robhatherton

There are various online manuals here if that helps: http://skywatcher.com/download/software/motor-control-firmware/

I’ve been able to try twice more with both iPad and iPhone )just one at a time!) with complete success. I first turn off my router extension so there’s no other wi fi in the garden then Switch on the mount, go to settings in iOS. Often I’ll find it’s already connected to th synscan network. Open sky safari click connect and it will open the Synscan app and then connect that. It works either if I align with the app or sky safari. Dropping connection is usually the fault if another more powerful Wi-fi network but also your phone/ pad must be set so the screen doesn’t go to sleep.

Yes I believe that’s the one - it’s some time since I bought it. You may find with the rdf and low power eyepiece you get on fine though.

Yes I believe they’re lovely scopes but this is as big as you’d want on this particular mount. It’s not so much the weight rather length would be the issue.

Al Having had these a month the last 2 nights are the first real opportunities I’ve had to get outside for more than 5 minutes. Having had a 120 f8.3 on a CG4 for about 6 years which I had taken to using in alt AZ mode I wanted a upgrade which would give me a boost searching for targets my star hopping failed to find. The scope arrived double boxed with a layer or peanuts between the two boxes and foam inserts supporting the scope inside. Those same insets fit snuggly inside a carry bag I have to store it in. It’s undoubtedly a well made good looking scope and looks a step up in terms of build quality. The dual focuser looks identical to those on other Altair scopes and those of some other manufacturers. The main focuser feels stiff at first though not if you use a hand on both sides but it’s smooth: the fine focus wheel is extremely smooth and very helpful at high mags. The scope weighs 4kg, is an fp51 doublet and is reputed to be virtually identical to the AT102ed (see the long and enthusiastic thread on Cloudy Nights where it’s considered excellent value for money) With the mount I also ordered the short pier and the heavier duty Sky-Watcher tripod: apart from the bolt at the top this is the same tripod as the CG4, EQ5 and provides a more stable base. I use a 2” diagonal and right angle 9x50 finder which adds to the weight so I think that’s essential. In use: this is an extremely quick to set up and capable outfit! At least it is now; like others I’ve had teething problems getting the mount set up but it is working well with Sky Safari on my iPhone or iPad now. So the scope is balanced quite far forward with the diagonal, eyepieces, finder etc which is convenient for viewing - no more contortions with a long refractor and eq mount. As long as it’s balanced the mount’s motors cope perfectly well. Last night I did a one star align with the Synscan app then used Sky Safari to goto all targets and adjust the alignment when necessary. I will need more practice but it’s my impression the goto might be more accurate with the Synscan app alone however it’s much more convenient using sky safari. Astro twilight is the best we get at the moment so fainter targets are really out for the present. Looking at double stars around Arcturus: Alkalurops, Xi Bootis and Pi Bootis were easily split sharp pinpoints of light. Izar was showing a hint of a split at 150x that is they clearly showed as 2 stars and then a very clear split with black between at about 200x: orangey yellow and greeny blue. Might have been a hint of ca in there I’m not sure. The fine focus is a great help here as the mount is at its limit at this mag. It does cope but it couldn’t be called rock steady! I had to look at Neowise, an easy find but my first comet. In the north it’s the more light polluted part of my sky but it showed up well enough. Various other targets too including a large smudge called Andromeda. At least I can find it easily now but I’ll look forward to darker skies to make more of it. Jupiter and Saturn still below my tree line. The highlight of my evening was the Great Cluster in Hercules: using a recent acquisition, a 16mm 82deg Nirvana this was stunning. I could really view it in context with countless stars resolving. In my 120 achro it hasn’t been as clear and sharp. In conclusion I’m really pleased with the views through this scope; it’s just what I was looking for. The mount is easy to use and just what I wanted to find and track targets. The whole outfit can be lifted and moved in one piece if necessary. A detailed review can be found online at the Sky at Night magazine site. tair Ascent 102ed f7 on Skywatcher AZ Gti Mount

It does look identical to my bst starguider and I’ve seen reviews that suggest it maybe.

Will try tonight, it’s looking a clear sky.

Hallelujah! This is the first time I’ve seen this spelled out and it works. Just set synscanlink as the scope type. I was fooled because when you’ve done that you don’t see any wireless settings. You just connect your iPad or phone to the mounts synscan network, open Sky Safari and click connect. So then opens the Synscan pro app and you connect with that then either app can control the mount. Question: do I align with the synscan app or sky safari?

I use an AZ Gti with the heavier duty tripod Skywatcher do and have an Altair Ascent 102ed f7 that weighs about 4kg before I put a 2” diagonal, eyepieces and a 9x50 finder on. It copes perfectly well for visual.

No I agree, sorry

I’m not sure but is this the kind of thing? https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/astro-essentials-3-8-photo-adapter-for-heq5-az5-tripod.html

Well I’ve got a cheap and cheerful BST Starguider 8-24 zoom which optically is very decent and I understand a clone of other, possibly more expensive models. The barrel was a little stiff to rotate at first but the tiniest squirt of GT85 cured that!

When I’ve loaded any of these lists into Sky Safari 6plus there seem to be no objects in the list! What am I doing wrong?

Thanks I tried that but it didn’t work for me.

That was probably me!😉 However I’m still not clear whether I can operate my AZ Gti with one iOS device running both Sky Safari and the Synscan app and I thought that was the point of the beta. I still need to use both my iPhone running one app and iPad running the other.

I signed on a few days ago but still waiting for an invitation and link to the beta software. You can’t just download it.

The dob would be Nice, true, or if you wanted a 100mm doublet the Astro Ascent 102 f7 with a diagonal and finder would come in Under budget - very good review in Sky at Night magazine. I’ve been very pleased with mine.

The sky looks as though there might be a few gaps in the clouds tonight!

I can’t make a comparison but I have recently bought the Ascent 102ed with the fp51 glass. I can believe the fp53 glass is better but it may be hard to tell the difference. The build quality and focuser on the Ascent are superb and identical to their considerably more expensive scopes. As to optical quality I can endorse the Sky at Night review though the weather has been poor since I got it so it’s not been out much yet but, referring to a previous thread of mine, splitting Izar has become noticeably easier than with my 120 achro. Can’t see CA focussing on distant trees against the skyline at x150 or on the moon so most people, I’m not saying everyone, wouldn’t notice it. A year or 2 ago it was priced at £100 more than now.

Not sure the Sky-Watcher seems the better scope. The Altair includes a diagonal and eyepiece which could make up the difference in price. It may also have a slightly better build quality and I know from experience of the 102ed it has a very good focuser. But I don’t think you’d tell any difference in results.

Yes, a way round the problem: if you set up sky safari to control the mount The you can set the slew speed before you hit goto. Obviously it will slew more slowly but will be a lot quieter!

I’ve found - unless it’s just chance that goto with the synscan app is sometimes more accurate than goto with sky safari. But it seems to help when I centre the star with sky safari and then click align. But either the synscan app Direction controls on the iPhone or sky safari Controls on the iPad will work just as well. I don’t have to use one or the other which is very convenient as the phone is a better size for a hand controller.

Well I don’t have a handset but I did find when tinkering about earlier that if I connect to the mount with the iPhone, set the synscan app to stay on top and the phone screen not to sleep that seemed to do the trick. I then connected with sky Safari and it stayed connected. If the iPad went to sleep it would disconnect sky safari but reconnect easily as long as the phone stayed awake.. Now I’ll just have to see how reliable that is!

Did you ever solve the dropping connection issue? I’ve got the same problem.

Hi, thanks but I’ve turned off the home wi fi Already and after the iPad running sky safari says it can’t connect anymore, when I check it is still on the synscan Wi-fi.