Auto guiding

[speach (Simon)]

Think of get an auto guider set up, not sure of what there capabilities are though. Any one using one would they like to tell me how good or bad they are please.

[traveller (Bo)]

It depends on what focal length you are using. For relatively wide field setups such as an ED80, a 50mm guidescope with an orion autoguider / QHY5 will be sufficient. For longer focal lengths, you will need either a longer length guidescope or an off axis guider setup. If you do go down the OAG path, you need a sensitive guider camera such as QHY5II, ASI or Lodestar.
Hope that helps
Bo

[Somnium (Aidan)]

the investment into a QHY5-II and an orion guidescope was the best decision i made. they are easy to use, allow you to take longer exposures and track an object for hours. you wont regret the purchase, provided you have the right set up. You will need a guidescope that is at least 1/10th the FL of your imaging scope (that is the recommendation i have heard).

Originally Posted by speach

Think of get an auto guider set up, not sure of what there capabilities are though. Any one using one would they like to tell me how good or bad they are please.

[jenchris (Jennifer)]

I use a f5 x 102mm guidescope with an ssag on my lx90 f10 8 inch.
seems to work pretty well.
my neq6pro mount is running st4 connection and shows max .24 pixel deviation from base line in ra and dec over at least 15mins.

[speach (Simon)]

Thanks everybody, that's made my mind up. Now comes the hard part convincing the SHMBO that I really really need one!