Catanonia

YES YES YES !!!!

Now works with the "special" image from ZWO for the ASI Air Pro.

This changes the base OS and drivers, then the update updates the actual software.

So now with a single standard USB cable I can control the mount without hand controller and have all the ASI Air Pro features

HAPPY BUNNY

Trying this fix - Apparently ZWO have a special OS firmware build with the newer drivers for serial / USB in them

https://bbs.astronomy-imaging-camera.com/d/12655-how-to-connect-the-new-sky-watcher-eq6-r-pro-to-asiair/31

Fingers crossed

Just got my EQ8-R mount and it is a beast

But I cannot for the life of me get my EQ8-R mount to connect to my ASI Air Pro

• The mount operates fine on its own
• I am not using the hand controller and it is not plugged in (makes no difference when I test it connected)
• I am using a Printer USB cable (square white end to normal USB) from the square USB port on the mount just above the main power to the ASI Air Pro USB slot.
• I have tried in ASI Air Pro to use EQMod Baud 115200 as recommended (and others) and NADA, ASI constantly says nothing attached
• I have tried 2 cables, same result
• I have checked and on the latest EQ8 SynScan and ASI Air firmware

I know you can connect the ASI Air Pro via USB to the EQ8-R, but for the life of me I cannot get it to work after trying all combinations

Do I need a special EQMod cable or am I using the wrong EQMod option in the ASI Air ?

10 minutes ago, jacko61 said:

Knowing how big the mount is, the tripod must be huge!!.  Good luck with it. I've been checking out the cabling hub this lunchtime and found that my ZWO ASI533 isn't recognised through the USB 3 hub in the mount unless I plug the 12 volt power in for the camera's cooler. Just having the 12v aux power in the mount doesn't 'do it' although everything else (polemaster, focusser and guidecam) worked fine.  

graeme.

I have all that fun when work officially finishes at 5pm.

Work out what cables go were, how to connect my ASI Air Pro and other goodies to it.

A little disappointed the power socket is on one of the turning axis and not in the static location, but yet to read the manuals

NEQ6 Pro saddle came up to middle of my chest, the EQ8-R at that full extend is top of my head

Wow, this is a big mount. Just unpacked it all and set it up in the garden where it will live under a cover.

NEQ6 Pro for comparison (which will be up for sale at a very good rate)

It's a beast !!!!

It's arrived 

Today is the day when the man with a lorry and a pallet arrives

Dew heaters ?

Finder scope and camera ?  (if imaging)

Seems a shame after all that work to get it right. Sell it and use the money to get something you want to do the job.

1 hour ago, jacko61 said:

Here we go. Took about an hour to get it set up on my Pier and a quick electrical test just to make sure it slews. A few points.  It'.s huge. Even with the 2 carry handles it takes some lifting.  When it arrived the clutches were loose so as soon as I started to take it out of the flightcase it flopped around which is a worry if you're not expecting it.   If you look at the picture you'll see that the Declination Jackscrew handle doesn't extend far enough out to miss the top plate of my Altair Astro pier. The jackscrew itself moves quite smoothly so it's well worth getting it roughly to the right angle by hand before putting the toggle in.  This won't be an issue if you've bought the tripod to go with the head. The supplied power lead is only about 3 metres long.  I wish the cable management was reversed. All the USB ports are sited at the front of the losmandy plate.  If they'd been at the rear, I could use much shorter cables from the plate to the camera/focusser/guidescope.  For now I've only connected up my Polemaster.  

I'm going to have to save for a new scope (maybe a skywatcher 150 ed) as the C8 looks lost up there

Graeme

 

 

Looks massive

WOOHOO   Delivery on Friday for my EQ8-R

17 hours ago, Tomatobro said:

On the EQ8-r there are a lot of "sticking out bits" such as knobs etc. I usually watched it when meridian flips took place but as it seemed to be reliable cable snag wise I stopped watching it flip  until the other night......

 

Yes, exactly what I want to avoid.

On 22/01/2022 at 22:20, Stinky_Pete said:

For your first Pics you should be very pleased with your self
 

Agreed, only way is up

Bubble Nebula and a few small clusters

A little over 2.5 hours integration time here under a full moon in 2min subs on the Rasa8.

As usual, I try to keep the natural colours and not push or alter them too much

Didn't quite get the framing right, but can always add to it another time.

• RASA 8
• ZWO 2600 MC Pro
• Optolong lEnhance Filter - 2 inch
• ZWO 120mm Mini Guider setup
• NEQ6 Pro Mount
• Bortle 6 Skies and full moon.
• 83x 2min subs OSC at x2 bin

1 minute ago, jacko61 said:

I went for the head only option. In the box, the only power lead is a cigar lighter plug type cable to the eq8r plug. Haven't opened the packet yet to see how long it is but in my case it's a temporary thing anyway as I have a Lynx astro cable on order to run through my pier to the Nevada binding posts. You also get the synscan handset and cable plus a short cable to run from a camera to the snap port.   What isn't in the box are the two M8 azimuth locking bolts, nor an M12 main fixing bolt.  What really surprised me was the fact that the mount comes in a rock'n'roll band type flightcase on wheels. 

Graeme

Thanks buddy. I though that would be what they shipped. I got a 12v 10amp power brick with a cig female end for when mine turns up.

Yes watched a video and the flight case is included which is nice.

4 minutes ago, jacko61 said:

Mine just arrived at lunchtime.

Graeme

waiting the phone call about when mine will be delivered

Can you tell me what power leads / options they give you in the EQ8-r box  please  as I think I got what I need ?

Does anyone have any guides on how to use Photometric Mosaic in PI ?  

Searched YouTube and can't find any

With the new EQ8-R mount on its way with it's built in power and USB hub, I have taken the opportunity to tidy up my cable management on the Rasa 8

Added a top Losamady bar (doesn't come with Rasa8) and sorted out all the cables.

Plan is that this will be 2 cables to the EQ8-R mount for power and USB connection and there should be no cables that are not fixed to the moving parts of the mount.

As my mount sits outside (under a cover), it should be a matter of putting then scope onto the mount and connecting 2 cables.

Fingers crossed it all works out.

Rasa8, ZWO 2600 MC Pro, ASI Air Pro, ASI 120mm mini guide scope , ZWO 30F4 guide camera

Great image, nice detail.

I am working on this as a 4 panel mosaic and good to see what can be achieved

Really nice and some didication to subs taken

What I like about this is that it is not over processed to death and you even got the faint wisp tail of the smaller galaxy

Nice framing too, getting a few smaller fuzzies in there.

One sat in the "to process" list.

So many stars and I wanted to get a natural colour widefield view of the Cocoon nebula.

• Imaged on the F2 Rasa8 with ZWO 2600MC Pro with lExtreme filter with Bortle 6 and full moon skies
• 36x 2min subs at 2xbin
• Processed in PI and framed in PS

I will probably add some more data to this image soon to get more of the dust lanes, but quite impressed with this for approx 60 mins capture time.

On 15/01/2022 at 08:43, Xsubmariner said:

Thank you guys for your informative replies. Having initially considered saving the calibrated light frames and only processed master images would offer the most efficient data archive option, Lucas has reminded me of the importance of retaining raw frames for scientific purposes (photometry and spectroscopy).

In light of the advice you all kindly provided, I have decided to archive; the Raw files, master cal files and final processed Master images.  

This exercise has also reminded me of the importance for a structured file naming convention that supports not only day to day data storage but includes archiving and data mining in the future.

Thanks Martin

I have a template directory structure saved and copy each time I work on a new image. Here is my example below, but obviously change it to your needs.

I then only keep the raw data, calibration files and the final image.

If you set this up, your data management becomes a lot easier

Apologies for the cloudy skies for the next 6 months at least as I have eventually dropped the money on a new EQ8-R mount to replace my aging NEQ6 Pro

Can't wait

I am after a new mount as my 10 year old NEQ6 Pro has seen better days.

I currently use my NEQ6 Pro with the ASI Air Pro via a EQMod serial / vga to USB cable and it works perfectly.

All I have to do is power on the mount, connect via ASI Air and that is it. Polar align, slew goto everything without the hand controller.

I have heard horror stories from EQ6-R Pro and Celestton CGX owners over the last few years that these mounts will not directly connect to the ASI Air Pro without some convoluted methods and connection via the hand controller.

• So have you a EQ8-R mount and ASI AIr Pro ?
• What is the connection method in terms of cables between the EQ8-R and the ASI Air Pro ? 
• Do you have to connect via the hand controller ?
• What is your rough procedure to get it all working ?

Many thanks for the help before I drop a lot of money on a mount that may or may not work with my preferred ASI solution.