andyboy1970

Maybe it was the just the Meade 7" Mak.

Been reading somewhere that these de-forked SCT's have a counterweight built in to the OTA to balance them in the forks.

I would assume that purchasing just the OTA wouldn't have the built in counterweight.

I believe the 4Gb buffer is to allow for slower computers on USB2 and prevent dropped frames/subs.

1 hour ago, Adam J said:

No its an opinion not presented as fact. Hence me saying "my feeling is".

The trashing the competition remark is presented as fact....because it is just true and relates to everything from cars to washing machines. 

On the other hand:

"Asi1600 cameras have dark frames subtracted on camera so the data that arrives on your laptop isn't actually RAW data but already has dark frame subtracted to limit the amp glow."

Is a statement of supposed fact, made by SX and now repeated here without supporting evidence. Although andyboy1970 does qualify it with "if true" and hence its not him that I am accusing of making off the cuff remarks its SX.

In any case clearly whatever they are doing with on camera calibration does not matter as the Panasonic sensor is a good performer as evidenced by results. I suspect this is just SX trying to muddy the water to their advantage. Nothing wrong with that, its there job to sell their camera, but lets not fall for it hey??

Adam 

I did get suspicious when he went on to further poo on their product by saying a downside of CMOS cameras was the large amounts of data created.

I found this odd when he was showing SX's 3 pre-production CMOS cameras.

Changing the direction of this thread slightly, I was talking to the guy on the SX stand about the competition and he said that the Asi1600 cameras have dark frames subtracted on camera so the data that arrives on your laptop isn't actually RAW data but already has dark frame subtracted to limit the amp glow.

Can't find it mentioned anywhere on the web.

If true it seems a bit sneaky.

Very nice.

How do you rate the 12" GSO as a scope?

I have the same setup but must confess that I haven't even tried using the focuser through Ascom or using my Xbox controller.

If I have a play I will get back to you.

54 minutes ago, PeterCPC said:

"three have built their own aeroplanes. (One was on his fourth.)"

I wonder what happened to the other three

Peter

Paper aeroplanes aren't what they used to be!!! 

Of course! Got it, Because the distance from the filter to the chip is constant therefore shortening the FF to filter distance gives a wider light cone and the final focal point at the Ccd is shortened!

Right i'm going for a lie-down....

Thanks guys, I will go with 16mm and see if it needs adjusting.

I am setting up my filterwheel with Astronomik RGB, CLS-CCD & HA filters installed and was wondering how to factor these into the back focus calculation.

I will be using this setup with my Starlight Xpress mono camera on a Williams optics Megrez 72FD with FF ver1 and on a Skywatcher Newt. with 0.9x Coma corrector.

CC & FF require 55mm from camera.

Camera mount to chip = 17.5mm

Filterwheel thickness = 21.5mm

Therefore I need to use 16mm of spacers but what effect does the thickness of the filters have on this calculation?

My Explore Scientific line up & a Televue powermate.....

Used The Polar alignment function last night on my big Meade mount c.1980's which has no polarscope or Azimuth adjusters.

Using my ST80 & QHY5 with 8 second exposures it was detecting 15-20 stars.

Managed to get the mount aligned by slowly rotating the pedestal then adjusting Alt.

Very happy with the outcome.

Thanks Robin.

Had to post due to the fantastic support offered by Starlight Xpress.

I bought a secondhand camera which would only be recognised by some of my computers however not my imaging laptop running Windows 7.

Followed some advice from an old thread on SGL and managed to wipe the camera firmware so it wouldn't work on any computer......

Contacted Starlight Xpress and Terry Platt tried fixing the issue using remote control of my laptop, this was unsuccessful and Terry asked me to send him the camera.

Received the camera back today and oh yes it works with my laptop now.

Considering this is a secondhand camera the service offered and given by Terry was fantastic.

Future upgrade will be another Starlight Xpress camera.

My new eyepiece case with room to expand.

Still got to put the filters in....

Comet Lovejoy, 22Jan2015

32 x 15sec subs with a Canon 550d + 200mm f4 Canon pro lens.

The camera was propped up on my bedroom window sill and connected to my laptop for Backyard Eos.

It wouldn't do any harm to put the handset in the Airing cupboard or other warm place to make sure its bone dry inside.

Just helps rule that out.

How is it when the handset is powered direct from the 12v supply. i.e. not connected to anything else?

Just some thoughts, 1) Red LED above the light switch so you can find it, 2) Rubber skirting to take the water over the concrete rather than on to it.

Looks great though.

Agree with the above, I used 40mm pipe and it soon filled up with - 2 usb cables, power supply and firewire cables.

So you are going for 3 domes

Good luck its worth it.

Mine stand on end however the caps from the end stay in the foam when I pull the eyepiece out!