eq6 with tracking, eq6 with synscan, eq6pro - what's the difference?

[Cloudy]

What are the main differences in these packages regarding the mount and goto:

1) http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-040F a eq6 mount with a cheap goto??

2) http://www.astroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-040I an eq6 with synscan. Is this a eq6pro??

3) http://www.andrewscom.com.au/site-content-section-10-skywatcher.htm search for Black Diamond 254 x 1200P w/EQ6PRO "Go-To" mount and
"Go-To" SynScan hand controller

After 20 years, I am finally upgrading my old refractor and come down to the newtonian. I'm wishing to connect the eq6 to the lappy to use with my planetarium software. Possibly some astro photography also using CCD cam. So any other advice appreciated on these options above.

I live on a 200 acre farm and quite excited about the future nights out with a bigger telescope.

Cheers

[peter_4059]

The first link is not goto - just tracking. The second one is Synscan goto. There are minor differences between the black EQ6 with Synscan and the white EQ6pro - mainly the dovetail on the pro now accepts vixen and losmandy type bars whereas the black eq6 only fitted vixen bars. There are aftermarket replacement dovetail options like this one:

http://admaccessories.com/DV_Series_Saddles.htm

I think the new eq6 pros also have a larger diameter counterweight bar and an extension bar.

The second and third links are the same mount.

[Cloudy]

Thanks Peter. Seeing as the pro is slightly cheaper here I may as well go that one. Do you think it would come with an eyepiece? It doesn't state it on Andrews but knowing them, their ads are light on details.

[MrB]

Welcome to IIS Cloudy :)

What peter said, but I would add that not only are the mounts likely identical between second and third links, but I would say that the entire package is identical.
I'm just guessing here, but I reckon the package is put together by Skywatcher not the individual re-sellers, so you would likely get the same 28mm eyepiece from Andrews that MyAstro advertise with theirs.

Also... 200 Acre farm? I am very green with envy!

[peter_4059]

The eyepieces that come with these scopes are pretty ordinary. You'll soon want to upgrade. I started with a set of Orion Expanse eyepieces that were pretty good:
http://www.bintel.com.au/Eyepieces-and-Barlows/Orion/Expanse/111/catmenu.aspx

I've now upgraded to Vixen LV's and LVW's.

[Cloudy]

Thanks for the link Peter. Jumping the gun but which eye piece do you use the most there?

Cheers also MrB - that makes sense. And yeah, the skies at the moment here are bright and wide. My house is on the lower valley where I wanted to place the observatory, but if I travel 1km to the top of the hill, the horizon lowers and the sky appears more clear. Just have to keep the sheep away from the tripod.

Are these battery powered also?

[brian nordstrom]

:welcome: Cloudy , either way you decide mount wise , this set up is a very good one , 10 inches of light grasp and an awsome mount , good chioce .
The eyepieces as said here already will be OK for you to get started , but the upgrade bug bites hard and you WILL ! ;) want more , so keep an eye on the classifieds here at IIS , good deals come by every hour on eyepieces and they get snapped up fast ! so be ready .
Brian.

[peter_4059]

I found the 20mm got used the most for DSO's and the 9mm for planets. The mount runs on 12V and comes with a D cell battery case however you'll want to get a car battery or a 12V jump starter pack.

[brian nordstrom]

:) Yes Peter , good point , those 'D' cell battery paks get old real fast , as well as expensive ! .
Cloudy , go down to SuperCheap auto and grab a battery booster pack , come with every thing you need , I have a 900amp SCA jump starter and it runs my Ioptron IEQ45 for night after night befor needing a recharge , it has 2 12v cigerette lighter out puts , a LED light and an USB port for running my laptop , great investement , $79 I think from memory .
Here it is here .
Brian

[Cloudy]

Thanks Brian, as Peter pointed out to me also, I will keep an eye on the great For Sale section on this site.

Will definitely get the booster pack, cheers for the advice on that one.

I was just browsing for any better deals on the setup and came across this http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tripods/Alt-Az-Mounts/SkyWatcher-AZ-EQ6-SynScan/1517/productview.aspx

Is this the same mount as the one in my third link from Edwards?? Can't be with that price.

I just want to ensure the one from Edwards allows me to connect it up to the laptop. I think I just need an EQDIR adaptor?

[peter_4059]

That link is a newer version of the EQ6 - I think it does both GEM and Alt/Az. Can't imagine putting a 10" Newt in alt/az on this type of mount though.

[MrB]

Yeah the AZ-EQ6 does both Alt-Az and Equatorial. Alt-Az mode is for visual tracking only obviously(unless you add a field de-rotator for photography, but we won't go into that as it pointless when the mount does equatorial anyway)

For running EQMod, you can use an EQDIR or you can use the Synscan handcontroller in 'PC Direct' mode. Both methods will need a Serial-USB adaptor.

[brian nordstrom]

:)Yea these new EQ6AZ mounts look the goods , but as with any new product they have to prove themselves first , not like the tried and tested , good old EQ6 .
I remember when these ( EQ6's) 1st came out , what a beasty beauty !! and a good friend in NZ still has one his under his 8 inch f/6 newt from all those years ago and it has not missed a beat since its power cable ( remember that problem , back then ? ) needed replacing from new , nearly all of them had this fault ( small problem it was , 2nd party ) :question: .
Like any new product these EQ6AZ's are gonna get grilled by us .
Look forward to that .
Brian.

[Cloudy]

Can anyone see the difference between this setup below and the one by Andrews in my initial post?

(http://binocularsandtelescopes.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2179)NEQ6PRO Mount (http://btow.com.au/telescopes/t_scope_mounts/computerized_goto_mounts/skywatcher_neq6pro-mnt_full_goto_mount_w_heavy_dutys-steel_legs)v3??
SkyWatcher BD25012P OTA f4.7 Newtonian D=254 F=1200 Telescope
(http://btow.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2181) Total = $2,180.05 (pick up)

[MrB]

Looks like the same gear, and you save again on freight.
It's a great price on a new EQ6. I recall seeing one or two eastern states guys buy these a few months back from BTOW and have them shipped.
Yes the EQ6 will be v3.xx firmware.

[Cloudy]

Thanks Simon.

I'm going into the shop this week. I think that is all I need for now. Is there anything I should be also investigating while I am there such as a collimation laser or collimating eyepiece? I believe I can do this without any tools though.

[MrB]

Yeah some collimating tools would be a good idea. For fast Newt's it's a necessity.
Try to resist buying a laser collimator, get a Cheshire and an Autocollimator. The Cheshire at the very least, but with the Autocollimater too, you will be able to nail the collimation.
Collimating may seem daunting at first and when reading how-to's it seems much more complicated than it really is. The process just can't be described simply in writing, but after a few goes it will start to make sense, and eventually you will be able to do it in minutes.

[Digital_Artist]

Hi Peter,
Can EQ6 w/o Goto be driven by computer i.e. any planetarium software or EQMOD? If yes, what cable is needed to connect it with PC's USB? Is there any difference in Payload capacity between EQ6 and NEQ6 Pro? According to astroshop.com.au they both have carrying capacity of 25kg. Then why is that price difference? Only for SynScan controller?

[rmuhlack]

This thread on Cloudy Nights might help: http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4295547/Main/4292725

[2stroke]

http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/reqindex.html going by eqmod no because it says eq6+syncscan upgrade. Unless the newer models have a motherboard inside the case? Going by that cloudy nights post 1 person is saying the new models are the same as the goto apart from the hand controller, though i would wanna make sure before i bought one lol.

[rmuhlack]

Wise advice

[peter_4059]

The original black EQ6 comes in a non-goto and a goto version with synscan. The goto synscan versions work with EQMOD (that's what I have). The cable you need can be made by purchasing a USB-Serial TTL cable and soldering a DB9 plug on it or you can buy a cable already made up - see this thread:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=55462&highlight=dontronics

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-usb-to-serial-ttl-level-5v-converter-cable.html

http://www.starstuff.com.au/page56a.html

[peter_4059]

You are correct - the non-goto version cannot work with EQMOD - you need to change the controller board in the mount to synscan goto - Skywatcher sell an upgrade kit for about $650 which includes new stepper motors, the controller board and the synscan hand controller. Steve Massey looks to have them:

http://www.astroshop.com.au/products/details.asp?id=MAS-022I

Apart from that the mounts are essentially the same (the payload capacity is not changed). The new EQ6pro has different dovetail and I think larger diameter CW bar with extension piece. Main difference in cost is the steppers/control board and Synscan hand control.

[MrB]

It's my understanding(but happy to be corrected) that any EQ6 that has a DB9 connector for a handcontroller is able to use EQMOD.

The very early EQ6's did not have the DB9 (see picture) and these are the mounts that need a SynScan upgrade to work.
However, the EQ6 SynTrek mount (which is non-GOTO) will work as the mount itself is identical to the SynScan version with the exception of the handcontroller itself. The SynTrek hand controller is basic having only sidereal tracking and NSEW slewing buttons.
Obviously as there is no SynScan handcontroller this mount can't use PC-Direct mode, but will work with EQMOD and an EQDIRECT cable.

[peter_4059]

Simon,

You are right re the EQ6 Syntrek

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/skywatcher-eq6-syntrek.html


Peter

[Digital_Artist]

Hi,
can you kindly explain if it is EQ6 Syntrek or not?
http://btow.com.au/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=367_198_350&products_id=2178

I would love to have this mount if it can be driven by EQMOD. I don't want to use SynScan controller.

[peter_4059]

The mount shown in the image is the non-goto original EQ6 - not the Syntrek model - it has the old style hand controller.

[2stroke]

Just give them a call and get a answer from them :) If they say they don't know what eqmod is then the answer is no unless you pay them a vist. Another thing they want $450 for a eq 5 no motors or nothing also the same *slow-motion control yes by control knob blah blah, ill call him a knob for that price and thats about it hahah.

The SkyWatcher EQ6MNT Equatorial Mount Features:


* Accessory Tray With tripod
* Counterweight (s) supplied
* Mount Type German Equatorial
* Slow-Motion Control Yes by control knob or optional motor drive That means it doesn't even come with motors from the sound of it
* Tripod Aluminium Tripod Height 71cm to 123cm