Double Check of what I think I've just purchased and what I need to motorise please ?

[powerlord]

Hi chaps, I think I've just got a decent deal on a setup off ebay (famous last words). Won this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Helios-telescope-/224342985796

As you'll see from my small number of posts - I'm pretty new at this. Current equipment in sig.

I'm hoping it's what I think it is - basically a Sky watcher 200p eq5. aka:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-200p-eq5.html

MOUNT QUESTIONS:

It also appears to have been motorized, but i think all it's coming with is what is in the pictures - i.e. motors but no wiring/controllers.

It does seem to be complete otherwise looking at pictures - has polar scope, etc. Maybe missing EPs.

Anyhoo, as a minimum I want to get an RA motor working on there for tracking, but I can do it cheaply I would like to get a wifi goto setup working.

Options off the shelf seem limited:

1. the whole skywatcher shebang - which would be a goto synscan kit + wifi - which is 389 squid not including wifi ! (https://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-mount-upgrade-kits/synscan-pro-goto-version-3-upgrade-kit-for-eq5.html)

or

2. EQStarEQ5 from Ukraine. 200 squid or so and is wifi - but probably get stung for a ton on customs/vat, and seems to be not a lot of users in the UK ? (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EQStarEQ5-GOTO-EQ-drive-upgrade-kit-for-equatorial-mount-EQ-5-CG-5-MEADE-LXD-LX/312879931732)

 

3. get a second hand motor drive, stick an ST-4 on it, and then see if I can modify the arduino project to use serial over wifi rather than usb ? (https://hackaday.io/project/4386-arduino-st4-telescope-control). However that seems like it might be pretty useless as your limited to something like 16x sidreal for 'gotos' ?

4. forget goto and just point it and use the RA motor sidreal tracking.

Am I missing anything ?

OTA QUESTIONS:

Assuming it arrives in one piece these seem reasonably decent ? Might need columating ? I thinking it's a step up from my skymax 102 for when I'm in the garden - and keep the 102 for travelling.

Any experience with decent/cheap EPs for it ? I'd like to have one that hits it's effective max magnification of 400x - but I assume that's not really very possible at 2.5mm.. am I better going for something like a 10mm and a 4x barlow ?

stu

[John]

The scope is the same as the Skywatcher Explorer EQ5. Helios is the brand name that the manufacturer used before they changed to Skywatcher and moved to the blue colour scheme.

The weakest link is the aluminum tripod which will barely hold the scope steady enough to look through it let alone image anything. I would suggest changing to a steel legged 1.75 inch or even better 2 inch tripod.

If both motors are present and functioning you can use a control box like this plus a power supply:

On eyepieces, 400x will seldom be any use in all honesty. Pick a set that give something like 50x - 80x - 150x - 220x (or something around those magnifications) and they will serve you well. The BST Starguiders are a good bet

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html

I don't image so I can't give more advice on that front. You will want to check and adjust the collimation of the scope so a cheshire eyepiece would be very useful:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/premium-cheshire-collimating-eyepiece.html

 

Edited February 15, 2021 by John

[John]

Here is a link to a suitable replacement tripod:

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/tripods/sky-watcher-heavy-duty-tripod-for-sky-tee-heq5-eq5.html

[powerlord]

thanks John - I'm kinda hoping to stick a pier in the garden mount wise in the next 2-3 months.

I was thinking the 400x for planets ? certainly my can't see much with 200x on my skymax 102.

collimation - is this advised instead of laser then ?

[John]

Low cost laser collimators often need collimation themselves before you can rely on them which is why I prefer the cheshire eyepiece.

For the planets 150x - 250x is usually a useful range. Maybe 300x on the moon or Mars if the seeing is excellent and the scope properly cooled and collimated.