pete_gamby

The optical path diagram for the R200SS (assuming that's what you have) shows 55mm back focus with Coma Corrector 3 in place (see below) so not sure where the 63.5mm comes from 🤔.

HTH

Cheers, Pete

Forgot about this option:

https://www.aziakequipment.com/product-page/bino-clamp

Although it's a US made product, they do quote shipping to the UK at around $18.

An alternative to the centre focus mount would be our plate mount:

Binocular Tripod Plate Mount | Opticron

There are also some clamp mounts that may work:

Binocular Super Clamp - 035BN | Manfrotto UK

HTH

Cheers, Pete

The Opticron diagonals were manufactured by Long Perng, as I suspect are many of the similar looking versions out there.

https://www.longperng.com.tw/goods.php?act=view&no=81

HTH

Cheers, Pete

As far as I recall the Skywatcher polar scopes didn't fit the GP mounts but someone else may remember better!

It's a shame they don't include detailed dimensions of the thing in the user guide. If the diameter of the nosepiece was such that it would fit into the polar scope hole with a gap around it, you might be able to then 3D print a collar-style adapter to secure it in place.

Cheers, Pete

If you are using the alignment process in the Starbook S and the mount is not physically perfectly polar aligned, the controller will constantly "nudge" the DEC motor to maintain tracking. This "feature" was typically referred to as DEC jump.

The received wisdom for imaging with a Starbook or Starbook S was to not use the controller to align but to make sure physical polar alignment is spot on (polar scope, drift align etc) so that only the RA motor is in use to track/image.

I'd tend to agree that overloading is also not helping.

Cheers, Pete (who used to be Vixen product manager at Opticron)

Hi Dave - many thanks for the kind words!

It looks like you may not have removed a final layer of plastic from the decals - the top transparent layer should be peeled away (carefully) to just leave the red letters in place.

Cheers, Pete

This diagram shows the ED81S and as you can see even on that model, the focusser extends well into the main tube. The attachment point of focusser to main tube is the far left vertical red line at the top of the diagram.

Actually, removing the focusser is quite easy - they unscrew without much force required. However, in my experience there is a risk of small flakes of the blackening paint coming off as you unscrew the tube so you need to take care not to have these drop on to the optics. Removing the focusser from the bottom while someone else holds the whole scope vertically seemed to minimise the risk.

There's also the chance that you might mis-thread the focusser when re-attaching it as the thread itself is very shallow. Take care to mark the release point (and the seated alignment position before removal).

Cheers, Pete

Your link didn't quite work - the group number is incomplete. I'll try to paste it:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/487216612525986

HTH

Pete

Looking at the user guide for the EQ2, it appears to normally be supplied with one long and one short control cable whereas your photo appears to show two long cables.

The fittings for the cables are standard so you could buy a short cable (couldn't find a link to one thought) or control knob like this Vixen one:

https://www.bresser.de/Astronomie/Zubehoer/Montierungen/Vixen-Feinjustageknopf-fuer-AP-GP2-und-GPD2-Montierungen.html

HTH

Cheers, Pete

We never saw the 3728 adapter in the nine years we had the Vixen range which suggests it is very, very ancient history!

A rather convoluted solution would be use these three in combination:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-1-25-inch-t-mount-camera-nosepiece-adapter.html

https://www.bresser.de/Astronomie/Vixen-R200SS-20mm-Verlaengerungshuelse.html

https://www.bresser.de/Astronomie/Zubehoer/Vixen-DC-43-36-4-mm-Reduzierring.html

The R200SS extension tube attaches to the T2 thread on the FLO adapter to give a 43mm female thread which the DC reducer then screws into to give a 36.4mm female thread for the eyepiece.

HTH

Cheers, Pete

No it won't. That RJ port is ST4 autoguider compatible. You'd need to upgrade to the Starbook TEN to allow you to control the mount via ASCOM or the ASI but that's a pretty expensive upgrade to get something which in essence you don't then use!

Yes, it's a 9-pin DIN socket but it's not an RS232 port - it's to connect to the mount.

The user guide for the scope does show a more detailed (but typically non-informative) schematic for the various AP connection options. It does take some out of the box thinking to arrive at where you have DroneSaif!

Vixen designs its products to service its domestic market and the widespread use of Canon DSLR for AP in Japan (and probably also what the company president uses) is what would have made them develop a full frame adaptor only for that brand:

https://global.vixen.co.jp/en/product/38751_9/

Even in the diagram, the CCD camera is shown connecting via T-C rather than something more up to date and therefore using the 60mm-T ring!

Cheers, Pete

The Starbook TEN does not have an RS232C port, only ST4 and Ethernet.

Vixen provided an ASCOM driver for the Starbook:

https://global.vixen.co.jp/en/update/star_book_ten_ascom/

It seems that ZWO supports Vixen mounts directly as well (according to the ZWO website at least).

Just to add to the information here, I've attached the optical path diagrams for AX103S.

HTH

Cheers, Pete

AX103S_Optical_Path_with_Back_Focus.pdf

Not sure that is a Vixen - that V logo is not something I've seen used by them and the Vixen erect image diagonal does/did not have an undercut on the nosepiece nor the beveled top edges on the body.

Cheers, Pete

The SB One doesn't have the functionality to be linked to a PC and if you purchased the SX2 and upgraded to the SB Ten you'd probably pay nearly as much as you would for an SXD2 which has the SB Ten.

To a great extent, the SB Ten becomes rendundant if you want PC control of the mount - it simply acts as an expensive interface between the mount and the computer/network! The SB Ten with the optional Advanced Function Unit was intended to remove the need for a PC for astrophotography by offering control of the camera shutter, guiding etc all on the controller.

Hope that helps.

The process is almost but not quite as shown in Steve's guide. These pics and instructions might help you identify which bits need tweaking to reset the dioptre adjustment but if you need some help call our service department on 01582 726522, option 1.

Incidentally those binos were covered by a 30 year, transferrable warranty so you will probably have some element of that still remaining.

Cheers, Pete
Sales Manager, Opticron

wp obs dioptre adjustment.pdf

That is a female thread (internal) - external threads are male. The Baader adaptor that you posted the link to is what you need. There used to be Vixen adaptor but it has been discontinued.

Cheers, Pete

The bolt is M10x1.5mm and the standard length is 55mm - the adaptor plate I mentioned has a much longer bolt.

If you already have a Vixen tripod for the SX, the bolt that's in the canopy can be removed. I have a couple of bolts from the old HAL130 tripod if you want another one - PM me your address and I'll post one to you.

Cheers, Pete

No worries Paul - we still have all the knowledge even if we don't have the sales!

The dimensions of the footing and for the top plate of the half pillar/tripod are shown on page 99 of this manual for the newer SXD2:

https://www.vixenoptics.co.uk/PDFs/User Guides/SXD2_User_Guide.pdf

Cheers, Pete

The SX mounts always had the 45mm footing - it was the GP2 and GPD2 that changed from 60mm to 45mm.

The tripods changed in late 2011 - we received our first shipment in April 2012.

If it has a 60mm aperture on the top, then it could be that all you'd need is a 60mm to 45mm reducer:

https://www.berlebach.de/?bereich=details&id=611&sprache=english

But there is the added complication of the azimuth pin positioning!

A (massively convoluted) way around that would be to get two 60-45mm reducer rings and one of the Vixen 45mm to 60mm adaptor plates which has a removable/movable azimuth pin - item 75169 here:

https://www.vixenoptics.co.uk/Pages/connection_specifications.html

The dovetail that was supplied with the later accessory plates is Vixen's part number 2662:

https://www.vixenoptics.com/Vixen-Universal-Slide-Bar-p/2662.htm

I assume it's silver plated rather than brushed aluminium because even for Vixen, $90 for a slide bar is lot of money 🙂

As AdeKing mentions above, it attaches to the 1/4" threaded holes arranged the central longest axis of the plate.

The old green plates had a different coloured dovetail - you can see the centre of it and how the bolts attach it in the Company 7 listing image - but the principle is the same.

HTH

Cheers, Pete