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Video was a bit rushed I'm afraid but I'm pleased to have resisted spending to much money ha ha. Hopefully I'll be well enough to go to PAS next year.

Yeah we did a lot of looking but not much buying this time at least lol

To be honest I didn't go to buy anything really just to catch up with folk, we did chat a lot to people but I knew I needed a dew heater for the Newtonian so bought one. The solar outreach was interesting outside though I used to do it before covid hit but haven't done any since, hopefully we'll get back into it someday

Well I can confirm that the new focuser is fitted & most of the tilt has been sorted, I don't think I can get it any better simply as its not a PDS which as far as I'm aware have a slightly bigger secondary mirror. I was going to fit the autofocuser next but that can wait as we're gearing up for Kelling Heath star party.

That's such a shame Logan as they're good to go to even if just to look around & the free talks that they have there, plus it's nice to catch up with people.

Thanks Tony we were pretty tired by the end of the day but it's nice to catch up.

The guy on the Dew control stand did sell his mount though so maybe he was the potential customer 😅

Be careful what you wish for they can hurt your wallet, I have to say I were very restrained this time though.

Thanks Logan fingers crossed I can get this issue resolved at last, maybe the IAS & Kelling heath star party will help me? Clear skies

Thanks mate fingers crossed the issue will be fixed, hopefully the slump will pass soon clear skies.

Thanks Ollie I can see why people stick with refractors more plug & play & less of a headache, fingers crossed this will fix the issue & get me out of the astro slump. Clear skies

Thanks Nugsy don't get me wrong the first focuser I have is better than the stock Synta Crayford but if you have tilt you're gonna have a lot of agro trying to sort it. I did think about making shims but to much faffing around for my liking hence why I eventually went for the Ali Express one as it had an adapter plate that screws onto the bottom of the focuser & bolts onto the Synta plate. I don't think the rack & pinion you mention has tilt adjustment if I remember right although please correct me if I'm wrong. Cheers & clear skies

Hey Chris it'll be cool to see you with Daz, Grant & the gang to catch up, I'm sure there will be lots of shiny stuff there trying to tempt me to cripple my wallet lol.

I think it's reflectors in general out to get me I think it's some sort of conspiracy, weird thing is I used that Newtonian for years before whether it was at the dark site I used to go to or star parties, I thought the "upgrades" would improve things but seems to have given me more headaches lol. Thanks for your comment about the advice I've given I'm glad to have been some help, you've come up with some good ideas to which have helped me also. Clouds suck my friend

Thanks Stuart if this focuser doesn't fix the Newtonian then maybe I'll just have the 2 refractors set up if I can balance them with those hefty counterweights lol, I hope you have a nice time away & you feel more refreshed to get some more imaging done. Clear skies

Hi Tom yeah I watched that video on TH-cam to about the Crayford focuser quite some time back now nice bit of history that. I've got an operation looming to which I'm not looking forward to but it has to be done. Clear skies

Seems to be a bit of a common occurrence with these astro slumps hope you're well? I'm sure when you feel like it you'll be out again, clear skies matey

Thanks Andy I like the fact its a rack & pinion focuser & not a crayford as Synta ones do suffer with some slippage on the Newtonians & the ED Evostars as I've came across issues before. Hopefully this focuser will fix the issue & I can get out of this slump, cheers.

Yeah taking some deep breaths & start again, reflectors are great when they work but it seems mine like to put up a fight lol.

Ah shame you can't make the IAS it would have been good to catch up, fingers crossed this focuser will fix the issues then I can get back on track again.

I think reflectors of all kinds have got it in for me lol, fingers crossed this will sort it.

Thanks mate it will be great to catch up in a couple of weeks time, I won't be bringing the Newtonian though lol.

@@dumpydalekobservatory don’t blame you unless that’s your pet name for Nicky 😂

I only have some when I had to strip it to fix the focuser on my channel, to take it apart you need to remove the ring from the corrector plate & remove that, then remove the dovetail bars. If you have a RASA 11 like mine then you may need help to remove the mirror cell as the screws that hold it have nuts on the other side & they are quite fiddly. Due to stiction it might take some removing so be very careful when doing it. Also wear protective gloves so not to damage the optics etc. Make sure when putting it back together it goes back in the same orientation if you can so collimation should be fine or only need the slightest of adjustment, I hope this is of some help cheers.

@@dumpydalekobservatory Thanks, yes mine is a V1. They used some kind of black silicone in spots around the edge of the corrector that I had to cut, so the corrector is out. How did you reach the nuts on the inside of the tube at the mirror cell end? I need to prevent them from turning.

@@colinhaig8100 I had my arm inside the tube holding the nut with a spanner while my other half undid the screws it was the only way it could be done, yeah mine had that silicone stuff on too although the corrector had already been removed on mine, probably to empty all the water out from it.

Sorry Tom I've only just seen this so apologies for not getting back sooner, I just use the mono PC in the observatory & use Google remote which is fine for home use if the mono PC has a signal with the home router, I can even connect to it using my phone to but as for using it as a wifi hotspot to use out in the field I find it's just way over my head I'm afraid.

Thanks Chris yeah it did turn into a nightmare in the end but fingers crossed I've got it sorted. I did sadly drill it by hand as I only have a really cheap & nasty drill press from Amazon ( See the CGE pro ONSTEP install in the observatory video) It did the job but only just & isn't the most precise of tools lol. We're away next week so hoping to try it when we get back from our holidays,

Fingers crossed I'll get to try it out soon just a pity mine seemed to fight me all the way so it'll be great to see the differences.

This is true Tom but I suppose if everything is standardised there's no money to make either, getting there slowly I guess clear skies

Seems I'm not alone with this issue then I'm glad you managed to sort it out.

I think it ended up being more a 3 week job waiting for parts etc to get delivered, it does however to be ok now so hopefully I'll get a first light with it soon.

Hopefully I'll get to use it soon although we're gearing up for out holiday to Whitby in a week, we'll probably make it just in time for the wind & rain ha ha.

@@dumpydalekobservatory Whitby that’s a lovely place enjoy

Thanks Logan yeah I'm not to happy with the Ali Express seller I must admit there's also the dented cover which I think happened in transit so I may have to take it up with Paypal. Clear skies

Ha ha I wouldn't say DIY king as everything was fighting me in this mind you the RASA did when I fitted the Celestron retrofit focuser ended up having to totally strip that thing down, the thing is when I first had the Newtonian I pulled it apart & cleaned the mirror & it were just fine, maybe I should clean the mirror more often than 10 years I think.

It's ok Nugsy we were late back so weren't around at the premier oops lol, I think Andy bought his with the hand controller as the listing had it pictured, the one I bought had the sensor pictured but sadly didn't get one so seems a bit of a lottery when you buy the things. That said it does work & you can always set it to do a refocus every couple of hours so not to much of an issue.

Yeah I did try the loosening & tightening the screws as I tried to remove them Neil but sadly 4 still still snapped, maybe due to the poor quality of metals but it seems ok now even though its a bit of a bodge but seems solid enough so I guess I shall find out when I get round to testing it out. The Gemini focuser I have is working although I shall need to set up the backlash which I'll get round to doing to. I'm just a bit annoyed about the temperature sensor being missing & the damage done to it & all they're offering is $1.

Hmmm I think I would need to sell a few body parts to afford one of those lol

Hi there Chris, yes the larger heavier scope is closer to the centre than the refractor although it's not properly balanced as yet as I'm waiting for the autofocuser to arrive so I can then attempt to balance it all properly also need to get a dew heater for the secondary mirror to so still going to be a while before it all gets a first light.

Thanks mate hopefully I won't have to wait to long cheers clear skies.

Thanks & yes it is Ascom compliant if you watch this video by Andy he shows you it working within NINA, the drivers can be a bit of a faff to find but he does show you how he got his. th-cam.com/video/zMlYYb_ENdE/w-d-xo.html

@@dumpydalekobservatory Thanks mate.

Ha ha yeah sorry about that Tom although in my defence I've owned both scopes for quite a while now lol, weird as I saw that you'd commented a couple of days ago only to see that it had gone for some reason very weird. Clear skies!!

@@dumpydalekobservatory Hi, it's odd as I to had noted this, hence re writing another comment I've even had to re subscribe to others after they'd disappeared from my subs list ??..

I think it's youTube just being mardy lol.

Thanks Tony lets hope I won't have to long to wait, clear skies.

No worries Neil I paid over that for a second hand focus cube a while back so I'm hoping the Gemini EAF is going to be ok.