AG Optical 12.5 iDK arrives

[gregbradley]

[QUOTE=loc46south;1217399]Greg - Peter is correct - I suspect that the Remote Guide Head has a NIR coated chamber window, not that it matters now - I have sourced a ST7XME and that has a QE of around 50% at 850nm, so guidestars will not be a problem.


That's interesting, so the STi has a NIR coating. That may well be true. It would explain why I didn't see much of a gain using an IR filter on a MMOAG with it.

Greg.

[PRejto (Peter)]

Originally Posted by loc46south

Hi Greg - I suspect you are referring to the Innovations Foresight On Axis Guider. I'm a bit if a sucker for new technology - I like the idea of it and I am going to couple it up to a ST7XME so I can drive an AO-8 off it. I also like the idea of the Focus Lock software being able to adjust your focus in real time. Time will tell if it is groundbreaking technology or just another item for the back shelf in the garage. For me it does away with the rotator and saves a few inches in back focus.

Cheers
Geof Wingham

Geof,

The ONAG is a great piece of kit...just be quite sure about your back focus and equipment clearance.....and, if you mount the imaging camera close to the ONAG you must make sure that the guide camera will come to focus! The ONAG does provide a good FOV but only as wide as the camera guiding unless you move the stage which presents problems if you are remote (read that as cannot be done)....so, I am using an SX ultrastar to guide.

FocusLock works great! I was a beta testor for this software and I now use it for all imaging. My subs have never been better and the FWHM just stays constant...only drifting lower with altitude and never with temperature.

Peter

[gregbradley]

FocusLock works great! I was a beta testor for this software and I now use it for all imaging. My subs have never been better and the FWHM just stays constant...only drifting lower with altitude and never with temperature.

Peter[/QUOTE]

Peter,

Do you think the ONAG gives better results than an AO unit? You can combine both I assume but it would start to get pretty heavy and complex.

But focuslock plus improved guiding seems a good gain. I wonder if its the same or more than an AO?

Greg.

[loc46south (Geoffrey)]

Thanks for the heads up Peter on Focus Lock and the On Axis Guider - I intend to use it and it will fit the image train. Greg firstly the ST-i should show some image in NIR it is not fitted with a window, there is only a cover slip on the CCD.

Secondly I intend to experiment with AO-8, I have acquired a SBIG ST7XME as a guide camera and intend to use the main chip as a guide chip and it is capable of driving the AO-8. We will see over the coming months how it all turns out.

I still need to work through problems with the Focuser and replace that as the one I have will not adequately support the weight without flexing.

Cheers
Geof Wingham