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Old 14-08-2014, 09:47 AM
PeterEde (Peter)
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RA DEC motors V Goto

$700 for goto upgrade compared to couple hundred for motors and controller.
Will I miss the goto if I've never used it. Will the motor drives allow me to use and autoguider?
Obviously means I need to get really good at polar aligning
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  #2  
Old 14-08-2014, 09:57 AM
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dannat (Daniel)
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some drive hand contoller's have a guide port, others don't

I dot think youll miss goto - moving by hand is quicker than slewing
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Old 14-08-2014, 06:52 PM
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LewisM
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TO be honest, after being spoiled with GOTO, I have totally forgotten setting circles.

I really reckon GOTO makes life quick and easy - lazy, yes, but painless.
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Old 14-08-2014, 07:01 PM
PeterEde (Peter)
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Motors on the way
I'll change out later for Goto or when I next upgrade my scope
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Old 14-08-2014, 07:04 PM
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LewisM
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Not sure where you were thinking of buying the GOTO kit, but when I accidentally once got an EQ3 kit (meant to be an EQ5 kit), it cost me $375 with postage from Brisbane. The darned Synscan hand controller is almost that! ($299 separately).
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Old 14-08-2014, 07:11 PM
PeterEde (Peter)
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Every where I looked at goto upgrade kit they were $700.
dual motor was $250 delivered. Better to get to know the sky
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Old 17-08-2014, 12:21 PM
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alocky (Andrew lockwood)
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My personal preference when visual observing is to star hop, that's half the fun for me, and when I image I've always been able to use the setting circles to drop an object on the chip. However, only once I started trying to get my setup to run unattended all night did I need goto, plate solving, and good acquisition software.
Cheers
Andrew.
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Old 17-08-2014, 12:47 PM
PeterEde (Peter)
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I see that time coming too Andrew.
But in the mean time a few minutes at a time is ok for me. Still have to perfect polar alignment and find my way around the sky. Learn to use the setting circles too would be helpful.

I managed 10 seconds of tracking so far and a single shot is far better for those few 10 secs. Can't wait to get 20-30 or more
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Old 17-08-2014, 02:01 PM
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like Lewis says GOTO is so easy , painless only after you master it , a steep learning curve , but like a few here have said. I like the hunt so I sold an awesome Ioptron IEQ45 with excellent goto and now use my non goto HEQ5 , but that is me .
Brian.
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Old 17-08-2014, 03:24 PM
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MrB (Simon)
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If the motors are steppers, you can add GOTO later with an AstroEQ controller and a laptop running EQMOD. This isn't as neat and tidy as a hand controller, but functions the same. It also has autoguiding.
http://www.astroeq.co.uk/about.php

Will work with any EQ mount with steppers, not just the Skywatcher mounts.
Approx. $150 plus freight for an assembled and tested unit, or you can DIY.
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Old 21-08-2014, 07:09 AM
PeterEde (Peter)
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Thanks Simon. I'll look into that later
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Old 21-08-2014, 11:21 PM
raymo
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I'm curious Brian; I thought the HEQ5 had always been a Go To mount.
raymo
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Old 21-08-2014, 11:31 PM
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Steffen
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raymo View Post
I'm curious Brian; I thought the HEQ5 had always been a Go To mount.
Only the HEQ5 Pro has, the HEQ5 is just motorised but can be upgraded with a GOTO kit (Synscan hand controller, and motor upgrades(?)).

Cheers
Steffen.
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  #14  
Old 21-08-2014, 11:37 PM
raymo
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Silly Me. Thanks Steffen.
raymo
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