Ian McCallum

I just hope it doesn't end up like one of the infamous Ariane rocket failures. 😟

4 hours ago, rickwayne said:

If you're connecting to a laptop anyway, why not just use pulse guiding? Am I missing something? It's nice not to have to recalibrate every time you slew the scope.

I'm not sure, to be honest. 🤔 These are DC motors, not stepper ones. I'm not sure if the stepper type use pulsed width modulation. 🤔

I was thinking about the combination of HiteAstro USB ST4 Guider and Svbony SV105 (fitted to a finderscope), connected to my laptop and EQ5 Enhanced motor drive for guiding.  Would this combination work or is there something better, but not extortionately expensive?🤔

I've got myself a SW EQ5 Deluxe mount with the Enhanced Dual Axis Motor Drives. I like occasionally to do smartphone imaging through the eyepiece, using a smartphone holder.  I also have a spare SW 9x50 straight through finderscope that I could use for a guide scope.  The 'dumb' handset of the Enhanced kit has a ST4 port on it.

With all this in mind, is there a idiot's/numptie's/dummie's guide to guiding, etc. for a newbie to guiding, etc?

9 minutes ago, Cornelius Varley said:

The "home position" is just for goto mounts. The mount needs to start from a known position to find the first alignment star.

Thanks, I thought it was, but just needed to double check.👍

Is the so-called home position on GEM, just for go-to types or computer controlled?🤔 After having my new EQ5 Deluxe mount for a little while, I'm still a little confused by some of the functions of it.  It's certainly more capable and more complicated that the old Meade EQ-1B that I used to use...🙄

5 hours ago, Louis D said:

The 35mm Aero ED would work well as a near widest field eyepiece if you can still find one in stock.  It's pretty sharp in the inner 75% of the field of view at f/6.  It gradually gets more abberrated toward the edge.

The 40mm Pentax XW works really well at f/6, but is quite a bit over your budget.

What's in stock and what's in budget is the key. 😉

39 minutes ago, Louis D said:

First off, what are you going to be using them in?  Assuming you want to avoid going over a 7mm exit pupil, you wouldn't want to use a 50mm eyepiece in a scope faster than f/7 and a 56mm eyepiece in a scope faster than f/8.

Either my Sky-Watcher 200P or more likely my Sky-Watcher Evostar 120 refractor. 

I really like my SW 28mm 2" LET eyepiece, but would like something with less magnification, for wider views.  There's two budget eyepieces from @FLO that have caught my eye.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-eyepieces/stellalyra-50mm-2-superview-eyepiece.html

Astro Essentials Plossl 56mm version...

Has anyone any experience of these eyepieces?🤔

3 hours ago, malc-c said:

So 24 hours after providing you with a tracking number to confirm postage the item was delivered - I would say that's very good service wouldn't you, especially as we are just a week away form Christmas, and with yet another wave of Covid affecting all businesses.

Have fun with your new toy

72 hours, but we won't quibble due to the Christmas rush and Covid-19, etc. 

The kit finally arrived, this morning. 

This finally arrived, this morning.  Skywatcher EQ5 Enhanced Dual Axis Motor Drives. 

2 hours ago, malc-c said:

The thing is its a week before Christmas and all delivery services are stretched.  Other than special delivery or £20 for a TNT / UPS next day, things can take three or more days longer than normal.  Not wishing to offend the OP, but you'll just have to be patient... if 356 have given you a tracking number then its being processed.  It may be that it's been picked, packed and ready for despatch, but not yet collected by Royal mail.   Have you tried calling them to find out why the tracking number fails and give you confirmation of what stage your order is at.  If it turns out it's not left the building then it's your prerogative to cancel and order from FLO who are still showing 2 in stock

In hindsight maybe ordering form FLO would have been better, but at the time they were showing no stock.  It just so happened that stock had arrived but had not been booked in and the surplus after covering back orders placed on the website the following day.  Sometimes life throws us these curve balls.  

It has been dispatched, according to 365Astronomy. It's not on the RM tracking system yet. Usually, it would at least say it's in the system. Unless, it's sitting in a mail bag somewhere, waiting to be dealt with. 🤔

I'm well aware of curved balls, my mother died recently and left me some money. I decided to spend a little on astronomy gear. I just don't like being left in limbo, not knowing where my item is. I've been let down once, I don't want to be let down again. I do make allowances for Covid-19 and Xmas rush, etc. 

1 hour ago, adyj1 said:

It's annoying, some of the parcel services that offer next-day delivery don't actually have a tracking system capable of actually registering new packages for at least 24hrs!

Anyway, have you seen the Clear Outside forecast!

 

 

 

  

 

To be honest with you, I wished I'd waited a few days and ordered from @FLO. ☹️

365Astronomy gave me a tracking number, after it was finally dispatched by Royal Mail yesterday. 

I'm still getting an error with the tracking number, so goodness knows when it will arrive. Covid-19 and holiday season permitting. 🙄

Sorry, we're currently unable to confirm the status of your item with reference??????????? . Please try again tomorrow.

I got my refund from RVO, earlier this afternoon. Zoltan from 365Astronomy emailed me to say that the order was processed and would be dispatched tomorrow, probably by DPD. 

8 minutes ago, malc-c said:

Steve,   So did you receive a shipment in the small hours of the morning then?  - When searching suppliers for Ian late last night I checked your site which stated 4-6 day lead time, but then it would seem you e-mailed Ian at 2am to say you had stock... (website now showing 2 off available).  Since when did FLO make their staff work 24/7 shifts 😧

I got FLO's automated email at 9.30am, this morning.  I just checked when I bought the Enhanced kit from 365 and it was at around 1.30am, this morning.

11 minutes ago, FLO said:

No problem 🙂 

You must have clicked the blue 'Notify me when back in stock' button on our product page - that automatically sends an email when an item is physically at our warehouse and available to buy. 

If you ever info on what is incoming please email. 

Steve 

I did indeed click the notify button.😉

47 minutes ago, FLO said:

We already have two Sky-Watcher Enhanced Dual-Axis DC Motor Drives for EQ-5 in stock. More are readily available. 

That is also already in stock (£71 cheaper than the German retailer). 

Sky-Watcher SynScan PRO Go-To Upgrade Kit for EQ5

It is true UK retailers must source Sky-Watcher products from the same distributor so are often waiting for the same shipment. 

You are forgiven 🙂 

If his website availability indicator isn't correct then he should have no difficulty sourcing one for you from Sky-Watcher's distributor (I checked this morning). 

HTH, 

Steve 

Sorry Auntie @FLO, I didn't get your email regarding the item being in stock till well after I ordered it. 🙇‍♂️ That was before 2am this morning, when you and other sensible people were still closed for business.😋

1 hour ago, malc-c said:

 

FLO are showing 4-6 days.  Tring Astro are showing no stocks, Harpers Photographic are showing as "Due mid December", but at the moment are also out of stock.  365Astronomy have three in stock according to their website.  Likewise The widescreen centre  are showing 3 in stock and Microglobe are showing stock.

Might be worth purchasing ahead from one of the suppliers that have stock rather than wait for the refund to hit your bank account.  You have no idea how many back orders FLO / RVO /Tring etc may have

 

I took your advice and chose for one from 365Astronomy. 👍

When I get my refund from RVO, I'll be looking for other options.  Ideally, I'd still like the same kit - hopefully @FLOwill get them back in stock soon.🙏

2 hours ago, malc-c said:

Given the current situation it's not unheard of for stock to change quickly.  They may have had one in stock when you made the original call, and then someone purchased it moments after...  Happened to me just this morning with an item from Argos.  It was shown as in stock at my local store on their website, but when I turned up this morning all stock was sold.  Moral of that... should have purchased it online at the time !

But didn't you say FLO were out of stock anyway ? - That's why you called RVO ?

Correct, otherwise I would have ordered from FLO.

 https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/387348-eq5-deluxe-mount-motorising-options/?do=findComment&comment=4180476

What I find most disappointing about it is they waited till late this afternoon to tell me.  I put the order in on Friday, last week.  Surely, they could have let me know a bit earlier, rather than late in the day before the scheduled delivery.🤔

Back to the drawing board, as RVO doesn't have any in stock at the moment. It'll be a few days before they get new stock. 

I got an email from them to inform me about this, even though they told me that they have the EQ5 Enhanced kit in stock. That's why I ordered it from them.  I've asked them to cancel the order,  they've emailed me back to say they will. 

I've never had this problem with FLO. 

9 hours ago, Jamgood said:

You are moving the RA around in an unnatural way that will likely never happen when in use and if by chance the mount did turn around that far, that clutch will be locked and not catch.  You've found a problem that doesn't exist by making the problem exist.

A solution looking for a problem? 🤔

16 minutes ago, Franklin said:

Yes, the RA clutch lever is scraping across the top of the RA motor cover. Those two bolts that connect the DEC to the RA, when removed will reveal FOUR bolt holes, just replace the DEC having turned it 90deg. Then the RA clutch will be at the top rather than the side and will not scracth the top of the RA motor cover. (unless you turn your scope upside down😀)

I must be a complete moron, as after doing that, it made no difference,  Can you post a photo of what you mean, please?