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bb4
member
Reged: 04/16/07
Posts: 65
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So, I have a SBIG stl camera. It works great.
Thus far I have been using the internal guide chip which works well when you can find an approp target. So I am thinking about external guiding.
My question is this. I would like to use the external guider as a planetary ccd camera as well. I am looking at the 350$ mono and color imaging source ccd cameras. If I used this camera as my autoguider using PHD and equinox 6, would I be sacrificing any performance by not using the STL remote head guide which costs over twice as much and cannot be used to image by itself?
Am i missing something here?
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Rick J
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/01/08
Posts: 1128
Loc: Mantrap Lake, MN
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Guide camera can be very basic. Many I know use web cams for both planetary and guiding. Biggest issue is differential flex issue if using a separate guide scope rather than off axis guider. You don't say what scope you are using. STL's are heavy and put lots of stress on an optical system and focuser. Internal guider follows this as does off axis guiding but not a separate guide scope. This would be my only concern with your idea. Many make it work well but usually with lighter cameras.
Rick
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f29pc
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/23/05
Posts: 651
Loc: Maine
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I guide my ST2000XM that way. Flex is always the problem.
see this thread.
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/3426391/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1
Paul
--------------------
12" LX200 UHTC OTA
10" LX200 EMC
WO 105mm APO, 80mm APO, 66mm APO
MI250
Next day air makes every night X-mas eve!
www.burkesobservatory.com
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Ozy
Vendor - Starizona
Reged: 06/15/07
Posts: 803
Loc: Goodyear, AZ
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Rick and Paul hit the nail on the head. That is exactly why the internal guide chip or OAG is the best solution.
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Cuttin' Edge Observatory
Used Finderscope - Canon Elan - Kodachrome 200
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bb4
member
Reged: 04/16/07
Posts: 65
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Interesting...
I have heard that flexure can indeed be troubling. I didnt realize how troubling until this thread.
So I live in very light polluted skies. I am in downtown cambridge MA about 2 miles from downtown boston. Finding approp guide stars in the field of view can be a challenge which is why I am forced to piggyback using my FS60c (I have a tec 140 which I use to image).
Couple more questions for you guys if you dont mind. you have already been helpful:)
1) Can you send me to a thread or sources of info on how to reduce or mitigate flexure when using a guide scope?
2) Assuming I have to use a guide scope occasionally, I see no benefits to using the sbig remote guide head over the imaginging source guider. Is that correct? Especailly since you cant image with the guide scope and it twice the price.
In any case, Paul i went to your website. Your images are amazing. Keep up the good work.
Thanks again everyone
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f29pc
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/23/05
Posts: 651
Loc: Maine
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The only advantage of the SBIG guide head that I can see is if you are using one of their adaptive optics units, ie.. the AO-L or AO-8. Then the remote guide head can be useful by getting the guide chip in front of the filters. BUT.. to avoid the flex problems, you would have to put the guide head in an OAG!! Look at the MOAG on the astrodon web site and you can see the application.
I don't think you will loose anything by going with a less expensive guider. One thing to keep in mind, some "guiders" use an 8 bit chip, those tend to be less expensive. Its been my experience that I get better and more accurate guiding using a 16 bit chip. I have had great success with a DSI II Pro (mono) and PHD. If you use Maxim Dl, the DSI will have issues, they are aware of it and supposedly a fix is in the works. (but I've been waiting a year and nothing yet). The Orion Starshoot Autoguider is a nice complete package but has an 8 bit CMOS chip. It's very noisy, and requires a guide star with a good S/N. The Loadstar seem to be the best of both, but more expensive.
Paul
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12" LX200 UHTC OTA
10" LX200 EMC
WO 105mm APO, 80mm APO, 66mm APO
MI250
Next day air makes every night X-mas eve!
www.burkesobservatory.com
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Dan72
journeyman
Reged: 10/26/08
Posts: 7
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Quote:
I have had great success with a DSI II Pro (mono) and PHD. If you use Maxim Dl, the DSI will have issues, they are aware of it and supposedly a fix is in the works. (but I've been waiting a year and nothing yet).
Paul
Not to hijack the thread, but can you elaborate on the DSI issues you are referring to?
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f29pc
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/23/05
Posts: 651
Loc: Maine
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Dan,
If the guider is in the middle of an exposure, and the guiding is stopped, the camera will sometimes freeze in the "flushing camera" mode, all other functions work fine. This happens intermittently, but enough that I can't trust it when doing an automated imaging run.
Paul
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12" LX200 UHTC OTA
10" LX200 EMC
WO 105mm APO, 80mm APO, 66mm APO
MI250
Next day air makes every night X-mas eve!
www.burkesobservatory.com
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