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Skywatcher CQ350 Owners

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819 replies to this topic

#1 deepanvishal

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Posted 08 February 2023 - 10:14 PM

Hi All, 

 

I just received the CQ350 mount.

With the mount being new, it might need a place for CQ350 users/ potential buyers to discuss their experience and clarify their doubts.

And I think this topic might be a good place for it.

Here's my update so far- 

I took a lot of time to evaluate my mounting options for CQ350. Although the 3 inch field tripod offered looks beefy and nice, I wanted to mount the CQ350 on a tripier since I have long OTA. So, I purchased a pier tripod for EQ8 hoping it should work with CQ350 without needing any adapters. Now that I received the pier tripod, looking at it's weight and size, I doubt if it's an overkill for CQ350.

 

Before purchasing the pier tripod, I tried to create an adapter plate to mount the CQ350 on a Ioptron Tripier. John from Ioptron suggested me to start with the adapter 8036-120 and cut my holes. From the initial look, my guess is you might need three holes to make this adapter work. 

I hope it helps someone looking for a tripier solution for the mount. 

 

Looking forward to hear other users experience with the mount. 

 

Clear skies!

Deepan

 

IMG_9532.jpg

 

 


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#2 oatmeal

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Posted 09 February 2023 - 12:26 AM

I'll be following with interest. Pretty happy with my current EQ6-R/CEM70EC duo. The EQ6-R has been a reliable, almost headache-free, value-for-money workhorse since the day I bought it. The CEM performs beautifully once it's going, but I do wish it was as easy to set up and adjust as the EQ6, especially when mobile imaging.

 

If the CQ350 is as user friendly and tracks as well as the EQ6, it'll be an in-demand product.



#3 etunar

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Posted 09 February 2023 - 03:12 AM

there doesn't seem to be much user info on this mount yet. But it does look interesting - alternative to CEM70. I'll be following as well as I am having issues with EQ6-R ever since upgraded to 5" refractor. 



#4 ndg

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Posted 10 February 2023 - 10:14 AM

I got mine this week. I have it set up on a Berlebach planet. I am using the Eq8 adapter.
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#5 elmiko

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Posted 12 February 2023 - 06:06 PM

I got mine at the end of January. Carrying my Orion 8 " Newtonian. Still haven't tried the onboard USB hub or power ports. No complaints... Guiding performance is. .38- .78 so far. I think seeing has been really poor lately in the Phoenix area.

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#6 elmiko

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Posted 12 February 2023 - 06:12 PM

The CQ350 dwarfs the Atlas Mount 

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#7 elmiko

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Posted 12 February 2023 - 06:16 PM

Hi Deepan. Congratulations on your new Mount!


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#8 deepanvishal

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Posted 12 February 2023 - 06:20 PM

Hi, 

 

Thanks Mike

Here's how my set up looks like.

 

IMG_9602.jpg


Edited by deepanvishal, 12 February 2023 - 06:21 PM.

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#9 elmiko

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Posted 12 February 2023 - 06:46 PM

Looks sweet!


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#10 etunar

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Posted 13 February 2023 - 10:57 AM

Hi, 

 

Thanks Mike

Here's how my set up looks like.

 

attachicon.gifIMG_9602.jpg

Looks lovely! How is the performance with the esprit 150? 


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#11 elmiko

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Posted 13 February 2023 - 02:02 PM

I got mine this week. I have it set up on a Berlebach planet. I am using the Eq8 adapter.

Have you had it out imaging yet?



#12 deepanvishal

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Posted 13 February 2023 - 03:15 PM

Looks lovely! How is the performance with the esprit 150? 

Hi, 

 

The mount handles the scope with ease. 

 

On my first imaging night I had guiding at 1" RMS the entire night. My EQ6-r had better numbers than the CQ350 while guiding the Esprit 150.

But, that could be because of me. I need to test the mount for couple of more nights to tell something that I can back up with data.  

I'll post the results as soon as I get couple of imaging nights. 

 

Other than that, in general the mount looks well built. Polar alignment is easy. My Alt adjustment screw is a bit rough, may be it has some debris or something. 

The USB hub is effective. It helps in cable management. I could power my ASI2600MM and ASIAir from the hub, reducing some extra cables. 

I wouldn't argue about the location of the hub, but It works well in my case. 

 

Thanks,

Deepan


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#13 elmiko

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Posted 13 February 2023 - 03:31 PM

I think next time you'll get better guiding results. Could have been the seeing. Seeing here in Phoenix has been terrible lately. I've been using 2-3 second exposure for guiding. Ra and Dec limits are both at 2500 in the ASI Air app.

Please post pictures of how you use the Mount USB hub and power ports when you get a chance, Deepan.


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#14 etunar

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Posted 13 February 2023 - 04:00 PM

Hi, 

 

The mount handles the scope with ease. 

 

On my first imaging night I had guiding at 1" RMS the entire night. My EQ6-r had better numbers than the CQ350 while guiding the Esprit 150.

But, that could be because of me. I need to test the mount for couple of more nights to tell something that I can back up with data.  

I'll post the results as soon as I get couple of imaging nights. 

 

Other than that, in general the mount looks well built. Polar alignment is easy. My Alt adjustment screw is a bit rough, may be it has some debris or something. 

The USB hub is effective. It helps in cable management. I could power my ASI2600MM and ASIAir from the hub, reducing some extra cables. 

I wouldn't argue about the location of the hub, but It works well in my case. 

 

Thanks,

Deepan

Thanks, I have been struggling with my EQ6-R and esprit 120 with inconsistent guiding, so contemplating if I want to upgrade to something with a bit more capacity.



#15 Bluephoton

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 01:37 AM

The manufacturer claims in their advertising literature that this is a "Observatory class equatorial GoTo mount ....".

 

I would think a mount making this claim would have details (ie dimension drawings) on how to create a custom mounting plate to adapt it to a observatory pier. As far as I can tell from their website nothing like this exists. I have asked Skywatcher support for this information and will update if I receive a reply. I won't consider purchasing this mount unless I see this information is available.

 

When installing an Ioptron mount they were able to supply drawings for an adapter plate, see picture, so it seems like the CQ350 is not a well developed solution at this point.

Pier Top plate
Ioptron adapter plate

 


Edited by Bluephoton, 25 February 2023 - 01:39 AM.


#16 deepanvishal

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 02:17 AM

When I checked with SW, they recommended me to get from pier adapter solution’s available for EQ8. 
From what I know, Dans piers makes one for EQ8.

I am using EQ8’s tripier for CQ350. So EQ8 solutions should work for CQ350. 

While you’re waiting for response from SW, here’s the mount’s bottom plate diagram.

I hope it helps.

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#17 deepanvishal

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 02:21 AM

A quick update.

 

A snapshot of tonight’s guiding RMS.

It looks too good to be true, but I’ll post the complete guide logs once available. 

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#18 deepanvishal

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 11:12 AM

Hi, 

 

Here's my guide logs for last night.

 

https://drive.google...33m?usp=sharing

 

Yesterdays' first few hours had clouds. As the night progressed seeing was good and guiding was great. It was peculiar that the calibration shows bad orthogonality error and still shows good guiding. The stars look good in the images.

May I am missing something? Can anyone tell me what's happening here?

 

Thanks,

Deepan


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#19 mojtabacazi

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 06:48 PM

A quick update.

A snapshot of tonight’s guiding RMS.
It looks too good to be true, but I’ll post the complete guide logs once available.


What’s is the total weight of your setup?
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#20 deepanvishal

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 07:26 PM

My estimate is 40lbs. 
Esprit 150ED + ASI2600MM setup

 

What’s is the total weight of your setup?



#21 mojtabacazi

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Posted 25 February 2023 - 09:34 PM

Did the mount  work with asiair out of the box? Or does it need adaptors, etc?

A quick update.

 

A snapshot of tonight’s guiding RMS.

It looks too good to be true, but I’ll post the complete guide logs once available. 



#22 deepanvishal

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Posted 26 February 2023 - 12:14 AM

Hi,

 

Yes it works right out of box. 
The only extra thing I did is I replaced the USB 2.0 cable with EQMOD cable after suggestions from Skywatcher. USB 2.0 works, but EQMOD is better it seems. 

 

 

Did the mount  work with asiair out of the box? Or does it need adaptors, etc?



#23 mojtabacazi

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Posted 26 February 2023 - 01:00 AM

Hi,

 

Yes it works right out of box. 
The only extra thing I did is I replaced the USB 2.0 cable with EQMOD cable after suggestions from Skywatcher. USB 2.0 works, but EQMOD is better it seems. 

Can you share a link for the cable please?


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#24 elmiko

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Posted 26 February 2023 - 10:26 AM

https://agenaastro.c...-eqdir-usb.html


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#25 oatmeal

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Posted 26 February 2023 - 03:16 PM

I used this one for controlling my HEQ5. Worked fine, and a little cheaper.


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