teoria_del_big_bang

Thanks for that and yes it is a big improvement over what I had before doing a run in guiding assistant. Although not shown I am sure I occasionally do get spikes up to 3". Steve

I will as we get plenty of them 🙂 Steve

No I don't think so. I keep meaning to write all these com ports down bit I have not changed the USB slot (I know that does not mean a com port cannot change) but I am sure it has always been COM6 since I started but cannot be 100%. Steve

Thanks Louise, I think you are right I need to learn more about PHD2. I have read a lot of tutorials and slowly bits are sinking in but unfortunately till I actually have clear skies and actually using the guiding I don't think I can jump this final hurdle wrt guiding. I will keep trying though. I tend to work one bit out and maybe make a small improvement then start imaging rather than spending all night messing about with the guiding. Steve

I just reset my PC and the stand alone program now working so whether something happened when I tried to connect with APT or not I am not sure. Also now connects with NINA so will try with APT again. Cheers Steve

I have run this but probably not for over 7 minutes, usually around 3 to 4 minutes. I think I will stick with the 50 mm and run the calibration then the guiding assistant and post some of the graphs I get so I get some comments on what I am achieving and what I should be able to achieve. This is pretty typical of what I am achieving.

Yes it does and it was working as I set it all up with that just a few days ago but just tried again and that too is not working so I guess first thing is to get this working. Steve

Thanks I think that makes me a lot happier and will stick with this. Cheers Steve

Yes it does - I will look into this. Steve

I think due to lack of understanding I was thinking a better guidescope (better in respect of clarity and maybe magnification) would improve the guiding itself. Sounds like I need to stick with the lightweight 50mm and look at other things that can improve guiding.

I thought you may be onto something then but no the 12v and usb all connected Steve

Cheers, yes everything is rigid whichever scope I use. So in your opinion, assuming all other things equal regarding such as rigidity, is there no real advantage using what is essentially a better scope, i.e better focus, less halos, higher mag. Because I guess then the choice has to be the lighter option as of course added weight can only make guiding worse. The halos on the bright stars are really big and bright though but maybe I could help with a filter ? Steve

Anybody using APT with a Senso-Sesto auto focuser? I cannot get APT to accept the ASCOm driver. Initially I installed the 64bit ASCOM driver as my computer is 64 bit but when I tried to select it in APT it says this is a 64 bit driver and is not compatible with this 32 bit application. But there is also a 32 bit Ascom driver so I downloaded this instead but when I try to select this in APT the program crashes. Tried several times but always crashes. Maybe one for @Yoddha ? Steve

Up until now my imaging rig consisted basically of: WO Z73 + ZWO1600 MM + SX Filterwheel Starwave 50mm guidescope + Altair GPCam All on a HEQ5 with Rowan Belt mod. I am now upgrading to an Esprit 100ED still with same camera and FW. The original rig did me well but my early images were fairly short and despite having a guidecam due to issues I have gradually overcome ended up unguided as I was desperate just to get some sort of final image. Even when guiding I did have issues with the guidescope in that bright stars had huge halos, but so long as I picked a less bright star then it did seem to guide okay throughout the night, My guiding was not perfect and this may have been down to other things beside the guidescope and I really need more sessions to get this tuned in. I am pretty new to a lot of this stuff and guiding and PHD2 is one of them so I have got it working but not yet done a lot to tune it in precisely. But do I keep this guidescope with my new rig or change ? Without spending more money my choices are to stick with this 50mm guidescope, or use a scope I did buy with the intention of using it as a guidescope an Opticstar AR90S F5.5, or use my WO Z73 ??? My camera for guidescope is an Altair GP130M. I am not sure what should be my main aim here to get the best from guiding. Keep as light as possible (obvious what advantage this has) which means the 50 mm guidescope higher magnification Some sort of matching between the guidescope and camera pixel size Forgive my ignorance in this aspect there is so much to learn in AP and in the short time I have had this has been put on a back burner but I think I need to concentrate on understanding this now and getting it the best I can. I did get the Opticstar for use as a guidescope but with the Esprit and other bits I think is getting towards the top weight of the HEQ5. Yes I do intend to upgrade the mount but funds prevent this just now. The guidescope is 800g, the WO is 2.2Kg and Opticstar 2.4 Kg Steve

I do not think there is anything you intend to do that will not work as such. The Dew controller is fairly passive in that it will not take much more than the rating of all the dew bands attached to it., just a few mA extra due to losses and the LEDs. My thoughts for improvement would perhaps be some sort of at least splash proof enclosure for the 240V, similar to this (I know this is a UK style but there must be ones that suit your mains connectors):- Outdoor-Enclosure And you may find using one good quality 5A 12V supply for camera cooling and dew band controller better than the two supplies. I have 12V at 5A going to the dew controller and there are 2 12V auxiliary outputs on the controller (if the same as mine anyway) and I have a good quality lead from the controller to the camera. And with 5A you have plenty in reserve for future dew bands or maybe an auto focuser later. I dare say you could plug guide camera into the 1600 USB2 hub but I prefer to run this back with a seperate USB cable, I do not know for sure but a camera could could impact on the transfer rate of the 1600 but the filter wheel is fine going through the hub it will have almost zero impact on the 1600. Assuming you do use a seperate cable for the guide camera do you intend then to have 3 x 5M uSB cables back to your computer inside or are you going to use a hub? I hate to give any advice here as I had a nightmare with USB cables and hubs. I think USB 3 are more difficult than USB 2 to transfer over any distance. I have seen recommendations that maximum recommended for USB 3 is 3M. I know longer cables are available and will work but it may affect transfer rates which can be important due to amount of data you are transferring with the 1600. I think active USB cables are a no no and never got one to work properly with astro stuff but others have so maybe that is me ! However you end up make sure you get good quality cables. Most of the time my rig is on my patio only 10M or so from my computer but after trying all sorts of ways with the USB extensions I have ended up with a mini computer on the mount and I use remote desktop from my Laptop or my desktop inside the house. Lastly remember if you do not have an auto focuser you are going to need some way to easily focus, both the main scope (precise focus) and the guidescope (some say if a bit blurry it is better but whatever you need to be able to focus), so you need to see the screen close up whilst being able to manipulate the focus knob. Please note I am no expert and only been doing this just under 2 years but having just gone through all this these are just some thoughts which may help. Steve

That's probably as good as any I have seen of this target (maybe better) , absolutely brilliant, puts my efforts to shame but at the same time inspires me to try the target again as there is so much more to it than I managed with my first attempt. Steve

Certainly one you will always remember 🙂 Steve

How long ago was that ? Steve

Thanks for sharing they are quite brilliant and beautiful 🙂 Steve

I am hoping to get my Esprit 100 imaging rig set up in time. I have only had this a few weeks and thinking I should maybe have left setting it up until after the party as I had my WO Z73 all set up but couldn't wait to use it and I had to nick several bits off my existing rig. As usual with new gear weather has not been too obliging. But should be somewhere near, just fitted the auto-focuser. Just finding the whole rig a tad too heavy to balance on the HEQ5 so busy trying to take off any excess weight. Any way I will definitely bring it as I am very much a novice so hoping to get some good tips on how to improve, even if weather doesn't oblige. Steve

Yes I have just seen in the Oaks. I am sure all will be fine 🙂 Not that it means a lot finding out where I am as I have never been. There are quite a few other threads opened up I had not noticed about this years do so will have to have a good look through them tonight. However I had better go and pick our takeaway curry up now. Steve

How do you know which pitch you are booked on ? Steve

What a good idea to try the SGL Str Party, I really hope this one is not a wash out as well, but bring plenty of cake just in case. I will not have met anyone before either but looking forward to it 🙂 Steve

Definitely not. You need a suitable fuse somewhere. No need to fuse everything separate but a suitable sized fuse, 5A maybe depending on what you intend to run, needs to be after the battery in the +12V side. Steve

I use these, they screw together, take heavy currents and cheap. Might be an issue if your soldering is not up to it though. GX16-2-Pin-16mm-Aviation-Automotive-Connector-Female-Socket-Male-Plug Steve