Request Advice Autoguider Vixen

[ashcb1 (Ashley)]

I am confused in what I need I hope someone can help, Thank You.
I have the following:

Vixen VC200l 8" scope FL1800
ED80 skywatcher scope
Vixen GP mount with Starbook-s goto has a autoguider port compatible ST

I would like to be able to use k3cddtools for drift aligment and then PHD for guiding.

I am new to astrophotography and I relise that my mount might not be up to the task. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

[Terry B]

This is a similar setup that I use to have except I had a SS200 rather than the starbook.
What guider do you plan on using?

[ashcb1 (Ashley)]

I was going to use the Orion Mini Autoguider Package ok to use with ED80 from Bintel but this would not suit the VC200l because of focal length.

If I want to use either scope I would need the Orion Awesome Autoguider Package again from Bintel. The problem I see with this one is the overall weight and attaching to mount.

I think I might just use the ED80 for imaging and get the processes right and save up and move to another mount like the EQ6 Pro later on.

[Terry B]

Either scope alone is fine on a GP mount but not both together. The guider kits should work with either scope especially if you get the vixen focal reducer. Not sure about the drift align software as I have never used it. I use guidemaster for both guiding and drift align.

[DavidTrap (David)]

You can use a "finder guider" with a long focal length (1800mm, but the Vixen at ~1250 would be easier). You need to change a setting in PHD (minimum movement, I think), so that PHD will see a smaller movement of the star as something requiring correction. It has been a while since I set it up for a friend, but I think we changed it from 0.15 to 0.05.

All the best,

DT