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New Skywatcher AZ GTi goto wifi mount

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#776 thamalai

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Posted 08 December 2018 - 02:32 PM

Did you ever find any resolve for this?  I received my mount today and messed with it some and that azimuth clutch knob doesnt really seem to tighten up all that much.   I wonder what others have experienced with it?  does the knob bottom out against the mount body or is it supposed to show some threads when the azimuth clutch is tight?  It just seems not as securely tight as it should be.  

 

Thanks, 
Vaughn

Yes I got some spare parts. The azimuth clutch is supposed to bottom out against the mount body. When you tighten the clutch it will reduce the inner diameter of the collar seen on the picture. The collar will in turn move a cone at the top of it upwards. This will tighten the RA axis construction. But as far as I can see the construction is such that the axis can be made stiffer but not fully locked.

 

IMG_4740-2.jpg

 

Timo


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#777 f300v10

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Posted 09 December 2018 - 01:05 PM

I started off looking for a simple DSLR tracking mount like the StarAdventure as a gift for my son, and wound up here after finding the AZ GTi.  For the money, the AZ GTi seems like a far more flexible piece of kit.  I'm sure this has been asked/answered somewhere in this thread, but if mounted on an EQ wedge (Star Adventurer Latitude) will the AZ GTi allow 1 to 2 minute subs with out star trails using 20-100mm DSLR?  How long an exposure at 50mm could you take in AZ mode without trails?  Thanks



#778 LaCasaCorp

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Posted 09 December 2018 - 01:14 PM

With a good polar alignment i can easily do 45-60sec at 420mm unguided....

I started off looking for a simple DSLR tracking mount like the StarAdventure as a gift for my son, and wound up here after finding the AZ GTi. For the money, the AZ GTi seems like a far more flexible piece of kit. I'm sure this has been asked/answered somewhere in this thread, but if mounted on an EQ wedge (Star Adventurer Latitude) will the AZ GTi allow 1 to 2 minute subs with out star trails using 20-100mm DSLR? How long an exposure at 50mm could you take in AZ mode without trails? Thanks


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#779 f300v10

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Posted 09 December 2018 - 01:58 PM

With a good polar alignment i can easily do 45-60sec at 420mm unguided....
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Great, thanks.



#780 Alexdz57

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Posted 09 December 2018 - 06:20 PM

Hi,

 

I have Celestron SLT mount now with my 80mm refractor and while it's great on balcony for solar system observing it's bit annoying that I can't rotate the telescope manually if I just want to take a look at something else. 

AZ-GTI seems to be perfect solution in theory, but how it looks like in real life?

How comfortable is using this mount in manual mode with clutches released? Is it very stiff? Will it loose alignment after moving it manually?

I use the AZ-GTi as a manual mount fairly often when I have the 102mm refractor mounted. I agree that it's not a great manual mount, but with the leverage of a long OTA it's actually quite usable. With the MAK I don't even bother.

 

You can use it in manual mode without losing alignment if you enable the secondary encoders. This does supposedly drop the GOTO accuracy however. I haven't used this myself.



#781 Acer

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Posted 10 December 2018 - 12:07 AM

Man I love this mount!  I am able to get 90 second unguided exposures with a 560mm scope.  I could probably go up to 2 minutes as the stars are still completely round.

 

Here's the imaging setup.  I am using my Berlebach wood tripod (that I use for my large format camera) instead of the included one.

It's imaging the Triangulum Galaxy right now.

 

Stellarvue SV80 Access 80mm F7 Apo riding on a Skywatcher AZ-GTI GOTO mount.  The mount is in equatorial mode and I am using the Skywatcher Star Adventurer wedge.  I am also using my Berlebach tripod instead of the included tripod since it is more stable.

 

32382129478_1fd9840963_b.jpgTelescope Setup by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

I know this is a mount forum, but here are the first two photos I've made with the above setup.  I can't be any happier with it!

 

45527389664_38750fd122_c.jpgGreat Orion Nebula Edited Final by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

 

46183668862_c1dd72c2f9_c.jpgAndromeda 100-60 sec 7 Dec 2018 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr


Edited by Acer, 10 December 2018 - 12:08 AM.

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#782 l_stoian79

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Posted 10 December 2018 - 07:18 AM

It was my turn to get this mount tongue2.gif  ... so I got it, together with a Mak127.

I do not intend to use the included tripod and pier, my goal was to use the travel tripod of the AzEq5 mount which I have it around and sits unused since a while.

15444363462252_475.jpg  

 

Compared to an AzEq5 with a C8 on... the "uncle and newphew":

15444363461831_181.jpg

 

In order to fit the AZGTi mount head on the travel tripod I have used a Berlebach adapter (EQ5/GP to 3/8" photo thread):

15444363915756_449.jpg


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#783 Hank w

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Posted 10 December 2018 - 09:21 PM

  • Hey Andrew your setup is looking GOOD Those first light shots look very Pro. Were you using your pentax K1. Using the same setup I caught COMET WIRTANEN Last night.
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#784 cuivienor

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Posted 10 December 2018 - 10:37 PM

I posted this in a separate topic, but for info this is what I got with this mount, used in Death Valley in Alt-Az, with 20s to 30s exposures. Less than 1 hour total integration time on each target. The mount is very good, but gosh the dark skies make such a difference!

Attached Thumbnails

  • light_BINNING_1_integration_DBE.jpg
  • light_BINNING_1_integration_DBE (1).jpg
  • P1011372.jpg

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#785 cuivienor

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Posted 10 December 2018 - 10:38 PM

Continued

Attached Thumbnails

  • HDR_Final.jpg
  • Processed-2.jpg

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#786 Bagwell

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Posted 10 December 2018 - 10:47 PM

Well, finally clear skies and free time although a little cold out.  I had a chance to do a 3 star alignment and got everything done and started moving around the sky.  Wow!  What a fun lil mount!   This is my first mount with goto capability and I put the C5 on it tonight and had a fun time until I got too cold out there.  Im going to have fun with it as I see all of you have been.  Thanks for steering me in the right direction for a nice small but very capable mount.  

 

Vaughn


Edited by Bagwell, 10 December 2018 - 10:48 PM.

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#787 Bart Declercq

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Posted 11 December 2018 - 12:57 PM

I started off looking for a simple DSLR tracking mount like the StarAdventure as a gift for my son, and wound up here after finding the AZ GTi.  For the money, the AZ GTi seems like a far more flexible piece of kit.  I'm sure this has been asked/answered somewhere in this thread, but if mounted on an EQ wedge (Star Adventurer Latitude) will the AZ GTi allow 1 to 2 minute subs with out star trails using 20-100mm DSLR?  How long an exposure at 50mm could you take in AZ mode without trails?  Thanks

This is a stack of Comet 46P from a couple of days ago using the AZ Gti in *azimuthal* mode, using a Canon 7D mkII and a 150mm Sigma lens at F/4 - 30 second subframes and on-axis the stars where pinpoint-perfect. I've got it mounted on an EQ Wedge now and I'll be trying longer subs this evening with my ASI294MC Pro and the same 150mm lens, but the fact that it does 30" perfectly in azimuthal mode gives me very good hope for longer exposures in EQ mode.


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#788 CChristakis

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Posted 14 December 2018 - 10:37 AM

After a few days of clear nights.  FEDEX just delivered my AZ GTI at the same time the clouds and rain rolled in.  Suppose to clear up by Monday.


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#789 jcj380

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Posted 14 December 2018 - 01:23 PM

Wasn't really aware of this mount until I saw it in the best product list in the January Sky and Tel.

 

Without reading the whole thread, has anybody exceeded the stated capacity?  If so, by how much?

 

I need 12 pounds with my current set-up although I could probably remove my 8x50 finder and bracket.



#790 Spikey131

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Posted 14 December 2018 - 06:10 PM

It will carry 12 pounds.  I use it with my NP101.  It is not “rock solid”; you will have vibrations and 3s settling time, but it makes for a great portable setup.  Much more stable with an 80mm Apo.



#791 dr.who

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Posted 14 December 2018 - 09:27 PM

It will carry 12lbs. As Spikey noted it will work with a NP101is. That is what I use mine with. And there are vibrations when focusing and when it slews but I knew that going in. The benefits of the mount far outweigh these two negatives.

#792 davidparks

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Posted 15 December 2018 - 12:35 AM

I carry 16lbs. including counterweight.  I have no issues at all, but have no need to touch the scope for focusing.  I use the tripod that came with the AZGTi.  The 6lb. counterweight doesn’t totally balance the 10lb. load, it only helps offset it some.  I’ve done 20 minute guided exposures with perfectly round stars (examples in gallery).    I’m not speaking of occasional success, reporting only the best of my experience, rather I am reporting my every time success.  I couldn’t be happier with this mount.

 

Diagram 1

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#793 cuivienor

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Posted 15 December 2018 - 10:38 AM

Apologies if this has already been answered - I'm finally trying the mount in Eq mode, and seeing some weird issues:

1. It won't allow me to point to objects saying that altitude is out of limits. For example, M31 and M33 were not available to point to when they were near the Meridian, but fine 1 hour later. No idea why.

2. SGP often gives me a "Mount is parked or not tracking error", even though the mount is still very obviously tracking (I noticed the message over an hour later in each case, and target was still dead center when I restarted the sequence).

 

Not sure where that comes from, but it makes the mount highly unreliable at this stage...

 

Cheers,

 

Yannick

 

Edit: I'll put up a separate thread asking about that


Edited by cuivienor, 15 December 2018 - 06:34 PM.


#794 coastaltom

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Posted 16 December 2018 - 02:56 PM

  I have used my mount in AZ mode pretty successfully.   I have the latest firmware and app and can connect in EQ mode.  I have tried the 2 star/brightest star alignment method but I find it nearly impossible to "drive" the scope to the star with the arrow buttons on the app.  The arrow directions do not correspond logically with mount direction.  Without a polar scope, how do you align the mount in EQ mode?  Thanks!



#795 Bart Declercq

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 04:50 AM

 

Apologies if this has already been answered - I'm finally trying the mount in Eq mode, and seeing some weird issues:

1. It won't allow me to point to objects saying that altitude is out of limits. For example, M31 and M33 were not available to point to when they were near the Meridian, but fine 1 hour later. No idea why.

2. SGP often gives me a "Mount is parked or not tracking error", even though the mount is still very obviously tracking (I noticed the message over an hour later in each case, and target was still dead center when I restarted the sequence).

 

Not sure where that comes from, but it makes the mount highly unreliable at this stage...

 

Cheers,

 

Yannick

 

Edit: I'll put up a separate thread asking about that

I have the exact same problem wit SGPro and the AZ-GTI - for now I've "solved" it by disconnecting the mount in SGPro after slewing/platesolving but before starting my images, but that obviously means I can't sequence multiple objects in one session without being physically present. With the mount connected to PHD2 but not to SGPro, everything works and I can track for hours&hours (did a 4.5 hour M81/82 last week with zero issues)

 

Edit: an interesting thread to follow on the SGPro forum : http://forum.mainseq...t-tracking/9127


Edited by Bart Declercq, 17 December 2018 - 05:18 AM.


#796 EastAnglian

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 06:10 AM

Hi all

I’m in the UK and just purchased this little beastie from Microglobe. I ordered it on Friday afternoon and it arrived next morning, less than 24 hours! Because I’ve not been very well I haven’t opened it yet, but I’ve been reading through all the posts in this thread. I have to say that I’m a bit trepidatious about what I’m in for. The several posts about quality control and mechanical issues have me really crossing my fingers hard!

I intend to use this with my iPad and/or iPhone and in alt/az mode. I’ve downloaded the standard SynScan app which I’m assuming will be okay for my purpose. I don’t see any advantage using the Pro app, or am I wrong?

I’m initially going to use an old Celestron 52260 (https://www.cloudyni...ting-scope-r699) that I found in the bottom of my wardrobe the other day. I’ve never had this scope under the stars before, but feel it should be adequate to test my new toy. I also have a demounted ETX105 that might be a future contender, but I’ve not yet been able to find any rings for it, so if anybody should know where I could find some I’d appreciate it. 

If I should be one of the unlucky ones, where do I return this for repair; Microglobe or Skywatcher, and is there a UK facility? I know I’m jumping the gun a bit here, but these things are good to know. 

A very nervous

Max



#797 Spikey131

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 09:50 AM

Max-

 

Most of the posts here are from people using this scope in equatorial mode for astrophotography.  This isn’t really what the scope was designed for, so they are pushing it to the limits of design.  The fact that one can even use it for AP is surprising to me.

 

If you are going to use it for visual use with an appropriate OTA (ie <5kg), I would expect that it will work just great.  Mine does, even though I push the weight limit sometimes.

 

Have fun with your new mount!


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#798 EastAnglian

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 12:00 PM

Max-

 

Most of the posts here are from people using this scope in equatorial mode for astrophotography.  This isn’t really what the scope was designed for, so they are pushing it to the limits of design.  The fact that one can even use it for AP is surprising to me.

 

If you are going to use it for visual use with an appropriate OTA (ie <5kg), I would expect that it will work just great.  Mine does, even though I push the weight limit sometimes.

 

Have fun with your new mount!

Thanks Spikey, that’s encouraging!  It is my intention to only use it for visual use. I decided in the last hour to open it up and have a look. It had been very well packed within another box, but it was clear to me that it had been previously opened. So I opened it and could see from the creasing on the protective bag that I was right. Also there was no camera cable, which I’m led to believe is included now even if it is only Canon fit. I’d intended to exchange it for a Nikon one with the possibility of using my 7100 in the future. I’ve written to the seller about my concerns, and await their reply. 

So I’ve put it back in the box and continue my patience 

Max



#799 cuivienor

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Posted 17 December 2018 - 08:46 PM

 

 

I have the exact same problem wit SGPro and the AZ-GTI - for now I've "solved" it by disconnecting the mount in SGPro after slewing/platesolving but before starting my images, but that obviously means I can't sequence multiple objects in one session without being physically present. With the mount connected to PHD2 but not to SGPro, everything works and I can track for hours&hours (did a 4.5 hour M81/82 last week with zero issues)

 

Edit: an interesting thread to follow on the SGPro forum : http://forum.mainseq...t-tracking/9127

 

That is "good" to hear! I'm not alone! Yes, with the mount disconnected from SGP, everything works fine. I still am unable to do automated meridian flips for some reason, but then with the small lens I have on it, I don't need to do a meridian flip anyway. Is the meridian flip working for you?

I also did find the source of the issue for not being able to point to M31: the PC app for SynScan Pro has an altitude limit of 75 degrees by default, but there is a slider to change that.

 

Oh and yes, that thread on SGP forum - I created it :)

 

Cheers,

 

Yannick



#800 pferendzo

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Posted 18 December 2018 - 05:09 AM

My az gti is stuck in firmware update mode, 4 hr reset not working. Anyone encounter and solve this issue? The solution presented on star gazers lounge ( https://stargazerslo...re-update-mode/ ) indicates getting the external wifi dongle is the solution.




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