Autoguiders

[Gerald Sargent]

It would be interesting to have a poll of what folk use for autoguiding. I have used SBIG cameras with dual chips and these are good. I have alos used STV which is excellent and CCDOps with ST237A as a guider, again very
good. I have a TVGuider (just received) as yet untested.
I am aware that many use web cams with excellent results.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Hi Gerald.

I've had a play with a few different setups. Up until recently my favourite was the old ToUcam 840 with K3CCDTools. Since taking possession of a TV Guider when I have been out I've used it as it is straight forward and once I learnt how to get it operating on my Digital Drive it has worked like a charm ever since. I don't know how good it would be for long focal lengths stuff but for ED80 type shots its great.

I'm yet to christen my ST7 XME as self guider but I'm looking forward to it.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Budget stuff...Toucam 840, PHD, Shoestring GPUSB box and 80mm AOE achromat as the guidescope. Cheap and cheerful, but works like a dream.
Used for short FL imaging.
Cheers]
Doug

[skwinty (Steve)]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Budget stuff...Toucam 840, PHD, Shoestring GPUSB box and 80mm AOE achromat as the guidescope. Cheap and cheerful, but works like a dream.
Used for short FL imaging.
Cheers]
Doug

Hi Doug
What would you suggest for fl 1520mm and greater imaging?
I need to start considering guiding on my setup.

[Zuts]

Hi,

I started with a Saxon 70mm Achro guiding my Meade ED80 with Phd and a Meade DSI OSC on the EQ6. I then got a TV85 and guided through the Meade. Both setups were fine, it was a bit easier to find a guide star with the Meade.

Now I have an SBIG and use self guiding. I am far happier with the SBIG. There is less cable clutter and the mount is easier to balance with only one scope and camera.

Paul

[iceman (Mike)]

Budget noname 80mm f/5 refractor, DMK21AU04 and PHD software. I love it for my widefield setup.

[skwinty (Steve)]

Originally Posted by iceman

Budget noname 80mm f/5 refractor, DMK21AU04 and PHD software. I love it for my widefield setup.

hi Mike
would this setup be suitable for my 12" and eq6

[gbeal]

Originally Posted by skwinty

hi Mike
would this setup be suitable for my 12" and eq6

I had similar to Mike, but with a ToUcam, and it worked a treat with my 10" Newt.
Gary

[skwinty (Steve)]

Thanks Gary
I'll be looking at a 80mm refractor and a webcam.
My main concern is the extra weight as the eq6 with a 12" newt and 25kg counterbalance weights pretty much maxes the mount's load capacity.

[gbeal]

One thing that can be done to reduce the apparent weight is the fit the guide-scope closer to the RA axis, rather than as far as possible.
The attached picture is from a website, and not mine. It does however show how Takahashi handle this problem. The main scope is on a flat plate which can move laterally across the top of the mount. Off to one side is the guide-scope, close to the RA axis. The lateral movement allows the slight to one side balance issues to be addressed, and the tube itself balances by sliding fore and aft.
This sort of plate and attachments are not beyond a dedicated machinist, but what Takahashi are the only ones I have seen is beyond me.
Gary

[Terry B]

Q guider through a 120mm skywatcher achromat on my EQ6

[pvelez (Pete)]

I have a Meade DSI using a Stellarvue 66M finder as the guidescope.

My LXD75 mount is close to overloaded with the 8" SN so I couldn't use a bigger scope. But with a 2x barlow on the finder and PHD, it all works a treat for me

Pete