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Hi Star Adventurers, (2i), I've had this tiny mount for half a year, and recently I started thinking about upgrading it. Here are a few ideas I had in mind; 1. Replace AA batteries with a LiPo rechargeable one 2. Get a normal wedge, or just use it directly on Alt-Az mount with slow controls (makes polar alignment easier) 3. Are there any fancy dec brackets? I mean default is ok but you never know If there's anything better 4. Somehow make a usable polar illuminator (the default one is not powerful enough) 5. Using a guide scope to guide it? I mean there is that port, but I've never tried guiding it. Idk if it is worth it at under 300mm 6. Also Wi-Fi control is sometimes lacking, for example, if I wanna center the object in the frame, there is a heavy delay at times, making it kinda unusable. Could I somehow connect it to my PC and control it using NINA? 7. Throw away the default polar scope cap and use an eyepiece cover (I actually ended up doing so) Anyway, those are just some of the ideas I had in mind. It would be interesting to hear from someone who actually implemented such upgrades. How did it go? Was it worth it? Should I just get a CGEM-DX?  |
5.63
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I just recently sold an EQM-35 for $400. It is twice the mount a star tracker is, i would look for one. |
0.00
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Star adventure 2i I purchased a 90 deg adapter for the polar scope by far easier than getting on my knees For the polar scope illuminator I purchased A clamp on red book light with the snake head far better thank the bubble gum machine Toy that came with it. And also use it with My heq 5 pro mount, that illuminator is too Bright and won't adjust down enough Can get both, on Amazon |
4.02
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can you really buy a CGEM DX? it's $2,000 if I had that money, I would not think twice to get a harmonic drive mount, like an AM5; the bigger the payload the better. I don't recommend equatorial mounts anymore; they're too heavy and they need heavy counterweights if you're gonna use a heavy scope; not worth it; they're too heavy in every way. if you're really into astro, a good mount will stay with you for a long time. |
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don't recommend equatorial mounts anymore; they're too heavy and they need heavy counterweights if you're gonna use a heavy scope; not worth it; they're too heavy in every way. I have an AM5 and a EQ6 and when I seriously setup to leave out for days in my yard it is the EQ6 only. The AM5 is a very cool travel mount and works great with a 15 lb. weight in the tripod bag. It can still be tipped over even with that. Without the weight I would never consider leaving it outside long. A gust of wind can blow it over without the bag weight. I like the stability of heavy equatorial mounts for extended use. |
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can you really buy a CGEM DX? It was a joke bruh I need a mount that can fit into my backpack and still leave enough space behind for a scope  So Star Adventurer is the only option here |
1.51
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At the risk of becoming the laugh of the day, if not for the idea then at least for the bad woodworking skills  . Here's an easy scope illuminator fix. It's ugly but it works well. I mounted a red headlamp on the declination bracket with a piece of wood. Just a 2x2x2ish piece with an angle on the front. I used eastern white cedar because I happened to have some and it is a very light wood, even lighter than pine.  I can tilt the headlamps forward/backward to "control" the amount of light that goes in the polar scope.  To mount it I drilled a 3/8" hole to fit over the screw on the declination bracket and 2 small holes for some #8 1" screws.  And I screwed it from the back of the declination bracket.  This was a quick prototype, I never got to make a nicer one because it works so well there is not just point on redoing it. Maybe at some point I'll try to find someone to 3D print me a few. Another way to improve the polar scope is to just not use it. I ordered a used 2i which I will get next week. I will pair it with an Asiair Mini and use its polar alignment feature. You have to manually do the 60 degrees rotation because the 2i isn't goto but every else is just the same. And then the Asiair can do your guiding with a ZWO guiding camera and scope. |
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Eric Gagne: Brilliant innovation! I might wanna try that |
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Alien_Enthusiast:can you really buy a CGEM DX? IMO It was a sensible question though It depends on your own needs; I sometimes feel like I wanna throw away my heavy AVX mount and use a star tracker with a small scope; that's just me; I'm simply tired of transporting my cannon mounted on the AVX, strapped to a dolly in and out, in and out, over and over again, up and down that ramp that I put outside (because there is a big step going from my backyard door to the ground outside), nearly causing my scope to fall on me and knock me out, but I'm a good wrestler ***ARRARARRA!!*** (and no, I'm not a pug) and all that work plus 40 minutes of PA just to get 3 hours of bad guiding for a certain target, or that pretty cloud that comes around that is sent as a heartfelt gift from the fat mad scientist at 7:00 PM sharp. anyway, for the most part, there is not much of a "worst and best, right and wrong" dilemma when it comes to choosing equipment; it depends on the overall situation of the bruh in need. but still, YMMV  |
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Alien_Enthusiast:can you really buy a CGEM DX? Check ur messages lmao M83 almost ready |
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I’ve upgraded my polar scope illuminator with a 3D printed adapter - there are loads of good designs out there. Also an adapter to allow me to attach old Olympus right angle view finder. Another development adding a DEC motor, but I’ve not managed to get /develop the Rasbian code for guiding in DEC yet. Anyone done this? https://www.astrobin.com/cem5rq/?nc=&nce=#rG This was designed to work with a waveshare HAT (runs dual steppers) which I got to autofocus with a stepper motor and homemade bracket - this works well. https://www.astrobin.com/0geet7/?q=Waveshare%20HAT I’ve had some success with this excellent little mount - super light and portable. |
1.43
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| Automated DEC dithering project I did. I was getting walking noise even with RA dithering, and wanted to keep my PCB design skills sharp, so I implemented it. I didn't complete the full tutorial, but I have at least one other ditherer out there working for someone! Would I recommend the effort now that there is a Star Adventurer GTI, probably not ! |
