Deadlake

Looking in the AZ100 installation manual power requirements are

Power supply required :- 12v to13.8V DC 1.5A

whereas on the website it’s DC 2 Amps.

I’d like to know is it 1.5 or 2 amps?

1.5 amps opens up the batteries packs that can be used.

1 hour ago, Stephenstargazer said:

Yes Steve, that's exactly how it has worked for me. I too had used SS with DSC that way before fitting motors to AZ100. 

What do you get out of SS to nexus instead of directly to the AZ100 controller?

I’m intrigued by the idea I can just use the nexus dsc to control the mount as will work well at a dark site.

Given the reports of the Mewlon not dewing up, and seeing the pictures presume no dew shield required. 

This is always required on the C11 to keep the front plate clear with a dew strap running.

The Mewlon just  needs fans to get to ambient temperature?

@StephenstargazerDid you get to tryout the joystick as well, might work quite well with the Nexus?

1 hour ago, DirkSteele said:

Exactly the same thought I had about my LZOS 105 as well. 

You can save 1.1 kg swapping out the FT focuser for an APM one, less travel however an extension tube will easily resolve this.. 

The 105 will be around 6.2 kg after swapping the focuser’s, maybe some thing to do while you wait on the lottery!!!

A harmonic mount as well is a great option, no need to balance the scope and will work with a 130 mm scope if you still have one…

33 minutes ago, DirkSteele said:

Fits in a Pelican Air 1535? That will make a wonderful travel scope to distant lands.

I was thinking the weight, it’s around  5.5kg, that is 2 kg less then the 105 mm LZOS I have. Less weight when travelling is always a bonus…

9 hours ago, Dark Raven said:

Visual back with MaxBright 2" mirror diagonal gave nice views of Moon, Venus, Jupiter and Jupiter's Moons. 

How do you find the AM5 when used in visual mode? 
Presume you are using in Eq and not AltZ mode and how did you align it, two star?

2 hours ago, Space Hopper said:

Well you can't really argue you have too many scopes if you only have the one.

If something new comes along, its a 'society scope'

Like your SXP2. (I have my own mount : a DM6) The Vixen is a 'society mount' that i'm looking after for a while.....😉

I thought you where quoted 12-18 months for a SXP2 to turn up.

Since then it's had

• A new Phenolic tube
• Custom printed rings 
• and I need a 1 kg weight o balance it on an AZ100, roll on the Y saddle..

Note: I actual rate the performance of the printed rings as better then the Starlight rings I have on another scope, lighter (100 grams each) and better thermally than metal.. 

I was thinking about someone who has every AP up to 130 mm, most Takahashi flat field APO's made, the list goes on...

How many people have picked up good deals due to wife/partner requesting telescope fleet reduction in number?

Nice scope, looking forward to seeing what it can do.

Out of interest what backpack/case is that?

I have a similar scope and could work for with my scope for travel.

Is it carry on?

Thanks

23 hours ago, Stephenstargazer said:

A joystick can apparently be connected either to the motor controller direct or to an IOS/Android device being used with the Rowan Web interface. Does that help?

Yes, on iOS I can use a MFI controller then.

1 hour ago, Stephenstargazer said:

@Saganite clearly has a beta version and I now have it too. I won't be trying a bluetooth joystick yet (sorry!), but will mainly see how well it works with DSC. There is an update for the DSC to control the AZ100 motors and once I get the AZ100 software installed OK I shall comment on that.

I have checked out the AZ100 changes and the revised planetarium is now a serious contender. Reported bugs have been addressed too. The Sky view is improved with selectable databases, panning, horizon, magnitude filters etc so that it could well be used on its own. I have just about got used to Rowans onscreen joystick in the 'standard' version but perhaps the dedicated hand controller, or the Bluetooth option,   will make the package complete.

However you look at it Rowan are making the AZ100 motordrive options configurable to suit a range of user choices. Much like the hardware in that respect, they have listened to astronomers feedback and developed optional components and firmware gradually.

Did you get a list of what joysticks are supported (maybe in a readme file) with the update at all?

2 minutes ago, Dek Rowan Astro said:

The update is currently in testing with several AZ100 owners. 

Soon as we have feedback and all looks OK we'll put the version out for general release.

 

ATB

Derek.

Great news, have you got a list of any joysticks/pads you've tested with the update?

After fitting the motor kit I removed the pan handle mounted on the right hand saddle as it would collide with the lower motor housing.

There is an altitude adjustor fitted on the left hand side.

Presume I just need to find some longer bolts and fit the pan handle bracket on the right saddle?

16 minutes ago, Saganite said:

I was at the factory today and I think it has  become available very recently.  I should think its availability is imminent

Must be beta as the motor kit I have was dispatched a week ago

30 minutes ago, swsantos said:

I saw this firmware at NEAF and was told that it does indeed support bluetooth joysticks, I think they even showed it to me in action with a small handheld joystick.

I checked Rowans site and cannot see where to download updates or is this contact Derek directly?

3 minutes ago, Saganite said:

I cannot answer your questions yet, It is all new to me.  The Nexus I have had for two years anyway, but operation from a mobile phone is definitely the way forward for me.  As for SkySafari, I have never used it.  Hopefully Derek will answer your question on the joystick.pad.

Presume you align using the Rowan PWA (progressive web app) for alignment and then use the Nexus to goto a target?

I can see the benefits of a Nexus DSC for a dark night but given the current Moon phase not had the chance to see the difference. 

16 minutes ago, Saganite said:

I now have the Firmware installed on my AZ100 and all works well with the Nexus DSC and the Rowan App....

After 5 nights of good observing recently it is now going to be cloud cover for some time which is  irritating, but hey ho...

Does said firmware support a joystick/pad?

Also why use a Nexus DSC over SkySafari etc, how do they compare?

TOE 3.3 is £339

Actually that is ouch...

17 minutes ago, Stu said:

Really?

Typo 7.5 kg, I suspect AZ100 is stable regardless if a weight/scope is attached to the other side.

C11 works very well on AZ100, if anything the extra weight makes the scopes glide more as I push the scopes around the heavens:

Not a great photo, however no streetlights where I live makes all the difference. SQM reading of 21.02.

Back to the mount, the C11 is huge and mounting was relatively painless due to the Rowan saddles which had a vice like grip on the scope. 
Wobbles after a refocus went quickly (more to do with the TPod tripod).
In this case a 7.5 kg LZOS was on the other side.
Just need some motor's for the planets....

(Yes the C11 needs a dew shield however waiting for heater to turn up, mirrored scopes are a faff...)

Both the Extender and PowerMate are meant to be great products. 

Really depends on the amplification required with the scope with regard to choice.

One question I have has anybody here used either the Extender or PowerMate in combination with a BV, with he telemetric lens ahead of the BV?

1 hour ago, John said:

The FC100-DL observing an early evening Venus. Sun well above the horizon and the planet is nice and crisp. Maybe hints of cloud structure on the disk ?

Nice evening to be out 🙂

 

You managed to use your TOE 4 mm yet?

The photo multiplication available by the intensifier tube makes the use of H-Alpha ‘s filter to view emission nebulae’s possible. Even so, NVD really flies from a dark site, here are some examples.

It’s just like looking thru an EP, just monochromic, however this is for DSO’s, no great loss.

Congratulations indeed, will be an amazing telescope.