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Found this: Connect or splice a 9 way "D" type plug/cable to the flying lead of the TTL232R. The connections are as follows: Solder Pin 6 of the 9 way D-type Plug to the Orange wire (TXD). Solder Pin 9 of the 9 way D-type Plug to the Yellow wire (RXD). Solder Pins 4 & 5 of the 9 way D-type Plug to the Black wire (GND). On this page: http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/eqdirect2.htm So I think I only need to connect pins 6, 9,4 & 5?

I managed to damage the d type on my eq6 when doing the strip and regrease. I've got a little breakout pcb for the socket and was wondering what pins I need to connect as I dont use the handset, just a lynx astro ewmod cable. I believe it's only 3 pins I need to connect.....

I've sold my guide camera and am waiting on a ZWO 290 arriving but last night was just so nice and I wanted to get an image of the moon so attached my 8" SCT to the newly belt modded EQ6. After the moon I stuck on the reducer to bring it down to 'only' 0.38"/Pixel and swung round to M13. This image is Lum only, 45second subs and out of 65 I got 20 use-able ones..... I think this shows the mount is performing OK, I had EQMod PEC running as well... p.s. Think i need to give the sensor or filters a wee dusting as well!

I've never figured out why there are 2 red lines in the PEC window in EQMod - anybody shed any light on this?

Can I ask about the wheels you removed, did you take all of the ones out that were under the dome where you wanted to slide it back?

Thanks for the info, off the top of your head, how much roughly were the brackets? Looks a very good mod, normally it does not bother my but things like M51 are pretty much impossible to image

Sorry to resurrect an old thread.... how do you slide the dome on and off? Also, where did you get the replacement dome brackets from?

Cheers, gonna order the 290 on Tuesday!

Hi, I currently have an original Lodestar as my guidecam but am wondering if its time to upgrade - my reasons are that I think there are more sensitive cameras available nowadays and also the Lodestar has big pixels, especially compared to my imaging camera, the ASI1600. I use an OAG and image at either 400 or 800mm focal length and am also looking to try and get better guiding from my recently belt modded EQ6 and think smaller pixels gives PHD2 more pixels covered with a given star so should make it easier for PHD to work out the centre of the star. For these reasons as well as cost.... Im thinking of the ZWO ASI 290MM Mini USB 2.0 Mono Camera - is this more sensitive than the Lodestar I currently have?

Yeah, that looks like the right sort of focal length I’m looking for

I’m looking for something to compliment with ZS73 I have, my imaging camera is a ZWO ASI 1600 mono, so quite small pixels. I’m thinking that as the 73 is around 430mm something around the 700-900 would be good, I’m looking at the Skywatcher ed100 package that FLO has with the matched reducer - any views? My other thought is a 150 F5 Newt but I really like the small stars and lack of collimation required with a frac.

So what affects guiding in RA if backlash has nothing to do with it? - Im not disputing this BTW, just asking...

Hi, Thanks for taking the time to look and comment - The swap to the 2nd scope is just that, comeplete removal of Newt and stick on Frac - as you say I never did another GA as I forgot. I think I also disabled the PEC in EQMod and redid it, so it would have kicked in at somepoint in the run. Today I removed a little more backlasg from RA and tightened the worm end ring a little more then made sure it was not binding. Its also currently sitting tracking in RA so I can 'run in' the bearings and spread the grease about a little more...... Tonight looks good for another run!

OK, something is up with the newt, I assume collimation, since the stars look like they have trailing even in 5 sec subs! So swapped over to my WO ZS73 instead..... Is anybody any good with the PHD Log files? Not sure what I should be looking for in them? PHD2_GuideLog_2020-04-18_194624.txt

Will do ian, I also nipped up the screws ok the OAG tonight and Reid the cables in case that's the cause of the oval stars, does not take much at an arc sec per pixel. Also loosened the thrust bearing nut on dec and it's easier to balance the scope.

Also, how much dec backlash is acceptable? I had it down to 609ms last night is that good?

ok, cheers - the main thing I wanted fixed was guiding due to it being night 1 of belt mod, if guiding looks good I can assume the belt is running fine then?

one problem i have is backlash in dec - cant feel it but phd is reporting it as too large and i might want to guide in Ra only! going to try and see if the belt needs a little more tension on it....

suppose it could be focuser sag, mine had the same symptoms before the belt mod, i tend to think ive not collimated it well enough though

yeah time for bed though! Hopefully have another go tomorrow night but better hit the hay! At least PHD guiding looks good, still seeing quite small guide corrections and RMS around 0.5

5min subs

8" F4 Newt, imaging at 1arcsec/pixel and using an OAG

stars dont look too good to me - might be collimation though....

How does my PHD guiding look folks? Just did the belt mod, first light tonight so to speak!