Northernlight

Hi All,

I'm sending my QSI 683 for a repair estimate as it died a few days ago and i'm expecting the worst. So i'm starting to look at replacement camera options.

I dont want to replace the camera with another Kodak chip as  they are just too noisy by todays standards - so looking at camera with a similar size chip - the ASI 1600MM Pro seems like a good options, but i believe this camera is now end of life / discontinued, So i dont want to invest in a camera that is end of life

So my questions are as follows :-

1)  Has anyone heard of any news of the camera that will replace the ASi 1600MM pro ?

2) I see that ZWO has released a new colour camera the 2600MC  Pro -  So i wondered if it is possible to use this for Narrowband imaging if i used a Filterwheel or has anyone had any luck imaging Ha, SII, OIII regions using this camera with a multi-band pass filter of sorts ? - 

Or are there any other camera suggestion anyone can make -  I spoke to IanKing about this and he recommended the SX Trius 694, but the chip looks about 1/3rd  smaller than the Kaf8300 - so not so keen on this especially since my primary imaging scope will be 1m F/L

Cheers,

Rich.

Hey Michael,

I'm just down the road from you in Shiremoor.

In the end i decided on the Pegasus power box, whilst it's still expensive  - its  seems like the best option for me as it has Ascom Drivers, a humidity sensor and manual control of power outputs.

https://pegasusastro.com/products/pocket-powerbox/

Many thanks all, I like the simple astrodad design that allows bolting directly to the  dovetail, but i also found a 8 port web relay for 75 Euro's., which allows control over each relay meaning that i would be able to switch off each individual power connection. via a web page.

https://www.kmtronic.com/lan-ethernet-ip-8-channels-web-relay-board.html

Many thanks all, i'll email him.

Hi all,

I'm looking for a reasonably priced 12v power distribution box.  looking at ones from Astro resellers are Crazy Money  - £400-£500., which is ridiculous money which i refuse to pay for a power splitter

On 17/05/2020 at 21:36, Brian28 said:

I have 2 QSI cameras and have them looked after by a Gentleman in Worksop,..  he can service them recharge the argon ,change out sensors etc etc ..he just replaced 2 fans for me using OE parts and checked the camera for less than £60 .. all in .. if you need his details just message me .. 

Hi,

Could you please send me his details so that i can get in touch wiith this guy as my QSI 683 just died a horrible death - had a power spike or something as it fried camera as it gave off a plume of smoke and a strong burning smell

Cheers,

Richard.

thanks all, i'll give them a try.

James - mine gave off a super a plume of smoke and strong burning smell - so i suspect it's probably fried. - £4,500 down the drain, but we will see.

Hi All,

I had a big power spike in my  my shed tonight which fried my beloved QSI 683 - Does anyone know of any UK QSI repair agents ?

Cheers,

Rich.

I guess I'm going to have to do trial and error to see. Thinking back, I'm sure I recall reading something about it automatically adjusting it's own step size dynamically so might not need to worry.

Just wanted to see what other sesto senso users using for their settings 

Cheers,

Ribh.

Hi all,

I had an old Lakeside focuser, which was great but could be a bit temperamental at times, so yesterday i ordered a Sesto Senso 2  Focuser. I was very pleased with how simple it was to install as well as the clan design. The one thing that struck me is that on the old Lakeside setup it was about 11,000 steps for the full range of my focuser, but on the new Sesto Senso 2 it was around 180,000 steps.

I was shocked to see just how many steps / how granular this thing can obviously be.

Unfortunately it's not clear tonight so i can't test it. - but it's got me wondering about configuring the step sizes in SGP   - Using my lakeside i used to use a step size of 20 - So just wondering what step size everyone else is using on their Sesto Senso setups.

Cheers,

Rich.

Yeah the Northumberland national park is a Dark preservation site, and i think it's rated as one of the best places in UK for dark skies. Just a shame i dont have a mobile setup.

Adam, as separate note - will you be releasing a video on WBPP at some point as part of the fundamentals license ?

Hi Adam,

Just slowly working through your video's when time permits and the kids aren't constantly harassing me.  I ordered a new high quality newt today, which will be ready in around 10 weeks - so it's motivation to keep working through the tutorials to get my PI skills in order.

For me, i've always found the automatic sigma method works very well.

No I think That Adam is saying that we do the usual calibration then cosmetic correction can be performed in a number of ways:-

1)  You can use a master dark with cosmetic correction as one method of removing the HotPixels

2) The other method is not to use a dark and just use just use the auto detection option for removing the HotPixels, as that what adam does in his Cosmetic correction Videos as far as i remember when i looked at it last week which allows you to use a single process icon for BPP/WBPP

Cheers,

Rich.

Hi Ally,

I have that tool, but i hate it, as i can't  make out the concentric circles when using - they are just too faint. The should have been coloured to make it easier to discern.  I just tried using a cheshire sight tube and found it much much easier. Thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Cheers,

Rich

Hi all,

Can anyone recommend any good tools or software to check secondary mirror rotation as my star tests are really bad so need something to easily check the rotation.

Cheers,

Rich. 

Hi TimDog,

Welcome. I live near WhitleyBay  - I used to work in Morpeth too at the old pill factory.

Thanks John,

They look like a pretty substantial upgrade of the Baader SteelTrack, almost in a different league for not much more money.

I'm looking at focusers options for a new Newt and I was originally thinking about a Baader SteelTrack but then i came across the Lacerta OctoPlus508N and everything read about it suggests that it's a very very good focuser with one article suggesting that it's even better than a FeatherTouch yet costs only 40 Euro's more than the BaaderSteel Track Diamond

It looks like it's built like a tank -  and apparently has no noticeable tilt in the drawtube under heavy load.

So just wondered how many people are using one of these bad boys who could give feedback.

https://teleskop-austria.at/OctoPlus508N#m 

Cheers,

Rich

My saying is "buy whichever one is cheaper" 🙂   but that doesn't always work as i'm also conflicted with the saying "Buy cheap buy twice"...........Doooohhhhhh

Hi Many thanks for your reply.  I traditionally would do CC as a separate step using Master Darks of Matching Sub Lengths, but Adam Blocks video seemed to suggest that only a single master dark is required as it will be scaled. In his Calibration Video, he doesn't even use a Master dark for CC and just selects the Auto options for Hot Pixels in CC and that's it. He then exports that as a generic Process icon to be used with BPP.

Just thought his approach seemed a little odd and Wondered if by using a master dark in CC you were somehow going to end up subtracting dark current twice. 

I left a message on his forum but 3 days later still no response yet 🙄

RayD, if the JTW mount ever releases and turns out to be a good mount then I wonder if his opinion may change if it started impacting on his business.  But i have to agree, Lucas Mesu does make some fine equipment.

Billy out of interest  - have you tried any unguided imaging with your Mesu - And if so, how long can you go before loosing round stars ?

Indeed it is tempting - Buy always worried about large second hand purchases unless i know the person. Besides - This guy literally couldn't be any further away form me if he tried.

Also for that money i would be tempted with a new E.Fric mount for Literally 220 euros more.  £3000 -> 3380 euro and E.Fric mount is 3600 Euro  with 5yr warranty.

I'm just wondering how long it will be before the Chinese start jumping on the Friction drive bad wagon