New standalone guider

[bojan]

On another forum I saw this :
http://www.otticasanmarco.it/SkyWatcher_camera_guida_Synguider.h tm
http://www.lvi-cameras.com/camere.asp
Anybody has any experience with any of those?

[renormalised]

They've been around for awhile now....I've heard they're not too bad. Bit like a QHY 5 except for the hand controller.

[multiweb]

Not worth it IMHO. Seriously let's do the maths:

277.00 Euro (not including shipping) you're looking at AUD395.00?
Resolution is 510x492 with a 9.6x7.5um pixel size and you're stuck with a prorietary hardware/software package.

Now look at a QHY5 mono: AUD360.00 - 5.2um square pixel, Resolution 1280x1024 and PHD is free.

I think this self contained unit is a bit of "turn key solution all in one" gimmick. Just not practical in real life and not a flexible solution.

[renormalised]

They're $725 out here...at myAstroshop. Marc is right, you'd be better off with a plain, vanilla QHY5.

[bojan]

Thank guys, I will consider :-)

[[1ponders]]

Don't you believe it guys. A stand alone guider is fantastic. I bought a TV Guider about 2 (?) years ago from a builder in the Czech republic and wouldn't be without it for working out in the field with no laptop. Brilliant for grab and go astrophotography outfit. Final price with analogue camera and guider box was around $1000 when delivered.

[bojan]

Yeah, but $1000 is $1000... a bit excessive for my budget
And, I have a semi-permanent site in mind.. where computer will be available (even desktop).

[[1ponders]]

I don't know if they are still available Bojan, but I was just pointing out that they are very useful and suitable for some situations. Whether $1000 is acceptable or not is up to the individual. I must admit I hummed and hawwed initially, but I'm more than happy in the end over getting one.

[allan gould]

I have the same TVGuider and it excells especially when everything else goes belly up and all you have is 12 volts to run the mount with. Great in the field and brilliant when coupled with a DSLR for easy dark site photgraphy without all the hassles.

[[1ponders]]

It just works :D

Cant comment on the newer ones though, but I'd be happy to trial one if someone will lend me one

[bojan]

Some time ago I proposed in one thread that we build our own standalone auto guider.. (by "we" I meant anyone from IIS)
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=37144
The proposal still stands...

[multiweb]

Didn't look at it this way but true many times I wish I didn't have to use a laptop. Here's dreaming. :lol: I hate the bloody thing.:P

[allan gould]

There is nothing simpler than a scope, 12 battery and TVGuider and a DSLR with a few replacement batteries to get great shots at a dark site. You can go all night without the need for the PC very zen like as you have a lot of time to look around and catch the odd meteor.

[[1ponders]]

You've got that right Allan. Though for some reason that damn laptop still finds its way into the car :lol:

[multiweb]

Yeah that would definitely work with a standalone DSLR powered with batteries. I'm afraid I'm too far gone to the dark side now for getting rid of the laptop. :lol:

[allan gould]

Marc, its something I do just for fun with an 80mm scope as everything is so less demanding and it leaves a great deal of time just for socialising instead of teeth grinding in the dark with frustration. Back to simple basics can be fun :D

[multiweb]

I agree. When I image there's nothing else to do and I'm seriously thinking of getting a small dob coz I usually go to bed and set the alarm at intervals for meridian flips or others. Some nights at home I just get the C11 out to image then I start having a quick peek in the eyepiece. 3h later I'm still looking around and haven't plugged anything yet :lol:. I really enjoy observing too. At Crago everybody's got dobs so I'm all over the place looking into the big scopes but at Wiruna I'm usually by myself... and the roos but they don't have dobs. :P

[Zaps]

A WA friend of mine picked up one of these for under AU$400 while he was in Britain a while back. They appear to be excellent value from everything he's told me. His AP rig excludes computers and is very bare bones, but the results are spectacular.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=skywatcher_auto guider&cat=150