Re: [APML] Thoughts on Autoguider Setup

[Craig Utter <cmutter@bellatlantic.net>]

Hold on Sean, you know that's not true. I've gotten the 201xt to work fine
with my CI-700 mount and that mount will not except commands issued simultaneously
either. The hardest part about using the 201xt is getting the orientation
of the guider body alligned with the R.A. axis. I found that this was the
biggest problem in getting the Meade autoguiders to work properly (I'm
using a 208xt now).Focus is always important and for some reason the 201xt
body likes to be oriented so the power connector is, for lack of a better
phrase, "heading west" if you use it in a diagonal rather than straight
into the focuser.
I'll be the first to admit that the 201xt and 208xt are pickey and
it took a lot of time to work out the problems but they both can do an
excellent job. I think the myth of the simultaneous commands started from
people who didn't want to spend the time to get them to work.

Craig Michael Utter

Sean Walker wrote:

The 201 XT will not work with the GM-8 because the 201 issues commands in
both axis simultaneously, but the losmandy can only do corrections in one
axis at a time, therefore you would be in for a world of headaches and
trailed shots.

Sean Walker

> From: Maurice Toet <mftoet@hetnet.nl>
> Reply-To: astro-photo@seds.org
> Date: Fri, 22 Feb 2002 17:26:32 +0100
> To: APML <astro-photo@seds.org>
> Subject: [APML] Thoughts on Autoguider Setup
>
> Hi group,
>
> My local astronomy club has owned a Meade Pictor 201XT autoguider for
> several years. It came with a Pictor 416XT CCD-camera, but has never
> been used because it isn't compatible with the old Celestron C-14 drive
> base. I happen to own a Losmandy GM-8 and would like to try the
> autoguider using it for prime-focus photography with my 150-mm
> Maksutov-Cassegrain. When a reducer is inserted, the focal length of
> this telescope becomes 1350 mm (f/9). I have a 60-mm f/7 guidescope
> (f=420 mm), but don't know if this is long enough to autoguide the Mak.
> Of course I can insert a Barlow lens to extend the focal length to 840
> mm. I've learned that in order to use a guidescope effectively when
> guiding with the eye, the focal length should at least be the same as
> that of the main telescope. Does this also apply for autoguiding?
>
> An f/9 telescope is not the ideal instrument for deep-sky photography.
> Though it's becomming galaxy-time and would like to record some of the
> brighter examples (M81/M82; M51; M65/M66/NGC3628; Markarian's Chain
> etc.). Although a bit grainy, I think I'm going to use Kodak RF 1000
> film. Any suggestions on exposure times (mag. 6 skies)?
>
>
> Kind regards,
>
> --
> Maurice Toet
> http://www.amateur-sterrenkunde.nl
>
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