[thegableguy (Chris)]

I've got a NEQ6 with which I've been shooting unguided with a DSLR through an ED80; I just obtained an old 8" f/5 Newt and it all works beautifully but I'm reluctantly admitting that I'm never going to get great results until I get guiding sorted.

I've got a spare laptop with PHD2 installed. I don't own a guidescope or guiding camera but I've been offered a decent rig for (I think) a decent price; I'd like to know more about how it all works. Mike at Bintel gave me a basic rundown but I've since forgotten most of what he told me...!

So how does it work exactly? From what I remember there are two ways to connect it all. One is that the guide camera goes straight into the mount, and the mount connects to the laptop; the other is that the camera and mount both connect to the laptop. The latter sounds better to me but apparently there are adherents to the former. Curious about advantages either way.

Also wondering how Backyard Nikon would be involved. I don't know anything about it at all, no idea what it does.

Any guidance (ha! I kill me) would be great.

Cheers
Chris