life Yessss!!. So it seems all's well at the moment. Looks like Ascom has changed quite a bit since I last used it ! Anyways happy restart to astro 👍. Steve

What an excellent and helpful post Frenchy, just shows what can be achieved with a bit of thought ( and a bit more expertise obviously). Many dslr's on eBay sold as 'not working' for a song and well worth having a try with. Not sure what the black goat made of it 😄 Thanks for the info 👍 Steve

I use DesignSpark Mechanical for all my 3d stuff, the free version won't allow importing stl's but you can still create and save them! Steve

Know exactly what you mean Malc! It was the never ending cloudy nights that stopped me observing. I don't think for one minute it's better now but maybe with age I might be a bit more patient with the clouds 😄. Steve

Thanks David, yes the Nevada one that Flo sells looks very similar to the Maplins one I had and never had a problem with it!. Steve

Good idea and I think if I lived in Spain that would be a no brainer but in my neck of the woods (North Yorks) sunshine is as rare as hens teeth🤷. I managed fine with the Maplins unit until it packed in. I notice Flo do something similar might check that out. Cheers Steve

Hi guys Funny what triggers these things😄!. Just had a few conifers taken down in my garden which has opened up my southern sky views and strangely rekindled my interest in astro and so now I'm in the process of restoring my long dormant (well about 5yrs) observatory. I last used a Maplins regulated voltage unit for my 12v having got 240v already to the obs but this sadly died some time back and wondering what's available presently. It would be providing 12v to my Atik 314 ccd, Atik filter wheel, Lodestar guider and Neq6 mount (assuming they all still work?) and possibly 2 dew heaters. A few bench supply units look interesting on Amazon but not sure how they would cope with possible condensation in my Pulsar dome, what do you guys use please?. Thanks Steve

Ok so these 'guys' have the technology to travel many light years to get to earth and when they arrive they crash land on some obscure part of the planet???. Sorry peeps I don't buy it 🤷!.

I think you choose the Atik 2 option in Ascom! Steve

Ah that's interesting Nigel, I thought the SchmitCass mirrors were mass produced spherical with a front lens to enable focus? Steve