AO setup

[srchadwi (Steve)]

Hi James

You were asking about my AO set up.

I use a Starlight Xpress AO which comes with an Off Axis Guider attached. I use the SX Lodestar in this OAG. This setup can be used with any imagaing camera - I use an ST8, although I'm thinking of getting a QHY9 shortly.

The scope I use the AO with is a Vixen 260L (10" fl3000mm) at various f ratios. Also a Megrez 90mm short tube refractor. It is really at long focal lengths that the AO comes into its own.

All the best

Steve

[Moon (James)]

Thanks Steve,

I never realised such a product existed. Very interesting concept...

[AlexN]

Steve.. I've been considering this as my one of my next upgrades.. I image at 1630mm F/L although my seeing is normally average at best.. Normally I would go for the SBIG AO-8 for my ST-10, however my ST-10 doesn't have the internal guide chip, so their AO unit is not compatible without me first upgrading the camera... for this reason, the SX-AO unit and a lodestar is looking like the best option...

Can you please show me either a photo, or explain to me how everything connects together, ie - guide camera to the AO unit, AO unit to the pc etc and cables required...

Cheers mate.
Alex.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Alex

I just had my ST10 upgraded to the external guide socket so I can use the AO8 with an OAGer for before the filter AO.

The SXV AO costs $2370 and guide cam $625 = A$2915 purchased in OZ.

An ST10 conversion plus SBIG Guide cam plus A08 is A$3015 plus freight and GST from the US.

OK, the SBIG solution is more, but not as much as you would think, and well... its SBIG, the real deal.

[Gerald Sargent]

The AO-8 when used with CCD OPs uses the guide chip in the SBIG camera.
SBIG advise that other systems (iepossibly maxim or other) may also use the imaging
chip, I have maxim but have not checked thi as CCD OPs is I find the best for
SBIG cameras.. It would appear however that the AO-8 is onlt really of use for
systems of 2m or over focal length, and best when seeing is good. Very bright
stars can cause it to "judder" so must be avoided. - Gerald.

[srchadwi (Steve)]

Hi Alex

My imaging camera is an ST8 and I was going to get it upgraded so that I could buy the AO8. However, I went for the SX AO for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it's completely independent of the imaging camera. This means you can use any camera with it - even DSLRs.

Secondly, the you want a really sensitive guide camera. The shorter exposures that the unit can use the better. Assuming reasonable conditions with the SX lodestar I can always guide on a star at 0.1 sec exposures. This means that the AO makes changes to the optical path between 7 and 9 times a second.

Doing it this way means that you also have a fully independent guide camera for any other situations that you might choose. For instance, you can use it for normal guiding in the OAG if you want.


I'll get a picture of it set up for you.

The general connections are: The AO unit connects to the guide port in your mount and also to the PC with a serial connector.

The Lodestar only has one connection when used in conjunction with the AO - it connects to the USB in your PC.

Your imaging camera connects to your PC in the normal way. It doesn't have any connections to AO/Lodestar/mount.

Hope that helps

Steve