Jonny_H

Thanks @wimvb & @michael8554 I really need to learn this stuff! Thank you both for your comments. So in essence, i need to check my belt tension and tighten. Change my guiding contributes including looking at dithering settings. I have recently changed my kit so that i can utilize NINA, PHD2 etc... mainly to free me from the ZWO bubble that the ASIAir restricts you to, but also to open software capabilities. So next time I get out (whenever this weather decides to give it a rest) and have a play. if I have said anything untoward above please feel free to put me straight! regards, Jon

Thank you all for your comments/input. The issue was that I hadn't entered all info for the scope, I.e. focal length and ratio. With the contributes entered it now works as expected. I can now sleep at night! Thank you all again. I can only apologies for being a complete berk and not identifying what was a rather simple issue to resolve!

I have just taken a screen shot of the issue I am having. I cant work out if it is a bug as i am using the latest BETA version of NINA - or if it is indeed something daft that I am doing. When clicking on the button to pull the data from Stellarium - it instantly populates the details of the thing I have selected in Stellarium. Shortly after the image of the object appears however I get an error stating that the coordinates could not be aquired (see image). Could this be a Bug or is something not quite right with settings etc...? Given that the details are populated do I just ignore the error message? I now know I don't need Stellarium....but I've got a bee in my bonnet now and need to fix this issue!

Thanks Steve, That would be great if you wouldn't mind. I am sure I must have missed something so would be good to cross check. Out of interest are you connecting your mount via a EQDIR cable or USB? Thanks to everyone else for your comments so far.

Thanks @Same old newbie alert I assumed that you needed a Planetarium installed. I think CDC is selected by default but out of the two I probably have more knowledge in Stellarium. If you do not need it though then all is well. I will carry on having a play.

Thank you for this. Rightly or wrongly I had assumed that the coordinated would be pulled through GSS or one of the other pieces of software in the chain, e.g. via the Internet. But it makes sense that you need a GPS device for this. Lessons learned......never assume

Hi all, I need some help with an issue I have with N.I.N.A and Stellarium in that I cannot seem to get the two to talk, or at least I get an error message when trying. In N.I.N.A I have selected Stellarium as the Planetarium software and made note of the default port #. In Stellarium I have ensured that the remote control plug-in loads at startup and I have selected the two server boxes within the remote control configuration screen. The port number here matches that of N.I.N.A. However when I select a target in Stellarium then go to N.I.N.A and try to import the coordinates from Stellarium, i get an error pop-up stating that the coordinated could not be retrieved. I just wondered what I have missed? be gentle - I am very new to N.I.N.A.....and Stellarium for that matter Thanks, Jon

Whilst on the topic - I too am trying out GS Server as I have very recently moved to NINA so feeling my way around at the moment. In the fear of this being a daft question - do you need to retrieve coordinates under the observatory location section of GSS? If so I cannot seem to get mine to retrieve as i keep getting an error. Not sure if this is relevant though as everything I have read/watched - no one really talks about this section and just seem to say that they have already synced.

Thanks @adyj1 I do not get this option within the drop-down so could be that my driver needs reinstalling. Did you install the ASCOM driver from the Skywatcher site or elsewhere?

Hi all, I am very new to N.I.N.A. and have been feeling my way around it this evening (for the first time). I have connected my equipment for starters, however I noticed that there are an array of options which you can select when connecting your kit. For example, my mount is an AZ EQQ GT and I use an EQDIR cable. Under the telescope section you can select a number of different options under the ASCOM category: ASIMount, Simulator, and there are a few more (i think one is something like Direct telescope Hub, and another telescope for .NET or something similar). My question is, which one 'should' i be picking? Or doesn't it really matter? Or should i be downloading another driver which i have missed? For my cameras (ZWO 2600MC and 120MM Mini) they appear in the list so I have just selected them. The ZWO EAF just comes up as ZWO EAF Focuser (1) and ZWO EAF Focuser (2) so i selected (1). These appear to all be in order though so no issues with these. items (unless you tell me otherwise ) Any help or a point in the right direction will be appreciated Thanks, Jonny

Yes, on mine the shaft narrows down to 8mm where it passes through the bearing. I assume yours will be the same.

Yes I believe the bearings are the same as mentioned in the previous post above. FYI I purchased mine from Acorn Industrial (part numbers below) for my AZ EQ6 GT. ACORN CODE 608-2Z-SKF HS CODE 8482 10 90 30 COO IT

That's interesting to know. Thank you.

That is very true and a good shout. I didn't think of using them! I guess as an extra piece of security and piece if mind I could put a couple of cable ties around it and the dovetail. But from past experience with the outdoor 3M sticky pads they probably won't be going anywhere for a while! Another quick question for you - in your opinion is there any benefit over the ultimate vs the advanced? I can see the benefit of the extra USB ports but at almost double the price of the advance I'm not convinced the additional features or worth the money. I.e. having more control over the 4 x 12V ports etc.... I thought I would get your views.

Thanks @scotty38 Another option is of course to print a bespoke bracket, or purchase an already printed third party one. I have seen some 3d printed brackets from Buckeyestargazer but they are based in the US so shipping might hurt a bit!

@scotty38 Sorry to come back on this one. Another quick question for you and a potential workaround for me - what does the underside of the PPBA look like? Does it have screw holes in the bottom of it (a bit like the ASIAir where you can screw a finder clamp to it etc...)?

Thanks @scotty38 So I could possibly just about get away with it, with the PPBA at least. I dare say I have no hope with the Ultimate as the box alone is 2cm longer than the Advance!

OK - if its not to much of a pain that would be great.

Hi @scotty38 Yes they're the ones. Hmm that's annoying - I think the maximum spacing I have available at the moment on the current dovetail is 115mm 🙄

Hi all, I hope the title makes sense, but in the way of a bit of context - I am trying to find out the distance between the mounting bracket holes of both the PPBA and PPBU. This to determine whether they can (or cannot) fit on my existing dovetail or whether i would need to get a longer one or another with different hole configurations etc... As an example, the PPBA is 100mm in length, so does that make the mounting bracket holes 105mm apart / 110mm apart and so on? Thanks, Jonny

I am working on Mrs Jonny_H to let me build an observatory in the garden. That said, with the seemingly never ending cost of living increases I feel I should probably keep my savings topped up as opposed to spending it! At least for the moment I don't mind lugging my gear in and out but I must admit it is tedious!

Hi @Simonas I don't have an Esprit 80 but have the Esprit 100. I mount my Evoguide 50 on top of the scope using tube rings. This frees-up the finder shoe in which I put my ASIAir Pro. Not sure if this is an option for you but something to consider. Alternatively (and I'm not sure about the 80 so you will need to check) the Esprit 100 has a hole for a finder show on the opposite side which is hidden by the sticker. If the 80 is the same, you could screw-in another finder shoe and mount the Air on that? Again please check first....I wouldn't want you to rip stickers off for no reason! Hope this helps!

James makes a valid point here re: why are they trying to get rid of them. I get the impression that they simply aren't as popular as their sibling EQ6R. When I got my AZ EQ6 (I think it was a couple of years back during the lockdown) the EQ6R was sold out everywhere but the AZ was more or less readily available. I might be wrong though but just an observation at the time

Thanks @Realtimedoctor Thanks also @Skipper Billy nice set-up you have there All comments have given me food for thought so far, but I will await further responses from the others also.

Thanks Nish, And given your first post above, I assume that you power your mount from the PPBA also?