Starslayer

I have the 6” dx explorer and love it. It does have accuracy issues despite numerous fine tuning attempts but it does get you NEAR the spot all the time. I have learnt how to tweak to get the target. So easy though as you can move the set up at will and it plate solves with ease. Ridiculous price increases though since I got mine last year.

Thank you for taking the time to post all this.

Picture? 🤣 I have actually decided that I do not need the 9 x 50 on the ST102 but I have upgraded the RDF to a Baader Skysurfer 111 and it is very good. The 9x50 is now on my 6"sct with the addition of a Baader universal shoe and again works well although I have the Telrad on there too. I think a rdf of some sort is essential ( for me at least ) as the start point.

I think he means it was a first using it at that time of day. 👌

Thank you

Thanks. I think the Rigel may be good. Does it just stick on like the telrad and does it come with these pads?

MMm. Another good idea. The double shoe thing may be a bit bulky and I am not sure if one side would interfere too much with ep area. Not seen the Rigel in the flesh. I have a telrad on my sct which is big. Too big for the ST. The rigel always looks a bit skyscraperish to me. I don't suppose you have a pic of it on your ST102 do you?

Sounds promising.

So I now have the ST102 with Crayford dual speed focuser upgrade, 2" williams diagonal, nice eps and a recent 9x50 raci finder which is now on thanks to the overlooked ( on my part ) need for a shoe on the new focuser. Clear skies last night, excellent. Let's have a quick look at Orion. Now it is not exactly a small target but the trouble I had and HOW much did I miss the dodgy little plastic RDF that came as stock. !!!!! I need to get the RDF back on for tonight but hold on, where do I fit it? There are no other areas to add it to the focuser or anywhere else for that matter. OK I can remove the RACI and pop it in there but I want both on. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. The sudden loss of the ability to look straight through to get straight on a particular area of sky was a real pain last night. Thanks all.

Useful thanks. I do appreciate the close up issue. Just had no option today. I usually do the daytime one on a local hospital mast 2 miles away.

Will that also give the opportunity to line up the cross hairs. (For the OCD amongst us! ) Otherwise I don’ think I will dabble until other options are exhausted.

I get it now. Thank you.

Thanks.. what is the purpose of removing it (having just bought it new) ? To make sure the o ring is seated properly in a groove?

Yes I am ok with that part thanks anyway.

erm , how? Completely loosen the adjusting screws x 2?

Rubber O ring?

Thank you for the continuing replies. I will look at the focus again. Is the movement internal as there is no obvious external movement other than twisting it.

Well as usual with these things, even a tiny little diagram included may have been a start. Nothing in the box except the finder. Nothing at all!

Not quite so sure. Mounted it and tried to align daytime today. The amount of play in the plastic ones gave out before I could get the cross hair centred on target. Is there a trick to this or a starting point I should be aware of? I have also played with the focus and that does not seem to do much either. Admittedly my first target was a bit close so maybe it will not focus down that close. Will try again on a more suitable target.

ah - an idiot knob just for the likes of me then? 😀

At the risk of causing more damage with excessive uneducated twiddling, can somebody please explain to me what this chrome knob is for on this finder? Thank you.

The original was ok once balanced. Yesterday I swapped it out for the Crayford one. Boy was that a tight fit! It is much heavier too but all balances ok. What I did forget is that he new focuser does not have a finder shoe! Idiot boy! Another order pending.

I think you have nailed it there. Not wishing to start drilling I will stick with the rings then. Thank you

Thanks . Deffo no dovetail attached to this version. No holes / screws - nothing. I just have the rings. Thinking of adding the focuser too and appreciate that is again more weight. I still have room for manoeuvre though on the small dovetail.