Well..., I've done it.......

[EdF_uk]

Evening everyone,

Well after a couples of months research, mulling things over and decision making I've finally purchased a Skywatcher 200P and a HEQ5 Syntrek. Hopefully it will be delivered this week so I can get cracking. :-)

One question, I have a laptop which I'm planning on using to run the scope with but I noticed the iphone apps thread in this forum yesterday and am now enthused by the idea of running via my iphone. Has anyone had any experience with this?

Ed

[madkinggeorge]

I can't answer your question but just wanted to say I jealous of your telescope! I have just ordered my first one after a few months of indecision, couldn't stretch to what you have bought (although I would have loved to!) and so went for a skywatcher 150p eq3-2. It is arriving tomorrow!

So good luck with the new telescope, sure it will be great!

George

[Viv]

Nice one Ed

I want to get the HEQ5 - will be interested to see how you get on with set up.

[JKB]

Congrats on the new scope. And you too George, I have the 150p and love it so I am sure the 200 will be great.

As for iPhone apps? What do you mean exactly by run the scope? Guiding? Photography?

Cheers

[EdF_uk]

Thanks guys, I'm getting quite excited about getting going. I'm just hoping that the good weather we have had recently continues.

Regarding what I meant buy "running the scope" - I mean using the iphone in a similar manner to the synscan controller, i.e. select an object and then allow the scope to goto the object automatically.

I've seen there is a product developed by Southern Stars called skyFi which is basically a wifi to serial converter. I guess you plug the serial lead into the mount and the connect to it via your iphone, There is a non wifi version which just uses a physical cable to connect the two called skywire too.

I hope that clarifies a bit.

Cheers

Ed

[EdF_uk]

Hmmm, I'm not entirely sure how I would connect a RS232 cable to the mount on the syntrek version of the HEQ5. On the Synscan you plug into the RJ11 connection on the synscan controller but i don't think there is an equivalent connection on the syntrek controller.

Does anyone have any suggestions on this one?

Ed