Awaiting my new EQ6-R Pro

[ThadeusB]

Hi all, I'm Phil.

I hope to have mine soon from The Widescreen Centre - really looking foward to getting this beast.

I currently have a HEQ5 Pro, which is not man enougn for my Quattro 250 Newt with guide scope, camera etc. It's a heavy setup that the EQ6-R should handle easily.

Praying for some clear skies when it arrives.

I will need to machine my current mounting plate to take the new mount. Easy job in my lathe.

I'll post my findings soon I hope.

[Dunk]

Hi Phil

I will be like you soon. I also have a Quattro 250 & will be ordering a EQ6-R-Pro next week as one of the motors in my Meade LX80 mount has broke.

Hope yours arrives soon & post a photo of it when you get it.

Duncan

[ThadeusB]

Hi Duncan,

I'm told that the consignment is expected in the next few days. So hopefully I'll get it soon.

Yes, I'll post photo's of it when it's on my pier.

How do you get on with your Quattro? I find that a colimation check is needed every time I use it. Do you have a steel or carbon fibre tube, mine is steel.

Phil

[Dunk]

Phil

Also got the steel one not had it long ordered it August last year it arrived the end of November not used it too many times due to weather & work and only for visual so far. Collimation was not far off the mirror locking screws we’re not quite loose when it was delivered, my Cheshire shows it about spot on I only move it a couple of metres each way from my shed & back. Harrison telescopes were showing the mounts due in this week but won’t let you order while out of stock & changed it to mid April today so think I will just order it at @FLO and wait. How long have you been waiting?

Duncan

Edited March 30, 2021 by Dunk
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[ThadeusB]

Hi Duncan,

The Quattro is an excellent scope. However, colimation is critical as it's an f4. If when crossing the Meridian the mount swings to the other side of the pier, meaning that the scope is now flipped over. This can upset colimation especially if hanging a camera on it too. I'm going to have a look at the Sharpcap colimation tools, which apparently work with a camera attached. I won't be doing this until I get the new mount.

I ordered my EQ6-R on 12th March. I must check with The Widescreen Centre to find out when I can expect it. This week I hope!

Fingers crossed Duncan.

Phil

[ThadeusB]

Hi Duncan,

Apparently the shipment was held up at the Suez Canal. However, the ship has now docked and OVL the trade suppliers will be urgently getting consignments out to the retailers next week.

I have been promised that I will get mine next week.

Who are you buying yours from? If you haven't already done so, get on to them to for a delivery date.

 

Good luck

Phil

[Dunk]

Hi Phil,

That’s good news. I have been putting off ordering but got an email at lunchtime  at work today from Harrison’s saying they are in stock, I didn’t have a credit card on me so drove home and ordered it & a mains power supply. Had confirmation that it will be delivered on Monday. Glad I drove home as they are now showing out of stock.

Duncan

Edited April 16, 2021 by Dunk
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[Dunk]

It was delivered this morning 😁 within 24 hours of ordering . It is so quiet compared to my old Meade mount but did need to use the Meade 5kg weight in between as the two Skywatcher ones weren't enough. 

Hope yours arrives soon Phil. 

[Iced Tiger]

Very nice, hopefully FLO will have stock soon.

[ThadeusB]

Great news Duncan. I hope it works well for you. As a matter of interest, have you considered buying a better finder scope? I bought a Celestron RACI finder; it is superb and so easy to use, because you can rotate the 90 degree prism and it has illuminated cross hairs - worth evry penny.

 

I'll take some photo's of my current rig, so you can see what I have done.

Good viewing

Phil

[JP-S]

I'm eager to see how this setup performs. I'm planning on getting a GSO 10" F4 but I'm quite concerned about the load. I know the EQ6R can carry even heavier loads but it's the moment arm that makes me uneasy about pulling the trigger.

[ThadeusB]

Great news Duncan. I hope it works well for you. As a matter of interest, have you considered buying a better finder scope? I bought a Celestron RACI finder; it is superb and so easy to use, because you can rotate the 90 degree prism and it has illuminated cross hairs - worth evry penny.

 

I'll take some photo's of my current rig, so you can see what I have done.

Good viewing

Phil

[ThadeusB]

My EQ-6R is coming tomorrow.

Phil

[barbulo]

I ordered my set (EQ6-R + SW 200PDS) 2 weeks ago, but it seems that the “Evergreen issue” has delayed all deliveries to the Western Hemisphere. All this on top of a situation where Skywatcher products demand exceeds supply. 
I’m afraid that I’ll have to wait for another 5-6 weeks. 😢

[ThadeusB]

Sorry to hear that Barbulo, very frustrating for you. You'll love it when you get it though.

[ThadeusB]

Hi Duncan,

Mine came Tuesday, my what a beauty it is. It makes my HEQ5 Pro look puny!

I had to machine my pier mounting plate to take the EQ-6 R. It is now mounted, with scope on. I was able to fit all the weights required on the bar without needing to fit the extension bar.

Amazing; it's absolutely rock solid compared to the HEQ5.

I use EQMOD with my home made EQDIRECT cable. To connect, the BAUD rate has to be set to 115200 for the Windows port and in EQMOD setup. It works a treat. I also tried the USB port; that too runs at 115200 BAUD, so the Windows port must be set to that rate. I have done basic testing and all appears to be good.

If I have time later I'll run the roof off my obs and take some photo's, which I'll post.

If we have a clear sky tonight I'll start getting it aligned. Then I can put it through its paces properly after tweaking it with PHD2.

One happy bunny so far.

Phil

[ThadeusB]

Here we are Duncan, some photos taken this afternoon.

Mounted on the scope are my dew controller in the white box, ZWO guide scope with ZWO ASI120MM camera, ZWO EAF and Celestron RACI finder scope.

I mounted the dew controller on the scope to reduce cabling from pier to scope.

The sky is clear right now, so hopefully I can get to work on it tonight.

Phil

[ThadeusB]

Hi all,

Last night was a lovely night. So, I did rough Polar alignment, then started on drift alignment using PHD2. For those who don't know, drift alignment is performed by selecting a star near the Meridian and Celstial equator. Firstly, azimuth is run, followed by Altitude. It's a slow and painful process but does an excellent job. After nearly 3 hours tweaking azimuth I stopped, leaving altitude for another night. Minute changes in the adjustments are required to get it right.

First impressions of the mount: rock solid and tracks accurately; very quiet in operation; both axes have a small amount of backlash which may need adjustment; nice big alt/az adjustment bolts - I've read that some people complain about the alt bolt under the polar scope, however, at my altitude of 52 degrees the spring loaded lever is a brilliant solution and very easy to use. My only criticism so far is that in common with many other Skywatcher mounts, the RA and Dec clutches cannot be locked hard enough, unless one has the strength of a Gorilla: it is too easy to accidentally bump the scope out of alignment. I have fixed a lever extension to the Dec clutch lever, this can now be locked solidly. I'm now working on how to do the RA lever extension without making it a mess. I've yet to see how the high BAUD rate impacts tracking accuracy.

At the moment I use an EQDIR cable which works fine. I'll try using the mount USB port at some stage, but don't expect this to make any change to functionality.

A brief note on polar scope alignment; it is well worth buying a right angle viewing adaptor that has a switch to magnify the view. For me it's a must, it saves me from grovelling around on my arthritic knees and stressing my arthritic neck!

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/astro-essentials-right-angled-eyepiece-for-polar-scopes.html

More later guys

Phil

[Cleetus]

Looks fantastic. What's the weight you have on that mount Phil?

[Dunk]

Hi Phil

Your set up looks great I wish mine was like that you are miles ahead of where I am. I don’t like the idea putting the put my scope on it in the dark it is hard enough in daylight a couple of times when I was trying to balancing it wasn’t secured so I lift it all in out my shed as it is & it’s heavy but no heavier than I what I had before. Still not got it balanced correctly on the dec axis so might have to look at the 90 deg finder you suggested as if not I can’t look through it at certain angles. I have also have had movement with the clutches when moving it no matter how tight I lock them.

Duncan

Edited April 23, 2021 by Dunk
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[ThadeusB]

Hi Cleetus,

The total weight with imaging camera is about 16kg. I know that it looks like there is a lot of counterbalance weight, however, the balance is perfect.

[ThadeusB]

Hi Duncan,

I take it then that you don't have an observatory. Is it something you could do? It will make a tremendous difference to your enjoyment of an excellent rig. Having to polar align every time you set up is a pain.

As a matter of interest do you use the Synscan hand controller or EQASCOM. The latter is the way to go for many reasons.

I found one other niggle when I did rough polar alignment; the polar scope reticule isn't orientated correctly, and it's very fiddly to fix that. Skywatcher are a bit lax with some things. But never mind it's all fixable.

I'll let you know what I'm doing about the clutches.

Phil

[ThadeusB]

Sunday night I spent 3 hours drift aligning with PHD2. Not helped by some wind, however, I got it pretty spot on in the end. Some PHD2 settings need to be tweaked so that guiding is not too aggressive.

The next thing will be PPEC training. The EQ6-R will save this to its motherboard. This can be achieved via EQMOD. I can post the required settings and method if anyone would like this.

Duncan: I fixed strips of 100mm long, 2mm carbon fibre sheet to the clutch levers. They can now be locked firmly.

[barbulo]

1 hour ago, ThadeusB said:

The next thing will be PPEC training. The EQ6-R will save this to its motherboard. This can be achieved via EQMOD. I can post the required settings and method if anyone would like this.

Would be much appreciated.

1 hour ago, ThadeusB said:

I fixed strips of 100mm long, 2mm carbon fibre sheet to the clutch levers. They can now be locked firmly.

Could you please post a picture? 

Thanks in advance, Phil.

[ThadeusB]

I have attached my draft notes on PPEC training. I'm now waiting for a clear night to run it all through again so I can refine it. I will also include screen shots. So bear with me please.

Phil

EQMOD_PHD2_EQ6-R setup_v2.doc