Aoto Guider.

[leon]

Hi All

Could anyone suggest what i might need to fit an Auto Guiding set-up with the Tak 106 and G11 mount.

I have never done this before, let alone seen one of these units, but thought it might just give me an edge when doing imaging through the Takahashi.

I had intended to use the ED 80, have a 9mm reticle, and laptop if needed.

As you can see I'm starting from scratch here, and have no idea what is required.

Could some kind person steer me in the right direction, please, maybe there is a book that i could buy, with the all the info, i need.

Leon

Cheers leon

[[1ponders]]

Ok, first thing Leon, to autoguide with the Gemini you will either need an ST4 guider (or similar) or a shoestring adapter and a webcam. The shoestring allows our laptop to talk to the gemini and tell it which way to move the mount. There are quite a few around but probably the cheapest and most commonly used beginners one is here (http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm). Then you will need a guide camera, I still use the toUcam with K3CCDTools V3. But I will warn you now that there is a lot of black magic when it comes to autoguiding. ;)

Plus you will probably need some guiderings for your ED80. I use the losmandy 125mm ones.

[[1ponders]]

BTW there are plenty of free programs around for autoguiding; Guidedog, Metaguide, Guidemaster, PHD guiding are a few.

[leon]

Hmmmm, Paul that sounds a bit scary already, but then so did the Gemini when i first got it, but that has now been down graded, and things are good with that.;)

Thanks i will check it all out, and see where it leads me.:thumbsup:

Cheers Leon

[[1ponders]]

Don't post things like that Stuart. I already have enough cameras and not enough clear skies to use them :lol:

At that price it looks like a nice by Leon, even just for a guide camera.

[JohnG]

I am about to start testing an MX5C as an autoguider, using AstroArt 3 and the appropriate plugins coupled to a Shoestring Astronomy GPUSB.

Initial testing on the GM-8 (Non Gemini) have shown that the system will work and the appropriate guide signals are being obeyed by the mount.

Next phase will start shortly (skies permitting) when I try it with the G-11 and Gemini. I will be able to compare it directly against an ST-4 which I already get sub pixel tracking.

Cheers

JohnG

[gbeal]

All of the above is sage advice. The dedicated ST4, or MX5 is possibly the best way.
But let me also plug the StarMate system. It is what I use if I need to use a separate guidescope (normally I use the dual chip in the ST2K).
Mine is with a Celestron Nexstar 80, a ToUcam, and Losmandy rings DR105.
I use K3 for the software, and it goes well, but there is also PHD, which I haven't tried.
Get next to someone to show you, as at a distance it does indeed seem like black magic.
Gary

[rogerg]

Unless you just do the guide corrections through the standard PC <--> Gemini interface.

I use a webcam + GuideDog to autoguide my GM8. It talks through the standard RS232 interface, hence not needing the shoestring adaptor.

It would be better to use the shoestring adaptor, but it is not required.

Better why? Faster response times and it leaves the PC interface free to stay connected for other software.

[[1ponders]]

Thanks for that Roger, I wasn't aware of that with the Gemini. I only have the digital drive and like Gary, a Star-Mate :love: to interpret signals. Wouldn't be without one. Mmmmm...cordless hand paddles Mmmmm, remote control of exposures and focusing Mmmmm :love:

[gbeal]

Shhhhsshhhh Ponders. If everyone knows what they do, everyone will want one.
I bought the said Mate lunch on Sunday, and I don't honestly think he knows how good it is. I went through a stage where my ST2K would not guide (don't ask), so what did I do? Went straight back the the StaMate. Perfect.

[[1ponders]]

How is the ol' Robbers? Put down a few Tui did he? :lol:

Put a bomb under him Gary and get him up and running again ;)

[gbeal]

He is fine Paul, older, but fine, and still in vintage form with the electronics. I must stress though that his soldering skills are deteriorating, shaking like a shower of %#@&. Maybe it was because I was watching (and it iwas my expensive camera PCB he was working on).
Living in Jafaland isn't helping, but I hope to get him down here for some imaging etc soon.
Gary

[[1ponders]]

Tell him he needs to practice on a few more starmates (http://www.2fdesign.co.nz/astronomy/starmate.htm). ;)


Sorry Leon, off topic. I'll shut up now. :ashamed:

[rsbfoto]

Hi Roger,

The guiding accuracy through RS232 or parallel or USB into a Gemini or standard control is the same.

There is no accuracy loss with either method hence no speed advantage.

I used to guide aldo through the RS232 port and then switched over to guide through my parallel port.

I changed over to parallel port in order to avoid using ASCOM. On the other side ASCOM has very good capabilities too. One I like most is the POTH. With POTH you can easily share one COM port with several software packages communicating to the same COM port as POTH acts as a HUB.

So you can at the same time use a planetarium software communicating with the mount at the same time you are guiding your mount.