Owners of Skywatcher HEQ5PRO

[Rick_1]

Hi fellow stargazers,

After taking the leap from my 50mm refractor and timber tripod, I picked up a nice new HEQ5Pro and 8" f/5 reflector. After several hours of setup, I found everything looks good unfortunately it was cloudy and I couldn't look at anything, let alone attempt a star align.

Anyway to my question: In regards to the RA Clock, when I loosen the Grub screw mounted just above the RA Clock, the dial rotates when the scope is moving in RA. However, it appears that it is some kind of goop causing friction that is turning the dial, the slightest pressure (even if the SynScan cable touches it) on the clock and it will stop moving.

If I tighten the grub screw for the RA Clock, it doesn't move at all. Can someone with a HEQ5 tell me if this is normal and why it would do this?

[brian nordstrom]

:D Don't worry about them Rick as they are cosmetic anyway , they are setting circles and the Chineese glue/grease is holding it and pulling it around with the RA movement and you wont use them at all .
The computer inside will take care of everything once you have levelled , pointed south and set your latitude on the mount .
Oh yes and turned it on :lol: .
Good mounts , you will enjoy using it , I have one under my Istar 127mm f8 achromat , nice and sturdy.
Brian.

[2stroke]

Yes thats fine, its just the polarscope which i doubt you will never use as unless your at a dark site its worthless as the stars are to faint to align the scope with it. Theres article all over the internet and on youtube of how to set it but being in the southern hemi not many us can make use of it. Use the hand controller and polar align with it if your got the latest firmware running.

[Rick_1]

Thanks Guys,

I didn't think it really did much, as after roughly aligning using approximations through a tablet and Google sky in the lounge, the unit slewed to the correct locations. Just wanted to be sure I didn't get a dodgy mount.

Next question, my OTA came with a couple of cheap EPs, (25mm and 9mm Plossl) What do you guys recommend I should start saving for in terms of EPs. Something as a decent all rounder?

[2stroke]

Depends really on your budget but the stock EP's are junk, even grab a few gso widefeilds to start with and save for what your budget allows. Everyone will probably say get TV's ect and they are the best but there's some good ep for far less. I'am more ap though a good 62 FOV + 14/15mm with a 9mm and a 6mm has always done the job for me with a f5 newt. And a 25mm is handy for aligning your finder and getting on target if your goto is way out. This is really a question for visual user though and they will no a lot more then me haha

[jjjnettie]

In regards to eyepieces, I agree with Jay.
Buy a few GSO's to start you off. Andrews Communications has them on special atm too.
The Guan Sheng Super View 15mm is just $39 and it's the most used eyepiece in my collection. It blows some eyepieces 3 times the price out of the water.

Also consider getting a barlow lens. I like my Guan Sheng ED barlow. You virtually double your eyepiece collection with one of them . A 20mm turns into a 10mm, a 9mm into a 4.5mm. Just remember if you buy a 20mm, you won't need to by a 10mm. :)

Andrews have also put together a beginners eyepiece kit for $199. It includes 5 eyepieces, a 2x barlow and a set of colour filters.
http://andrewscom.com.au/site-section-10.htm
That will keep you viewing until you decide what your forever eyepieces will be. :)

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: Jay and JJJ , great advice , as usual and yes those GSO super views are sweet eyepieces ( I still don't know how they do it for that price , a gift ) , but get out and use what you have first and remember to start every session off with the 25mm , there is nothing wrong with the supplied eyepieces Rick , man I would have given anything to have a 25mm and 9mm Plossl when I first started .

One more thing that eyepiece set JJJ mentions is a good one , well thought out with its eyepiece selections so it will fit in well with what you got for free with no double ups in magnification , ( not to many ;) ) .

Cheez , mine were the lowely .965inch H20 and SR9 ouch ! :lol: .But hey they worked , like yours will .
Brian.

[brian nordstrom]

;) Hey Rick any chance of a photo or 2 of your rig in the 'Equipment discussions' forum , up the top in the 'Show us your equipment' section ? love to see it .
Brian.

[cometcatcher]

Plossl eyepieces are not too bad. At least they are not Huygens!

[brian nordstrom]

:rofl: H4 in .965 inch , not to bad ?? Danm , I still have one and use it every now and then , just to remind me how spoilt we are these days , only very good in the center 25% of the FOV , but woaw !! the rest is horrible !!! ;) . Made in the 50's I think ??
Brian.

[cometcatcher]

Do they even sell Huygens eyepieces with anything anymore? The last department store scope I bought for kicks at $48 actually came with Kellners.

Anyway the OP has Plossls.

[doppler]

My favorite ep is a 12.5mm orthoscopic...I got it in the 80's

[brian nordstrom]

:) Yes I hear you , I just sold one in the 7 of Circle'T' collection I just sold for a song , and the 12.5mm is a very good eyepiece .
But I now have either my 13mm T1 Nagler , or 12mm Radian so its Ok with me .
Hygenes ?? , Ramsden's :question: pretty sure every one of us that's over 40 has a few of these stashed away somewhere in a draw or cupboard ???:rofl: .

I might start a new thread on this in EQ discussions , save us from hi-jacking poor old Rick's thread here , sorry Rick .

Brian.

[Rick_1]

No Probs, all good info ;). I'll take some photos and put them up in the morning in the "show us your rig" thread.

Just on the original post about EP's, should I be too concerned about getting 2" as opposed to the 1.25? I agree the kit from Andrews looks good, but think I'd be selling myself short by getting a bunch of 1.25" rather than spending a little extra and getting 2" jobbies. Thoughts?

PS. thanks all for the warm intro to IIS, didn't expect so much help so quick:D

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: Its up to you mate , at the dollar value you can grab almost all the GSO superviews the 2x 1 1/4 inch 15 and 20mm and the 3x 2 inch the 30, 42 and 50mm for about $230 , that's a deal and your 9mm and 25mm will fit in there nicely , !!!:thumbsup: ( my 19mm TV Panoptic is worth more than all 5 of these put together ) but the 20mm on its own is almost as good :shrug: on its own , but has your scope got a 2 inch focuser ? . Remember the $199 package has filters ( that are good to have ) and a barlow and a case , another great deal :question:.

Its a tough one , 2 inch capable for $230 , or 1 1/4 inch for $199 :question::question::question::ques tion: ,
Its a tough call Rick , and yours alone I am afraid , both will last you for years , money well spent , they say :).
But if it was me and my 8 inch f5 had a 2 inch focuser the GSO Superviews would be the the cats whiskers for me ,,, + $39 for a Bunnings case of course ????:eyepop: .
Looking forward to what ever you choose Rick and welcome to amateur astronomy and empty pockets .
Brian.

[raymo]

Absolutely get at least one 2"EP. I have a 30mm 80 deg. with a 1.5x barlow
that came with it, from Andrews. I also bought the 15mm, and they were
one of the best buys I ever made. The 30mm gives a truly immersive
experience, and the optical quality is amazing for the price. I expect the prices have risen by now, but I paid around $175 all up for both EP's and the barlow. My favourite 1.25"EP is my Unitron 20mm Erfle that I got 30 yrs
ago. It's a ripper. Almost as good is my 25mm Koenig[25 yrs old].
Incidentally, unusually,the 2"barlow screws onto whichever EP you are using.
happy viewing
raymo
P.S. If you have not been up close and personal with 2"EP's you will be surprised at the size and weight. The 30 mm weighs a little more than my Canon 1100D.[about 570grams].

[brian nordstrom]

:thumbsup: YES look at that Rick ! another GSO SuperView owner .
I have to tell you this now , ;) .
About 18 months ago a good friend scored a sweet 90mm ETX , he wanted an eyepiece to go between his 9mm and 25mm ( sound fimiliar ) '

Any way I listened to JJJ and grabbed one of the 15mm SV's from Andrews Comm as a gift .( damn what's $29 )
When it arrived I had play with it , it was so close to my 14mm TV Radian , 16mm Nagler it was scary :eyepop:, I was impressed .:question:
It was that good I had a fleeting thought ,,, ( the eyepiece has not arrived ? ) and I will keep this and get another for old mate Alan :confused2:..
I didn't , but these eyepieces are special , grab them before the go , because there wont be any thing like these available after that end of this run date :( .
, Yes these are that good .
Oh yes I have a mate with the 50mm 2 inch SV , and its as good as a 41mm TV Panoptic !!!! :help:that's a $630 eyepiece ! ,
These are that good .
Brian.

[Rick_1]

OK, I did it, ordered GSO Superview 68deg 2" 30mm, 42mm, 50mm and 2" 2x ED Barlow, 1.25" 15mm and 20mm. $300 delivered
Should keep me out of trouble for a while :thumbsup: and now I'm broke :(

[raymo]

Broke but hopefully deliriously happy.
raymo

[Rick_1]

I wasn't really sure where to post this question, probably the classifieds but because I haven't been a member for a month yet, I'm unable to post to that thread. :(

Does anyone know where I'd get a 2nd OTA aperture cover for my 8" Newt?
I want to make a solar filter with some Baader film left over from a project last year, but don't want to destroy my existing lens cap.

Cheers

Rick

[MattT]

Goggle my astro shop for a solar cap. I just got one for my 6" refractor. Cost $45 film and DIY is cheaper but I have enough DIY going on ATM.
Matt