Skywatcher AZ-EQ6 Unboxing

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

After looking to upgrade my setup for astrophotography for a number of years, I decided to upgrade my mount to the Skywatcher AZ-EQ6. I purchased the mount from Bintel in Sydney yesterday and was very pleased with their advice and service.

The mount comes in two boxes - both which are double boxed and extremely well packaged.

The first box contains the tripod, counterweights and accessory/eyepiece tray.

The second box contains the AZ-EQ6 Mount, Syncan hand controller, secondard saddle (the primary is already attached to the mount), cables, counterweight extension, manuals and other bits & pieces.

Unboxing pictures attached.

Now I have the fun of assembling all the pieces and learning how to use an equatorial mount.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Great - look forward to seeing it all together, and for feedback on how it performs with our 8" SCT!

[killswitch (Edison)]

Congrats, keep the moulded styro box. It fits certain safe cases quite well.

Also update the Synscan firmware, as it might come with an older firmware that doesnt have the Polar Align feature.

[Amaranthus (Barry)]

Out of interest, how are you going to power it? Does the power lead in the box connect to a 12v battery via a cigarette lighter adaptor? Or did you get an AC power adaptor?

[Mark_Heli (Mark)]

The setup was actually pretty straight forward and I managed to get everything assembled and the scope mounted & balanced inside today (attached). It's nice to be on holidays - you actually can get real work done :-) Not like those pesky "real" work days...

Barry / Edison - thanks for the feedback. I will definately look at upgrading the firmware.

The next step is to read through the manuals, understand polar alignment and start to consider what software to use. I want to control the scope from the computer and I know there is different software which can be used (TheSkyX, Stellarium, others????). I haven't given this much throught yet, so any advice would be appreciated.

Originally Posted by Amaranthus

Out of interest, how are you going to power it? Does the power lead in the box connect to a 12v battery via a cigarette lighter adaptor? Or did you get an AC power adaptor?

Barry - I bought a "12VDC 7.5A Power Adaptor with Cigarette socket" from Bintel yesterday. It plugs into the mains on one side and has a cigarette socket on the other side which connects to the mounts power cable. It doesn't seem to be on their website, but the same model is at Jaycar (http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=MP3575)

I am not sure if this will be the long term answer however I wanted to get it all working inside and in the short term I can just use an extension lead to the back garden for power.

[coldknights (Cathy)]

Hi Mark try Cartes de Ciel .

If you need any more info send me a pm and will gladly help you !

[Camelopardalis (Dunk)]

Nice combo, congrats on your new scope Mark!

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by killswitch

Also update the Synscan firmware, as it might come with an older firmware that doesnt have the Polar Align feature.

Good advice killswitch, as I had no end of trouble getting mine to set up in alt-az as well, until I did the firmware update. After doing the upgrade, it has worked well ever since.

Cheers Pete

[killswitch (Edison)]

Originally Posted by Mark_Heli

I want to control the scope from the computer and I know there is different software which can be used (TheSkyX, Stellarium, others????). I haven't given this much throught yet, so any advice would be appreciated.

At home i wirelessly control my mount using Stellarium via Cathys Bluetooth Adapter. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...d.php?t=108338

When im out on the field, i use SkySafari 3 Plus on my tablet (via Bluetooth as well).

It really helps traverse the skies having a planetarium software to control a GoTo mount.