Rustang

Thanks mate, I was confused a little with the guide speed, I did look around a little to see if I'm setting it in the software or the mount but thanks for clarifying that. I shall give all that ago and try again 👍

Sure, see image, the instructions start where the arrows are top left.

Today I had some time to focus the guide scope during the day (tick!) and try seeing that PHD2 is sending instructions and actually guiding the mount. Following the tutorial given I set the mount into sidereal tracking via the hand controller then proceeded to manually move the mount via the manual controls in PHD2. It does say you may not be able to hear anything, i couldn't so i tried the viewing through the scope with an eyepiece idea on a terrestrial object. Because I cant see anything to far away in my garden i only used a 25 low power eye piece on a house just across from my garden but it does say use a high power eyepiece. I'm guessing its either because i was only using a 25 and not high power that I also couldn't visually see any scope movement by tapping continuously the West, East, North, South controls. Are there any other tips for trying this out or is there somewhere in the software to see that instructions from PHDS are reaching my mount!?

I'm sorted, figured it out. That's enough for one evening!

My computer seems to think its already installed! 🤔

I have the driver installed, i can see it in my devices on the computer but whats the software that brings up the video to view through that driver for the day time viewing!?

Just need to get that software for day time viewing working then hopefully going to get that sorted 👍

Cheers guys, i think im there to a point with the connections, I have set up the simple way (ST4) and it seems PHD sees the camera ok so that's one step forward!

I cant be trusted with Posh stuff, especially if i dont know what ive got!

lol, yeah just found that myself, thats what you get for buying, putting to one side for a while then forgetting what you brought!! I can be an idoit sometimes! So I unscrew the end to focus then lock with the ring im guessing. I'm going to go hide away while my red cheeks go down!! ☺️

Guide scope I believe! I do love to continue embarrassing myself!

Its an Altair 60mm scope, i guess i need a focuser for the scope then, i should have known!

So the software focuses the guide scope camera?, so its not like focusing my normal imaging camera then? Where is the movement back and forth coming from to obtain focus!!!? if that makes sense!?

My time is limited at the moment but Im slowly getting my head around some of it. I have another quick question, how do I focus the guide camera on the guide scope Ive got as it doesn't look like it has a focuser!? Plus is there a way to view the camera during the day to see how to focus it and check everythings is ok, does it need different software for this!?

I have a baader laser colli, cant remember the model but its a half decent one, its slightly out itself but if you feel you could sort that i would happily sell it to you cheaper than normal as im moving away from reflectors. Or just get a premium Cheshire eyepiece, but yeah stock is crazy at the moment, my dovetail is going to be really late now!

Thanks guys, I may try that simple option to start with then and going forward take baby steps into the other way with more software extra as it does sound like its a great way to control everything evenn if a little daunting. Thanks again 👍

Could you just clarify what you mean by this and how that works to guide!?

Cheers Steve, will do 👍

Thanks mate, I will digest everything mentioned and see how I get on. The biggest problem will be losing the handcontroller, it will be like taking away a child's safety blanket! but onwards and upwards... very slowly that is! 😉

Thanks, much appreciated 👍

DSLR with one of those fancy plug in timer/control things, I think it begins with a V what ever its called! 🤔. Once I've Pola aligned, 2 star aligned and set the scope off to target via the mount hand controller, I then let the camera plug in timer thingy do its work because it has everything set on it, exposure time, interval time, number of exposures etc so I can sort of lie out on a deck chair and get some kind of sleep while the scope does its thing. I've got that sorted now which is why it's a little scary and I'm hesitant to add any complexity to it but I need longer subs and would like better images! 😊

I really appreciate all the help, I'm just stuck at the setting up bit! 👍

Yes I'm reluctant because I'm used to using the hand set now. So I've been imaging for just over a year, 2min subs are just about ok, from a test the other night 3 min subs not so much. So I'm familiar with imaging even if still not great so the next stage is guiding. I reaserched what camera and scope which I've got so now I'm trying to get the software etc set up to give it ago.

That would be awesome but sadly not, I'm down in Hertfordshire!

Even plate solving is alein to me so add it to the list of scary new things to look into! 😁