Help with Gstar-EX

ashcb1 (Ashley) · #1 04-04-2010, 05:37 PM

I have bought the above for a Vixen VL200. At present I have hooked it up to the AV port of a TV and can get the CCD menu up but I can't get any images.

I have checked the quick start guide have checked my connections and I thought if I can get the menu up then I must be doing something wrong. I have set the lens to Video it was on DC but still no joy.

Any help would be appricated.

Ashley

erick (Eric) · #2 04-04-2010, 06:05 PM

What do you see? White? Black? Any chance that you are way out of focus?

Take it out of the scope. Try covering the end of camera with hand - should see dark and noise. Expose to ambient light - should see light and noise vanishes?

ashcb1 (Ashley) · #3 04-04-2010, 06:43 PM

Just grey on TV. If I take out the cable I get no video signal. I have been trying to set it up in the late afternoon set on a tree some distance away. Will try what you suggest erick.

erick (Eric) · #4 04-04-2010, 08:43 PM

I think you are probably out of focus. I have a colour version and it needs various extension tubes on various scopes. When well out of focus, I just see a big blur of light.

If you cannot get it working in your scope, perhaps fit it with its own lens. It needs a C mount lens. Jaycar sell 4mm, 6mm and 8 mm for $25. I bought the 6mm, fitted that and it was easier to play around with then if it was in a telescope. You can probably get cheaper lens from Ebay supliers?

ashcb1 (Ashley) · #5 05-04-2010, 08:15 PM

I think you are right Erick. With the Gstar almost out of the scope I get some sort of picture. Jaycar are no were near me so will talk to the shop who I purchased it from.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #6 05-04-2010, 11:22 PM

Hi Ashley,

Normally these cameras require some in-focus to the scope. I assume you are not using your diagonal mirror? This would explain why you can't quite get a good focus as this is factored into the overal focal length for eyepieces and by excluding it, you now need more out-travel.

Shops like Andrews sell a whole range of extension tubes - I suggest buying the full set of three sizes - they are cheap enough and will certainly come in handy at some point in your astro-life!

ashcb1 (Ashley) · #7 06-04-2010, 11:50 AM

It looks like I do need extension tubes as I am far back as possible in the focus and just a faint image is visible. I did ask the shop when I purchased it is this all I need. The shop person does know what I am using as we are in the same club. I have sent him an email but know joy as yet.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #8 06-04-2010, 08:37 PM

These things aren't a precise science unfortunately. You will soon understand why astro-imagers of all types have a case full of adaptors and extention tubes...