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New 80ED Rig from Scratch. Shopping Log

Beginner Astrophotography Refractor
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#1 maxxie

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 09:31 PM

Hi.

 

My first post here smile.gif Just sharing an absolute noob experience starting from zero. Hope to get some clues too!

 

So I stumbled on SkyWatcher fire sale on Amazon AU, and got SW EvoStar 120ED refractor for A$1000 on a whim. This started the whole thing. After a week onto equipment research, I realised 120 is too big for AstroPhotography, so I snatched SW EvoStar 80ED too, for A$500. Both deals gone now. I'm based in Sydney, AU.

 

Setting up the rig with SW EvoStar 80ED with Sony A6700 as main camera. Please comment if there is something wrong with these?

 

So far I bought:

  • Reducer/Flattener:  SW 80ED 0.85x reducer, A$425
  • Mount: Juwei-17, A$1700 Aliexpress, in transit
  • Tripod: Innorel RT90C, eBay A$380
  • Pier extention: ZWO PE200, A$320
  • Guide Scope: SVBony SV106, 50mm / FL 190mm, A$100
  • Guide Camera: SVBony SV205, USB3.0, 8MP, (I hope to get IMX415 version, the listing says IMX179 on Amazon), A$115

Total so far (excl 120ED, lol) : A$3500

 

I'm not sure at all about Guide camera, but I could not find low budget one (I ran out of money smile.gif ) with USB3.0, I heard 3.0 speed is better for harmonic mounts.

And I'm totally lost software wise. I will be repurposing Odroid H2+, an x86 SBC with NVMe SSD.

 

Cheers!

 

PS: And how the hell SV205 camera (M28.5 female) connects to SV106 scope (M42x0.75 male) ? smile.gif


Edited by maxxie, 18 January 2025 - 10:46 PM.

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#2 rlmxracer

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 09:49 PM

I’m not new here but I’m new to imaging and just piecing my 80apo set up together as well. There’s a lot of helpful people here and lots of how to videos on YouTube. Best of luck with your journey. 


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#3 DeepSky Di

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 09:54 PM

Hi and welcome to Cloudy Nights! I'm thinking the 120 isn't too big, just a bit aspirational. The 80 will be easier to start with.

 

I don't have experience with this mount, tripod and pier, but beware they are made by 3 different manufacturers and although we are used to any camera working with any tripod in terrestrial photography this is not always the case with astrophotography mounts and tripods. The Innorel tripod is widely recommended on CN, but you just have to be sure that the ZWO pier will connect to it and the Juwei mount will connect to the pier. Hopefully someone else here can comment.

 

Since you are using non-ZWO guide camera, an ASIAIR won't work for you. NINA on a windows computer is the other most common software for guiding and running the camera, but verify it will work with the Sony. For stacking and post processing DSO, the main software options run on both Mac and Windows. These are Siril (free) AstroPixelProcessor (paid) and PixInsight (paid). Good luck getting started!


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#4 maxxie

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 10:08 PM

... but you just have to be sure that the ZWO pier will connect to it and the Juwei mount will connect to the pier. Hopefully someone else here can comment.

 

Since you are using non-ZWO guide camera, an ASIAIR won't work for you. NINA on a windows computer is the other most common software for guiding and running the camera, but verify it will work with the Sony. For stacking and post processing DSO, the main software options run on both Mac and Windows. These are Siril (free) AstroPixelProcessor (paid) and PixInsight (paid). Good luck getting started!

Thanks! Yes, I spent couple of days on the tripod - pier - mount, it does seem to fit together rather nicely.  The only tricky part is RT90C baseplate to raw bottom of PE200, its either 3D printed insert, or custom metal plate beneath RT90C baseplate, I need to find circular alum disk for this and drill holes.

 

Re software, I was looking at Indigo, server on the scope mount (on Odroid H2+), client on my Macbook. A blog about it. What do you think?


Edited by maxxie, 18 January 2025 - 10:28 PM.


#5 DeepSky Di

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 10:25 PM

Thanks! Yes, I spent couple of days on the tripod - pier - mount, it does seem to fit together rather nicely.  The only tricky part is RT90C baseplate to raw bottom of PE200, its either 3D printed insert, or custom metal plate beneath RT90C baseplate, I need to find circular alum disk for this and drill holes.

 

Re software, I was looking at Indigo, server on the scope mount (on Odroid H2+), client on my Macbook. A blog about it. What do you think?

I hadn't heard of Odroid before. As a Mac user who had already chosen ZWO cameras, and does not use Windows at home, I went with ASIAIR. If I had to use Mac for capture, I would look at Indigo A1. When it came out, it didn't work with Apple Silicon but that seems to have been resolved: used some of their earlier software when I started AP in 2020.



#6 zveck

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Posted 18 January 2025 - 11:57 PM

Certainly don't give up on  the 120ED, you will be using it later. For a astrophotography on the scope/mount, despite your love of apple, go with a PC and Nina. The PC is cheap and Nina is free. Most people here use a mini pc ~$200 or ASIAIR and can help solving most issues you will run across. 


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#7 maxxie

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 12:09 AM

Most people here use a mini pc ~$200 ...


Is mini PC is mounted on the rig and Windows laptop on the side table? WiFi or cables? Or mini PC as all-in-one ? Is N.I.N.A client-server software? I just cannot picture the setup in my head ...
I plan to use 120 for visual, sure!

#8 zveck

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 12:54 AM

Mini pc under the scope. Remote desktop in to control/observe
20250104 170741
20250104 170715

 

 


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#9 maxxie

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 12:56 AM

Mini pc under the scope. Remote desktop in to control/observe

Thanks a lot! So all of N.I.N.A software runs on rig's mini PC. Right? 

I need that green plate :)


Edited by maxxie, 19 January 2025 - 12:57 AM.


#10 Spaceman 56

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 12:57 AM

 

Re software, I was looking at Indigo, server on the scope mount (on Odroid H2+), client on my Macbook. 

if you are a Mac user you could download KStars and EKOS for free.

 

KStars is a planetarium like Stellarium, and shows whats up in the Sky.

 

EKOS is the imaging control centre for KStars, and does the following.

 

1. controls the mount pointing and GoTo.

2. controls the Camera (whatever brand) and takes the pictures.

3. Guides the mount using either internal guider or PHD2, whatever you prefer.

4. Does Auto focus runs and controls the autofocus motor.

5. does Platesolving to help you find the target.

 

there is also a bunch of other stuff but thats the basics.

 

if you load it directly into your Mac you wont need an ASAIR, but you will need a USB lead to connect things together.

 

Hope that helps. Spaceman


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#11 maxxie

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 01:27 AM

if you are a Mac user you could download KStars and EKOS for free.

...

Hope that helps. Spaceman

This definitely does, thanks! Is there is a way to create a poll in a post? Joking smile.gif

 

I was leaning to client-server setup, because I could close my Macbook and it wont affect the process. And because my Odroid H2+ fits soo nicely inside the pier :)

 

IMG_3149.jpeg


Edited by maxxie, 19 January 2025 - 01:28 AM.

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#12 DeepSky Di

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Posted 19 January 2025 - 09:28 AM

This definitely does, thanks! Is there is a way to create a poll in a post? Joking smile.gif

 

I was leaning to client-server setup, because I could close my Macbook and it wont affect the process. And because my Odroid H2+ fits soo nicely inside the pier smile.gif

 

attachicon.gif IMG_3149.jpeg

Well I have not seen that done before! 

 

If the Odroid can run linux then Kstars / Ekos can run on Linux so that could be a path forward.

 

However there is still USB, power distribution and remeote control to consider:

 

I'll explain how this works for ASIAIR bearing in mind that it won't work with the SVBONY cameras and also may not work with some Sony cameras.

 

The ASIAIR is a box that provides both USB control and DC power. To avoid cable snags, there's a principle that components that are cabled together rotate together. There have to be exceptions but those should be minimized. So I mount my ASIAIRs on the OTA, there's USB and power going to the main camera, USB going to the focuser and DC going to dew straps. My 3 mounts have different power arrangements - one powers the ASIAIR, through the saddle, one is powered from the ASIAIR (not recommended but it's a Star Adventurer) and one is powered separately meaning the ASIAIR then has a DC cable to a power station on the ground. I control ASIAIRs via iPad connected by wifi and standing on a tripod. In some locations the iPad can be indoors. The ASIAIR also has an ethernet connection.

 

Now for NINA + mini PC. The mini PC (black box on Zveck's photo) can mount on the OTA or elsewhere on the rig. A USB hub may be necessary if the PC doesn't have enough ports. A power box (blue box on Zveck's photo?) is necessary to provide the DC power to main camera and dew straps. The mount in this case has a saddle power port as well as USB, but it's hard to see all the connections :-). The mini PC can be remotely controlled from another Windows computer, a Mac or a tablet using remote desktop; Windows and Chrome remote desktop are available. Before mini PCs, people would use a laptop connected to the USB hub on the rig.

 

Now for the Mac solution. Hopefully Spaceman can tell us more about the Mac based rig or provide a photo showing USB hub and power distribution solution. 


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#13 maxxie

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Posted 22 January 2025 - 02:57 AM

Small update on the rig.

 

I mated Innorel RT90C tripod with ZWO PE200 pier.

The black insert piece (under three bolts) and spreader are 3D printed. I modified the insert a little, holes are now 66mm all the way through. Ask me for STL file.

Source of the insert design. If you create OnShape.com account, you'll find the actual (CAD, not STL) source there, made by Dre9k user. Search Public for "RT90C". Then copy and modify.

 

Bolts are from Bunnings (AU hardware store), M6x30mm stainless steel. Center bolt M8x120mm, I had to file off a little from sides of the bolt head to sink it into the RT90C's plate center hole.

 

The kicker is that I expected Juwei-17 plate to be a clone of AM5, but it is not. I have to design another 3D printed insert to mate PE200's supplied plate to bottom of Juwei. (PE200 ships with the plate screwed to the bottom, which I unscrewed and will use on top of PE200).

 

IMG_3165.jpeg

 

The challenge smile.gif          Juwei plate, black, in background, PE200's plate, silver, in foreground. The three inner M6 holes in Juwei's plate are fit for mounting, but I can try using the 4 outer ones!

 

IMG_3173.jpeg


Edited by maxxie, 22 January 2025 - 05:40 AM.


#14 maxxie

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Posted 25 January 2025 - 06:49 PM

Success!

I made a plate adapter for mating Juwei-17 and baseplate of PE200 (which I use on top of PE200). Here

Bolts are M6x35mm Cup-Head.

Source of 3D model  by @eqastro. The PE200 plate, same plate that comes with AM5, is slightly different from RT90C plate, spokes went from 10mm wide to 12mm, fille radius from 5mm to 6mm, but luckily both were parametrised in OnShape!

 

Juwei17 to PE200 adapter copy.jpeg Full set.jpeg

 

STL file to print:

Attached File  Juwei-17 to RT90C Adapter Final.stl.zip   87.31KB   2 downloads


Edited by maxxie, 25 January 2025 - 08:56 PM.

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