Eaf

[xelasnave]

OK I have not read a thing but bought a ZWO EAF and fitted it..no research .eans I know nothing but I read that for a RASA you really need one. It seems you need software ???any tips or will I have to read the directions maybe what to read even.

I use sharp cap so I hope it manages it.


I keep meaning to find details and print the stuff out ( I am old fashion and cant read unless it is on paper and I can make notes in the margin)... but other things are building up and I expect someone can make it simple save me time and help a lazy person old man get things happening.

Moreover what do I do just to use the hand control so I can test things ?

Anything will be a huge help which will be greatly appreciated.
Alex

[pmrid (Peter)]

ASIStudio is a suite of routines available from the manufacturer designed for use with their various products. Download and install it on your PC. One of the sub-routines is Deep Space imaging and it will recognise the presence of your EAF and allow you to control it from there. SharpCap may also recognise it. I’m not sure about that but you can use that for image capture in tandem with ASIStudio anyway.

UPDATE: I checked SharpCap. It does recognise EAF focusers so you probably can do it all from there.


Peter

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

OK I have not read a thing but bought a ZWO EAF and fitted it..no research .eans I know nothing but I read that for a RASA you really need one. It seems you need software ???any tips or will I have to read the directions maybe what to read even.

I use sharp cap so I hope it manages it.


I keep meaning to find details and print the stuff out ( I am old fashion and cant read unless it is on paper and I can make notes in the margin)... but other things are building up and I expect someone can make it simple save me time and help a lazy person old man get things happening.

Moreover what do I do just to use the hand control so I can test things ?

Anything will be a huge help which will be greatly appreciated.
Alex

Alex
I bought 2 EAF’s one for the 6” newt and one for the 8” newt
Had to make a bracket and used a stainless steel hose clamp to secure the bracket and unit to the neck of the GSO focuser. ZWO don’t have custom bracket for GSO focusers ( Telescope Express in Europe have one but its expensive and delivery would be months )
I just use the handcontroller , no fancy software , ZWO cable was too short so I bought a longer TTRS audio 4 conductor lead 5m
I use my capture software APT , take a series of 10 sec exposures of a 1.50 to 2.50 magnitude single bright star near the target and tweak up and down using fine adjustment until my diffraction spikes are like swords and I’m done. Takes 5 of 6 mins to focus
Rarely had an out of focus image in over 2 years using this method
Works great !
Cheers
Martin

[xelasnave]

Thank you Peter and thank you Martin.

I feel much better..I felt really confused with this for some reason...maybe trying to do too much or age is starting to effect me.. maybe the drugs...
Alex

[leon]

Ahh probably the drugs Alex, , just kidding mate, hey while i have got your attention you mentioned in an other thread that you ordered a couple of field/trail cameras.

Alice and I were just talking about them last night and thought we might even get one, but i know very little about them.

So what did you end up getting Alex, and are they expensive/good and any tips mate.

Thanks Leon

[xelasnave]

Hi Leon sorry I only noticed your post just now.
I purchased mine from Kings the 4wd folk. I have now purchased the two cameras, two jump starters which they threw in two magnificent tire deflators ( 4wdimg you meet some sand and deflate your tires), a 60 ltr fridge, and a gas hot eater shower..they are excellent..ship fast and if you have a concern seem to drop everything to fix it.
The cameras are good quality far better than I expected actually...great for security or wild life ... Get one you will have just so much fun with your input of photographic creativity. Join Kings via email and check regularly as they have specials and deals where they throw in stuff...when I bought the fridge they threw in a toiletries canvas bag with 12 months gauratee ..how good is that
Alex

[Toddylamo (Harry)]

I don’t think the EAF requires any driver, and should work with a lot of the astronomy capture software. For me it works with ASIStudio and NINA

[xelasnave]

Hi Harry
Today I downloaded ASIStudio and can't see anything focuser related so far..I also paid for the Sharpcap licence and pasted it in place but nothing has appeared..from what I read it should be there...but..I stayed up all last night and so I am not really thinking straight now..I just went outside and actually happy to see the clouds otherwise it would be two nights in a row..I guess I should plug the focuser in and look on the lappy and see if anything then appears..but just too tired now.

Alex

[The_bluester (Paul)]

In ASI studio, if you look in the "Gear" selection menu there is a section there to select the EAF, I am not in front of a PC at the moment where I can access one to check how it works but there is a pop up menu that appears when you hover the mouse over the right edge of the imaging screen, the bottom selection there is for focus. I would assume you select the EAF in the "Gear" menu and then drive it in the pop up focuser menu.

The hand control I believe you can just plug in to drive it directly but I assume the EAF itself needs to be plugged in to a powered up USB port to power up. The manual does not mention if the hand control has an internal battery and will drive the EAF stand-alone without a PC connected.

If I was building it I would have a 9V battery in the hand controller and have it able to drive the focus motor stand alone, but I don't know if that is what ZWO did.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Originally Posted by The_bluester

In ASI studio, if you look in the "Gear" selection menu there is a section there to select the EAF, I am not in front of a PC at the moment where I can access one to check how it works but there is a pop up menu that appears when you hover the mouse over the right edge of the imaging screen, the bottom selection there is for focus. I would assume you select the EAF in the "Gear" menu and then drive it in the pop up focuser menu.

The hand control I believe you can just plug in to drive it directly but I assume the EAF itself needs to be plugged in to a powered up USB port to power up. The manual does not mention if the hand control has an internal battery and will drive the EAF stand-alone without a PC connected.

If I was building it I would have a 9V battery in the hand controller and have it able to drive the focus motor stand alone, but I don't know if that is what ZWO did.

I use the EAF handcontrollers on both my Newt rigs as a standalone focusing system and use my capture software APT to view my focus Star
My EAF is powered by a twin USB2 plug in power pack (5V ) and I use a 5m long TRRS 4 core 2.1mm audio plug for connection between handcontroller to EAF unit on the focuser. ZWO provide a crappy 0.5m curly cord with the handcontroller which is next to useless
Martin
See my post above for more details

[Drac0 (Mark)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Today I downloaded ASIStudio and can't see anything focuser related so far.

In ASIStudio select ASICap. You will see some blue symbols on the top right. The 3rd one (a couple of concentric circles with a "bar" underneath) is the one for the EAF.

[xelasnave]

Thanks very much.
I was suffering from no sleep and yesterday near sent me crazy trying to sort this out...I opened this page last night read all the posts and passed out feeling so relieved ...I just now woke up..first time in years a night of uniterupted sleep...mmm 42 hours no sleep ..lucky the clouds came in last night..I still was awake till midnight.
Alex

[Hemi]

Hey Alex,

You will need to power it for the HC to work. As Martin says, if you plug it into usb (battery bank or computer) it will power up. I presume yours is the new version which runs off 5v. I have 2, one is the old 12v version which requires a 12v dc input. (A PITA).

It’s ascom compatible so will be recognized with all ascom compatible software if you install the ascom driver on Zwos website.. I’ve used it with sharpcap, starry night and eqmod. Works out of the box with ASI software and asi air.

[xelasnave]

Thanks Hemi...I have not been to the observatory yet . I came up to the main house to update my microscope software as I really want to show members the interesting animals I am finding..the internet is rather poor at the moment...however downloaded PHD on the new lappy as well as the microscope program...
I did have the eaf plugged into the lappy days ago but I could not tell if the thing was moving..seemed to be but if so very slow...anyways getting closer every day...I do have a 5 volt supply ..the old Asiair unit which I never really took to...maybe now that I have so many scopes that I hope to run.
alex

[I.C.D (Ian)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Thanks Hemi...I have not been to the observatory yet . I came up to the main house to update my microscope software as I really want to show members the interesting animals I am finding..the internet is rather poor at the moment...however downloaded PHD on the new lappy as well as the microscope program...
I did have the eaf plugged into the lappy days ago but I could not tell if the thing was moving..seemed to be but if so very slow...anyways getting closer every day...I do have a 5 volt supply ..the old Asiair unit which I never really took to...maybe now that I have so many scopes that I hope to run.
alex

Hi xelasnave do you have any zwo cameras and what imaging program are you using ( N.I.N.A )most of the drivers are with the camera If you are using ,nina will pick up eaf in the focuser tab when you search for it
Ian