DaveL59

16 hours ago, globular said:

You could try temporarily unhiding your ssid so you can add it to the seestar. Then, once added and saved, hide it again.  It should connect again once added even if hidden.

 

16 hours ago, globular said:

Again, you could temporarily disable mac authorisation while you add the seestar. You can then see the mac address on your router so you can turn authorisation back on and enter the correct mac address.

Yep I know all this stuff pretty well and my router config. Wasted a good while today trying to get this to work and seems tablet android didn't allow me to connect to the WiFi where on the phone app it did. So yeah, set to not hidden and no MAC control and I got on OK. Updated the MAC tables and again it'll connect OK with MAC control turned back on. But once you re-hide the SSID you're done, it won't try to connect even tho it seemed to save the details just fine. So pretty pointless feature for anyone wanting some security on their network, one I won't be using anyway 😞 

Out of interest folks, anyone figured out what this button does yet?

When tapped it turns green but can't say much happens and no slider appears as my first assumption was maybe its an EV adjust button.

Digging around in my camera bits I located a 49mm lens cap that's low-ish profile, lower than most OEM ones at least. Clips in fine, but unfortunately not enough clearance when the moving section returns to park. It'd get almost there but not quite so that idea's a bust.

Also added a bit of copper tape on the sloped corner which hopefully will be reflective enough that I can see roughly where its pointing in near dark, might get some luminous tape if the idea works - could be handy on tripod legs too so as not to trip and stumble about in the dark 🙂 

9 minutes ago, powerlord said:

Well, I'm afraid I only got about an hour between the clouds last night for first light with the S50.

So here's the results restacked from the fits in APP, and edited in affinity photo with Russell's filters.

 

I'd be more than pleased to have got those images 🙂

Interested tho in the Russell's filters, are they available anywhere.

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I shouldn’t worry if I were you…… 😉

 

My office is always a mess, not the desk necessarily but I have scope kit all over the floor most of the time 😬

Ahh an early paper volcano prototype I guess. I used to use that method at a place I worked where you were receiving so many meeting minutes etc. It worked well too, the top few inches of the pile held anything active and by the time papers moved toward the bottom of the pile and fell off the desk they were long dead and could be disposed without issue. When someone moaned and said I needed to "tidy that up" I simply lifted away the top 6 inches and binned the rest without checking what they were. They were horrified that I was disposing of something that may be important so I explained the methodology which calmed them down a bit 😉 

19 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

Agreed!  In direct sunlight I’d say with the black cover it wouldn’t be long getting hot inside. 

I was considering forming some sort of reflective cover (tin foil on card perhaps, its own tin foil hat lol) to shield it if using it for solar if that became an issue 😉 

5 hours ago, powerlord said:

Aha! Found some features - hidden a bit. So - about shows changelog for v1.9.. which is weird since it's not available... however v1.8 added stuff so did previous versions.

station mode is there - and it's now connected to my observatory wifi - so I can now happily control it from my bedroom like the rest of the obsy mounts. Also manual focus is there, so thats good too. Plus an advanced options you can turn on to save all individual frames, so can stack yerself later or do multi sessions, etc - I assume this will also save the darks it takes... no flats are taken.. but if it's saving the frames now, no reason why I can't take my own - though without bias maybe not that useful ?

 

 

 

So, station mode offers both 2.4 & 5 bands but seems your WiFi needs to be visible SSID, no option to add your hidden ones which all of mine are. I'd need it to display the MAC also so I can authorize it which doesn't seem available in the app. Oh well. Maybe I'll have to create a visible one just for it to use but I'd rather not tbh.

Nice that for me its reporting visibility at 1% and looking outside it certainly is with just the moon showing and almost no detail by eye. However I had to see what the S50 could make of it huh. Didn't find the moon with goto so I manually moved it and eventually got it centered. A bit too sensitive that manual direction control.

Had me fooled tho trying to find them on the seestar when it'd stored them on the tablet lol. Unadulterated image as taken off the tablet. I did shoot a few secs of video too but won't waste server space uploading that. Looking up I noticed the cloud had thinned briefly probably why the image is reasonably good. Nowt else tho as its all cloud here.

On 24/09/2023 at 01:17, LDW1 said:

I have probably read this some time but what is the minimum temperature that the SS can effectively be used !  Below freezing, if so how much ?

I downloaded the guides just now, something to do given naff skies here at the mo. 

Also says forced shutdown above 60 degrees C

Nice shots Stu, sounds like you've decent skies at least. Here with the moon rising the thin cloud is more like  looking thru net curtains and the moon is just a fuzzy ball. The only stars I'm seeing are close doubles that are moving across the sky with a flashing star in the middle 😉 (yep, passenger jets)

Sky here at the mo had a lot of thin cloud, a couple bright stars trying to peek thru the gaps but not looking good. Hopefully things will clear a bit later and there's always Bella Luna when she finally shows. Kinda figures tho huh, new glass and all that 😉 

One thought dawned on me tho, wonder how my security IR illuminators will affect it?
Guess I'll find out - eventually.

On 28/09/2023 at 16:11, badhex said:

Hello all, 

Has anyone managed the Veil yet? Is the FOV wide enough for such and object? 

Not seen anyone post that one, but there is rumour on some utube reviews that a mosaic mode may be in the works.

26 minutes ago, powerlord said:

Aha! Found some features - hidden a bit. So - about shows changelog for v1.9.. which is weird since it's not available... however v1.8 added stuff so did previous versions.

station mode is there - and it's now connected to my observatory wifi - so I can now happily control it from my bedroom like the rest of the obsy mounts. Also manual focus is there, so thats good too. Plus an advanced options you can turn on to save all individual frames, so can stack yerself later or do multi sessions, etc - I assume this will also save the darks it takes... no flats are taken.. but if it's saving the frames now, no reason why I can't take my own - though without bias maybe not that useful ?

So, a bit cloudy tonight but not looking too bad till midnight at least so will try as many targets as I can - the wall, iris, elephant trunk, m33, crescent. might also have a go with an L-extreme vs the inbuild dual band and see if it's useable or just too dark.

Oh - tip wise - IF you want to shoot terrestrial video best quality, yer best option is to:

1. scenery mode, focus on target.

2. swap to moon mode and select video and raw (raw not an option in scenery mode).. and no option to save FIT or raw images in scenery mode either.

3. start videoing

Now you'll have the raw video (2MB per frame, 30MB/s vs about 1MB/s in H264 video it delivers to phone.

You then have to grab it off device (raw 8 bit avi), and can do what you want with it. As I'm on a mac, I have to use PIPP on windows to save out the individual frames as PNGs, then can use quicktime on the mac to create a lossless mov from the frames then I can edit in final cut pro, etc.. all a bit of a palaver and can't imagine I'm gonna do that very often, but if you happen to want to video a lesser-spotted squirrel warbler with your FF DSLR equivalent of a 1600mm lens (so pretty useful telephoto really), you'll want to shoot in raw to tease those details of the multi coloured plumage around it's 6 eyes, and sharpen those bright yellows in its furry legs...

 

I'd noticed the save individual frames options when I quickly went thru setting mine up but then had to return to work mode so didn't get to investigate other options further. Hooking to your own WiFi sounds handy tho I'd have to add it into the permitted MAC's list etc. Was it 2.4 or 5 GHz band out of interest?

Just got mine and unboxed it. Anyone find that the tripod fitting has a slight play in it? Screwed up tight but there's a tiny movement if you rock the fitting/tripod in the screw/unscrew direction. No rock per se at least not that I noticed. Might not be much to worry about but would certainly affect its aim in a breeze I'd think.

Other than that, its charging. Power-up test went well, even spoke English so no settings to change for me and focused on the trees just fine 🙂

Edit: only disappointment is - no lens cap for when its parked. Will see if I have anything that'll fit as I prefer to keep lenses protected when not in use. Sure it'd be in its case stored but leaving it out charging and with kitties, good chance some hairs will find their way onto the lens. If not, once the 48mm filter attachment arrives I can likely use a spare low-profile 49mm camera lens cap.

Edit2: simple temp solution, using the mask that I'd ordered off the bay-of-e with the protective paper film that was covering the lens during shipping. Fits nicely and will happily park with it in place 🙂 

Of course @Stu having ordered one of these also played a part in helping me resist the temptation 😉

Just arrived from FLO my Seestar S50 and the puck to convert an EQ5 tripod to 3/8 photo so I can use it on one of the taller tripods. Initial power up and mine spoke English, tablet easily connected and a quick focus check at some trees out the conservatory door, looking good so far 🙂 

On charge using the tablet's USB-C and 20W charger now as its back to work for me for the moment.

Edit: only disappointment is - no lens cap for when its parked. Will see if I have anything that'll fit as I prefer to keep lenses protected when not in use. Sure it'd be in its case stored but leaving it out charging and with kitties, good chance some hairs will find their way onto the lens.

2 hours ago, powerlord said:

 

Anyway, raised a case with ZWO, they got back to me - turns out v1.8 of app is out, but not in play store yet - I downloaded from their website direct, and its fixed it! yeh!

 

Useful to know, thanks. With mine arriving this afternoon I've just updated both my Lenovo tablet and Sammy note-10 with 1.8.0 in anticipation 🙂

13 hours ago, Stu said:

So where were you lot when I needed saving from myself? 🤪🤣

Well, I was thinking do I need/have space for another scope, tho I'd always wanted one of that generation in the nice wood case and was dithering more on the "no space side", took another look and you'd already snaffled it up 🙂 

14 minutes ago, Stu said:

Here you go. Don’t like the look of it but at least I’ll be able to put some decent eyepieces in it. I’ve also got some very nice 0.965” orthos which I’ll try.

 

Does look a nice scope there Stu, in fact I was quite tempted myself after taking a look at the ad, next I knew it was sold! I should thank you really for the save 😉 

ooh I just got a notification of dispatch from FLO, gobsmacked as I was expecting a longer wait 🙂 

Best of luck Louise, both with shifting the gear and your own future, hope it all works out well for you 🙂

Another updated review, seems MF may be there in the update he's installed.

On 22/09/2023 at 18:31, DaveL59 said:

No worries 🙂

Can confirm an EQ5 head fits, loose where it goes into the well of this adaptor but once bolted down it's fine.

Once I sort how best to attach it to the TAL tripod boss I'll be able to return the TAL tripod to original config and use the EQ5 on it that way and have a spare tripod with ally legs to use when needed too.

So a bit of a browse on that long river place yesterday eve and just now they delivered some stainless steel bits:
screw-eye 3/8-16 UNC and some 1.5mmx40mm M10 washers.

A couple penny washers under that screw-eye to spread the loading and...

How's that? 🙂 

Just need to refit the boss onto the TAL wooden legs and it'll be back to as-original with an EQ5 adaptor on top.

So here it is fitted up. I worked a 25mm nylon M8 washer down to fit the 20mm hole in the centre of the TAL boss to aid centring the adaptor and screw then opened the M8 centre hole so it is a tight fit to the 3/8-16 screw thread so it retains the 40mm penny washer on the screw eye. Overall pretty pleased with that result 🙂 

Now a couple things. You could bolt the adaptor base to the tripod and fit the upper section to the EQ5 and then try to screw the 2 sections together. Good chance of cross threading and awkward with the weight of the EQ5 even without weights fitted. Or you bolt the upper section to the EQ5 and then screw the bottom section on and fit that complete assembly to the tripod. I did the latter with the EQ5 laying on the sofa so I could line up the tripod & 3/8 screw eye. Still awkward but easier than trying to screw the EQ5 head on while balancing it one-handed. Getting it north-aligned, either one leg or between the legs aimed to N is a bit hit and miss, comes down to screwing it up nice and tight in just the right orientation, not particularly important tho.

I guess it'll be easier with a photo tripod with a fixed 3/8 screw in the head @StevieDvd but either way is doable and solves the issue of using an EQ5 head on photo gear if you do go that route 🙂 

A further update: I noted that if moving the scope by hand with clutches released it is possible to have the upper section of the adaptor start to rotate also, as in undo if moving things in that direction. I picked out a couple of 3mm nylon thumbscrews from my parts box and nipped those up tight in the 2 tapped holes where the threaded sections mate and that so far is keeping the two sections from unscrewing. Went with nylon to not damage the machined threads for the moment, might be worth running a metal screw in to mark the threads and then drill to accommodate a longer screw to lock the two parts together if it becomes a problem later on.

57 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:

Thanks,

I'll keep this in mind as a backup solution. It would be for putting my Altair Sabre mount on a carbon fibre tripod. The base of the Sabre is not a flush fit on the base plate of the tripod and my sense of a proper safe fit is prompting me for a good solution.  Whether that's getting an adapter made or using one like you have bought seems a good idea.

Steve

 

No worries 🙂

Can confirm an EQ5 head fits, loose where it goes into the well of this adaptor but once bolted down it's fine.

Once I sort how best to attach it to the TAL tripod boss I'll be able to return the TAL tripod to original config and use the EQ5 on it that way and have a spare tripod with ally legs to use when needed too.

57 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:

@DaveL59

I was looking at these but was not sure of the sellers as the prices varied so much. Do the two parts screw together (looks as if they are threaded) and locked with a single screw. And what are the other screw holes for, any user guide come with it?

Also, do you mind me asking which seller and how much it cost including delivery etc?

Thanks

Steve

Hi Steve,

Indeed the 2 halves screw together which I was pleased to see, esp given the weight of an EQ5 and gear. The tapped holes around the sides have no provided screws but 2 of them at the base of the upper section could be used to lock the parts together if desired (after sourcing suitable screws of course). The ones in the middle of the upper part I guess could also lock against the inserted EQ head flanges tho I can't see why you would do that.

The one I purchased was this one, overall cost around £56 inc shipping and VAT which they bill for these days.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005532892902.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.order_list_main.5.21ef1802sujog9

Yet to try it for fit on the EQ5 head as working from home but will give it a look later on.

Fresh in from China just a few mins ago a EQ5 base for 3/8 tripod thread, ordered with a view to fitting to the TAL wood tripod that didn't have a cup to hold a mount.

The lower part on the right is 3/8 threaded to fit to a photo tripod then the upper (left) screws onto it to carry the EQ head. Looks nicely made and very solid.

My initial thoughts when ordered was to just use the top section and drill for the 6 screws to bolt it directly onto the TAL tripod boss, but that may in fact be better to do on the lower section. As a quick test however I used a 3/8-1/4 adaptor I have on the big Zeiss 180mm lens and...

Might work well enough tho I'll sort obtaining some proper 3/8 bolts etc if I plan on setting the EQ5 head and a long scope onto it I think 😉 Or go with plan-A and drill/tap for 6 suitable bolts to secure that baseplate instead.

As pictured tho it may be fine for something lighter like the ZWO Seestar S50 when that gets here. Just ordered the puck to make the EQ5 base adapt for 3/8 tripod screw.

1 hour ago, M40 said:

Using a mask with the seestar, where there is no manual focus unless I have missed it, I presume we goto a bright star insert the mask, then autofocus? What do you think.

seems so from the videos, at lest it'll confirm focus is good. MF may come along in a firmware update which would make the mask more useful.