ste7e

Hi all I'm joining the ranks of the can't-live-with-the-setting-up-and-tearing-down-of-equipment-each-imaging-night crowd. I've decided on a small (8'x6') roll-off-roof but don't have the necessary skills to build a high-quality building myself. I'm happy to do the electrics, electronics and software to automate it but the build is well out of my wheelhouse. So, I need to buy something... I've looked to see what's available in the UK. All I've found so far is HomeObservatoryUK. I've asked them for a quote but they've not got back to me and they don't answer on either of the phone numbers on their site. That's off-putting enough for me to be reluctant to work with them. Can anyone out there in SGL land suggest any other options for me? TIA

I have a trivial question on a damp cloudy Sunday afternoon while I sit contemplating my AP rig... Why does the SynScan handset on my EQ6-R Pro ask me to select EQ or AltAz mode every time I power up? Does it identify the mount as an AZ-EQ6, maybe?

1) it's not so much that I think the figures are wrong. It's more the inconsistency that I'm finding a problem. I use PHD2's drift alignment tool to fine tune my PA and I'm getting a pretty flat line - down to a few arc mins and settle for that. But then I do GA and I'm being told that it's much worse that the drift alignment reported - something like 26'. 2) GA is showing 9.28px 3157s. My scale is 2.68 arc-sec/px, so that works out at about 25 arc-sec. Is that something I should try to tune out of the mount or should I let PHD handle it?

I've been searching through this topic but I can't see what the parameters suggested by @Shelster1973 are... Can anyone enlighten me? I'm struggling with some strangeness in PHD2 with this mount at the moment - GA is reporting really high Dec backlash which I can't detect in the mount myself and I'm getting distinctly inconsistent reports of bad PA although guiding is pretty good (under 1" most of the time anyway but it seems PHD is working hard to keep it at that) so maybe I shouldn't worry about it. Anyway just thought I'd give Shelster1973's parameters a go … if I could only find them ...

+1 for the Nevada

Hi Obi I had the same problem with mine - a little bit of play in the RA axis. This was my second EQ6-R, my first one having been replaced because of the clutch slip problem I posted about above. I knew that it was possible to have no play in the RA axis because the first mount didn't have any. And, I had experienced the same problem with my HEQ5 and adjusted the worm drive on that to remove the play. But as this was a different mount I didn't know how to adjust the EQ6-R. So, I got in touch with the supplier - the ever-helpful Adam @ Rother Valley Optics - who managed to get a document from his suppliers with the necessary instructions for adjusting the worm drive to tune out the play. Now I have virtually zero play and I'm a happy bunny. Instructions for adjustment are attached for anyone else with the same problems. Steve SW_EQ6-R_backlash_adjustment.pdf

You might be right... I'll look to see if that's what's happening

But when you get them locked solid, is your mount then unmovable by hand? Or, if you did what I'm doing - putting a single weight on the extension shaft and trying to lock the mount in a horizontal position - would it move?

I've tried to do a test to quantify the problem. This is what I do: install the counter weight extension shaft put one of the weights on the shaft and position it right at the joint between the standard and the extension shaft don't put a scope onto the mount rotate the RA axis so that the shaft is horizontal tighten the RA clutch while supporting the weight shaft When I then let go of the weight shaft, the RA clutch cannot hold it horizontal and the mount rotates until the shaft is pointing at the ground. From what you've said, Rob, your mount wouldn't rotate in these conditions. Is that right? Does it sound like I have a problem with my clutch? Or, am I expecting too much from the mount? Steve

Hi EQ6ers My EQ6-R had its first light last night. Just dabbling so far but got it PAed, at least. I have a question: how good should I expect the clutches be? If I tighten the RA clutch on mine (with no scope or counterweights) as tight as is comfortable, I can still turn it by applying quite moderate pressure counter weight shaft. Is that normal? My new set up: