Yearofthegoat

Thanks all. I guess I'm trying to minimise problems that might be caused by too much weight or flexure. Also, the Altair 60mm kit is not only lighter but cheaper than buying an ST80, rings, dovetail and extension tube. I think I've answered my own question!

I have a GPCAM Mono and am looking to get an OTA plus mount suitable to go on my 150PDS. I'm aware of the ST80, but it's relatively heavy so was thinking of something like the QHY Miniguider kit (expensive?), or Altair Astro's '60mm Miniguider with Autoguider Webcam focuser, tube rings, multi-purpose base' kit (although it has nylon-tipped bolts to hold the OTA). 50mm OTAs are on the short side in terms of pixel ratio (the GPCAM+OTA/150PDS+Canon 50D), hence looking for 60-80mm. Or, should I go with an off-axis guider instead?

I've bought a couple of older machines (Intel Core Duo-based) over the past couple of years and they were both fine. One was £20, the other £40. They were obviously office PC refresh / upgrade victims, and don't come with anything but the base unit, but great value and still going strong, easily running Windows 7 64bit, and possibly Windows 8.1, not to mention Linux distros. I picked up a couple of old monitors free from Freecycle and job done. Ideal machines for kids (not gamers though) or out in an obsy as you mentioned. One of mine went to my parents who only need an email/photo viewer/web surfing machine. Was so pleased with them it was hard to let them go!

If it helps I run my Maplin bench power supply along about 20m of lawnmower flex to my home-made hub and everything's fine, there's hardly any voltage drop at all. The flex was pretty much the cheapest one Screwfix had - can't recall the exact one, but an orange two-core, probably 10A. I also have a white flex rated at 15A (which I use more often) which also works fine.

Yep, under Utilities IIRC but it's in the manual.

You can turn down the brightness of the red illumination, I found that helped. Also, do your alignment on Polaris in twilight - it's one of the brighter stars so easier to pick out when fewer other stars are showing.

Looks like it will: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-40346410 Makes me wish for immortality so I could see where these abilities eventually take us.

These appear to be for sale on Amazon (marketplace sellers) today. Not available on the Lego shop site, however.

I promised to post back the response from OVL and, well, they haven't yet. I'm not holding my breath.

How quick are we going to have to be to buy one before they all go?! Will ordering from Australia help if their stores open first?

Well reminded! (Runs off to garage)

Nothing, I don't think there is an 'interface box' for your mount, just an 8-way network cable with RJ45 plugs each end. No response from OVL as yet. I did notice that their website (as was mentioned on here earlier) shows what appears to be a V3 handset on the V4 product page. Which is not helpful. Unless they've changed the shape of the V4...!

I'm pretty sure that's not correct. The HEQ5 Pro is, I believe, compatible with both v3 and v4 handsets. Mine has a v4 but it's currently being advertised for sale with v3 and I'm almost certain there are SGLers using v3 sets with it. I've emailed OVL to find out what they ship with their HEQ5s. Will post back their response.

Not sure if the above posts were mistyped re. choice of mounts with v4 handsets but my HEQ5 came with a v4 handset and that was over 2 years ago. It was drop shipped from OVL. Maybe some sort of shortage then?

I'm rapidly learning to set up rapidly! Well maybe not rapidly but more make hay while the sun shines. Wednesday here was sunny most of the day, the kids went charging round the garden with their water pistols like it was July. So I made sure all the gear was outside before 8.00 ready to go. Polar aligned in twilight - i.e. as soon as I could see Polaris through the polarscope - then back in doing other things until it was dark enough (about 9/9.30 onwards). Managed to do some imaging with reasonable results. Glad I did because yesterday it hammered down in the afternoon and evening. Today is overcast but brighter and forecast is gaps in the cloud so may well do the same setup tonight to let me pounce if the clouds go. I envy folks with obsies who must be chilled out in their armchairs with a beer, opening their automated roofs and doing all their imaging with a mouse. I suppose it must be a bit like recording something off the telly?