MrFreeze

If you had started out as I did, with a Tasco reflector in the 1970s, I think you might have a different opinion on the suitability of Alt-Az mounts. The mounts on those scopes are/were very far from sturdy, and quite enough to put you off Alt-Az for life. In comparison, the cheapest nastiest EQ1 knock-off would seem like luxury. I'm also very unimpressed with the performance of most Pan head type mechanisms on tripod mounts. I guess if you paid hundreds of pounds on a top of the range tripod you may get better results, but I don't feel inclined to throw that sort of money at something that may or may not work. David

I would always prefer an EQ even for purely visual use. It's too much of a faff to twiddle with two slow motions. So much easier on a driven EQ, even if Polar alignment is only approximate. And if you're trying to show someone something at high magnification, it's invaluable. David

Couldn't resist this one when it came up on fleabay. Second hand but unused - and it is absolutely immaculate, so likely true.

That really is an amazing bargain. It's not my favorite astro mag, but at that price..... I just pick up occasional copies in the supermarket (the only astro mag they do!) I prefered Astronomy Now, but the only newsagent round here that stocked it went belly up last year, and I didn't fancy a subscription. David

Some M4 x 4 screws for my slow motions. I made a horrible discovery on Thursday - it was clear, so got the Maksutov out and discovered that the declination slow motion securing screw won't clear the new electric focuser bracket. After some choice expletives, measured it up and ordered these screws, which are shorter, and have a smaller head, so now I'm back in business - except it's now cloudy again ! David

Well you could always try it out in the living room. You don't need to be outside to set it all up and balance it. Might even be an advantage to do it in the warmth and to be well lit. You can even do things like align the finderscope from indoors looking out of a window. And it's raining down South as well ! David

It's only as complicated as you want to make it. The basic mount is fairly simple - it's all the add on bits like setting circles and the polar scope that make it seem complicated. It can be a bit of a faff at first to get it all balanced and the polar axis pointed correctly, but just take your time and preferably have a dry run in daylight first. The polar alignment is not at all critical - I know where north is in my garden, and I just plonk my scope down facing roughly in the right direction - doesn't matter if you're 10 degrees or so out (unless you want to take photos, but that can wait.) David

I got one of these today as people had been saying nice things about them. Not as big and heavy as I expected. It almost seems lost in the huge box. Of course the weather is not being cooperative, so no idea when I can get to try it. David

Really should have posted this yesterday, but I was busy adjusting this. Finally my mini dovetail clamp arrived, so I could finish this contraption. Of course things didn't go as simply as expected. Saw this idea on YouTube and thought - great - that should be easy. I should have known better. The poster did this with a Skywatcher Skymax 127, and I have an Orion Apex 127, which everyone says is identical - well I found out the hard way that it isn't. The dovetail on the Orion is not mounted as far to the rear as the Skywatcher, and I think is shorter. Anyway I got there in the end, and it's absolutely brilliant. After four attempts I finally have a really good electric focuser on my Maksutov!😀

Crumbs - 72 months is an awfully long time to have to wait.🤣 David

And today we have a camera flash bracket. It's not for use with a flash, or even a camera. I bought it for just one of the very nice aluminium brackets. The purpose will become clear in a day or two when the next bit of this contraption arrives.

Welcome to SGL. If I've understood you correctly, you're proposing to use eyepiece projection, threading your eyepiece through adapters to your camera, rather than prime focus. It's probably easier than those variable things that never seem to fit properly, but you may need to adjust the separation of the scope and camera to bring things to focus, and of course properly support it all as it will be incredibly back heavy. David

Welcome to SGL. Hope you enjoy your time here. We arrived in the area shortly after you left. I think you would find Luton 'somewhat' changed now from when you were here (not for the better). We tend to avoid it, despite officially living in it. Certainly totally pants for astronomy near your old workplace, and pretty bad on the outskirts here too now with the number of warehouses lit up like christmas trees 24/7. Skyglow like you wouldn't believe. David

A second-hand Philips SPC900NC webcam for use with the polarscope on my EQ3 pro, to stop all the grovelling in the dirt polar aligning. As converted in the Youtube video. Hopefully removing the focusing ring will go smoothly. From some of the video comments it seems they sometimes break rather than come away cleanly.🙄 David

I use a 12V 2.0A supply with my EQ3 pro and I've never had any problems with it - slewing at full speed is fine (if a little noisy). You should be fine with that 3A supply. Have fun with it - remember you don't need to even do a 1 star align for visual as long as you are pointed roughly north and have the correct latitude set. David

Sounds more like Batman than Beau Geste! David

So it's not just me then! The cloud appears just as it's starting to get dark, and lasts till well after Jupiter and Saturn have set, then clear again after I've given up for the night. Merry Christmas or at least as merry as you can make it under the circumstances. David

We weren't quite fast enough to see this. Saw a gap in the clouds, and my youngest son and I carried the 127 Mak through the house and set it up in the front drive just in time to see through the finder another bank of cloud swallow jupiter just as we centered it! 😠 David

AstroDMx only works on Windows10, there are no plans for it to run under any other Windows version. I did get a reply from Nicola (the author) to that effect. The reason I didn't initially see anything on the website about only running under Windows10 is because there was no such statement until after I got in touch with her. So it's back to AltairCapture (which of course only runs my GP290C and not my SVbony cams). David

This morning's little haul. A 4mm circle-T ortho ( I didn't know they did that one, and maybe a bit too powerful ). And a supposedly 'commercial' auto-focuser for my 127Mak. To be honest it seems a bit Heath-Robinson, using a modded RC servo, but I like the idea of the clamp. I've not had much joy bashing 2mm aluminium sheet to follow the curve of the scope back (it isn't flat!), and this clamp seems a much better idea. David

If you mean as opposed to a 1.25" diagonal, then the simple answer would be weight, and possibly size. 2" diagonals are much bigger and heavier, this will probably upset the balance (though easily compensated for), and may get caught easier on slow motions, parts of the stand etc. David

The Meade 130EQ already comes with a red dot finder I believe - assuming it is this : https://www.amazon.co.uk/Meade-Instruments-Polaris-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00LU1DY8S?th=1 I've never been keen on them myself, you need less light pollution than we have here to be able to use them properly. I think the trick is not to get your eye too close too it to avoid parallax errors. A cheapo telescopic finder like this might be easier https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x24-Finder-Scope-w-Bracket-Plastic-Accessory-Kit-for-Astronomy-Telescope-Black/202999459212?hash=item2f43b5ed8c:g:ROkAAOSwzttdsULq , or this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Seben-Right-Angled-Telescope-crosshairs-bracket/dp/B00HUOFDQ0/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=telescope+finder&qid=1607865812&s=electronics&sr=1-6. There are of course much more expensive options, most of which would require a standard finder base also. David

Opticstar do a couple of different sizes, available from their own website (I can't find these on there!😡) or fleabay. I have used them several times and they normally give very quick service. Their website is however, to put it politely 'confusing'. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opticstar-Set-of-22-Clear-Storage-Cases-for-1-25-Filters-Type-A-UK/322579683196?hash=item4b1b3f577c:g:AIUAAOSwPAxaORzY https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opticstar-Set-of-31-Clear-Storage-Cases-for-1-25-Filters-Type-B-UK/323710013048?hash=item4b5e9ece78:g:xtgAAOSw1BlZXNJd David

Do you mean firmware? That's the software that runs in the controller handset. David

The last sale item from the AliExpress sale (for now!) - a 2" dielectric diagonal. At least it's claimed to be dielectric - I'm not sure how you could prove it. Crumbs this thing is seriously heavy - the scope will definitely need re-balancing. David