dazzystar

Hi All,

Does anyone have specs on the stock supplied stepper motors for a Skywatcher EQ3 Pro Synscan mount? I'm looking for the voltage and current ideally.

Cheers
Daz

Hi All,

Long story short...I've replaced my EQ3 pro motors with NEMA 17 steppers, pulleys and belts and an OnStep controller which I don't think was such a great idea and want to run GSS (Green Swamp Server) instead. Apparently this shouldn't be a problem as GSS allows custom input of gearing and I should be able to use the existing SW motor controller. What I need to know is the pinouts of the motor controller so that I can wire the 4-wires of each of the two steppers correctly. Does anyone have this info to hand please?

Cheers
Daz

It's not just that to be fair. Nothing is going right with this OnStep and I'm on the brink of giving up the whole project to be honest.

Now I'm getting more confused Michael. Dec to me is altitude where 0d is horizon level 90d is above my head / zenith. 45d is in the middle. Where am I going wrong cause at the moment things are really starting to pee me off!

I discovered a slight error in the software which has now been corrected in OnStep. Can I assume that if I slew to say 45d0m0s I should see the scope go to roughly 45 degrees in the air?

Thanks Michael. I've edited the post giving the correct image order.

53 minutes ago, Anne S said:

I understood that it was new equipment. It's being pointed roughly. My thought was that the mount didn't know the exact home position. Hence the discrepancy.

Yes Anne. You may be correct but I don't know how to tell OnStep what's home and what's not, etc. yet. This may be the reason for the problem but unlikely I'm afraid.

30 minutes ago, adyj1 said:

This isn't quite right - when you connect to EQMOD it *will* have a co-ordinate for the mount (normally the default park position of polaris) which you can check in the EQMOD driver software. If you ask it to slew to an object, as @scotty38 says, the mount will slew to where it thinks that location is. It won't be accurate (that's what alignment is for), but it will be approximate. If the mount slews off in a different direction altogether then there is something other than alignment going awry.

@dazzystar does the mount slew in the correct direction when you press the N/S/E/W buttons in the EQMOD software? The fact it is moving is good, you need to work out whether it is moving in the right direction (can be done inside) and then whether it is slewing at the correct rate (probably a night-time thing; from one known point does it over- or under-slew to a second location).  If it isn't moving in the right direction you need to make sure location and time are accurate. If they are, then I'd look at the ONSTEP configuration to check you've set everything correctly there. Try to use just the EQMOD software and leave NINA out of the equation for now...

Ady

 

Thanks Ady. OnStep isn't compatible with EQMOD I'm afraid so I have to use the OnStep ASCOM driver. I'll play around more this evening but something isn't right.

Could it be something to do with alignment in software? I mean all I've done is roughly put the scope pointing to NCP and then within NINA asked it to slew to a coordinate. I surely must have to tell it where it's pointing to initially or train it somehow?

This is all new. 

Hi All,

As can be seen from the pics (which I've named after their respective Dec setting in NINA) my OTA is not pointing correctly. I'm using NINA and my location details in the ASCOM driver appear to be correct. Can anyone advise what's going on please?

The first picture should be pointing to 45d0m0s, the second to polaris (ish) which is the home position and the last picture 5d0m0s.

Many thanks
Daz

Perfect. I understand now. Thanks very much!

Thanks Steve but I'm still confused. The ST102 has twice the aperture size so logic would say the FOV would be greater but it's half!

Hi All,

I was comparing a Startravel 102 with a WO Redcat 51, both with the ASI183MC fitted on the astronomy.tools website and got this.

They are both f4.9 scopes. Why is there such a huge difference in the FOV of the redcat compared to the ST102?

Cheers
Daz

Nope. No resolution at all. I've checked what I can and still have the RA noise....really spoiling my fun!

I have the same light pad as you do but thought that as LEDs basically flicker that this is not an ideal light source. Could be wrong though!

Thanks Peter.

Hi All,

I've been advised to take flats which is fine. Do I need an EL panel or is there an app I can use on an iPad which basically turns the screen white and would that be sufficient? I know other people using a white T-shirt and point the OTA to the sky for their flats.

Cheers
Daz

Oh yes. I really should do a footer with my current rig spec at some stage but for now it is as follows:-

Startravel 102 OTA on EQ3 mount with OnStep goto
MyFocuserPro2 focuser
ZWO ASI183MC camera (uncooled)
ZWO ASI120MM Mini guide camera on ZWO Mini guide scope
Beelink Mini Windows 10 PC running NINA, PHD2, ASTAP plate solver

Hope that helps.

Daz

Hi All,

I, like most people, benefit from learning from others and was wondering if we have any members living close to North London (Barnet area) that I could team up with to show me the ropes in setting up and aligning my setup. I will be using NINA if that helps.

PM me if you fancy popping over one clear evening...booze / cakes / tea and coffee provided as well as a yorkshire terrier who'd lick you to death!

Cheers

Daz

I've downloaded the Windows app on my iPhone. Will try it later. No idea what it'll look like on a small screen though!

5 minutes ago, Padraic M said:

I have a mini PC on the mount, and I have to bring the laptop outside for the few minutes while I polar align with Sharpcap. Not an issue for me but not ideal for you if you don't have a laptop or very long arms.

I just opened up the Remote Desktop client on my Samsung Android phone and it worked perfectly - actually very easy to use once you understand how to move the mouse pointer and how to click. Screenshot below.

So it looks like you can prop your phone up somewhere (maybe get a car phone holder and attach it to the mount?) while you adjust alt and az bolts.

Thanks for the reply. Not sure (need to do a search) if you can get Windows Remote Desktop on an iPhone.

59 minutes ago, david_taurus83 said:

Is the mini PC connected to the Internet at all times?

Yes. Connected to the internet at all times.

Hi All,

My rig is finally finished and awaiting first light. I'll be running NINA, PHD2, etc. on a remote Windows 10 PC attached to the scope. My quandary at the moment is that in order for me to align the scope I need to be in front of my living room PC so NINA or SharpCap can direct me as to what to adjust and that's a real hassle as the living room isn't next to the patio where the scope will be sitting. I also don't own a laptop and don't fancy buying one to be honest. Is there some kind of app I can use on my iPhone that could help?

Cheers
Daz

I sent the video to him as well earlier so hopefully will get a reply later or tomorrow. Not sure why he supplied a 5mm bore pulley for the RA axis and a 6mm for the DEC.