Here's the link to my thread, hope it helps 👍

Ive just being doing all of this myself, what a headache!! Download EQMOD and EQASCOM, ASCOM for everything to talk to one another. If you can find my recent thread then there's lots of info that others have put that have good links to guides on 'how to', to follow! You can get an EQ DIR cable from FLO https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq5-pro-heq5-syntrek-pro-az-eq5-gt-az-eq6-gt-and-eq8-mounts.html  that connects the mount straight to the laptop, it goes in the hand controller socket, I currently go through the hand controller itself because I haven't brought that cable yet. It takes a bit of sorting out but as I know it will be worth it for better imaging. You will also need the ASCOM drivers for you guide camera extra to connect to PHD2 and APT.

👍

Really appreciate all the info mate, it all helps, at least its something that can hopefully get sorted.

Its a shame to have to leave targets lower on the horizon, feels limiting, but trying to capture M33  which the above sub is of ,proves its getting washed out in that area. Ive always wanted to go on a weeks holiday somewhere nice and dark but how on earth do you predict the English weather!? 🤔😄

I have the V4 Controller by the looks of it but I think I will continue to get my guiding set up and running as that sounds like a mission and Ive already been through enough get the guiding set up, I'm nearly there just needs a couple of clear nights

My camera was Horizontal in those above images if that helps.

I see what you mean by Saturation, I know it as blown highlights, a confusion of terms. I'm guessing I can push it a little futhur then.

32 minutes ago, vlaiv said:

As long as you don't get saturation in signal from your target - you are good.

Periodic error. Stock Heq5 pro can have around 30-40" P2P periodic error. Period is about 10 minutes, so in 5 minutes mount can travel 30-40 arc seconds. In two minutes that will be around 12"-16". What is your imaging resolution? If you are imaging at 2"/px - that will make 6px - 8px trails.

I'm reading about 9px trails in this particular sub. Of course, periodic error is not uniform - it is more sine like (if you are lucky, or very complex if you are unlucky), so some frames will have larger trailing and some smaller (if any).

There are several things that you can do:

- PEC training (EQMod might be required as I'm not sure stock HEQ5 supports this)

- Belt modding - this reduces P2P periodic error (to less than 10" or there about).

- Of course, guiding.

Just to test if this is indeed PE - look if elongation is oriented in RA direction.

Thanks for your response, Sorry to ask but can you clarify what you mean by 'saturation' in signal!?

How do you check the elongation is in the RA!? Its definitely random like you said, different across all images.

Is there something in the settings of PHD2 that can help with the issue then!? Nothing I can do (apart from belt mod) to the current set up to help!? I'm always east heavy!

I'm using an Astro modded Canon 600d 4.3 pixel size i believe.

36 minutes ago, dark knight said:

how good was the polar alignment? How did you polar align?

Thanks for your response, I use the PolarFinder app and stick Polaris right where it shows on the outer circle.

I have a couple of images from recent imaging sessions, the big one is more of a 'how bright do you go' question, so how bright do you let you light frames go before its a wasted frame (loss of detail) !? This is only a 2min sub, low on the horizon, some moon shine which didnt help, Bortel 6 with the Optolong L-pro filter.

The cropped image is the star issues I'm getting. Its strange as they appear to do this across the frame but looking like they are falling down not spraying out diagonally towards the corners. You can see it in the bigger image. Mount is a HEQ5 pro, not guided (will be soon!),  pola alignment good and on concrete, 2 min subs. Its not happening on every frame either, is worse in some through out the session.

Ive been keeping an eye out for a field flattener for my recently purchased SW 80 ED DS PRO, I'm interested in the current TeleVue FF/reducer that's for sale and wanted to double check it should be ok. It states in the details below it has a 55mm back focus which I need for my DSLR and if its reduces the TV-85 which is 600mm FL to 480 then I guess it will do the same to my 600FL and make it an F6!? I like the fact I wouldn't need to buy an extra adapter for it to go in focus tube like whats needed for the Sky-Watcher .85x Reducer/Flattener!

"TeleVue TRF-2008 0.8x Reducer/Flattener for TV-85, TV-76 and Other 400-600mm Refractors

Model TRF-2008 0.8x Reducer/Flattener converts TV-85 to 480mm f/5.6 and TV-76 to 380mm f/5.0 for flat field, fast photography.

Fully multi-coated 3-element unit with 48mm filter thread inserts directly into 2" focuser, accepts standard T-rings for 35mm cameras.

"This accessory is a must-have for someone planning to use the TV-85 photographically" - review in Sky & Telescope, July 1999.

Also it can be used with any 400-600mm refractor telescope.

Important Note: This product was designed for an optimum 55mm back focus. (Distance from flange surface to film or CCD plane). If you use a CCD, be sure the spacing between flange and CCD is 56mm +/-2mm for best results."

11 minutes ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

The blurring is slight and actually a nice image.

Is that a stacked image then because to my untrained eye it almost looks like the stars on the left are just not aligned properly but they are on the right. If it is a stacked image then what do the stars look like on a single frome just stretched to see all the stars?

Steve

Hi Steve, yeah its a stacked Image, I'm really pleased with it considering its only 2min un guided subs. It was taken a few weeks ago on the last clear night we have had for a while. I will check a single sub frame and see if its the same. If its a stacking issue, I use Deep sky stacker, are there any settings to help this!?

Would you say that the left hand side star movement/blurred stars in my image is due to a tilt issue as the right hand side appears to be ok!?

It's the silver tube that's a little out, it's sitting slightly over to one side so not central to the outer metal surround of the scope. There appears to be no adjustment for this unless I'm missing something. It runs on a plate with 4 rollers/bearings, that plate is screwed to the shell of the scope but there appears to be no adjustment on that plate, that plate and its positioning appears to be what determinds where the focus tube sits. I mainly want to know if this will effect my image train and also if it could have come out the factory like that and it's not necessarily an issue. 

I guess its something that's miss aligned with mine then?

The tube of the my Crayford Focuser (fitted to a SW 72ED DS PRO) that runs on the rollers inside the scope, doesnt run square. The gap either side is not the same, i know you can adjust the tension of the tube but is there anything to straight up the running in and out of the tube if that makes sense!? The roller plate is held in by two screws but these don't appear to have any kind of adjustment!? Can anyone confirm if this is actually an issue for my image train being aligned properly!?

Ok so this is embarrassing, you can tell how drained I'am trying to take all of this on!!. So I was trying to solve the imaging thinking it was a sub of the Heart Neb but I have just realised that its a sub of the Eagle Neb!, the last target that I captured 🤦‍♂️ So I just put it the stellarium coordinates for the Eagle Neb and pressed solve, and..............................It solved!! I'm such an idiot! Sorry guys, your dealing with a numpty! ☺️

If point craft detected a Focal length of 430.18 shall I continue to enter that instead of the actual 420mm which is what the scope FL is!?

Thanks guys, that's how I ended up with it yesterday when moving things around so i will leave it at that, ive got the G18 database though. Ive got APT looking straight at that main folder. I read the install guide but It was just a little confusing (for me) because it was different to how you installed the other database's and software. I have managed to solve a sample image off the APT forum but it gave the RA and DEC coordinates and other info which i put in. It would only solve though if i selected 'Use PS2 for near solving' and 'always use near (ASTAP or PS2). Ive had more frustration this week with my main computer going down which is being looked at but on there is all my astrophotography work (I really hope it can be saved 😥) so i cant use another one of my images to try until hopefully i have the computer and my data back.

Below is the single sub i was trying to 'blind' solve but then even with the rough RA and Dec coordinates entered which I took from Stellarium it still doesn't solve that particular sub.

15 minutes ago, han59 said:

The star database file is an installer. So you if you execute it it will unpack 290 files in your ASTAP program directory. Assuming you have Windows, in c:\program files\astap you should have:

astap.exe

*.290 files

 

Han

Thanks, I need a little clarification, the ASTAP went into windows c:\programe files then the database downloaded as a zip folder in the downloads folder. Where do you then un zip that folder so that it goes into the ASTAP programe directory properly? 

No luck with ASTAP either so I'm missing something somewhere! From your link it says "Select the folder where ASTAP is installed" so the software itself or the directory of stars!? If the software, where will it get its star data base from then!?I keep getting an message saying do you want the assistants thingy to help Solve!

To add: The ASTAP programe is telling me there's no star database in the programe directory but the folder containing the database is in the ASTAP main folder with everything that has been downloaded!!?

3 minutes ago, adyj1 said:

"Open the bay doors, HAL..." 😉

Hopefully a temporary glitch.

I like your mug! 😃 Ive got the NASA 'I need more space' one and a black constellation one which shows some constellations when hot, its very cool but pretty tatty now though!

Told the computer to just get on with it!!! Its currently downloading the database, fingers crossed this works so i can move on.

My computers stopping me from downloading ASTAP! 🤦‍♂️

I'm slowly getting things together and tickling along ok getting everything prepared for when I can get out to give all of this a run through under the stars. Ive hit another snag in regards to plate solving as its not working with test image from one of my sessions (raw canon file) I have tried reading online to find out why but nothing seems to be appearing that Ive obviously done wrong but Plate solving with a test image in APT isant working and why doesnt ASPS recognize a my canon raw file to try directly in that application!? I'm doing this with no equipment connected to the computer which im guessing is ok!? All file paths I believe are ok and camera settings in tools are correct. 

29 minutes ago, dark knight said:

Your getting there, once you get the hang of it  all becomes second nature, just remember we have all been where you are, the frustration of equipment and compatibility when setting up can be so frustrating. Just remember we are all here for each other to help, SGL will get you there, never be afraid to ask for help.

100% mate, everyone has been awesome 👍

3 hours ago, teoria_del_big_bang said:

Basically yes. In APT you can Platesolve which will revolutionize your imaging and  star aligning will be a thing of the past but suggest we leave this for another day. Its not hard in fact once setup its just a matter of take a short exposute, platesolve it and the mount will then correct any error in position and go to the correct position in the sky.

Steve

Well while I'm now in the deep end I might aswell learn how to swim a bit quicker! Ive gone through the tutorial that David on here did back in April last year on how to set up Platesolving in APT. Everything seems to have gone well with installing and setting everything up so I just need to run some tests! Onwards and upwards (and slightly sideways sometimes!)

Just now, teoria_del_big_bang said:

I have put it all away now so can't check at moment but I am pretty sure you don't see them change in Ra because they are in Hrs, Min, Secs and so changing all the time as the earth rotates unless you are in tracking mode then the mount is moving to keep up with the earths rotation. I think they have made PHD2 corrections ignored by Ra position because they are corrections to a wrong position not actual adjusting the position it thinks it is.

 I think that is right but I could be talking out of my backside so some confirmation from some other member would help.

Steve

Ok, I wont worry for now, I have plenty of other reading to get my head around anyway 😫😄