AdeKing

I'll be interested to hear your findings Stu. I've had good results with the Synscan app on its own but when I connect the Sky Safari app to the scope after aligning with synscan app there is a big difference between where the scope is pointed and where Sky Safari thinks it is.

I've also found that sky safari causes Synscan app to crash and then reports that it' lost connection.

I had a quick play around with the Synscan Pro app on the phone during lunch today, and found that it was still not working despite clearing space and rebooting the phone.

In the end I uninstalled then re-installed and now I'm able to enable solar tracking as clicking on the box brings up a numerical keyboard.

It definitely didn't do this at the weekend or during lunch so I guess that it must've just been one of those things.

Ade

On 24/04/2018 at 19:05, ZBOYD said:

This perplexed me the other day too,  but Ive since discovered that SkyWatcher have put a new App on the Apple AppStore (can’t confirm whether its the same for Android) it’s called SynScan Pro where as the original and first app is just SynScan.

The Pro version is still free,  but has extra options for users deemed Pro, which includes solar tracking etc

Solar tracking can be found under Advanced > Advanced Settings > Observe Sun. You then need to switch it on and it gives you the standard solar safety warning a maths problem to solve before it unlocks the solar tracking. 

Hope this helps ?

I'm not sure whether I'm being stupid or not (always a possibility), but I tried to put the AZ Gti into solar tracking mode at the weekend and failed miserably.

I have an Android phone (Samsung Galaxy A5) and found the solar tracking option as set out in the box above.  However, when it got to the answering the maths question, I could find no way of inputting an answer.  No numerical keyboard pops up, could not get a cursor to appear in the answer box, I even tried writing the answer in the box on screen with my finger and that didn't work either.

The standard tracking was not too bad, but the disc moved through the FOV over the course of about 10 minutes or so.  Mount had been carefully levelled before starting.  I'm just curious to know how you enter the answer to the maths puzzle after the standard solar warning message.

In the end I plugged in a Synscan handset and set it into solar tracking mode that way.

Can anyone tell me what I have missed?

Ade 

My AZ Gti and pier extension was delivered this morning (thanks @FLO). Hoping the weather stays clear until it gets dark so I can have a play.

Should make a nice compact travel setup together with my WO ZS66SD.

Ade

Specs say 5kg and I've seen others talking of 100mm Taks mounted so I'm hopeful my ST102 will be OK. 

I've been closely following this thread since the mount was first announced at the end of last year and finally pressed the button on one yesterday.

FLO showed it in stock so hopefully it'll be here early this coming week.

Need to get rid of the old AZ Goto now as this one will be so much better as a travel mount.

Ade

36 minutes ago, BinocularSky said:

Coronado PST 40 (and probably many others)

Yes, specs on the FLO website state that the Lunt L60THa/B1200CPT is 3.1kg without dovetail or eyepiece.

Interesting mount, though I can't justify it for the amount of use I'd get out of it.

Ade

I got this setup not long after I got back into astro and used it for a while. The mount is effective with the 90mm mak and can be upgraded to fill goto with a Synscan handset and AZ cable.

The mount can be fitted to a tripod with a 3/8" thread.

I used the setup for a while but don't tend to use it any more as the 90mm aperture and narrow fov don't really suit DSO hunting though it does perform quite nicely on the moon and planets.

11 hours ago, newbie alert said:

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/570335-upgrading-the-focuser-in-wo-zs80-10th-anniversary-scope/

@newbie alertThanks for this link, I hadn't seen this one and it looks like a useful resource.  I've bookmarked it and will try to dismantle the focuser and re-adjust again tonight.

Ade

@Stargazer McCabethanks for the link, it was my first point of reference.  I have also had these problems with and ED80 focuser that I upgraded my ST102 with as the stock R&P focuser was absolutely rubbish.

The link that you provided proved successful with that focuser after much gentle tweaking, and is now works a treat.

Sadly, none of the adjusters on the WO focuser bear much of a resemblance to the ED80 focuser, the only one that is similar is the focuser tension adjuster, which I've reached the end of my tether with, as I just cannot get it adjusted correctly.

I think that I might go right back to basics, remove the microfocus assembly and start totally from scratch following the WO instructions below.

I don't really want to spend any more money so I'll persevere for a while at least.

WO 10_1 Microfocuser Retrofit Instructions.pdf

Thanks @Knighty2112 and @Star Struck, not sounding good so far.

Sounds like it might be a case of more money or just living with it.

I have a WO ZS66SD which I use as my travel scope as I can get a WL solar, terrestrial and astro setup into its tiny briefcase with a second bag for a relatively compact Manfrotto 055B tripod for support.

However, whilst I absolutely love this little blue OTA, I have a real problem with the focuser which I cannot seem to get right.

When you turn the fine focus it works for about 5mm of travel and then stops moving the draw tube, you then need to tweak the focus with the coarse focus slightly and the fine focus works ok for about another 5mm then you need to repeat the above ad infinitum.

Searching Google seems to suggest that this is a problem with the tension thumb screw under the focuser, but I have tightened this as much as I dare and the problem is still there.

I have tried and tried to adjust the focuser following instructions in the WO micro focuser upgrade instructions (courtesy of the Wayback Machine) and a thread on CN, but I can't seem to get it right.

As its driving me to the point of distraction I'm thinking about just upgrading the focuser, as its a decent enough scope for me to consider a nice focuser, but I'm not sure what my upgrade options are and Google doesn't yield much in the way of results.

Firstly, does anyone have any suggestions for adjusting the stock focuser, has anyone else had the same issues? If so, how did you fix them?

Has anyone upgraded the focuser on one of these small WO OTAs?

In order to think about an upgrade, what measurements to I need to take?

Many thanks for any suggestions you might have, either way.

Regards,

Ade

3 hours ago, Piero said:

Congratulations! 

That mount is very close to an AYOII. It will certainly serve you well! 

Thanks, it is a lovely mount now I just need the clouds to clear so I can use it.

Yesterday I collected a very nice, new to me WO EZTouch Alt Az mount from @Rob.

I know it's not an AYO but it's as close to an AYO as this poor man is likely to get.

I had a brief play tonight and I'm very pleased with it, the variable friction is a wonderful feature given the learning curve I'm facing with a Giro GR-2, but that's another thread.

Really looking forward to getting some good use out of this mount.

The postie delivered me a very nice and buttery smooth Tele-Optic Giro GR2 Mini courtesy of @Highburymark today.

Really looking forward to trying this out at the weekend.

I've just seen advert for this tracking mount in the March edition of The Sky at Night magazine.

https://www.astroshop.eu/camera-mount/omegon-mount-mini-track-lx2/p,55040

Looks like it's a clockwork mount claiming 24h of operation so the absence of batteries is appealing to me, as is the price at £109 without a head and £139 with a ball & socket head.

The website claims a payload of 2kg but images on the website are stating that they were shot with a Canon 5d mk ii and 70-200 f/2.8 L which I would imagine weighs more than that.

They claim that a strong spring takes the place of a counterweight.

Looks like it's a brand new product shipping on 1st April, so let's hope it's not an April Fool as the price seems to be too good to be true.

I'll be watching with interest.

Ade

14 hours ago, 25585 said:

Keep the 2nd Skytee for spares!

Unfortunately lack of space and finances dictate that it must go.

Ade

15 minutes ago, Trikeflyer said:

Nice to see you finally got them. You will be amazed I promise!

I hope so Steve, I'm just waiting for a suitable gap in the clouds to see the moon.

Ade

Another couple of fairly recent deliveries, the first a Manfrotto 028b delivered before Christmas courtesy of @Earl.

I use this as a grab and go for my ST102 or ZS66 with a Manfrotto 410 geared head. The tripod is huge and stands at 1.80m with both leg sections extended and about 2.30m with the centre column extended, not that this height will be used with an Astro payload. 

The second is a new to me Berlebach Uni 18 with my SkyTee 2 attached following a meeting with @Mark at Beaufort at a nice pub near Bath a couple of weeks ago.

It actually came complete with a different SkyTee 2 attached which I need to get around to advertising as I don't need two of them.

Looking forward to getting some use out of the SkyTee in the not too distant future.

Ade

15 minutes ago, Saganite said:

You will love the Moon through those Ade especially with the 20 mm eyepieces. I used those for two or three years, and they are excellent.

I hope so Steve, I turned them on the sun earlier with my WO ZS66 and Lunt Wedge, but AR2696 seems to have fizzled out, not that it was very impressive to start with.

Oddly they won't reach focus with the supplied WO 2x nosepiece but they do reach focus with my TAL 2x shorty Barlow, either with the Barlow fully assembled or with the optical elements attached to the binoviewer nosepiece, I clearly have some more research to do.

Ade

Received a like new pair of William Optics Binoviewers with stock 20mm eyepieces and 2x OCA. Also received a pair of the standard Skywatcher 25mm EPs as well.

Very pleased with them, just need some moon action now.

You beat me to it whilst I was typing 

11 minutes ago, Demonperformer said:

All I have to do now is find a manual for the laptop online (none came with it) to work out the USB ports. I have 2 black, 1 blue (labelled SS) and 1 yellow (on the other side of the machine).

I think that the convention was that USB3 sockets were generally Blue and were sometimes labelled SS so thats where I would start.

Ade

8 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

The best bet if you want one is to buy a used one that you can see images taken with it.

Thanks Dave, when I'm in the position to buy I think I'll be holding out for a good used one as you say.

Though part of me is still thinking about getting a used PST and then modding it. I've got some saving to do so have time to make an informed decision.

I am thinking about it @Pig but there are so many contradictory things written about the reliability and variable QC of the Quarks that I'm more than a bit wary.

I don't think I've read so many contradicting opinions about any other piece of equipment that I've been interested in.