LaurenceT
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Posts posted by LaurenceT
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18 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:
Ah, the penny has dropped. You had no chance getting it connected properly using the guide port, the eqmod cables replace the handset and use the handset port it connects to.
At least I was able to sleep soundly knowing that:
a) It was my fault b) there was a solution and finally c) it was my fault 😅
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I've just ordered this one
The motor control box on my mount is the same as this one:
EQ5 Pro Spares - Rother Valley Optics Ltd
so I live in hope.
Thanks for all the replies.
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4 minutes ago, Budgie1 said:
Looking on the FLO website, the EQDIR for the AZ GTi is different to the one for the EQ5. It looks like the AZ GTi has the RJ11 connection, where as the EQ5 version has the larger RJ45.
The only time you would use the "Autoguider" connection on the EQ5's control box is when you're connecting the ST4 cable directly between the mount & the camera, then the mount would have to be set to "On Camera" in the ASIAir. You would also still need the USB cable connection from the camera to the ASIAir as well.
Looks like you need another EQDIR cable, unless your mount has one of the newer hand controllers with the USB port on the bottom.
I've only got one thing to say....aaaargh😱.
It didn't occur to me that there would be different cables for different mounts, thanks for that, you've most likely solved the problem.
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On my unit the autoguider port doesn't have the same socket as the handset connector port.
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Just tried that with only the EQMOD cable connected but was a no go☹️.
Just to be clear, you have the cable connected to the guide port on the power thingy and the usb bit connected to a USB 2 port on the AAP?
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14 minutes ago, StevieDvd said:
So all good then?
Sometimes the 'turn it off and on again' works!
I've done that about 30 times today 🤣
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Everything turned on 😆
AAP auto detects
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The only settings available to me in the Asiair app when connecting the mount to the Asiair with the EQMOD cable are mount selection, so I choose EQMOD mount and the baud rate, so I choose 9600 but still there is no connection.
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11 minutes ago, malc-c said:
Is there any way to check the settings of the com port - I'm not familiar with the custom OS
Don’t know, I’ll check it out.
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10 minutes ago, malc-c said:
When you connect the EQDIR cable it should install a COM port which should default to 9600 baud. In EQMOD you need to select the same PORT and speed to match.
One other possibility is that the EQ5 synscan unit is faulty. Did it come with a hand controller, and if it did can you move the mount using the speed setting 9 and direction buttons on the handset ?
I’m using an IPad to connect wirelessly to the ASIAIR, there is no provision to select a COM port. The ASIAIR software indicates that a serial connection has been made physically but data connection seems not to be possible.
I’ve tested the hand set as you describe and it works fine.
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4 minutes ago, Dr_Ju_ju said:
You've changed the baud rate, but are you selecting the correct port ??
There are no ports to change as it's a wired connection between the mount and the Asiair.
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I’m quite used to this method with the Az GTi and the mount is seen immediately when configured as “EQMOD mount”. I’ve acquired a rather elderly EQ5 SynScan Goto mount, it works perfectly fine with the Skywatcher Wi-Fi adapter plugged in and the SynScan Pro app. I tested it earlier today with SkySafari and it tracked a star perfectly for a number of hours.
However, when I switch to the ASIAIR Pro using the LynxAstro EQMOD cable the ASIAIR will not connect to the mount. I’ve re-connected it to the Az GTi and works ok so the cable isn’t faulty. I’ve also tried every single baud rate without success. I thought that maybe the mounts firmware needed updating being a beginner in EQ mounts but of course that firmware is for the hand controller which is not used in this respect.
I’d be grateful for any ideas.
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11 minutes ago, wookie1965 said:
Thanks Mike really appreciate your I put looks like I am saving for the baader now 😄
Paul
There's one for sale on UK Astro Buy and Sell site with the dedicated barlow.
Ad # 188444
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2 hours ago, Spile said:
I can’t see how. I use my BHZ in 2” mode but purely for convenience. It is still a 1.25” barrel at the end of the day.
Im not disagreeing with you which is why I included the caveats of "subjectively" and "according to some reviews".
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The Baader zoom 8-24 has a screw on 2" barrel which I use with my 200p. This removes the need for a 2"-1.25" converter and subjectively improves viewing according to some reviews.
As a beginner in astronomy I found that using this zoom improved my overall experience removing the need to constantly change eyepieces.
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Just add the M42-48 , the 16.55mm and the 21mm spacers and you should be able to focus. I'm as new to this as you but I think that focus tube travel is independent of back focus requirements of cameras.
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I think we are at cross purposes 😄,
this is the cable I shall be buying as mentioned in my post above
Lynx Astro Silicone Power Cable for Sky-Watcher Mounts | First Light Optics
I do have the EQDIR cable already as I used it with my Az GTi mount and Asiair but I shan't need it with this EQ5 mount.
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8 minutes ago, malc-c said:
The lynx cable doesn't connect to a power source - it does the same thing as your wifi adapter, allowing communications between a computer and the mount
It's a power cable
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3 hours ago, sinbad40 said:
Hi all,
So on my 80Ed i attached a 533C, didn't put a reducer/flattener on, just wanted to do focus and a few shots as i wanted to test out other things and sort the cabling out, didn't have much time with clouds passing etc. I couldn't get it to focus, just looked like bad vignetting and pushed over to one side, couldn't focus on anything. I didn't think i would have needed any back focus with the travel the focus gives, but could be wrong. Will need to try again, with more time.
Did you attach any spacers to the 533mc?
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2 hours ago, malc-c said:
Your 130PDS on a EQ5 should make for a nice combination, with the 130 being well within the weight specs for imaging. Now a few words of caution. As others have said always be mindful when connecting up power to the equipment. The sysnscan unit doesn't really like anything over 14v, and polarity is sensitive, but the main killer of these mounts is when the wrong EQDIR adapter is used between the PC and mount when a computer is used to handle control of the equipment. So often people get a standard RS232 serial to USB adapter and after some modification hook that up to their mount which dies the instance it plugged in. If/when you go down that road, purchase a Lynx Astro EQDIR cable for £35 from FLO, it will eliminate the chances of damage to your mounts control box.
The EQ5 is a great mount, having a decent load capacity, the ability to have full goto option yet still be light enough to be considered portable. I'm sure it will give you some excellent results
Thanks for that information.
To power the mount and Asiair outside I will be using this setup that I used to power the Asiair only:
Nevada PS-08 6-8A Regulated Linear Power Supply | First Light Optics
I have one of these
Lynx Astro Silicone Power Cable for Sky-Watcher Mounts | First Light Optics
to power the Asiair. I had powered my previous Az GTi mount with a Talentcell power brick but that obviously won't do for the EQ5, so I shall buy another Lynx cable to connect the mount to the power source.
I shall be buying a wifi adapter for the mount as I'm used to that setup with Az GTi.
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Well, I bought the scope today, it ticked all the boxes and passed the tests!
Turns out it wasn't a Pro mount, that was my imagination running wild, it was described as an EQ5 SynScan Goto. I got it at a very good price from a very nice fellow.
Thanks to all those who kindly gave me advice.
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At the moment there is a 200p Dobsonian sitting in the lounge because the garage is too full of rubbish and will be until our son removes his unwanted furniture.
Not a word has yet been made about the Dob but if I step out of line I suspect that may change.
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1 minute ago, DaveL59 said:
yeah, I bought a EQ5 with the goto addon a couple years back and found when I got it home and had a play that it'd grate the gears when slewing. Of course being new to it all it took me a bit to figure it all out. Both axes have a lot of stiffness on that EQ5 head but luckily I had another EQ5 that came with the TAL100RS and that was smooth. So I simply swapped the goto kit over and its been fine since. Gonna be overhauling that sticky EQ5 soon tho as I've now added a basic dual motor kit to it so I'll want to have it running smooth to ease the loading on the motors.
Having a play in daylight is worth doing tho, you get to learn how to operate it while you can actually see what you and the mount are doing. It is quite loud when slewing (well mine is) which isn't so great with close neighbours but at least you only do that occasionally when heading to a new target 😉
Does it make a functional difference if the GoTo kit is an addon or if the mount was sold as a GoTo originally?
What did you see tonight?
in Observing - Reports
Posted · Edited by LaurenceT
only saw 4 moons, not 5!
Dog woke me at 3.30 barking in the garden, went downstairs to see him sitting outside locked back door! How the hell did he get out there? Suddenly realised that I hadn't closed the lounge sliding door last night...thanks for waking me Archie! Standing looking outside I suddenly realised there was Jupiter brilliant in a perfectly clear dawn sky. The only scope at hand was the venerable Orion 80ED on an AZ5 in the kitchen. Grabbed it and took it outside and had a perfect view with the Baader zoom at 8mm. North and south equatorial belts very clear and 4 moons. I then realised that I only had a pair of shorts on and was feeling a bit chilly. I should really have dug the 127 Mak out of the garage, maybe tomorrow.