gary756

Ok thanks for the replies. Everything is update. Even went as far as forgetting all other WiFi networks. Think I'm gonna take the plunge with a external dongle, cheers.

Have a celestron Evo 6, had for a couple of year now and have never needed to use the WiFi function. However I recently bought a auto align and thought I would give the WiFi a whirl. I found that it's pretty woeful, did a bit of digging about and there are quite a few reviews where it's mention the internal antenna being too small. Been looking at WiFi dongles. The celestron was recommended by Rother Valley Optics. At about £140 a pop are they any good. Does anyone have experience of these. Any other recommendations?

Cheers.

Harrison optics have them listed new for £135. Says stk due now (ish).  Like the idea of a huge finder scope though. 

Apparently the unlock code works on 5 different things.  Found one on eBay. I suspect there will be more coming up as people head out of lockdown.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/264845687234

Yeah watched I couple of videos which is what got me thinking. If you could align it properly there wouldn't be a need for the goto function and a huge saving to boot. I was looking at the 70 LT in particular as it appears that the plate solving bit is attached to the scope (not sure if that would make a differance) and it's the cheapest model. 

I've just been looking at goto skyliner 250px flex tube at almost a grand. Then I came across a celestron starsense explorer 70LT (£135 new) and wondered if I could somehow remove the clever phone part and attached it to a none goto 250 tube. Has anybody tried this? I've seen both secondhand and there's a fair saving over a new goto. 

Blimey off to brush me teeth 😬 

Like it, much better than Mark one lung. Thanks 

I was looking a tycho last night and noticed a load of fluff or something in the FOV. On checking my eyepieces and diagonal there is loads of dust. I resisted the urge to give them a good blow and I decided attempting to get a shaving brush in wouldn't be a good plan.

So my question is what are people using, there seems to be loads of brushes and potions on the market. I was considering getting a can of air but know these can leave residue. Does anyone have any recommendations.

You could also consider adding a wedge to your setup.   Zoom eyepieces could be something else to consider, I have just bought a Baader mk iv and really like it. 

The se's require power. They take batteries in the mount but reading reviews most people end up buying a power pack. Which are about another 60 quid or so and more stuff to lug about in the dark. I was recommend a 5 or 6 se by the local astronomy club. However if you can stretch your budget the evolution series of comes with it's own built in power pack and a sturdier mount. I found one in a sale and am very pleased with it so far. Just remember whatever you decided to do, make sure you've updated to the latest firmware. 

Bought a Evolution 6 a couple of months ago and was shocked at the cost of the Celestron carry case. Decided to look at hard luggage cases for photography and again ridiculous money. 

Eventually found a large toolbox made by Stanley at Screwfix, used the packing from original boxes the scope arrived in and it was about £40. Just wondering what solutions others have found.

Also I seem to be adding eyepieces and filters to my collection, I'm not convinced my current solution of a lunch box is really up to the job. 

22 hours ago, Louis D said:

With or without eyeglasses?  I've had trouble using them with eyeglasses at star parties, so I haven't bought one myself.

Without glasses, I actually find I don't need them through the telescope. Although the focus does need adjusting every time myself or the boy swap over. (Clearly, he isn't hard of seeing)

On 10/07/2020 at 22:26, DeathWarpedUp said:

Ok, I just measured it for you. Please note this is a rough measurement taken with a tape measure and my fingers bending it in. so probably best to work to the closest 5mm either way

I have a cpc800 Celestron, which I basically pointed north. with the sct thread pointing stright down at the base. so first off my rough measurement from the top of the 2" vb thread (the scope base where the thread joins it, and not the top of the vb thread itself) to the closest part of the base (directly below) was roughly 16cm (no idea how this fares against your scope)

I then screwed to the scope the 1.25 stock diagonal (part number 94115-A) and  the stock Visual back (part number 93653-A) , these maybe the stock parts you have also, check the side of the kit or the box it came in. Anyway, there was roughly 7cm from the closest point of the diagnol to the base. I did the same thing again with a baader clicklock VB and the baader clicklock 2" diagonal and the distance shortened to about 4cm.

I then took the 1.25 diagonal and the 1.25 vb and attached them together (without the scope) and measured between the VB base  along the line running past the nose peice turret to the furthest corner of the diagonal (the longest length) this measured 8.5cm (measure yours see if this is the same distance, it probably will be). I then did the same thing with the Baader VB and 2" diagonal and got 13cm

I hope all this makes sense, its probably hard to visualise what im saying above, if it does make sense  based on this you can possibly recreate my steps with your 1.25 and vb and see how much room you have with yoru scope.

 

 

 

Thank you taking the time to measure up, all very helpful stuff. Was out Saturday night and managed to drop my baader zoom,  luckily just a bit of paint scratched off.  Then skyportal went into meltdown and at one point actually put the scope upside down!!

Anyway the zoom ep was good eye relief I found to be comfortable even on max zoom.  But definitely think I need to upgrade my diagonal. Might just save for an extra month or so and go for a 2".

35 minutes ago, DeathWarpedUp said:

Theres a couple of factors to consider with all of this. The weight and the swing to the zenith (the ep/diagonal smacking against the base of the scope).

Weight wise going to 2" means diagnoal and ep's are heavier, which is where the clicklock types are better, as they lock in so tight compared with the screws. The good news is the mount you have is alt az so the eye peice will not be slewing round in all types of angles (if its set to 12 o'clock it tays there). However if you are observing from the side (say 9pm), the weight of the ep might cause the screws to loosen and the thing come crashing down (even on 1.25's I am sure you are probably noticing that sometimes with the stock diagnoal screws getting loose..makes you anxious right).

The other issue (which may not be an issue) is when looking at stuff at the zenith the distance from the bottom of the scope to the base below may not be long enough for 2" diagonal and 2" EP and the Visual back. The good news for you on that is we can hopefully measure it to see how tight it is. I have the baader clicklock and the Baader zoom and a baader sct vb click lock also, so I can nip out and give you the full dimensions, I can also measure my 8" Celestron cpc  from the sct vb screw to the base as something to possiby bench mark it with. Ive never used an evoluton 6 so I dont know, my hunch is length wise it will probably be ok.

Obviously this may not help you decide but at least it will help if the answer might be a flat out no. Hope this makes sense.

 

P.S. John makes a good point about the 1.25 fit.  however it does fit, so personal preference on that one i'm guessing, on if you eventually want a 2".

Yep very helpful and you are right  it does come loose especially after the kids hanging off it trying to spy on the hill walkers. Just had a quick look and id say ive got a couple of inches of clearance at the zenith, so maybe enough?

11 hours ago, DeathWarpedUp said:

The zoom is a 1.25" and comes with a 2" screw on attachement so you should be good to go.

Upgrading the diagonal is a whole new ball game, I'm guessing you may have a stock one probably 1.25" (did it come with your scope?). you can upgrade that one for sure to a better 1.25". Going to 2" will depend on if you want to get 2" ep's in the future and are a bit pricier Also bear In mind what eps you have currently  and their sizes, and what you may want in the future. Some people exclusively  use 1.25, some 2 and some a bit of both. The scopes size and weigh is also a consideration if your on something small.

Based on your budget I would go for this, its a 2" with a 1.25 adaptor:

https://www.telescopehouse.com/diagonal-dielectric-99-quartz -lx.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwo6D4BRDgARIsAA6uN18P8vtISypK2iqIebU2gOqbDg6L1OmwbtRCZ1bgiP5Sc7apV5JwrfoaAkTBEALw_wcB

If you are willing to spend a little more a click lock (sometimes called a fast lock or twist lock or positice lock) are genereally seen as a slicker design that holds the eye peices more securely than the traditional screws. Cheapest is probably this (again a 2" but without an adaptor) ** I just noticed its out of stock**, the others normally start around £150 https://www.altairastro.com/altair-premium-positive-lock-diagonal---dielectric-2-inch-pushfit-2247-p.asp

Or just buy used, diagonals are allways selling. Just make sure its dielectric.

 

 

thank you very helpful as always. It is a stock diagonal, I'm currently using an evolution 6.  I have been looking at click lock diagonals,  but not sure about 2" because of size and etc. 

On 08/07/2020 at 22:27, gary756 said:

Ive just bought a Baader mk iv with a barlow. Itching to give it ago. 

Should I also be thinking about upgrading my star diagonal. Are there any decent ones for around £50-£100 or less would better. 

1 minute ago, Daf1983 said:

I've been looking forward to get my scope out this weekend all week, because Clear Outside showed clear night for Friday and Saturday! Checked again this morning and is changed for the worse☹️ Haven't had a clear night for almost 4 weeks 

I saw that and was getting excited for the weekend. Was planning to drag my son off to the dales for some dark sky stuff. Haven't had chance to check today so hadnt seen it had changed.  Looks like it could be another weekend hanging out the bedroom windows looking for a break in the clouds.

Thanks everyone will have a look the suggestions over the weekend. Ive been so sick of the rubbish night-time weather I bought a solar filter. Since that arrived daytime weather has been pants too. 

I know just being optimistic, have found a CL caravan site in a dark sky area near home. Hoping to find an app that could go a couple of weeks a head. Last time we went to kelder it hoof it down all weekend. 

just wondering what weather apps people are using. I've got clear outside and BBC weather sre there any others? 

Are there any that go more than a couple of weeks? Bit of big ask with uk weather, but surly it can't stay cloudy forever!!

Am fairly new to this too. I found that if I aimed the tube at somthing prominent on top of the hill, so it was easier to determine weather I was pointing at the sky or not. Especially if the focus was way out.  Farm buildings or farm vehicles and try to centre it in my eyepeice. Then get your red dot finder on the same thing. It took quite a lot of effort as seemed that the screws were getting really tight. Don't be tempted to nudge into place. Its worth spending a bit of time getting it bang on. First time I did it it took a half hour to it right.  Also remember that what ever feature you choose it needs to be a good few hundred metres away.  Much much easier during the day. 

Ive just bought a Baader mk iv with a barlow. Itching to give it ago. 

On 05/07/2020 at 19:36, Dannomiss said:

You have this one? 

Yep we got both. Started with the Philips one and bought the colins one a month or 2 later.

We've got the Philips stargazing book, but we actually prefer the colins version. Same sort of thing we just find the layout easier to use.