Astrosharkey

That possibly looks like the reducer, I have an 8 but only do imaging and use one of these to get the back focus (and a couple of shims) plus filter wheel to get the correct distance of 133.35 mm Celestron 8” EdgeHD T adapter | First Light Optics

Sounds like the lens with the etching is on is loose, it doesn’t need to be 0 up, use an app (app will give you lat and long and time as well which you also need to align) on your phone to see where Polaris should be and you just orientate the same way. To check if its in the right place put the polar scope pointing at a distance object with it over at 90 degrees, rotate head through 180 degrees and see if the central point has scribed an arc and is now on the same object, if not it needs adjusting using the 3 tiny screws, it took me about 5 attempts to nail it. Word of warning, move the screws only 1/8 to 1/4 turn each time otherwise you run the risk of the lens falling out (believe I found out the hard way)

I use a counter weight forward to balance it out

I have done 3 second hand laptops, refurbished with Win 10 and SSD, kept in a box outside with no issues, recently had a cable issue so shortened cables to 3 m and works a dream, i then sit inside with my mac via chrome remote and control everything from the sofa. Because of my mount I only have one trailing cable which is for the main imaging camera and just make sure there is no where for it to snag.. Recently had a friend who went down the mini pc route and he has mounted all on his scope, again running win 10.

Use AUTOSTAKKER for stacking, have registak open in the background, tick box in Autostakker to have image open in registak for wavelet sharpening

What mount are you using, and what size is your guide scope? Calibration looks good though.

Dont, I once has weird issues with my subs on a newtonian, when I opened the filter wheel discovered a small spider had got inside and spun silk over the filters destroying several nights of imaging, simple fix, go to an SCT and frac and keep them sealed up.

Just had a similar issue, turned out (so far) that it was my cables, my fault for leaving them out on the path, it looked like a windows issue or software issue but wasn't, more annoying they were relatively new and expensive cables but i left them out on the path with 3 kids and 2 dogs running over them

GOT THERE! both cables appear to be damaged internally, my fault for leaving them out with 3 kids and 2 dogs in the garden, was a weird one due to what i was seeing, new shorter cables ordered and going to have to find a better way to position the laptop for imaging, more evidence towards the need for an obsy!!!! although guess i will need to go through a lot more cables before i can justify that one

main imaging camera on its own USB 3 cable, rest (filter wheel, focus unit, mount and guide cam) via the built in hub on a CEM 60 via USB 2, all worked fine every time for the last year and suddenly now all playing up, cables are all relatively new lindy chromo but as I said never had an issue till last night, filter wheel wont even index, PHD connects to guide camera but then doesn't get a picture, sharpcap reports mount isn't there but still controls it

Is anyone else suddenly getting issues, usually all my kit in plug in and get on with things, but last 2 nights camera will not connect then comes up as usb2 only (rather than 3), mount connects but sharpcap reports that its not, phd wont find the guide cam and dont even start on the focus unit!!! Tested during the day today and everything worked minus the main camera still usb2, tonight nothing again! I cleared out the USB ports via device manager and let everything reconnect so now no idea where to go next, any thoughts???

Many would suggest the use of an OAG system with an evo, but I went like this for my rig as I already had it for my 80mm, its the evo guide 50mm scope and altair GPCAM2 290M which I also occasionally use on the moon and planets as well.

I run a very similar setup and regularly image in wind, just get it as sheltered as possible and have done 5 min subs in 15 kts of wind

Tell me about it, almost cried when i priced up my imaging rig, then went and bought an edge

If you are using a filter wheel as described above its internal to the wheel and doesn’t effect the distance