3868 replies to this topic

[Albut]

I did it only for myself, when I had the opportunity to use the equipment of a mechanical workshop. There is no such possibility now.

To save me looking back and in case you haven’t mentioned it. What exposure times can you get and with what focal length with this setup. No guiding. Thanks 

[ANKry]

 What exposure times can you get and with what focal length with this setup.

2433. I checked only in Moscow through the window. I will take photos at the dacha in the summer. Now there are meter-high snowdrifts.

[ANKry]

https://www.cloudyni...i-mount/page-98 Post 2433.

[CloudyIFR]

Hi Curtis .... When you "throw the app away" do you also switch off the mount or not ??

Nope.

[naolocapo]

This is my simplest setup as an autoguided portable EQ mount.

I connect AZ GTi and StarAid Revolution autoguider with my hand-made electronics cable, "AZ-AutoGUidePort".

 

All power supply is provided from batteries in AZ GTi.

Connecting the cable make start guiding automatically.

 

[kel123]

This is my simplest setup as an autoguided portable EQ mount.
I connect AZ GTi and StarAid Revolution autoguider with my hand-made electronics cable, "AZ-AutoGUidePort".

All power supply is provided from batteries in AZ GTi.
Connecting the cable make start guiding automatically.

What wedge is that?

[Vladi]

And anther question: what is workflow with Go-To? Does it use plate-solving for alignment or still based on SynScan? Does it run by StarAid Revolution?

[naolocapo]

What wedge is that?

That is hand made eq-base by Japanese craftsman. that is heavyduty and light weight.

[kel123]

That is hand made eq-base by Japanese craftsman. that is heavyduty and light weight.

How precise is it in polar alignment and is it on sale somewhere?

[Peteram]

This is my simplest setup as an autoguided portable EQ mount.

I connect AZ GTi and StarAid Revolution autoguider with my hand-made electronics cable, "AZ-AutoGUidePort".

 

All power supply is provided from batteries in AZ GTi.

Connecting the cable make start guiding automatically.

 

What a cool setup! Did you guide the mount yet with the Staraid? I just received mine last week and tried it on my large Astro-Physics mount as well as on my Astrotrac. Worked perfectly right out of the box! I am curious to see how it will work on the AZ-GTI, which I sometimes take on hikes. Can you explain to me how your Staraid is powered? Looks like it is connected to that ST4 cable. Is that correct? I have that cable but there is USB port on it.

 

thanks,

 

Peter

[naolocapo]

How precise is it in polar alignment and is it on sale somewhere?

 Precision is good. It use M6 bolt for adjustment. My EQ base is fixed angle and has horizontal adjustment only.
The craftman has been made various EQ base based on user's request.
I think some of his product will be on store after April.
If it is on market, I will share it.
If you want to contact the craftman, send me personal message and I will introduce him. 

[naolocapo]

What a cool setup! Did you guide the mount yet with the Staraid? I just received mine last week and tried it on my large Astro-Physics mount as well as on my Astrotrac. Worked perfectly right out of the box! I am curious to see how it will work on the AZ-GTI, which I sometimes take on hikes. Can you explain to me how your Staraid is powered? Looks like it is connected to that ST4 cable. Is that correct? I have that cable but there is USB port on it.

 

thanks,

 

Peter

Hi Peter
Yes, I did guide with StarAid. I just received, too. And I don't have done a lot yet. But it working OK.
I have developed ST4 port for AZGTi. That is hand-made-electronics.
Power comes from batteries in AZGTi.

This one is new developing prototype  which has ST4 port and USB-A power supply port on it.
Both ST4 and USB-A--USB-c cables are connected to StarAID splitter.


 

[naolocapo]

And anther question: what is workflow with Go-To? Does it use plate-solving for alignment or still based on SynScan? Does it run by StarAid Revolution?

Currently, StarAid can not work with Go-To. Although it has plate solving (called "sky recognition") it only shows RA and DEC coordinates.

Here is my work flow.

Connect SyncScanApp, do alignment and GoTo.
Then I no longer need SyncScanApp, so I should turn off SyncScanApp.

After this, StarAid and az-autoguideport take control of AZGTi.

Connect cable and autoguide start automatically. Or control StarAID by mobile phone. 

[Vladi]

This is a really cool approach to make a compact wedge! I believer there will be a demand for this! Here is another discussion about wedges for AZ GTI https://www.cloudyni...ges-for-az-gti/ I think a wedge with a smooth adjustment and flexible mounting for around 100-150 USD would go. Starting with 200 people will buy the one from William Optics. More than this is not reasonable since it is getting close to the price of AZ GTI. Plus, for the total (500-600) you can get a real EQ mount with includes everything. It might be not that portable anymore as one based on AZ GTI, but still good. For example Explore Scientific iEXOS-100 PMC-8 or iOptron SmartEQ Pro+

 

I was interested how StarAid works! @naolocapo : Thanks for the report! For me, the fact that you have to use SyncScan for alignment and GoTo is a complete No-Go. I did this got a while and after I get learn Stellarmate and especially ASIAIR, I do not like to spend the precious dark time and my energy for SyncScan or any other system which requires so many manual steps. Plate-solving for polar alignment, star alignment and Go-To is a must!

[gpaunescu]

Hi Peter
Yes, I did guide with StarAid. I just received, too. And I don't have done a lot yet. But it working OK.
I have developed ST4 port for AZGTi. That is hand-made-electronics.
Power comes from batteries in AZGTi.

This one is new developing prototype  which has ST4 port and USB-A power supply port on it.
Both ST4 and USB-A--USB-c cables are connected to StarAID splitter.


 

Hi is look very good the wedge.

 

Can I have the electronic schema of ST4 port?

 

Thanks,

Gabi

[naolocapo]

Hi is look very good the wedge.

 

Can I have the electronic schema of ST4 port?

 

Thanks,

Gabi

Gabi

Sorry, I can't open its design data.

But scheme is really simple.
Connect RJ12 ST4 port to 4 digital input (RA+, RA-, DEC+, DEC-) and Gnd of micro-computer.
Then computer send SkyWatcher motor protocol commands to AZGTi via serial communication.

Naok

[gpaunescu]

Thanks

[Peteram]

This is a really cool approach to make a compact wedge! I believer there will be a demand for this! Here is another discussion about wedges for AZ GTI https://www.cloudyni...ges-for-az-gti/ I think a wedge with a smooth adjustment and flexible mounting for around 100-150 USD would go. Starting with 200 people will buy the one from William Optics. More than this is not reasonable since it is getting close to the price of AZ GTI. Plus, for the total (500-600) you can get a real EQ mount with includes everything. It might be not that portable anymore as one based on AZ GTI, but still good. For example Explore Scientific iEXOS-100 PMC-8 or iOptron SmartEQ Pro+

 

I was interested how StarAid works! @naolocapo : Thanks for the report! For me, the fact that you have to use SyncScan for alignment and GoTo is a complete No-Go. I did this got a while and after I get learn Stellarmate and especially ASIAIR, I do not like to spend the precious dark time and my energy for SyncScan or any other system which requires so many manual steps. Plate-solving for polar alignment, star alignment and Go-To is a must!

I have used it with the ASIAIR and it works perfectly, wireless or wired, perfect. I do have the Staraid as well, and I can tell you it is awesome. It starts guiding after 10 to 15 seconds after plugging it in, and you dont even have to look at it anymore, perfect. I like it much better that the ASIAIR guiding. No messing around with any settings at all.

[By-tor]

I've had my AZ-GTi for a couple of weeks now and really enjoy using it with my Meade 125 Mak.  It's easy to setup and works really well for viewing.  I did upgrade the firmware to 3.26 for the better tracking and found when I got it setup it was acting very strange and not slewing as it did before the upgrade.  I downgraded back to 3.20 and all is fine.

 

I have been controlling it with the app through my phone which does work very well.. It has a hand controller port, but when I tried to plug my SynScan controller from my EQM-35 into it I find that the port labeled hand controller is to small to accept my SynScan controller plug.  I can plug an ST4 cable into it.

[Gazpacho]

I have been controlling it with the app through my phone which does work very well.. It has a hand controller port, but when I tried to plug my SynScan controller from my EQM-35 into it I find that the port labeled hand controller is to small to accept my SynScan controller plug.  I can plug an ST4 cable into it.

To use the hand controller, you need a different cable.  Or, if you have the tools and parts, you can make one with an RJ-45 on one end and an RJ-12 on the other.  I believe the wiring schematic is in the PDF manual.  (If I've mis-stated, I am sure someone will correct me.  )

[By-tor]

To use the hand controller, you need a different cable.  Or, if you have the tools and parts, you can make one with an RJ-45 on one end and an RJ-12 on the other.  I believe the wiring schematic is in the PDF manual.  (If I've mis-stated, I am sure someone will correct me.  )

 

So they added a feature they don't sell a connection to?  

 

The phone app works great...

 

Thank you

[maxsid]

I had an Orion SynScan Hand Controller V5 which had the right connector to AZ-GTi.

Sold it since I preferred the app.

 

And it's not an ST4 port - it's for a hand controller or for an EQDir cable for computer connection.

You just have a controller which is not compatible (wrong cable).

As Mr. Gazpacho mentioned, you probably can DIY an RJ-45 to RJ-12 coupler (maybe they are available commercially) and make your controller fit.

 

So they added a feature they don't sell a connection to?  

 

The phone app works great...

 

Thank you

Edited by maxsid, 27 February 2021 - 02:07 AM.

[kel123]

So they added a feature they don't sell a connection to?

The phone app works great...

Thank you

They sell the connection. Email Skywatcher to get it, buy from third party or build one.

[Albut]

Can anyone help with the following. I find goto is not great on this mount even having followed the different alignment procedures. It’s better on my iPhone than iPad. When I turn the mount on and connect to it by Wi-fi, then open the synscan pro app look at the information I get different positions in the info screen as shown below. The times and location data are the same. Both devices have same iOS firmware. The mount has not been moved. I suspect the iPhone is correct but not sure. Any ideas.

Attached Thumbnails

• 
• 

Edited by Albut, 27 February 2021 - 08:46 AM.

[naolocapo]

Can anyone help with the following. I find goto is not great on this mount even having followed the different alignment procedures. It’s better on my iPhone than iPad. When I turn the mount on and connect to it by Wi-fi, then open the synscan pro app look at the information I get different positions in the info screen as shown below. The times and location data are the same. Both devices have same iOS firmware. The mount has not been moved. I suspect the iPhone is correct but not sure. Any ideas.

I think one of your device, maybe iPad does NOT have GPS. If it does not have, location is "guessed" by wifi IP address, and that may not be accurate.

I think iPhone has GPS equipped and accurate. So you should input latitude and longitude manually on your iPad.