alan potts

I think it is a case of me worrying, I have it working and was surprised how simple it was once I overcome my mistake for the day, you probably know this is normal for me. I bought the Lynx 2.5mm cable to connect it to the 12v DC mains out put I have, think this was an alternative to the main unit provided. So there am I for 40 minutes at least trying all sorts and getting nowhere, it telling me all the time NO Ioptron hardware found. Then the penny dropped, the mount was without power!!, Francis, can you tell me what this connection via 2.5mm specially bought cable is for, does it power the twin 12vDC outlets on the main panel? if so I would require a 5.5mm to 5.5mm male both ends, is there such a thing or is this aimed at Focusers and filter wheels? Still got a bit of learning what can be done, but it seems to be working and we have a clear sky Alan

Well I have finally moved my new mount into the observatory. Now it took me forever and a lot of help from members to set-up the AZ EQ 6 and EQ Mod pulse guiding, APT, C-du-C and PHD, which worked very well after many problems with cables and self inflicted issues. I have found a set of instructions for setting up C-du-C with the mount and an Ascom driver, so I feel I can manage that. I also believe APT will not change too much and can deal with that, I think. However all I can find on PHD 2 is a guy saying how wonderful it is all works but nothing else and even this is for the EC version, can anyone point me in the right direction? Alan.

Superb shot the nebula has come out really well in this. Can I ask what you took it with, not the LX 12 inch surely. Alan

I bought mine about 3 years ago and I don't believe I have ever seen a secondhand one. I personally believe TeleVue are as good as any on the market for all their product and in many cases better. This better though is only very subtle in the case of many eyepieces I have tested and written about on here., I feel the same will be true of the Paracorr. EXSc is very good gear too and even some SW stuff is not far behind for much less, I am sure given a bit of time many others will chip in with what they have for much less than the price on the TV. Alan

I had one for visual work, HEQ 5 Pro by Sky Watcher, a solid mount that would carry about 11-12kg for photography, a few people on here produce first class images using a verity of cameras, including DSLR's. I am sure there are other mounts too. Alan

It certainly looks exactly like the coma I can get with my 18 inch F4.3 Dob, I got a Paracorr by TeleVue which has a slight magnification factor, x.15 if I recall correct. There is no doubt it is an excellent piece of equipment but with a sizeable price tag. There are others available I am sure but as to how good they are that another matter. I went with the TeleVue because all my eyepieces are, they say it works perfectly for AP, which I am sure it does. Alan

Very nice image there, I actually rather like the blue halos. I guess using a mask is the answer, I know how but rarely do, as long as I get a reasonable result whilst learning that pleases me. I'm happy. Alan

Very nice image, I tried this last year and like you only got part of it, well i think I did, comes out rather more red with DSLR. Alan

Nice report on something of a very similar set-up to that of mine. I tend to stick to same all the time, that being 4 minute subs but at zero gain, my skies are without doubt darker than the ones you take fine shots in. I am now in the process of changing mounts which I have not actually done yet, this mainly due to forgetting to order the cable for computer, that came yesterday. Like you I was not happy with my IC 1396, I feel this needs the other camera and my shorter Borg 77EDll which will more than cover the whole target. Alan

Great shot there and something I did last week with a pitiful 2 hours on a longer F/L scope, we do get some great dark shies down this way. Alan

Superb panoramic shot of the crater there John, quite a sight and as you say a fair sized bang, think I heard it when I was a boy.😀 Alan

Wow Brian, that's as good as I have seen, lovely rendition of one of my favourite visual targets. Alan

Work of the highest quality, what more can one say. Alan

Wow, that's like I have never seen it before, not seen Ha and Olll images before this one, lovely cature. I sort of forgot this target this year, it was one of the very first things I actually took a shot of, Alan

I did both of these and they are low from here so you have done well to get a result from where you are. There are a lot of orange stars in that part of the sky. so many that I thought I had done something wrong in processing, your shot sort of confirms it, well done nice shot. alan

Thanks Adam, I have sort of been taking it steady from Minus 5 or whatever up to Plus one or two the shutting it of a 6 degrees, think basically what you have told me. Alan

Very nice shot, love the wide view treatment. Alan

Yes indeed I did mean that, not sure where my mind was when I put the titles. Alan

Yes I saw this and do use it, I really meant after the capture, I think I am over stretching in some cases, but at the moment with other small problems I had, Flat are maybe out of sync and Darks may well need re-doing. I am putting a new mount in very soon so no point in bothering too much. Stay tuned though I am bound to cause myself some problem or the other. Alan

Totally and utter stupid isn't it, why try to fix a system that as far I can see was n't broken. Alan

I have dropped 365 a line see what they have to say Dave, kind offer of your, thank-you. I am struggling badly with the bank at the moment, since they put in another lever of security I can use my account to pay you. It's a joke really, they send a text to your mobile, I dare say you have heard of it, the trouble is the system can't see Bulgaria's code, 00359, it can only handle the 0035 part. This then sends a text to a country code that don't exist. Finland and Holland have the same problems because Finland has 3 digits and Holland only 1. Some egg head didn't think things through, over 3 weeks now, no bank account. Luck has it I can still make Card payment to the likes of FLO but then I have to sit in queue for 10 minutes to ensure my transfer has gone through to pay for it all from here. That's IT for you. Alan

Just struggling a tad with the different processing as compared to the Canon. Just need to practice a bit more. Though with the help I get on here it may not be a bad idea with my clear skies, post the data and leave the processing to the others. I am luck here, it must be a pain to have wonderful gear that you can't use for British weather, I know sometimes back when I started it would be weeks between use of the scope. Alan

A good while ago one of my fellow Mods gave me what he considered best settings for DSS, in the various sections; Lights, Darks, Flats etc, Median, Sigma clipping etc. Due to a change in computer and other moving of programs from one place to another I have lost these. Now I understand some of this is purely a matter of opinion but what do you consider best for use with a OSC 071 camera. Alan

Superb piece of work, sorry I missed it last night, I am not sure how, I always read your posts, I don't always understand them but I try to, thank-you for taking the time to write it. Alan

Lovely image there Rodd, almost looks like it's smoking, must try this one sometime, been beaten in by cloud for a couple of hours so that's it for me tonight. Alan