beginner's question

[blindman]

Hello everyone,

I have Orion Star Shoot Planetary Imager and Guider, and I am thinking of buying ccd cooled camera something like Atik Titan.
If I use Orion as guider, can I use 1 average IBM laptop for guiding and imaging?
Many thanks Nev

[OzRob]

It shouldn't be a problem. I have been using a 4 year old laptop to run my gear. It has been guiding (Starshoot autoguider), imaging, controlling the mount, focusing and running The Sky at the same time.

[alistairsam]

hi
if its just guiding and imaging, it should be fine as its mainly I/O transfers that are not cpu intensive.

what are the specs of the laptop?

the atik titan specs show it transfers 16fps uncompressed. just make sure all usb ports are 2.0.

I'd suggest you check usb/system requirements for the camera and make sure your laptop meets/exceeds those.

[Karls48]

I use IBM T43 with 1GB memory to acquire images with DSI 2 camera controlled by Maxim DL, PHD guiding. SkyMap planetarium, FocusMax, and VNC remote desktop without problems.

[blindman]

Thanks guys, laptop is T42 IBM, 2GB, hope it will work, it's got USB2.0 as far as I know, but will check.

[blindman]

:help:Now, I am confused.
Surfing around I've seen Atic 320e for around 1400$, and QHY8L6 with more resolution $1450 and Orion StarShoot pro 6.1 megapixels (in US for US1200).
What do you think will be the best buy for money to get some deep space photos?
Help :question:

[renormalised]

What are you going to use it with....the C8 or the Megrez?? If it's the Megrez then any of those will do, but the pixels of the 320e are a bit small to be using on the C8. The C8 would be better off using a camera with 6-9 micron sized pixels. Which fits the other two quite nicely.

[blindman]

Much appreciated.
THANKS