Stephenstargazer

The clue is in the header............... however in my experience FLO has given full editorial control to the moderators, volunteers from the membership. itself.

There is beta software out for test from Astro Devices and Rowan to allow DSC devices to control the optional motor set on an AZ100. Neither is released yet, but it may not take long.

The AZ100 is added as an optional motor controller to select in DSC/Pro serial connections. 

Discussion on AZ100 Mount Owners Thread. 

@Deadlake no I do not have such a list. The DRAFT Manual refers to " Bluetooth low energy" joysticks and keypads. I would presume until some beta testers report on specific makes that no more can be said.

A joystick can apparently be connected either to the motor controller direct or to an IOS/Android device being used with the Rowan Web interface. Does that help?

I don't have such a thing to even try  🙂

@Saganite clearly has a beta version and I now have it too. I won't be trying a bluetooth joystick yet (sorry!), but will mainly see how well it works with DSC. There is an update for the DSC to control the AZ100 motors and once I get the AZ100 software installed OK I shall comment on that.

I have checked out the AZ100 changes and the revised planetarium is now a serious contender. Reported bugs have been addressed too. The Sky view is improved with selectable databases, panning, horizon, magnitude filters etc so that it could well be used on its own. I have just about got used to Rowans onscreen joystick in the 'standard' version but perhaps the dedicated hand controller, or the Bluetooth option,   will make the package complete.

However you look at it Rowan are making the AZ100 motordrive options configurable to suit a range of user choices. Much like the hardware in that respect, they have listened to astronomers feedback and developed optional components and firmware gradually.

I have just looked carefully at screen posted by Saganite and the version shown at top is 1.1.0, which I presume is the major re-write expected? But how/when do we get it???

On 04/05/2023 at 10:24, Stephenstargazer said:

The firmware has not been updated since version V1.0.4 issued in November. So this is still a work in progress

@Saganite can you have a look at the web page and tell us what version you are using. The above V1.0.4 is still listed on the update page as per Deadlake's comment. I have been waiting since January for the DSC compatible version!

@Dek Rowan Astro can we have an update on the update ?

4 hours ago, Alan White said:

Postie or Parcel Farce have been with a recent purchase from @Stu

Most pleased with this and part of a side project 

 

I forgot how slim these are, so a pleasant surprise

That naked tray needs eyepiece holes - right now 😠 

Thanks @Astrowl will try that next opportunity and with a larger scope too. Have loaded up the latest software 1.13b and that brings my Astrowl Box up to date with the User Manual on the website. Brings some useful new features.

Interesting to see that the anticipated SeeStar S50 also chooses the sensitive IMX462 sensor (IR cut built in?), but only with a 250mm fl objective of course. That might seem a bit limiting once the initial enjoyment has worn off?  With a fairly large FoV of 1.28 x 0.72 deg forget planets and many DSO. Perhaps it is  a forerunner for something bigger? But certainly a challenge to other 'auto-scopes'

Happy Birthday @paulastro !

Our forebears seem to have worked harder and recorded better with simple equipment. Maybe our "stuff" is getting in the way?

For info of those looking at using a camera lens, the distance from lens flange to sensor should be as below (flange focus distance).Any more will not reach infinity.

Canon EOS EF.   44.0 mm

M42 (Pentax,Praktika etc)   45.5 mm

T2 (Tamron et al)     55.0 mm

C mounts.   17.5 mm.      CS.  12.5. mmm

Others you can find online! 

On 13/05/2023 at 07:20, Ratlet said:

Adapter from m42x1 to canon and then a canon to m42x0.75 to get onto the camera.  That cost about £70.

Baader do an M42x1 to M42x.75 adapter, quite small light path ? 3mm. Mine was nearer £20, probably more now! Still need spacers though. S/H M42x1 'macro' spacer tubes cheapest, T2 variable most convenient.

Just the motor drive set to add then? Actually I recommend enjoying the mount as a manual for a while before you decide.

Have no fear these are built to last centuries not years!

Many people take widefield astro photos with a camera lens. So there is no inherent problem. It is generally reckoned that fixed lens are preferred and it would be simpler to use a manual lens, so that it can be stopped down. A 2nd hand T2 or M42 is probably easiest to connect. Camera sites have cheaper adapters.

You my find some good advice here. Ian has tried most things and researches the ideas  well.  https://www.ianmorison.com/

I have a camera for EEA with a relatively small sensor. Can use it with ridiculously cheap C type lenses and recently acquired a Carl Zeiss Jena 135mm lens in M42 for £33 . These will give me wide fields and work at f/3.5 or less. Cheaper than these doublet guidescopes and proper camera lens quality. Not expensive to try! You may also be able to adapt your camera lenses to fit the astro camera?

I have used them for daytime testing, to sort focus point, but not done a proper sky test yet - whilst solving other problens!

(To work out fields of view use Sky Safari scope display or do the maths with the sensor sizes)

Another SW 6X30 RACI user. Cheap and easy, shows most stars as in Pocket Sky Atlas. Useable fov is over 7deg. Tarted it up with some aluminium thumb screws.

My other bigger (better?) finders dont often get used. This is better for star hopping and enough for alignment.

I must disagree about thread! The 1/4 " UNC ithread s well suited to fixing which is regularly done and undone and in softer materials like aluminium. The M6 is a much finer thread and M8 rather large for cameras. Neither would be better.

ISO metric coarse threads are better suited, and generally found in larger diameters eg as structural bolts. In engineering terms there is nothing "better" just because it is metric. Steam turbines are very efficient compared to diesel generators - horses for courses! 

Nice Snapshot and would look that good live. Excellent news about website - added to my favourites!

I have an Astrowl now and find it easy to use, so nice to just connect a power bank and off you go. Simple controls which are genuinely intuitive on the tablet/phone and the picture on the Box just like an eyepiece. Definitely good for anyone with ageing eyes (floaters or glasses) and wanting to avoid a laptop.

My initial use was quite restricted as my equatorial tracking mount got sold. However I found that it would work with non tracking.mounts with smaller scopes (up to 500mm fl) and even would stack 20-30 frames - helps to align the frame with direction of drift, as you will lose the leading edge. This phase has let me establish best arrangements for being close to parfocal with eyepieces, and fitting in filters (IR cut essential). I did some daylight testing to get familiar.

I now have a tracking alt-az mount again and can get going on more ambitious work such as galaxies - which are all but smudges in my sky. Just to see how I could focus better (now tracking) took this of M35 with 60mm scope, to fit in frame, so probably underexposed? All settings were default Star Field, stack view. 2 buttons, no fiddling around, this is what you see at the scope - significantly more than an eyepiece in my sky, comparable to a larger scope. Early days but  see the Astrowl as a way to keep deep sky observing going, alongside eyepieces and binoviewer for brighter objects. 

I should also add that Arnaud is great to deal with and his continuous improvements to the firmware have all been worthwhile and actually work! I have no idea  what deconvolution does, but only have to press a button to do it. (Actually the Manual does tell me and is an example for bigger enterprises. Do have a look.)

True, but well off topic! They can levy VAT at charging stations but not at home. We are likely to move to road charging instead (electronic tolls).

Back to the rant........petrol is priced per litre in Europe because the cost per gallon is astronomical 😀

On 05/05/2023 at 19:00, Alan White said:

Be interesting how the AZ75 sits on this

Let us know if it is a good match as the Berlebach equivalent is expensive. Presume your AZ75 is M10 then. It says the tripod has an M10 adapter, do you know what is under that? Eg is the adapter removable? I am looking for 3/8" but can swap out the screw.

In day to day life like many my age I still think of distances in feet, yards, miles but am more polylingual when it comes to volumes and weights, happily swapping metric and imperial. My engineering degree was done in SI units however at work both imperial and technical metric (German habit) persisted for years after. The worst being for a renowned American petrochemical contractor who would only accept calculations in USA Imperial. including kips (1000 lbs) and short Tonnes - we had to rewrite some software to produce them.

I think of chains when I listen to cricket, and remember surveying with actual chains which were by then 20m long. 😁

Now back to that thread - if it is 1/4" UNC  aka National Coarse aka 20 tpi then that is still the defacto standard photo thread that you will find on the base of your latest mega pixel digital super camera. Some people think it is a Whitworth thread but they disappeared, along with BSF, when UK and USA agreed Unified threads after WW2.

(I am the proud owner of two substantial boxes of taps and dies with thread gauges - when in doubt measure!)

Yes - the webpage firm ware and connection to Sky Safari (and maybe other planetarium apps) is functioning, as many  have reported on this topic, either with motors on or off.

10 hours ago, Deadlake said:

Ok, I meant Nexus DSC, presume that works?

Not yet is the answer! The Rowan website says it will be able to work with a Nexus DSC.

The Motor Drive System Manual states : Connections:  RS232 - For Nexus DSC

@Dek Rowan Astro e-mailed me in January "Firmware coming soon for the AZ100 to work with the Nexus DSC, which we should be able provide a Beta version for testing. "

The firmware has not been updated since version V1.0.4 issued in November. So this is still a work in progress.

Not at all - the serial connection is for a Nexus DSC. I have the cable and patiently wait to use it. (The Nexus and  Nexus DSC are two different products from Astro Devices, and do not have the same functionality.)

Hope that clears the misunderstanding . 

PS there are in fact a Nexus, Nexus II, Nexus DSC, and Nexus DSC Pro.    https://www.astrodevices.com/

12 hours ago, Deadlake said:

Might be easier to just get the motor kit and then add the Nexus depending on how you get on with using Sky Safari?

The software to use a  motorised AZ100 with a DSC (and perhaps a Nexus?) is not available yet. There would be no gain in adding a Nexus to the motor controller which already has a WiFi output, which is all the Nexus does. You would need a DSC or ano to avoid using Sky Safari. The Web browser Rowan built in software is not at present a complete alternative, though someone may be using a mount with that alone???

I see that @Adam_Wade has ordered already so I point this out for others. In fact installing the motors at a later date is a very easy job with excellent instructions to follow. People should not be put off trying a manual AZ100 first if they are unsure. After fitting motors the slow motions are not actually very pleasant to use, though it is possible. It is of course not difficult to unfit motors!

I see that @swsantos and I disagree  about the slowmos with motors - but I do agree about push to being useful and the benefit of tracking 🙂