Si W

To many cables, 3 Dew straps, plus the power cable, 1 for the DSI, USB and Power for the DSLR, 1 Power for the focuser, Power and Comms for the mount, USB ST4 Guiders, looks like an explosion in a Spagetti Factory, also a GPS, TemperHum, and SQM-L meter. TBH, I have only just got this setup off the ground in the last couple of month's, so still playing around with it and tweeking things up, no help from the weather, only had a few nights out in the last 2 months.

My new Setup, first post on SGL in a few years, Hello Again everyone.

I've been quite busy over the last 6 weeks since I first posted this blog. I've managed to get hold of a second had PC with a 2.8 GHz processor, and a Gig of RAM from a mate of mine for a good price, what I really wanted it for was it has Windows XP, which is great for most Astronomical software as far as comparability is concerned, as well i managed to get my hands on a small metal Computer desk which was destined for the tip, and fits perfectly in my new observatory. The first job was to get it on my wireless network, the problem i had was with the observatory being all metal, it was drowning out most of the signal from my wireless router in the house, so I went to Maplin and got an antennae style wireless adapter drilled a hole in the side of wooden rail and pushed the antennae though, whipped a bit of silicon around it to water proof it and it works a treat. Once I'd loaded all my Astronomy software/files/picture's etc. I decided to set-up a VNC link between my laptop in the house and PC so I can tap into the observatory PC and control everything including the telescope, I'm using VNC viewer which is free to download off the Net. Next was file sharing over the network so i could move files to and from the laptop and PC over my home network. Once that was done i installed a webcam in the corner of the observatory so i could keep an eye on the telescope from in the house on my laptop. The next purchase was 4 storage box's just to keep everything neat and tidy and out of the way, i have also installed a red low wattage light so not to disrupt my night vision. What i have done just before we had them bad winds a few weeks ago was to fit some G clamps on all 4 corners of the observatory, mainly to secure the roof, but also to keep the local scallies from lifting the roof off and getting in. With the mains to run everything i have used an old plastic drill case to keep the plugs and plug banks dry when the roof is rolled back and the computer supply under the desk but off the ground, and also out of the way so there not a trip hazard at night. The only job now is to run mains underground from the house with a permanent supply, once that's done I can fit an alarm system and use the web cam as a security camera, and that's everything done

At last i have started building my observatory, still loads to do but the main construction is complete. The main part of the observatory was a 7ft x 6ft metal panel shed which i got from Argos for £150, this is sat on a base of 20 20" x 20" flags that i laid back in March giving them time to settle, the problem with flags is water rises between the cracks, so on top of that is a concrete base which the 7ft x 6ft metal panel shed sits on. The biggest problem i had was the overall size of my back garden which is quit small, so i had to do a bit of lateral thinking. i decided on folding stilts so maximising the available space remaining. I have hinged the folding rail to the main rail on the top of the observatory and the legs that support the extended rails fold back up in on them self at the far end of the rail and secured. Once both stilts are extended a cross member is dropped into place across the top of the two rails at the end of the rails so not allowing the legs to spread and the roof to de-rail and even fall off. Another concern i had was i didn't want all of the roof to be supported on the folding rail so i extended the rail on the main observatory by 3 inch which the last caster sits on so the main weight of the roof is evenly distributed across the main observatory rail and the folding rail. The overall build cost me with materials and including the Metal panel shed £300, it took me 10 days to complete, i did loss a couple of days in between due to bad rain, but i got the main piece of work done within 2 weeks which is the time i took off work to do it .