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Post by fondofchips on Jan 3, 2017 7:55:19 GMT
Thanks for the information Howie, was thinking of selling the ST 80 and buying a ED 80 or similar instead. I think I'll puzzle over it for a while.
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Post by Dragon Man on Jan 3, 2017 9:46:22 GMT
Yep, +1 on the Crayford focuser.
I have Crayford focusers fitted to all my scopes except one, and it has an 'AstroPhysics' 2.7" focuser.
The improvement with a Crayford is amazing.
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Post by davy on Jan 3, 2017 10:51:50 GMT
Hi harry, I have the ed80 and fitted the Skywatcher 0.85 focal reducer/flatner and it's a really good scope, better out there but bang for buck it punches above it's price range,, I would advise the focal reducer to make it a better scope.
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Post by fondofchips on Jan 4, 2017 20:34:54 GMT
Better session tonight, still having trouble setting up the mount alignment, even with 3 points set in EQMOD sync it still won't goto target, miles out. Tracks OK once you set the target with the scope controller. Moon picture a bit better than last session: - I've bought a Antares 50mm 2" extension tube & 2"-1.25" adaptor and the Mallincam is now more secure and comes into focus more easily. The extension and adaptor are the screw ring type and a nice tight/snug fit. Anyway cloud for the rest of the week, so plenty of time to watch setup videos!
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Post by davy on Jan 4, 2017 22:42:30 GMT
Nice capture harry,,had not a bad clear sky tonight but hardly had any sleep last night ,,my arm was playing merry hell with me ,feels like lightning going down my arm from my wound to my thumb,,and was my first day back at work since Friday and it was very busy, by four I was dead on my feet,,so my birthday treat has been,dinner,shower and early night in bed relaxing ,, hopefully a sleep tonight another busy day tomorrow,2 of the guys on the sick,, 😞
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Post by fondofchips on Mar 22, 2017 17:47:45 GMT
OK so this has turned into a sort of blog thingy. I've now got the mount working from the PC again, but the USB/serial adaptor FDTI chip isn't recognised by Windows 7, even with the correct driver. Works with Windows 8, but mine went corrupt and would not boot, after reinstalling it Microsoft have blocked the COA/licence so I will have to buy a new one. I've been studying for the Ham Radio Foundation licence and I passed that exam last Saturday, start the Intermediate course tomorrow. Waiting for confirmation of my exam pass and then I get my call sign. So the telescope control centre is now a radio shack as well.
All the best to you all, especially any new members that have joined since I last updated my (slow) progress.
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Post by davy on Mar 22, 2017 19:08:41 GMT
So it's cqdx fond of chips,, well done harry
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Post by fondofchips on Apr 8, 2017 7:09:01 GMT
I decided to have a quick session last night and hopefully get more setting up done after my Windows 8 went corrupt and I had to reinstall it. All went well, sat there with the Moon on screen, sorted out Miloslick, grabber didn't work so I decided to reboot and got the Microsoft blue screen of death. So that was it for the night, ordered a SSD drive for the PC as it is now obvious that the HDD is causing the Windows problem. The Skywatcher mount still has a mind of it's own generally slewing below the horizon, some choice words didn't change anything, will have to watch some EQMOD videos..... If anybody can explain encoders to me it would be appreciated. I already have a SSD drive in my main PC, only takes 20 seconds to boot. I bought a Crucial SSD drive, not the fastest but I wanted more storage for the music I keep on my PC. I changed from MP3 to FLAC lossless files to improve the sound quality, but more storage space is needed. SSD drives have gone up in price since I bought the last one due to a memory price increase and Brexit..... even if milk went up by a penny they would blame Brexit for it! Now studying for the Intermediate Ham Radio exam, my radio is in the warm room so I can observe and listen in to the radio. Picture below, the power supply is running the radio and all the telescope equipment. The warm room now gets some use when it's cloudy!
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Post by Dragon Man on Apr 8, 2017 8:36:17 GMT
Geez Harry, not much going right for you is it? At least your Moon looks good, and nice size FOV
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Post by fondofchips on Apr 8, 2017 22:49:40 GMT
Eeee-Haaa, Whooppeee, Banzai, one hundred and EIGHTY!" see below only took me 5 hours to reinstall Windows, at least the SSD is working OK. This time my problem was caused by downloading the wrong version of Miloslick. The even bigger MESS was NOT updating Windows FIRST! before installing other software, hope that little gem helps someone. All OK though, no more clear skies after tonight for a day or two. Back to the control room, now to find another target.
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Post by Dragon Man on Apr 9, 2017 6:14:49 GMT
NIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIICE!!! Excellent focus too Harry. Contrast is about perfect Well done
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Post by fondofchips on Apr 9, 2017 16:48:17 GMT
Just need the mount to think it is in the Northern hemisphere & not Down Under!
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Post by davy on Apr 9, 2017 17:58:08 GMT
Are you using hand controller or eqmod
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Post by fondofchips on Apr 18, 2017 11:33:03 GMT
I'm using eqmod Davy, I've had this problem before, just haven't had time to look at it properly.
Next Monday 24th April is the Hubble Telescope's birthday, launched aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-31), 24th April 1990 at 12.33.51 UTC. There have been 5 servicing missions since then, the last one was in 2009. Hubble is 27 years old next Monday. Still giving us fantastic pictures and due to be in service until 2030-2040. It was designed to be serviced in space but now the Space Shuttle is no longer in service it probably won't receive any more attention. The only other space mission which I think is up there with the best is ESA's Rosetta/Philae comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenkospace mission, didn't exactly go to plan, but for sheer achievement it was brilliant. I'm not taking away any of the other space missions thunder by any means, space is a challenge, even short range craft do not always work.
The main improvements seem to be for re-usable craft, even ESA has had to rethink their Ariane rocket programme as it becoming too costly for commercial space transport. Watch this space!
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Post by fondofchips on Jun 3, 2017 22:05:07 GMT
So I've been busy studying for the Intermediate Ham Radio exam and I passed it on the 18th of May. I've also made some progress with my electric bike project as I've bought new batteries for the solar power system and put the solar panels up on the end of the house. Now I'm ready to build up my batteries for the electric bikes. Supposed to be clear skies tonight but there is still some cloud around. Obsy/Radio shack is also running on solar power as I replaced the duff battery. Upgraded my Canon 1000D DSLR to the 700D. Main reason for the change is being able to do video. I've had a Panasonic FZ38 bridge camera which has been a real workhorse before the 1000D, the FZ38 isn't very good with low light even though it has night mode. I've enjoyed using the 1000D, but I needed a replacement for the FZ38 and the 700D is nearer the spec. I bought the 1000D off Astro BuySell at a good price and I'll keep the telescope adaptors that I got with it. Looking at a Northern Lights trip, to get the best location we may have to wait until Winter 2018/2019. Need some time to save up and plan the trip anyway.
Sky has cleared, off back to the obsy.
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Post by fondofchips on Aug 5, 2017 23:42:14 GMT
I've been waiting for this opportunuty, dual operation observing and Ham radio at the same time. There was a Ham radio competition on earlier in the night and the 40 metre band was very busy. (Second from the top on the PC screen). The conditions are slowly getting better. Clear night so I put the mount and the Mallincam through it paces with no hitches. Everything is working OK. just some minor adjustments to do. Power supply is running 2 radios, mount, focuser, dew heaters & Mallincam. During the day I use solar power to run the radios. 30 watt solar panel, 180ah battery & 1500 watt inverter. I don't use solar at night as losing power when it's dark is rather inconvenient. Combined warm room & radio room below: -
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Post by davy on Aug 6, 2017 6:03:28 GMT
In the process of building a solar tracking mount, came from a project I saw,,, it's a arduino project,, it has four photo resistors that are mounted in such a way they track the sun ,, more efficient for charging your batteries.
I'm hoping I can get it working,,if I can , I'm going to try and down size it to fit my finder guider and try and track the moon hopefully,, theory is,, it's still light 😀
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Post by fondofchips on Aug 6, 2017 7:55:24 GMT
Yaesu G5500 rotator, used for tracking Ham radio satellites, Alt-Az, doesn't need to be heavy as it only has an antenna on it. One for Davy a Ardunino circuit board for DIY battery spot welder: - Spot welder, very rough & ready but it works, the battery pack at the front is 48 volt 20 amp hour ebike battery. The heart of it is a Daewoo Microwave oven transformer, the secondary winding is removed with a hacksaw and replaced with 3 turns of thick cable. It then produces 800 or 1100 amps at 2.5 volts. The Ardunino control board is needed to control the 2 millisecond pulses needed to do each spot weld. The first pulse softens the metal strip to ensure a good connection and the second pulse welds the strip. Not my design see this website, check out the video with the ebike with solar panels on it! www.avdweb.nl/arduino/hardware-interfacing/spot-welder-controller.html
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Post by Dragon Man on Aug 6, 2017 8:18:07 GMT
It appears that this thread no longer has anything to do with the original title It hasn't for quite a while when I read back through it
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Post by davy on Aug 6, 2017 8:24:40 GMT
Close enough,, Harry's kit is outside lol 😂
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