Clarkey

Some good advice here, specifically regarding a good mount. I would agree that if you can stretch to it, a cooled camera is a good option. I did do some DSLR imaging but the processing was a pain due to banding issues and the need to take darks at the right temperature. Having a darks library gives better images and gives more imaging time on the night. AP is hard enough without making it harder....

Rob a bank then sit indoors for weeks at a time looking at the vast fortune you spent to watch clouds!

I control all of my equipment remotely using a powered USB hub and an active USB 3 cable (USB 2 would work but downloads would be slower). I have made a 12v distribution box from a small junction box so the only cables I have are one for power and one for data. If carefully managed it is fine. I leave my rig running overnight, including flips and I have not had a problem. I would be concerned with a long refractor which might hit the mount. With regards to dew, I use USB powered dew heaters as it can be powered from the scope power supply through the hub. I probably should go down the wireless route as my wifi seems to reach quite well. I have seriously considered the ASIair but my focuser is not compatible and I don't want to replace it

-15 is pushing any battery system. You could put everything in a insulated box with 12v heat mat. There are also chemical / electric hand warmers that might be useable. Alternatively you might need a generator!

It's a shame you seem to be struggling so much. I have no idea why NINA is not behaving. I have just moved over from APT to NINA and it is better when it works. As well as the framing benefits, I also like the auto focus option during imaging sessions. APT does work fine and has some good functionality but it cannot compete with NINA. Have you contacted the forum / developers to see if they can help?

I will watch this with interest. I have a ASI 1600mm pro that is my 'normal' imaging camera. However, so I could potentially run two rigs simultaneously I recently got my 600D modified. Unfortunately, I am getting horizontal banding too. Not as bad as this, but certainly noticeable. I checked my previous non-modified camera results from some time ago and it is not as bad - but still there. I have looked at the calibration frames and it does appear on the darks and bias frames, as well as the lights. Nothing on the flats. Even with the calibration it is on the final images. I have tried darks only, without bias and bias only but neither seem to solve the problem. Obviously using a DSLR the temperature cannot be controlled for the calibration frames which does not help. However, APP which I use for stacking is supposed to compensate for variations in temperature from the calibration frames to the lights. Despite this I still have two clear horizontal strips about 1/3 and 2/3 of the way down the frame. I have partly managed to remove them in processing, but to me at least, they are still clearly visible.

Strangely I had exactly the same issue a couple of days ago with my 600D. Normally I stack and start my processing in APP but as I was having some banding and noise issues I decided to try DSS for a change. As is only normally use DSS my settings were probably wrong and the hot pixels were not removed properly. When I used a denoise algorithm is did exactly this. I went back and stacked correctly and all was good again. FWIW I used to use DSS but I have found APP much better (but slower). However, it's not free!

Yes, I think NINA calculates from pixel size, resolution and focal length. I got a similar warning when I changed camera but forgot to change the pixel size. It still solved, but the error went when I changed from 3.8 to 4.3um for the pixels.

I had the same problem with Phd2 taking an age to calibrate. My issue was the guide speed in Eqmod was set up at 0.1 rather than 0.5 and it was having to carry out far too many calibration steps. Worth checking as it reduced the calibration time from about 20 minutes to under 5. The Reference object error sounds like it was trying to go to a location which would depend on the settings. Try selecting an object in the framing assistant first, then plate solve. It should slew to the object then keep plate solving until it is with the tolerance you have given it. (I think the default is 0.5 arc minutes).

Have you tried solving from a saved image? Here is a link explaining how. At least you would be able to get it working in advance. https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/676773-nina-plate-solving-and-re-alignment/ Also, I'm sure you have, but some settings in NINA don't seem to update fully without restarting the program.

I use NINA and ASTAP without issue. Have you put the location of the exe file in the plate solving options? That would be the only reason I can think of why it could not find it. Even auto download / install does not fill in the file location. As I had ASTAP installed already I had it in another directory.

I have one of these: AGPTEK Magnetic Tracing A4 LED Light Box Drawing Pad Dimmable Brightness, Physical Buttons Control, USB Power Cable for Animation, Designing, Stencilling X-ray Viewing/Sketching Diamond Painting: Amazon.co.uk: Kitchen & Home It is A4 but I use it with an RC8 and it works ok. It is back-lit and even. I did get another one initially but it was lit from the side and the light was pretty poor so that went back. I have not used it for narrowband on this scope, but it is reasonably bright.

I can't remember the exact one - it was a universal one (Bresser maybe?) with a full length cut out. The guider fitted nicely in the groove providing you could avoid the bolt heads.

I have recently converted my ED80 to guide using the 9x50 finder. To avoid using the existing bracket I added a new dovetail to the top of the rings and used cable ties to hold it in place. If you get it focused in advance it works well and does not appear to have much flex.

Hi, As a regular reader of the SGL forums, I thought it was about time I introduced myself and started to contribute. I only got into astronomy / imaging last year having purchased a 200p and HEQ5 for visual use in January. Although I always had imaging in the back of my mind, the idea was to spend a while observing then think about further kit. Anyway, that was the plan..... 1 year and a small fortune later I am now completely hooked on AP. I now have a SW ED80 DS-pro, an ASI1600 and EFW, an RC8, AZ-EQ6 and a cupboard load of other stuff. I am currently waiting for my Canon 600D to be returned after astro modification. I am now under orders to tame the spending or get a new wife. As I live in Cumbria the imaging time tends to be limited, with grey skies being standard fare. I now spend every day obsessively checking the weather forecast for the occasional break in the clouds. Despite only imaging for about six months, I have made some progress and am quite pleased with some of my images - although I know they can be improved. I have enclosed a couple for constructive criticism (be kind - I'm still total novice). Anyway - hello to everyone and clear skies to all.