Grant Fribbens

I only use an OAG on my Edge 8 HD. Although before I got the OAG I used the Altair 60MM guidescope without any issues. I have the ZWO OAG-L due to the larger prism size which I think really does help along with an ASI174MM 😄

I started out with the 2" L-Enhance and tried an L-Extreme but did not like the halos so went with the Antlia ALP-T Gold and really love it and use it with my Altair 26C across a range of different scopes.

I love my Raspberry PI's and I have them setup running Home Assistant doing my home automation, 3d printers using Octoprint and really wanted it to do my Astro automation but even a RPI4 8GB with SSD I tried Astroberry, Stellarmate and IndigoSky and each one had strange quirks but my biggest issue was that I ended up in losing imaging time. I use Linux all the time in may daily job and was very shocked when I came up against these issues. I caved in and have an Intel I5 based W10 mini PC on one rig and on the other rig I have a Beelink U59 W11 and they are loaded up with everything I need (NINA, APT, ASTAP, Sharpcap, ASCOM, PHD2, Firecapture, Astrosurface, Stellarium, Sky Chart) and most important is I find them much more reliable. My RPI 2 W powered AllSky camera with https://github.com/thomasjacquin/allsky works really well and just have to power it up and it just works unlike any attempts I have tried with indi or indigo.

I have been using Astrosurface for a while and really like it.

I am only out at night at the moment but have got some solar film and some designs from Thingiverse to print so watch this space!

I went with the William Optics GT-81IV with Flat6AIII. I also got the Hotech SCA Flattener as well. Although I think since then there have been some other scopes released and I think the Askar PHQ range look really good and would now be an option in this range.

@drjolo I am interested in you PPEC results as on the GreenSwampServer board someone has asked about the CQ350 which does not report a PPEC capability to EQMOD or GSS and I think the author has contacted SkyWatcher and they have said that it is not supported. I have found the manual online and it does state that it has 200 segment container for PPEC data so am confused. Maybe you can only do PPEC training via the Synscan Handset and not controlling the mount via PC direct. If it does not support PPEC then this would be a backward step.

Welcome back Andy. I have an AZ-GTI and I use a Samyang F2 135 or WO ZS61 on it with an IMX571 camera and filter drawer. This setup with a Windows based mini pc is great when I go camping automating it via GSS Server, PHD 2 and N.I.N.A. I have to admit the Zwo AM5 is catching my eye!

It is the Oklop EQ6-R Pro bag 😀

I went and here is the evidence! It was great to see everything up close. I could not beleive the size of the cq350 tripod! I came away with a few goodies and enjoyed the talks and spoke to a few people, will be going again next year but will need to save up!

Hi and welcome from down the road!

I am able to go this year so look forward to meeting some of you there

Welcome and that is a great first shot of M42 you have there. Good luck with the rabbit hole adventure that is astrophotography!

I find that vnc is too slow especially over wifi so I usually use nomachine which is so much better and does not has the lag that vnc does.

I use linux most of the time especially for work and I really wanted to use it for Astrophotography but I have to admit I ended up in trying Astroberry and then Stellarmate but always kept getting random hangups and found it so frustrating. So got a MiniPC with Windows 10 and now use ASCOM, ASTAP, NINA and PHD2 and have not looked back and works well with non ZWO cameras. I just attach it to my mount with velcro and remote desktop in and control my equipment in the warm after getting cold doing the polar alignment.