The flip top astro shed.

[KWR (George)]

I guess I'll start my re-introduction here. After a 10 year hiatus form this wonderful hobby, I have recently started the ball rolling to set up a basic little AP system to reignite the passion that still smoulders within. From when it all started back in 2004 (formerly 'Escortitis' on the forum), I jumped in way too deep with 12" light bucket (Lightbridge) on a G11 with no clue of what I was doing and drove up a very steep learning curve for about 2 years. Just as I was making some progress, my career situation took a turn for the better, but left me living in an area with no way of using the monstrosity I had created. So somebody in Perth got a great deal on a G11, and I quickly drifted out of the forum and the hobby.

Roll forward to 2016 and my current housing situation still lacks just about all parameters required for good observing, but I have decided to use that as a challenge, rather than a reason not to start up again. I have also decided to keep the whole venture quite a bit more sane and practical than last time. I have come to realize that I get just as much enjoyment, if not more, from processing data than trying to capture every last photon from the target. My fondness for DIY hacks, gadgets and doing everything on the cheap, will keep me busy during the cloudies. Anyway, the main objectives for this start-up venture, apart from filling up some unusable land, included making the setup as remotely operational as possible. It wont be a fully automated dome, but once the roof is up and the PC is on, mostly the whole process will be able to be completed from the lounge room, or Dad can join in the session from his house. The software packages available to run remote ops and to assist with imaging have advanced so much, I’m effectively starting over again. Luckily the weather in Perth has been so poor of late, I have had plenty of time to familiarise myself with most of the programs.

Some pictures below for your amusement. Basic concept worked given the constraints in place. Aesthetics usually score fairly low on my list of ‘things that need to be done’, normally I stop at ‘does it work?’ My workmanship is appalling compared to most projects I’ve seen on here. Time poor is the general excuse, and you're only out there in the dark anyway! Will update as I gather the bits and pieces on the required list.

[legoman_iac (Daniel)]

Welcome back and well done!!!

That looks like a great setup. I like your solution to mounting they mount to the pier with the faux tripod legs!

Looks like you have a pole attached to the center of the roof, to pop it open? Does this also lock on to the side wall to keep the roof in place and stop it dropping down?

Be very interested to set your list of bits for the automation side. Will the laptop stay outside and you remote login in to it over wifi?

- Daniel

[cometcatcher (Kevin)]

Looks very functional. Well done and welcome back!

[glend (Glen)]

Teamviewer! I have been using it from inside the house to monitor operations (SGP) in the observatory. Teamviewer is free. Links over wifi. Obs laptop to house laptop, Or put a PC stick in your big screen TV and you can watch it all from the TV.

[ZeroID (Brent)]

Welcome back and glad to meet another DIY specialist. Beating a challenge is what it is all about. Plenty of support on here anytime.

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Originally Posted by KWR

... So somebody in Perth got a great deal on a G11, ...

G'day George

Welcome back and so that you know I still have the G11 and it's been modded to run on automatedly with a SiTech Controller (still have the original Digital Drive tho')... - one bug-bear issue that got fixed was with the limited RA movement and I fitted and extender plate to allow freedom of movement past the meridian...

You can buy it back if you like ...

HTH
Cheers
Bill

[KWR (George)]

G'day Bill! Great to hear the old girl is still seeing the night, and good to see some decent mods!

Daniel, the idea with the pier was to have the option to quickly throw the legs on and go bush. Given the house in the direction of CSP, a good polar alignment equals lots and lots of drift time, not having to disturb az if I dismount it is a good thing. I had reservations about the stability of the setup for AP, but it has exceeded my expectations. Above ground it looks somewhat underdone, but the magic is all under ground The 'flip top lever' was still in the making in that photo, but yes, it is an extension style job now that stows when the roof is up and down, and also braces the roof when it is up.

As Glen mentioned, TeamViewer is the go. I have a whole tower in the shed, it runs APT, MyFocuser, CdC, PlateSolve2, ASPS, PHD2 and the full suite of EQMOD. I have only had one opportunity to give it a trial run although that was plagued with cloud and dew, but the functionally was all there. TeamViewer integrates well with all programs and has a very robust connection regime. Thanks to inheriting my kids old gaming computers, the wifi link and available RAM allows me to run everything at full tilt, so it's just like sitting at the scope minus the cold and mozzies.

Thanks to the weather in Perth, I have had heaps of time to add to the installation. Today we saw the introduction of Arduino controlled dew heaters for the guide and 80mm, and the Honis inspired peltier cold box for the DSLR. Due to the increase in weight hanging of the focuser, the home brew focuser is getting the NEMA 17 27PG upgrade this week as well. One issue to sort out is having APT hang when trying to connect with MyFocuser ASCOM driver, but I will wait until I build the new one before trying to sort that out. Hopefully the weather clears up soon, otherwise I'm going to need the G11 again!!

Thank all for your comments.