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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 14, 2015 14:05:01 GMT
Second light with the Mallincam, well second faffing about really, some things went right and some didn't. ... Anyway after messing about for a while I went round a few DSO's, didn't get any on screen though, really need Orion Nebula up again to practice on. ... However it will all fall into place in time, I'm hoping to get it all sorted by the time the clocks change at the end of October. Clear skies, Fondofchips. Harry, I have had many nights like this and all I can say is keep on keeping on. Its hard for me to not get frustrated, but without realizing it you are learning so much. I can setup my equipment with my eyes closed now -- because I kept trying. I think that my problems are due to (in order of frequency): - Mount so off - gotos nowhere close - Focusing off - cant even see object - Mount off - get star trails with short exposures at long f/ ratios (small image scale) - Mount off - get star trails with short exposures at short f/ ratios (large image scale) - Software settings off - especially when changing between DSOs and Moon/Planets - Lens/telescope cap on - has happened!! I guess if we don't make the mistakes, we don't learn to identify them and fix them quickly! --Rick
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 14, 2015 14:25:19 GMT
Hi Rick, Looking at using EQMOD with CDC so I'm not on the easier part of the learning curve yet. I've looked at my mount and software, nothing jumps out as wrong. Focuser on the SW Esprit is a bit hit and miss, Feather Touch has now made an adaptor for the scope, converted from dollars the focuser price isn't huge, not compared with official UK dealer price anyway. I can then use EQMOD to control everything, which is my next goal, hopefully before it gets too cold at night. Clear skies needed for some more practice. Everyone else who did reports for the same night complained of poor seeing conditions. Cheers, Harry.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 16, 2015 18:27:33 GMT
I've looked heavily into using EQMOD - especially for my firmware crippled Synscan 6... I just need to get the polar scope fixed to move forward there.
With my Celestron AVX, I was going to do the same - but realized that a lot of programs have built in support of the Nexstar Protocol. I use Stellarium and I was shocked how easy it was to plug my cable into the hand controller and then use a USB/Serial connector and a USB extension cable and once I find the right COM port, it worked without any heavy lifting.
Sometimes when my Gotos are not bad, I can figure out how much to tweak the Stellarium coordinates to point the scope at where an object really is versus where my mount thinks it is.
--Rick
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Post by davy on Sept 16, 2015 20:55:58 GMT
I use the skywatcher eq3/2 pro.. I did away with the hand set.. I used usb to serial adapter then serial to mount cable..workfantasticith cdc.. I traded up to wireless using a device made by a sgl member who sold them on ebay.. eqtooth.. i love using eqmod think its a fantastic piece of software.
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 17, 2015 8:06:01 GMT
I have had 2 short sessions after work with EQMOD & CDC and I'm impressed with the results. Still in the process of setting it up and on the first day it was slewing to targets below the horizon, but I've seen that before with the Synscan handset. I have now setup the park/unpark mode and when I've done the polar alignment routine in EQMOD I should be more or less sorted. The big advantage over the Synscan handset is that you can set up more reference points and save them. You can do that with the Synscan handset of course but EQMOD puts them all in one place and shows them in CDC. The other impressive bit about EQMOD is that multiple settings can be saved, to allow for different stargazing situations. I want to have full control from my warm room and EQMOD is looking like just the job for that. Didn't want to learn more software on top of the Mallincam camera's software but I'm on the learning curve so I may as well do it all at one go. Clear Skies, Harry.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 17, 2015 13:44:14 GMT
Haha, Harry, you're right - it seems like every time we turn around we have to learn some new software. For me, it looks like its going to be AstroToaster.
Thanks for the updates on EQMOD, I need to get back to that project and you give me hope that I will be able to get some use out of my Synscan.
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 17, 2015 16:32:19 GMT
Astro Toaster? no mine just holds two slices of bread..................
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 17, 2015 19:08:19 GMT
Third session with EQMOD/CDC tonight and the mount is going from target to target OK in all directions, it is cloudy tonight though, the next clear sky will allow me to complete the polar alignment. Then I will know the Mallincam is pointing at the right spot, just the camera software to master then, T minus 5 weeks to the clock change when it will get dark one hour earlier. Oh and I've got to move the PC back into the warm room. Cheers, Harry.
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 18, 2015 13:15:21 GMT
I am also looking forward to the clocks rolling back... makes it easier to do some viewing on work nights!
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 18, 2015 14:21:47 GMT
It also signals the coming of cooler weather which generally brings clearer skies.
For us it's coming to the opposite. Dark later, heat and dust in the air, and wildfire smoke.
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 18, 2015 19:14:07 GMT
I would swap Christmas into the middle of summer though, much nicer to celebrate it outside than inside with dull and cold short days, sat in front of the TV. It is a matter of astro urgency now, to get the system setup before the darker and colder nights arrive and get everything working from the warm room. Need to mount my 10" LCD screen on the pier facing the warm room window and when my PC to Synscan cable arrives then I will bite the bullet and move all the computer gear back into the warm room. It is supposed to clear later tonight, but all the forecasts contradict each other, well if it clears that will be a bonus, my main aim will be getting the polar alignment as accurate as possible. Satellite weather radar showing thin patchy cloud. Clear Skies, Fondofchips.
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 20, 2015 11:14:41 GMT
Hey Harry, last night was our first warmish night, and guess what. We were shrouded in smoke all night from huge burn-offs about 100 miles north of here Yes, a Summer Christmas is fantastic. I wouldn't know what to do with a cold christmas. We have 6 - 8 weeks christmas holidays with beaches, BBQ's, christmas lunch outside.
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 20, 2015 12:22:41 GMT
I had bonfire smoke early on around 10.30pm there was supposed to be clear breaks in the sky but it was more cloud than clear. I was trying out Alignmaster but there was not enough clear patches to do it. The forecast was for a clear spell around 3.00am so I stayed up, it cleared just after 3.00am but the seeing conditions were awful, so the obsy roof got shut and I went to bed. Cheers, Harry.
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Post by fondofchips on Sept 28, 2015 9:04:24 GMT
The story continues....... Well I had my second proper session with the Mallincam Extreme last night for the Lunar eclipse. I had some things to sort out, my Startech Video grabber software has a punch up with the Mallincam and the Miloslick software every time I had used it. So I decided to use a second PC, and run the Startech video grabber on that PC instead. I'm able to do that because the Mallincam camera has 2 video outputs. So I used 3 screens altogether: - Capture on left, CDC/EQMOD/Mallincam on centre and live picture from the Mallincam on the right. Yes. I did eat the bun and drink the bottle of beer! I recorded the whole of the Lunar eclipse, with mixed results, still having issues with precise focusing, I've now found a company that does small timing belts and has a good range of pulleys. www.motionco.co.uk/cd_calc.php?submitted=2&tooth_type=2.032&pulley_one=16&pulley_two=36&length=120 The combination shown here will give me a 20:1 ratio. The pulleys are not expensive so could easily be changed. I can use a Skywatcher focuser motor drive kit & Hitec Astro controller which is EQMOD compatible and powers the focuser as well, the Skywatcher motor is 9 volts so it sorts that out too. I did some captures of Orion during the full part of the eclipse, the best one below: - Just little steps, but I'm getting there, and hopefully helping others as I am much further on than expected. Now only 4 weeks away from the Autumn clock change. Tonight's target - accurate polar alignment, It's a bit like tidying up your room when you were a kid, you have got to do it eventually. Thanks again for all your help.
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Post by Dragon Man on Sept 28, 2015 11:06:10 GMT
Terrific results Harry. You've got your gear humming along nicely. Good stuff
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Post by Rick in NWArk on Sept 28, 2015 21:25:46 GMT
Harry, that's just a fantastic Orion Nebula! I don't think I've gotten as nice of a shot with detail but also nice vivid colors!
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Post by fondofchips on Oct 2, 2015 16:43:55 GMT
The Skywatcher focuser kit and the Hitec Astro controller arrived today and I've managed to get the bracket in the right position so the belt will line up OK. Now I know the dimensions I've been able to order the drive pulleys and belt. I can still access the focuser lock OK with the bracket in position. One question, how long can a USB cable be before the signal is lost?
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Post by davy on Oct 2, 2015 17:47:06 GMT
Hi harry. .usb cable 5mtrs I use repeater usb cables got them off ebay a few years ago ..think i paid about £14 each for mine.going to use one shortly to test my qhy 5-2 camera.
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Post by fondofchips on Oct 2, 2015 21:27:18 GMT
Thanks for that information davy.
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Post by Dragon Man on Oct 3, 2015 4:10:16 GMT
USB is normally restricted to about 5 metres, but repeater Booster cables allow you to go much further.
I have read that some people manage to get a good clean signal up 70 feet. But they are also using Booster cables and also powered hubs at each end I think.
Furthest I've ever used USB was about 30 feet with 2 booster cables and it was OK.
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