dd999

After going ahead and purchasing the AZ Gti and a Manfrotto 055 xprob tripod I've now set everything up for a first night viewing last night - and I'm bitterly disappointed how noisy the mount is when in goto (slew) mode. This is my first goto so had little to compare it against. Using the free Synscan app you can track slow and quiet, adjust the speed of manual skew to around 6 or 7 which is still fast enough and pretty quiet to use.... ....but the moment you choose an object for your mount to slew or goto, it disregards any skew speed setting, immediately cranks to maximum of 9, and well basically it's too loud for me to feel comfortable using at 1am. Unfortunately my neighbours are close by and with summer here and windows open, I can't use the goto at night - which is pretty crap, as it's the main reason I purchased. Apparently, reading on this forum, someone asked Skywatcher about this two years ago, and whether a firmware update could be released to choose the speed of the goto. They basically said no. Has anyone found a way around this - or will one of the 3rd party apps allow you to select the speed the mount chooses in goto mode? I'd be happy to pay an extra premium just to have this control. Its so loud I'm at the verge of returning it, but thought I'd try you clever people first - it's nuts really when such a simple UI control would fix!

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Nice - is that the tripod for the standard EQ2 and EQ3 mounts?

You did convince me - I just bought the AT GZi

Do you have the AZ GTi or the AZ Gte? - if it's the GTe, do you ever regret not getting the GTi? I saw Happy-Kat's comment, and makes sense. Would be good to put us manually time to time, or quickly reset it back if you trip over the damn thing in the dark. I have the option of a GTi, or a GTe with a ST 102, for exactly the same price. Love the idea of a getting a small refractor with it for those spontaneous grab and go moments (rather than take the 130p out with me every time) - but equally don't want to miss out on the AZ GTi's Freedom Find and regret it later. Sorry - thinking out loud!

Impressive - do you find the Manfrotto 055 sturdy enough under the weight? Assume it's the xprob? I'm just about to buy steel tripod legs - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-stainless-steel-tripod-with-38-thread.html - but would prefer something a little more portable

Perfect - yes makes absolute sense now Thanks!

Thanks all! - Really helpful! One (stupid!) question but can't find an answer anywhere - if I start off by using my own 130p (which I currently have on an EQ2 mount) in the standard alt az mode - do I need a separate pier or dovetail to connect the 130p to the AZ GTi?! - it doesn't look as if the mount head comes with any attachments, and I can't see a pier or dovetail on FLO or anywhere else!? I can't see how the telescope connects to the AZ GTi All photos of the 130p connected are in EQ mode where a dovetail is used to connect between the rings. Can see in ScouseSpaceCadet's photo there's a dovetail between the rings, but when looking at this https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-az-gti-wifi/sky-watcher-explorer-130ps-az-gti.html - there's a small green dovebar. Can't see to buy this anywhere and doesn't look to come with the AZ GTi head. Just don't want to order everything and need more accessories when it arrives, and wait even longer!

Ahh yes you're right - thanks! Hadn't seen this. Partly achievable apparently with the right Barlow, but not ideal. Will still be good to use with the 130p with the AZ GTe but looks like I'll have to wait for the ED80 before hooking up to a dslr - or look for small refractor in the meantime. I have researched this already. Having it in EQ mode is really important. I couldn't find anything official about the firmware update - only one post from someone on here who apparently managed to update the firmware, and turn in to an EQ, on the AZ GTe. Don't like taking the risk though. May be a factor right there.

I guess that's another dilemma I have. In re-reading my garbled rant, I guess I could summarise my dilemma in to the following questions: 1. Is the AZ GTi (and AZ GTe) capable of taking a 130p (not just the 130ps it comes with one of the package deals) and a DSLR, and still goto and track? 2. Do I go for just the AZ GTi head, and buy a Manfrotto mount (about £320) - or the AT GTe, light tripod and Skyhawk 1145PS (for £320)....... and then potentially sell the light tripod it comes with, and pick up a second hand Manfrotto (both combinations are roughly the same price, but the latter also gives me a small scope to travel with in the interim); 3. If I go for the latter option in 2, am I missing much by opting for the AZ GTe rather than the AZ GTi? Thanks!

Hi All, I'm brand new on here but not a complete newb. I've owned various telescopes in the past but time for a bit of an upgrade. I have a question about the payload of the AZ GTi WiFi mount. I already own a Skywatcher 130p (not the Heritage) which, looking online, seems to have an OTA weight of 4kg - which seems suitable for the AZ GTi mount, which carries up to a 5kg payload. I want to eventually add a dslr on to this, but am I really stretching the weight limit here? I thought I could just buy the mount, and purchase a Manfrotto tripod elsewhere for more stability, but it doesn't seem to help with the maximum payload the AZ GTi can take (?) The AZ GTi can be purchased as a package with the 130ps, which I understabnd may be a little lighter as it's built in a way that it can't be collamised for weight advantages, but this 'package' comes with DSLR fittings - so I wasn't sure if the 130ps is significantly lighter than the 130p to take the dslr with ease? I'm going to be using the 130p in the interim, alongside a Skyhawk 114 or Star Travel 102 until I convince the missus that this isn't another of my five minute wonders, and then invest in an Evostar 72ed or 80ed for this mount. I'm really keen on the mount due to the goto capabilities, and I need something REALLY portable, as frankly I'm lazy and less inclined if it's a beast, plus I want to take this overseas. So investing in to an EQ5 pro or HEQ5 pro just isn't an option. Very lastly (thanks for reading this far!) I can get a AZ GTi with tripod for £285 or a AZ GTe mount, tripod with a Skyhawk 114 for exactly the same price. I prefer the idea of a smaller scope to trial travelling, rather than the 130p and just take the 130p out for special occassions or in the back garden,. Like the idea of travelling around and testing a smaller scope first, but am I really losing much between the AZ GTi and the AZ GTe? I get the GTe doesn't allow you to go manual without re-setting everything back to the start - but are people really using it, without just using the goto?