Astro Trac AG320G

[Leo.G (Leo)]

I have an Astro Trac here and I can find very little about it's use in the Southern hemisphere.
I know the tracking arm shifts to the opposite side and it's appropriately marked but my assumption is once I have a gear head set to my precise latitude the Astro Trac should be hanging in front of the south pointing tripod leg.
I'm guessing that's a very wrong assumption because with it hanging down between the two northerly facing tripod legs (OK, one north east, one north west) I can then use the polar scope to align it. With it hanging down in front of the South facing leg (or hanging up as per the latitude adjustment of the gear head) the polar scope is pointing to the ground or pointing upwards north. I'm sure I can't see Polaris from Lithgow, NSW..
I haven't had the opportunity to use the unit yet (or any astro gear for a long time) but I have set it up in my lounge room to get a rough idea and I'm NO closer to knowing.
I can not find a suitable image of anyone this side of the equator using one.
Does anyone have experience and could they possibly point me in the right direction?
Reading the instructions online over and over hasn't made any difference, I'm still an idiot......


I am going to fabricate an adjustable latitude wedge once I weld up a frame for a milling machine......ONE DAY.....



Sorry, it's the 320AG


https://external-content.duckduckgo....37a&ipo=images


https://external-content.duckduckgo....c35&ipo=images

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Sorry, I may have answered my own question searching some other site with a "Cheat Sheet"

Attach AstroTrac with control panel facing north (south in southern hemisphere).

That's how I originally had it set up. If the clouds ever clear (last few nights but sore foot (broken because some idiot ran through the house to get out the back to take a photo in a hurry and kicked heavy tools SAME idiot had put right in the middle of door way to move to shed) doesn't make for fun and games in the dark (pain, lots of it).

[murphyme (Michael)]

Hello,


Here is a link to the manual for my Astrotrac, please let me know if you have trouble accessing it.


Michael.


https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/muyge...37nukkfew&dl=0

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Thank you very much Michael!


I've machined an adapter so I can use a polemaster CCD to align the unit to hopefully give me some great imaging when the sky clears. I've decided to start off with a 14mm ide angle lens (f 2.8 Rokinon) then prograss to a 50mm lens (very old Nikkor f1.4) and hopefully eventually to my Nikkor 80-200 f2.8ED and the ability to get around 180 second subs. I understand that will all depend on my accuracy setting the unit up.
I'm currently using a gear head tripod mount with minimal weight capacity (6Kg, the 25Kg gear head was way out of my financial capabilities) because it's easy to set my latitude while still staying level across the head. I had a heck of a job trying to do the same thing with my 25Kg ball head, I couldn't move it in one plain without it moving in every other plain as well.
I'm considering making an adjustable latitude wedge for the mount to keep it's 15Kg capacity which will bring my 80mm Megrez into the game, hopefully. It's the first model and pitched as a semi APO so it should be reasonable for the task.
Now all I need is 12mm aluminium plate and a stand for a milling machine which I have the steel for, I just have to get out and weld it up one day.
The sooner the better me thinks. If I wasn't so stupid and could remember how to TIG weld alloy, something I haven't done for 25 years I'd weld construct the thing, I may get to practising soon on some scrap. I was very good at it and have the equipment to do the welding. otherwise it will be screwed together.