umodded webcams for autoguiding questions?

Garyh · #1 29-05-2007, 11:02 AM

Hi again all,....

Just curious to know if the umodded toucam and others similar are any good for autoguiding setups and if so whats good software to use with them? I have downloaded Phd guiding, metaguide and guidedog as well just to have a play with. I don`t want to modd the webcam if possible. This would open up the use of any wecam that is good in low light conditions. Its getting hard to find the older toucams secondhand!
Oh, and what mag star would it be possible to guide on? anything from about 6th mag would be pretty good to me.
Any info very appreciated..

cheers Gary

rogerg (Roger) · #2 29-05-2007, 11:09 AM

Gary,

I use my QuickCam Pro 4000 (un-modded) for guiding my Losmandy GM8. I use GuideDog. It's all very easy to use. I had problems initially learning how things worked but in the end the default settings in GuideDog worked great for me, I just had to sort out other issues.

It's really easy, just throw the webcam on, focus and go. Focusing is much easier with a webcam than astro CCD or DSLR of course, which helps.

I use a 70x700 guidescope and guide on stars of about magnitude 5.5 or brighter. It's OK, but a bit of a pain finding a suitable guidestar sometimes. I am soon going to invest in a flip mirror which will help enormously, as switching between eyepiece and camera is the biggest pain and cause of wasted time.

GuideDog connects to my GM8 through the normal serial connection. I think I could get it to use the guider port if I had a converter thingo (relay box?). Anyhow, the serial connection works fine in that situation for me.

Happy to answer more questions if you have'm.

Roger.

Omaroo (Chris Malikoff) · #3 29-05-2007, 11:10 AM

Gary - although I'm yet to drag the 12" LX200 outside with the autoguider scope fitted, I've tested the system inside my house by setting up a torch (lens covered with thin card and a pin-hole poked through it) mounted to a motorised EQ5 mount, which acts as my moving "star". I place this down the other end of a long dark corridor and set the EQ5 going in RA. This mimics a star moving at close to sidereal rate when viewed through the guidescope. I then used GuideDog and an unmodded ToUcam mounted to the LX200 and tried the guide software out. It tracked beautifully - so yes, an unmodded ToUcam at 5fps works well.

Cheers
Chris

Robby · #4 29-05-2007, 02:10 PM

Gary,
I use an un-modded ToUCam for a guide camera no problems.
I reckon you need at least a 70mm guidescope (I use an 80mm f/5), mounted with adjustable guiderings, as you usually have to "hunt" for a guide star.
Software I use is K3CCDTools, but PHD & Guidedog also work well.
Then you'll need to work out how to send the guide signals to the GM-8. Do you have Gemini? Or else use the shoestring guider or similar.
Cheers

allan gould · #5 29-05-2007, 02:20 PM

I used to use unmodded webcam with guidemaster. Easy to use. Dont have to have specific orientation of webcam as it calibrates and as it autoguides it continuously shows RA and DEC corrections. Also gives bullseye of correctionsRecommended. Finally it will average several frames to mimic a long exposure.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 29-05-2007, 02:45 PM

I use an un-modified Toucam for guiding too. And with GuideDog. All works excellent. Dunno what mag it sees down to, but I don't have a problem finding a star to guide on. There are only about 3 small areas in the sky where there hasn't been anything bright enough to guide on, and that's pretty good considering how small the areas were and how big the sky is!

Garyh · #7 29-05-2007, 04:05 PM

Thanks everyone for the quick replies.....

Just wasn`t real sure if it was very feasible as alot of people use the modded camera for autoguiding....
I have a 70mmx500mm guidescope and was planning on using a 2x barlow with it..would that be overkill or would it be better at prime focus?
My 2 scopes for imaging are 500mm and the newt is 860mm FL.
Roger and Robby, I don`t have gemini at the moment so I am planning to use a usb or a parallel shoestring adaptor for this to the RJ port ..

I have a old logitech webcam but its fairly crappy in low light...shall buy a newer 0 lux one soon.

Does anyone in Auzz sell these shoestring adaptors or do I have to get one from overseas? Any probs with the gm-8(without gemini) with these?
Thanks again everyone for your info so far....

cheers

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #8 29-05-2007, 04:13 PM

Have to get the Shoestring Adaptor from USA.

Robby · #9 30-05-2007, 06:43 AM

Or Star-mate... www.star-mate.com/lx200.hm
But unfortunately I am no longer making them, as there was no real money in it for the effort. Shoestring will work fine.
I'd avoid the barlow if possible. What focal length is your imaging scope, and what is your imaging camera?
With your 70x500 guidescope you should get pretty good results upto about 2000mm imaging focal length. Some would say otherwise, but in my experience 4:1 ratio works ok.
Cheers

Robby · #10 30-05-2007, 06:45 AM

Ok, read the posts properly Robby!!!

You won't need a barlow with 500mm & 860mm imaging focal lengths!
Cheers

Garyh · #11 30-05-2007, 08:38 AM

Thanks Ken, have bookmarked the site for when I need one..
Robby, that looks like a great product there, too bad you are still not making them as it has focus control and shutter control as well, all in one unit. Is it a serial device or usb? as it doesn`t mention the computer interface?]
cheers Gary

Robby · #12 30-05-2007, 08:49 AM

Gary,
It is a serial device. If you only have USB, then you need a USB-Serial adapter.
Cheers

Garyh · #13 30-05-2007, 09:13 AM

Thanks Rob, I have a old gaming pc I put together in the lounge room that no longer gets used for anything and it has all the common ports + heaps of usbs so thats not a prob. I shall be taking it away to my little observatory for autoguiding and possibly shutter control on my canon 300d. Its a bit of overkill but at least it will get some use and I can get more imaging done on a good night....
Cheers

gbeal · #14 30-05-2007, 05:54 PM

Better late than never.
I use the nu-modded ToUcam, with an ST80 (so 80mm x about 400mm), with Losmandy rings. Robby will tell you I stole the idea from him, but I will tell you otherwise.
StarMate is how it all comes together, a shame he won't do any more.

Bassnut (Fred) · #15 30-05-2007, 07:12 PM

Hi Gary

I used a modded webby for guiding but found guide stars harder to find in normal (unmoded) mode. Maxim max DSLR has a feature that "stacks" guiding images to equal long exposures in a modded cam, works very well!.

Fred

[1ponders] (Paul) · #16 30-05-2007, 07:40 PM

An unmodded ToUcam is my most often used autoguiding camera. Used with Losmandy rings and ED80, it's not very often I can't get a star to guide on. And my guiding interface. Check my sig

(one for each Losmandy mount)

Robby · #17 31-05-2007, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbeal

Robby will tell you I stole the idea from him, but I will tell you otherwise.

Yeah right... Full Credit

Garyh · #18 31-05-2007, 11:11 AM

Thanks for all the replies Guys!!!
Just bought a new toucam pro ll of ebay at a good price....A new toy to play with when it turns up!!!
cheers Gary