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halli

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Everything posted by halli

  1. Hi - if anyone is interested in the solution to this...... It was eventually solved by removing the Atik drivers specified above and installing the Atik Indi driver from the cloudmaker site ! This worked first time with the Atik EFW2 wheel...........
  2. Thanks Radek. I have checked my Atik drivers using the command you suggested with the following result:- ii indi-atik 2.1~201901081329~ubuntu16.04.1 amd64 INDI Driver for Atik cameras and filter wheels. ii libatik 2.2.4~201902271745~ubuntu16.04.1 amd64 Library for Atik Cameras. Looks like the library is the same but the driver is different to yours perhaps because its amd64 ? However they are not the most recent it seems ? Perhaps I should upgrade them to try and solve the problem, if so which command would do that ? Thanks again for your help with this
  3. Thanks for your responses Wim, Stash and Radek I am assuming that the problem is related to the Kstars/Ekos build and not the driver since it was the update to this that caused the problem. Dont think it is the EFW2 itself as the problem manifested when I updated to Kstars v3.1.0 - Jasem has stated that the build of the driver is incorrect in this version but since then has stopped responding ! Are you using V3.1.0 Radek ?
  4. Ok thanks very much for your response - do you know where this is located please ?
  5. Hi I have recently moved from Windows/Ascom to using Indi via Kstars/Ekos and Ubuntu. I found the raspberry Pi a bit underpowered for a full imaging rig and therefore installed Ubuntu on my Laptop together with Kstars/Ekos to improve performance. The system worked fairly well until Kstars was updated to v3.1.0 from 3.0.0 recently, unfortunately I found that my Atik EFW2 filter wheel driver kept crashing with v3.1.0. I raised this on the Indi forum and Jasem the Ekos maintainer said that the Atik driver had not been built properly on v3.1.0 and he was going to rebuild it. However since then no rebuilt driver has appeared and I am now stuck. I can now no longer use my rig as I cant change filters and am stuck with v3.1.0 that does not work with my Atik EFW2. I would have though this would affect all Atik wheel users who have updated to Kstars v 3.1.0 ! Is there anyone out there who has solved this problem and can help me move forward please ? Any help greatly appreciated ! Thanks in anticipation
  6. Hi All A recent (August) 130pds image of M33 with an ASI 1600mm-c. The image is LRGB with the red channel enhanced with Ha
  7. I guess certain well known objects are worth revisiting with new kit or knowledge to see if they are any better than when you first tried. So this is M33 cropped with 130pds and Atik 383L+ Processed in PI in LRGB about 38x600s L and 12x600s each of RGB
  8. Hi Had a go at IC1848 with the 130pds and Atik 383l+ . Around 10x1000s HA and 5x600 secs RGB Processed in PI (HaRGB) - thinking of how to introduce HA in the red channel as well without washing the star colours out - any advice on this welcome - star mask does not appear to work !
  9. Hi Had a go at Pelican/NGC7000 using Narrowband and RGB now Cygnus is coming into view. Using 130pds with Skywatcher CC and Atik 383L+ About 7x1000s Ha and 7X600s each of RGB I decide to combine the Ha as a luminance with the RGB - and this is what happened !
  10. Thanks Rob - looks like some really useful info there - much appreciated ! I have used the SGP flat calibration wizard to provide the exposure for a given ADU target figure but not sure how accurate it is though - unfortunately I do not have Maxim I am in the process of trying to connect a skywatcher CC to my EFW2 filter wheel. My understanding is that the scope side of the cc is push fit into the draw tube and the other side is M48 male for the filter wheel/camera. I believe I need a M54/M48 adapter to connect to the EFW2 which I am struggling to source ! Not sure if I can visualize your set up with the internally mounted CC.
  11. Interesting thought Rich yes it is 12V and therefore it is worth trying to reduce the input voltage as you suggest - I'll certainly look into that thanks for the idea ! Thanks also for your response Paul. Its good to know that the ADU value isn't so critical ! I have used the SGP flat calibration wizard which finds the exposure for an ADU value which seems to work quite well. The fiddly bit is dimming the light source so that the exposure values are high enough for the 383. Not sure what I am going to do about the third screw ! I guess I may be able to use a hand drill - not sure . Certainly longer bolts are needed in my case as it is difficult tightening them by hand because of the proximity of the filter wheel body. An Allen head seems to definitely be needed when trying to hold the weight of all the gubbins. I was thinking whether there was a brass compression ring adaptor that could be screwed onto the end of the drawtube to replace the current assembly. The focuser seems ok at the moment if I use the locking screw after focussing, but thanks for the link - Im sure that will come useful in the future at some point Cheers Ian
  12. Thanks Ross. I'll try that value out.
  13. Thanks. I will certainly have a go as well myself at M1. I have a GSO RC8 so probably try that out on it as it has a longer focal length - but good to see its reasonably tolerant to cropping as it is a small object. You captured some nice detail !
  14. Thanks for the advice Rob. I have bought an A3 LED display for flats and am experimenting with this. Because of the shutter on the 383 it means that the right amount of light reduction needs to be made to increase the exposure time - which is a bit fiddly. Unfortunately the panel can be dimmed but does not dim enough ! Its a question of diffusing the light enough to get to the right exposure I guess. I am also going to look at the T shirt method outdoors but again its getting the right thickness of material to get a long enough exposure ! Bring back AV DSLR flats anyday ! I believe a figure of 25-30k ADU and above 5s should be achieved to avoid the shutter affect ? Wrt the coma corrector yes the drawtube focusser scews arent the best and I thought of replacing the complete unit which holds the screws as it is difficult to tighten the screws with the filter wheel in situ as it is. Haven't researched this yet though. From the Atik site the backfocus for the 383 is quoted as 17mm which I assume is from the chip to the 383 mating interface - I guess this is the distance I add to the EFW thickness and then add the CC internal distance to the lens and then also add a spacer if required to get 55mm Does this sound about right to you ?
  15. Nice crab Simmo - good size for 130pds - was it cropped ? What was the exposure length and number of lights ? I also managed to make use of a full clear sky the other night without the moon ! I am still getting used to using a mono CCD with filters and LRGB processing so I thought I would select a cluster in this case the beehive M44 where there were some different colours in the stars. Still mastering flats with the 383l so there were none ! 6x1000s L 6x600 r,g and B I have just got a Skywatcher Coma Corrector but haven't fitted it yet to the 130pds so there is a little coma in the cornerss of the attached even though it was cropped to get rid of the majority. I would appreciate if any one has any advice about fitting the CC with the 383l. I hope you like the cluster (at least the right colours appear to have emerged ...........) Any advice/comment on the processing welcome ! Ian
  16. Hi all Thought id post the below from the first clear night for quite a while ! IC405 the Flaming star nebula. Canon1100D modded with UHC filter and 130pds 6 x 1000s subs with flats , darks and bias Please excuse the coma. I have recently acquired an Atik 383l+ mono and hope to be up and running with that soon - although its a steep learning curve !
  17. Hi Damian Congratulations on your monster mirror - what a saga and such brilliant determination ! I was browsing Stargazer's Lounge and decided to look at some mirror making treads and accidentally came across this one a couple of days ago !!! I have returned to astronomy a couple of years ago after a gap of almost 30 years. The last thing I did all those year's ago was to make a 8.75" mirror using Texerau's book. My deadline for the complete scope was to view Halley's comet in 1986 which I just about achieved. I remember using a spare bedroom and during melting some pitch the neighbours knocking at the door complaining of smelling the fumes which had entered their house by some means. We still have a laugh about the look on their faces when I told them what I was doing - even now ! Nowadays I have taken the easy route and bought some kit and am into imaging. Your thread brought back so many memories - making a mirror is certainly a test of character. Thank you for taking all the time to document your experience - it is really appreciated. I left off making mirrors after getting a 15 inch blank from Galvoptics in Essex - ready for my next project. Sadly I never got around to grinding it and it is still lying dormant together with a glass tool and grinding grit - didn't have enough time in those days. However I have more time now and retirement beckons and your endeavours were truly inspirational to such an extent that I may well start the big grind on the 15" even though I get my kicks from imaging and not observing these days !! I guess a Dob will always come in handy. I think the thing that drives mirror maker's forward is the access to large apertures and the thrill of creating a mirror yourself as good if not better than one you can buy - looking through it for the first time and bringing a star into focus is a truly wonderful experience and there will always be a bigger mirror next time !!!! I hope the same goes for you and thanks again for re-kindling the excitement that I felt all those years ago !!! I look forward to your build thread and the culmination of all your good work Best wishes Ian
  18. Thanks for the comment Damian and for the OAG tip Mike. I can see from the way the OAG is constructed that the focus is going to be fiddly ! Unfortunately I dont have an object visible from my garden far enough away to represent the kind of focus necessary to represent a star so I may have to wait for a clear sky to work on it which is a shame. I have found that focus is achieved with my DSLR with the three extension rings on and the focusser just wound out about 5mm, so I have taken one of the rings off to put the OAG in so I guess I may be able to figure out where the rough focus needs to be with the DSLR beforehand. I am hoping there may be a bit of a clearance early on tonight to have a fiddle. Looking forward to it ! Thanks again Ian
  19. Hi Everyone Well it finally arrived ! Although when unpacked it was branded TecnoSky not Altair Astro. However it was a GSO RC8 with exactly the same spec including the Losmandy plates and 3 extension rings. The first collimation with a Cheshire showed it was only slightly out and needed a little adjustment to the secondary only. A further slight adjustment to the secondary was made with a star test. Not sure how well I have done this so would welcome comments on the attached image. So to the first real light with a camera ! I had a go at open cluster M103 to give it an easy first try but without any guiding set up I had to reduce the exposure length to about 60s - and took 30 subs. The result is attached after a quick and dirty processing in PI to get something out. I am quite pleased with the star shapes as far as I can make out - although some slight coma deep in the corners under high magnification only - which doesn't bother me ! I would appreciate any comments particularly at this early stage. I have also obtained an OAG and focal reducer but want to do some work without the FR first so I can compare befoere and after. I also need to set up the OAG! I presume this just goes in between the focusser and the camera. It has a 2 inch nose piece supplied with it and I hope to use my ASI 120MC as the guide camera. Any tips on setting the OAG up would be most welcome ! So onward and upward to bagging some galaxies ! Best wishes Ian
  20. Latest update - found a source of the AA RC8 in Europe - AST Optics - so i've pressed the button and ordered it ! They despatched it on 22/7 and according to the tracking status it is now on route in 'Gran Bretagna' after travelling through 'Germania' having started its journey in Alessandria. So it may be here very soon ! The excitement mounts...............
  21. Failed at he first hurdle - out of stock with AA currently - 6 weeks anticipated for new delivery................... very frustrating !
  22. ok guys - I have pressed the button and ordered an AA 8inch RC with metal tube from Rother Valley Optics today ! Let you know how I get on. cheers Ian
  23. Agreed Olly experience is the key - it seems from Sara's and John's experience above that CF seems to introduce focussing issues due to temp change and not the metal tube - if I have interpreted correctly !
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