GrampyG

Mount is SW EQ6-R-PRO Camera Nikon D600 (Modded) Gide scope 130mm fl f4 Scope Explore Scientific 102 triplet Cheers

Advice please. The guide settings for the ASIair are default as follows: Calibration step: 2000 Max Dec duration 2000 Max RA duration 2000 I've seen somewhere that someone changed these quite significantly. Any advice on these settings? Thank you.

Thank you all. Points taken on board G

I'm using an f4, 130mm guide scope. This is being used on scopes of focal lengths of 600mm - 950mm. I suspect this is too small for scopes of these focal lengths, and a longer fl would give 'better' guiding.. Any advice on guide scopes would be very much appreciated. Thank you

Just seen a video by Trevor Jones (Astrobackyard) using Sequator. He only used Lights, no Darks or Flats. Got excellent results for processing Anyone tried this? G

Thank you for your opinions. I have taken these on board G

Thank you for all your replies and advice. As stated earlier, I am using an ASIair Pro, which for me is very easy, especially as I am WELL past my sell-buy date 😵. I've had some good stuff via the ASI but I still need to tweak a few settings on guiding. So, with reference to the new camera I'll go back to polar aligning with polar scope, then 3 star align using my red spot finders - I've always got good results with the EQ6-R this way. Then use the ASIair purely for guiding - saves all the cabling, etc. Hopefully ZWO will bring in new firmware for the camera soon. Thank you all once again. Just need people with all you knowledge living close to me 🙂 (when lockdown ends). Cheers G

Thank you for your reply. I've just got into guiding and have been using an ASIair Pro with no problems. Unfortunately it does not support my current camera so I'm having to turn to my laptop which does (APT). I didn't really fancy putting laptop/power cables outside. Someone did tell me that they used a powered hub and powered cable but as I had a shorter run I thought that unpowered versions might work. Thank you G

Hi I've not used the above yet so my question may be somewhat naïve. Can I connect my mount, guide camera and dslr to my laptop using a 10m (unpowered) cable to a 4 port hub (unpowered) fixed to the tripod and run PHD2 and APT? This will allow me to place the laptop in the garage and the scope outside. Am I right in assuming that the single usb from the laptop will control the 3 function of camera, guide camera and mount via the 4 port usb hub? Thank you G

The camera apparently isn't supported yet but fixed a simple workaround at least suits me. Cheers G

Hi Just got a Canon Ra but it doesn't seem to want to connect to the ASIair Pro. I've got a couple of USB to USB C but nothing connects. My Canon 600D connects fine. Is there anything specific in the menu? Cheers G

Hi I have to possibly make a choice between the Zenithstar 73 and an Explore Triplet Apo 80, both with appropriate flatteners Any thoughts would be most appreciated Thank you G

Hi Thank you for your replies. Just taken some flats with the filters I have recently acquired. I've used an LED panel (daylight)- I've found this to be successful in the past. So I'll see what happens. Thank you once again G

Can flats be taken with a filter fitted or must there be a clear optical train? Thank you G

Hi Thank you for your reply. I now think I'll start a basic 'bank' of darks at different time settings Thank you G

Hi Exactly how does temperature affect darks? If I took my darks at the end of a session, say it was 3°C then what is likely to be the difference in a session when it is 6 to 8°C. (All exposure times at temperatures being the same) Reason for my question: I could make a 'bank 'of darks at different temperatures and exposures rather than at the end of each session. Thank you. G.

Thank you all for your input to my question . Interesting

What are the advantages/disadvantages of connecting the camera via the diagonal rather than 'straight through'? Thank you

Hi In short, I have a Skywatcher 130pds and a Skywatcher ED80 Pro. Both have a similar focal length Dilemma: which of the 2 should I keep for astrophotography? Thank you

Thank you all. Helpful. G

The ASIair pro requires the focal length of the scope to be entered correctly. Question: if, say, a 0.8x reducer is used, should the 'modded' focal length be entered or the original focal length? Thank you.

Hi They indicated around 1 week; this was to purchase a modded camera. However, unfortunately I felt was getting fobbed off with a number of excuses, like "It is being done", then nothing for over a week, then other excuses, including "It wasn't picked up from the office", then I got a message days later to say it was going to be tracked when sent in the the PO in the Netherlands - it clearly wasn't sent so more delay. Finally it was trackable and did arrive- I think over a month but it was the clear excuses that was annoying, not the wait. However, it is an excellent camera and they did a good job. So expect a wait. Would I order again? Yes, but just be honest with the time.

Hi I have a NikonD5600 modded by JTW. Did take a lot longer than they indicated but it is excellent. 'Cleaner' than my Canon 600D.

Thank you for replies Most useful!