MarkS

I understand it is not compatible. The AAF3 control electronics is in the unit itself. Mark

Thanks Christer, That's the same as I got. For me, with a mobile set-up, the blue adapter is definitely not the way I'm going to do it. I don't like the idea of the 3-point pressure on the barrel of the Wynne, and in any case it would require me to remove the Wynne form the adapter each time.... I'll keep you posted when I have a solution that suits me. Mark

Hi Christer, Did you receive a second spacer/adapter? If so, could you please post an image of it - I'm keen to see whether it is as I hope! Mark

Pelle, The first adapter you describe is the one I didn't get! I'm waiting on it..... I also have no idea about the other one. Mark

Hi Benoit, The camera-side set-up, including the Red Wheel, is exactly the same as for the OK3. I'm currently in conversation with ASA on the spacer required to set the Wynne corrector at the right position. Once I've got this, I'll photograph the set-up for you. Note that the AAF3 has 17mm of travel, compared to the OK3's 30mm. The AAF3 uses an absolute encoder so there's no Homefind. Can't wait to commission it! Mark

Nice image, Ron! (I do like this camera!) Mark

Hi Benoit, I don't have a drawing of the AAF3, but I do now have an AAF3. If you still have questions, I may be able to help (no promises!) Mark

I have an OK3 installed, but if I don't want to use AF, ensuring "Auotfocus during sequence - Never" is checked certainly results in no AF during sequence. Dave, make sure you press "Apply" after checking the "Never" box AND then "File - Save", otherwise it won't be saved. Mark

Nigel, I agree with Waldemar's comments on 2,4,5 and 6. Regarding 3, the new ASA website doesn't have an English version of the 2012 Autoslew manual - or it didn't when I last looked, and it doesn't have the best Sequence manual either. The latter I think I sent you. Regarding 6, I think it's best left with the forum. I think we (one of our moderators?) should ask ASA to put these on their download section, as they are really essential! I also think we should try to get ASA to allow us to put a section on the Wiki containing their supplementary documentation. Surely this would be OK provided that these documents cannot be edited. (Does the Wiki provide for such a feature?) Mark

Hi Benoit, I understand your reasoning here. FOV and how big the prints are to be (if any) also enter the consideration....Hava fun with the decision! Mark

Hi Benoit, One of the most important differences between the 16200 and the16803 is the pixel size. One aspect of this is plate scale. The 16200 on the ASA10/Wynne gives 1.37"/px, whereas the 16803 gives 2.05"/px. The ASA12/Wynne with its 20% longer focal length will be better suited to the 16803 than the ASA10, as it gives, theoretically at least, a more favourable plate scale of 1.7"/px. Of course, the importance of this consideration depends on the seeing conditions you experience. (Just my 2cents worth ) Mark

I get a message that an account could not be created because the source could not be identified. I've tried 2 computers, both Firefox, and enabled cookies and turned off Protection Software. But I get exactly the same response...... Mark

If I read the QSI specs correctly, the backfocus distance is 50.2 mm for the QSI683swg-8. and T-mount. The ASA 3" Wynne requires 57.3mm optical. If the 50.2mm quoted by QSI is physical, then you have 8.4mm as the required adapter thickness, assuming 4mm total glass thickness between sensor and corrector. It is just possible to make an adapter this thin - though ASA may not be tooled up for it. The 8.4 mm thickness gives just enough depth to contain a M3 bolt head plus a reasonable seating thickness. You may be able to find a CNC mahine shop that could and would do it. (I have access to such a facility, which makes all my adapters) You need to check very carefully whether the QSI backfocus depth specified is physical or optical, and, if the latter, what the assumed glass thickness is for coverglass and filters. There isn't much latitude for best performance. Philipp Keller told me some time ago you need to be within +/- 0.5mm. I like to have the distance accurate to machine tolerance. Mark

Hi Christer, Is anyone else finding it impossible to 'create an account' on the Wiki? Via Windows7 and Firefox I get nowhere. The screen just goes blank after I follow all the prompts. I have cookies enabled. This needs to be fixed if the Wiki is to get anywhere. Please help! Mark

Hi Nigel, I don't have anything on the ACC itself, but I do have a detailed run-down on setting up AF in Sequence. If you don't have that (I can't find the source of it), send me your email and I can forward a copy. Mark

Hi again Max, I suggest you shoot some images, say, 5 or 10 min subs, preferably with MLPT, to see how much of a problem you have. Mark

Hi Max, I've looked at your file, and compared the figures to a 21 star pox file from my DDM60. I see no significant differences. What is showing you that the RA pointing is off? Mark

Hi Ron, I'll be interested in how you go with the G3. I've had mine for 3 months, but the weather here has been atrocious, so I haven't got anything the show yet!!! (apart from one lonely 10min Ha sub on M8) Mark

Hi Thomas, I ran into the same problem with the Microtouch/FocusMax set-up on my refractor. I found that it was necessary to trick Sequence into moving the focus by the right distances. I measured how many steps the Microtouch needed to move 1mm. In my case it moved 72mm for 20,000 steps, ie 0.36mm per 100steps. I then established that Sequence thinks 100 Microtouch steps is 0.1mm, so that I had to set the coarse and fine AF steps in Sequence to 1/3.6 times the actual value I wanted. Using this as a starting point, I then altered the steps until I got the right HFD shifts for coarse and fine shifts. This has given satisfactory AF performance during Sequence runs. With the focus offsets, I just used what Sequence AF measured, and it worked OK. Hope this helps! Mark

Mike, Since my set-up is mobile, and subject to variations in alignment between one session and the next, I never know how far off that first slew will be. So here's what I do - and it never fails: After homefind, I slew to the zenith, and wait for the first star to appear in the evening sky. I slew to it via TheSkyX, and centre it with the Gamepad on my visual finder (which is a super-light Quikfinder so as not to mess with balance issues). This is necessary to get the star onto the camera sensor. How far off that star is to start with doesn't matter to me, as long as it is in the finder view. It is dependent on how close I got the initial physical alignment. But usually the star is within about 2 degrees. So my answer to your direct question as to whether 5 degrees is normal or not is that it looks high but it would be perfectly manageable with the approach described here. However, I would want to set the system up physically more accurately in the first place. Then I centre the star on the camera and synch TheSkyX. This sets the initial alignment well enough for the PA routine (once it is dark enough!) The config in place for this is usually whatever I used for the previous session. This is not critical. Hope this helps. Mark

Nice image, Ron. Way too far north for me, so thanks for showing! Mark

Hi All, I think it would be better not to ask the last two questions on Nigel's list. I can't think of any company likely to answer #5, and #6 is well covered by #2. Mark

My gamepad is set up so that the scope slews very slowly using the joystick alone, at medium speed with one button pressed, and very fast with another button pressed. I find this useful during the PA routine. Mark

Hi Daniel, 1.69"/px is correct by my calculation - Sequence will calculate the figure if you enter the CCD and focal length details into the appropriate Settings windows. I always synch Sequence before going to Autopoint. If synch is OK, it should ensure that the scope is pointing close enough for Pinpoint to work with the 3 star PA routine. I also leave the Max. Magnitude in the Plate Solve Settings window at 14 and the Expansion% at 20. Mark

Hi Daniel, Two points: First, what is the focal length of the Meade 102 APO? The information I found was 920mm. If this is so, then I calculate a plate scale of 1.29"/px for your camera which has 4.54micron pixels. Second, did you synchronise Sequence before running Autopoint? Mark