Opinions on autoguider

[skwinty]

Hi All
I want to buy an Orion 80mm short tube refractor and an Orion Starshoot Autoguide camera for my 12" newt and eq6 pro setup.
Any comments as to the wisdom (or lack thereof) of this purchase?
:help:

[Terry B]

Assuming the orion starshoot works as well as my Qguider (they are the same thing) then it will work a treat:thumbsup:

[omnivorr]

...Darryl will heckle me mercilessly... but hey :P

..infer a penny infer a pound ;)

[Ian Robinson]

Qguider ?

Checked the website - Looks pretty nifty.

Can you tell us something about how you use it , ie can it be used like other stand alone autoguiders or must the processing be done via a computer ?

Do you simply plug the cable into the mount's autoguider port and let it rip ?

[[1ponders]]

Realistically any interline ccd camera (ie video/streaming camera) that can do an exposure of 1 - 2 sec will work as long as it can talk to software and the software can talk to the mount. Cameras are not normally the problem.

Problem 1.
The Mount

Problem 2.
Communication between the mount and the software.

Problem 3.
The operator (this can also come in at number one, especially when new to the game. Trust me I was Problem 1 for so long I felt like I had it stencilled on my forehead)

Problem 4.
Rarely the camera. If the camera can see a star it should be good enough to use. (unless of course you are shooting down towards the horizon and then all bets are off.)

JM2CW

[skwinty]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Wallet biting time again.

Now Russ,
What's in your post that Darryl can heckle you about.
Maybe you forgot to add something.
So expect some heckling about loss of short term memory;)

[[1ponders]]

Actually I should clarify a couple of points I made above.

Problem 1.
The Mount. Poorly balanced, overloaded, generally not up to the task (worm gear mesh etc) (ie operator error)

Problem 2.
Communication between the mount and the software. It can be that there is a communication problem between the mount and the software but 9 times out of 10 it's because the operator hasn't selected the right communication parameters in the software.


Problem 3.
The operator. Oh I've already said this. :P

[Gama]

Just a quick word on the guiders..

Terry is correct that the Orion Starshoot Autoguider and the QHY-5 or Qguider are exactly the same EXCEPT for one thing, and that is the firmware. With the Orion, you will need to pay a fee to obtain/update the software from Astrosoft (Software designers for the QHY cameras) www.astrosoft.be (http://www.astrosoft.be) .There is no charge to QHY or Qguider customers to use Astrosoft software, as it is already paid by the dealers/distributers like myself.
So to all that have bought a QHY-5 that i havent had a chance to email, please update your software from my "Download page" at http://web.aanet.com.au/gama/ and enjoy !, just remember to uninstall your old software first.

Theo

[skwinty]

Hi Theo
Orion charge 119USD for the refractor and 240USD for the camera.
This apparently includes shipping but I suspect that this is only local to the US.:thumbsup:

[Ian Robinson]

Is the Qguider compatible with the Starbook controller that comes with Atlux mounts ?

[Gama]

The Qguider is compatible to anything that uses the current ST4 guide port standard.
From the documents for your mount on the net, it is compatible.

Theo.

[Ian Robinson]

Thankyou .... being a bit of a dinosaur , still using 35mm SLRs , being new to digital photography and considering going there soon , I have lots of dump questions .

[skwinty]

Well, I bit the wallet and purchased a QHY autoguider from Gama Electronics.
I need a guide scope now and have been offered a skywatcher mak 1300m FL for a very reasonable price. (from a reputable dealer). Although I wouldnt consider this scope for a primary for visual use, would it suffice as a guide scope.:help:

[Gama]

I have the similar 150mm f12.5 SAX Mac scope as my guide scope for the 22" (If i ever mount it).
It is an excellent scope for the job of guiding, but unless you have a very long focal length scope for imaging, its an overkill.

Theo.

[skwinty]

hi theo
My imaging scope is 1520mm and the mac is 1000mm / 80mm and not 1300mm as i stated in my last post.
Even if it is overkill the price is definately to my liking ZAR900.00 or about 120AUS$ incl shipping.:thumbsup:

[Alchemy]

youll find it much easier to find a guide star with something more in the f5-7 range than f 12

i use an ed80 to guide my 12 inch newt ( 1500mm fl).... works fine.