AZGTi-EQ mount

[axle01]

Some photos of my new AZGTi-EQ mount i just finished assembling, haven't given it a run as yet, you know the story " new gear = clouds"

[glend]

Nice Wedge.

[axle01]

It is Glen, light and solid.

Al

[Camelopardalis]

Neat. How do you convince the mount to track in RA?

[glend]

The Syncscan Pro app supports alt/az or EQ alignment. So it's a setting thing.
Well, you do need to download the motor firmware upgrade as well.

[axle01]

Haven’t got that far yet Glen.

Al

[Camelopardalis]

Glen, have you done this and proven that it works or is this anecdotal? (i.e. CN speculation...)

[glend]

Of course I have done it. Mine is working perfectly. I have tested it visually in EQ mode, aligned it, did various slews to targets either side of the Meridian. It holds target well. I have not tried imaging with it, that might be beyond its capability and it cannot be guided. I have only run it with my AT60ED in EQ mode, but have used my TS80 in Alt/As mode.

[Camelopardalis]

Great stuff :thumbsup: I was considering one for widefield imaging...

[axle01]

Added the counter weight and made a bracket to hold a Polemaster

Al

[Hemi]

Very nice Alan. I’ve been using it for a grab n go camping setup these last 12m or so, and it supports my es102 fine for visual. I just got the Skywatcher wedge and updated the firmware and can also attest it works beautifully. The firmware upgrade was the least painful experience I’ve ever had when updating mount firmware and a credit to SW. All wireless as well.
Only issue I had was my lack of familiarity with equatorial mounts and it took me a while to figure out that I needed to set the latitude to 90-12(my latitude) not just 12. Not sure if that’s a SW labeling problem or just standard. Anyway all working, had the dslr setup and the clouds rolled in. But still it goto’d fine and tracked well enough. Chuffed to bits as it was my first eq polar alignment. I have used an m12 bolt for a counter weight shaft, but have no weights yet, diy suggestions would be good. I don’t think it will take my es102 for imaging on the eq though and am tempted by the ed60’s out there.

Clear skies

Hemi

[Martin_S]

Hi Alan, I found the Skywatcher tripod unstable. What tripod are you using?,

Martin

[axle01]

I use either a Benro or a Gitzo carbon fibre tripod, stable as a rock, if it’s windy I hang a weight on the hook.

Al

[axle01]

I got a machine shop to make mine, 1.3kg

Al

[AstroApprentice]

These 1 kg, 12 mm bore CWs are reasonably priced and look good chrome:
https://www.cyclopsoptics.com/bundle-special/1kg-counterweight-for-star-adventurer/ You'd have to order a few other things for free shipping.
But as I've posted previously, these are the ultimate in portable (potable!) CWs for a 12 mm shaft:
https://www.darkframeoptics.com/CloverThree_EQ_Silver/p2013568_14477215.aspx

[Micky-DK]

Can you tell what scope you have on your Sony?

[that_guy]

Looks like one of them fancy borg 55fl Michal.

[Micky-DK]

Thank you very much.
Have just searched for fancy city 55fl. It looks very similar

[that_guy]

Just wanted to let you guys know I bought one of these mount for portable imaging in EQ mode. The counterweight shaft is the same as the EQ2 and a counterweight from a star adventurer will fit HOWEVER the shaft from the star adventurer will not fit.

[glend]

Pretty sure I just used a long M12 bolt from Bunnings.

[that_guy]

It was more for people who already had access to these like I did. That way they dont need to purchase additional things.

[that_guy]

Spent a night testing the mount. I was suppose to test the guiding as well but silly me forgot to bring the guidescope/camera! I was limited to 20 sec exposure due to poor polar alignment (Im not familiar with any methods that doesnt utilise my guidecamera). First time using the DARV method in APT, not sure how accurate it was. My focus was out which isn't the fault of the mount, just me being lazy and not properly checking each frame.

20sec x 140 subs
iso1600
5d mkii, evostar ed72

[axle01]

Correct.

Al

[axle01]

Sorry late to the party but a heart op in December got in the way, yes it is a Borg 55, very nice scope, looking to mount a QHY10 to it.

Al

[alan meehan]

I got one of these mounts just before Christmas for use with swed80 for visual at club nights its brilliant goto and track perfectly and just so so portable