Just got an ASIAir, and now found this ! You've delivered a super, step-by-step that is non-technical and easy to follow! Thank you so much! I feel much more confident on making this work now! 🙂👍
Great talk-through Antoine! - Me and my partner Chloe absolutely love our ASIAIR systems, they are so pleasant to use and never give us any trouble! :-)
It's so good, it's almost cheating. Platesolving, focusing, and guiding it all works so good. I've been using one for about a year now on my main imaging rig. I suppose the only drawback is, you need your equipment to be in the ZWO family. I have found that I also dither every 5th frame and I run Auto Focus every hour.
I'm a bit puzzled with the fact that tracking is turned off initially (or maybe I'm doing something wrong) after I do PA. I suppose the tracking should be turned on to ensure we won't miss the polar alignement, right?
Unfortunately you omit the most important part - how to connect asiair to the mount -specifically, your Atlas Eq-g mount. cable.port etc? Intial mount alignment required?
I just got a asiair pro in sept to add guiding in the field. I decided might as well get my first astrocamera as well so got the asi2600 mc. This video would have been super helpful! Actually havent been able to get out since November so this does help. I was thinking Id forget how to use it by the time the arctic temps finally rise!
Sadly, I have too many non-ZWO pieces of equipment to use an ASIAir, but I do like how easy the software seems to be to use. One point about the Group by Slot for your filters. You said in the video that changing filters every shot is a pain and I take your point as it can increase imaging time. However, I would argue that it's better to change your filter every shot or fairly frequently to ensure you get good data for all of your filters. If you image one filter at the beginning of the night and the seeing deteriorates or clouds roll in before you get data from another one of your other filters, it might be a while before you can get data from that filter. If you change filters more frequently then you're more likely to get something useable for all of your filters. It's a personal preference I guess and something each person has to decide for themselves. If you're planning on getting a ton of integration time on a single target spanning several nights then it may not make a difference, but if you're only planning on imaging for only one night, you might not get all your data and it might be something you want to consider.
I think that it would only be worth it if your filters are parfocal (or if your offset is perfect) so that it doesn't have to always refocus with each frame.
@@GalacticHunter that's a valid point. I have a Redcat and I'm using Chroma filters the broadband and narrowband filters are all parfocal with each other within a step or two. I rarely ever have to refocus even with temperature changes since the critical focus band is so large.
By the way, when doing the guide setup, don't select a star. Just click the double arrow to start looping and click the target button. You'll have multi-star guiding then.
To make it more clear, I've just quickly created a small demo video. It was in my ASIAIR screenrecordings folder, which stores a lot of those recordings that are unusable for my TH-cam vids :P This part was not freezing ;) th-cam.com/video/h1mUgmo05x0/w-d-xo.html
Hi Antoine, Great tutorial and great channel. I had a quick question. How do you connect your Atlas EQ-G mount to the ZWO Asi Air Plus? I mean what cables are used and is the Syn Scan V5 hand controller involved (in PC direct or non-PC direct mode)? Thanks!
Thank you! I use an EQ-Dir cable, the one I bought is this one: amzn.to/3fNDsjm And no I don't ever use the hand controller :) Just plug in the mount with this one cable going straight to the ASIAir
Thanks for replying. I have ordered the cable. That is certainly the way to go. Incidentally, I was able to use the USB-A to USB-B cable (between Hand controller and Asiair) with the SynScan V5 in PC direct mode and ASIAir could talk to the Atlas EQ-G mount successfully. (Using EQMOD mount instead of Orion Atlas EQ-G mount when choosing mount in the ASIair settings (which is counter-intuitive)). Had to also upgrade SynScan to at least version 04.39.15. In case, someone wants to have both options of Hand Controller and ASIAir..
@@mgillvideos I do it exactly the same way with my EQ6 (different cable supplier and skywatcher branded EQ6). I never use the handcontroller during photo sessions but I need to the feel the buttons when doing visual observing. I'm not certain that you CAN have them both working simultaneously though - I've only done one or the other. By the time I have have entered the details into the handset, I've never felt like fiddling about to get the ASIAIR working again as well. If you want the richest user experience - namely skysafari goto feature from a tablet or phone (via the asiair), and a visual opportunity with "eyes free" tactile up down left right of a hand controller, then expect to do some investigating & trouble shooting and keep track of exactly what you did and in what order for next time. For me this would be ideal configuration, but the setup is challenging and subsequent good operation vulnerable to disturbance. The minute the hand controller makes an adjustment, the ASIAIR will lose its place (and will need to plate solve on the next goto). While that *can* work - in fact I've seen it recover orientation after moving the scope by hand with clutches loose it can fail too. In the general case, and if you slew across the sky with the handset to a new target (rather than browsing around the vicinity of target with fine control), or move the scope by hand, then ASIAIR will definitely lose its place, and until it is reorientated it *could* do anything, like slew to pointing at the ground or obstruction - no plate solve - (or worse case drive into a tripod leg). So, if that is a physical possibility, keep a finger hovering over the cancel button if you subsequently use the goto.
@@amp2amp800 Yeah I get what you mean. What I meant was using one or the other, using them simultaneously is definitely a challenge and probably not a good idea
@@mgillvideos If I get a clear night to play I want to try hand controller/AAP plate solve/AAP sync to mount/AAP goto sequence. I THINK that will work in that direction, but if I remember/guess right, the synscan controller will be greatly offended by this, and will insist that I reconfigure and realign it before it will play. But that'll be OK if it will just let me use the slomo buttons. I've just suggested to ZWO that supporting a bluetooth gamecontoller (mini) as an option, instead of the 4 touchscreen goto buttons on the AAP, would give us everything we really need (for visual) so that the synscan controller can be retired completely. AAP can provide a goto feature using the guidescope and then we could switch out the main camera for an eyepiece whenever we feel like it. The only thing in the way is having to look at and press buttons on a touchscreen to make slow motion adjustments when browsing around your target. You never know. It's an idea that might make the shortlist.
greetings!! have you been able to use your asiair with the 10micron? i have one coming. your review on the 10 micron just pushed me over the edge....... must have! thank you for you for your videos
Merci antoine pour cette vidéo. Qu'est ce qu'il en est de la calibration pour l'auto guidage avec L'ASIAIR? Par ailleurs, la raquette de commande est-elle encore active sur la monture pour la calibration GOTO? Ou n'y a t il plus du tout de calibration sur des étoiles avec le plate solving?
Just got an ASIAir, and now found this ! You've delivered a super, step-by-step that is non-technical and easy to follow! Thank you so much! I feel much more confident on making this work now! 🙂👍
Great talk-through Antoine! - Me and my partner Chloe absolutely love our ASIAIR systems, they are so pleasant to use and never give us any trouble! :-)
Thanks! Yes the ASIAir really is reliable!
Thanks, i did not know about the tap and center function. 👍
Awesome job I learned a couple of things that I was unaware of.
Awesome, thanks!
I really love the thumbnail. The photo of you in pose is perfect!
Haha thanks! I forgot to take an actual thumbnail pic so I had to find a good frame in the whole video 😅
@@GalacticHunter ...and you nailed it 👍
It's so good, it's almost cheating. Platesolving, focusing, and guiding it all works so good. I've been using one for about a year now on my main imaging rig. I suppose the only drawback is, you need your equipment to be in the ZWO family.
I have found that I also dither every 5th frame and I run Auto Focus every hour.
Yes this little device really changed the game! We've been using the ASIAir since the very first generation and it really helped make things easier.
Thank you for the video. I might need to consider that for the future.
Very many thanks, Antoine - my setup is very similar to yours so this tutorial is perfect.
Awesome thanks!
Hi I just bought a asiair plus. Unfortunately, it does not connect with my MyT mount. Im still going to keep it because I like how it polar aligns
I noticed you have the baud rate set to 9600 instead of the typical 115200. Any reason for that? Thanks for the video.
I'm a bit puzzled with the fact that tracking is turned off initially (or maybe I'm doing something wrong) after I do PA. I suppose the tracking should be turned on to ensure we won't miss the polar alignement, right?
Unfortunately you omit the most important part - how to connect asiair to the mount -specifically, your Atlas Eq-g mount. cable.port etc? Intial mount alignment required?
I just got a asiair pro in sept to add guiding in the field. I decided might as well get my first astrocamera as well so got the asi2600 mc. This video would have been super helpful! Actually havent been able to get out since November so this does help. I was thinking Id forget how to use it by the time the arctic temps finally rise!
Haha sorry to hear you haven't been able to image much, hopefully your future is... clear :D
Sadly, I have too many non-ZWO pieces of equipment to use an ASIAir, but I do like how easy the software seems to be to use. One point about the Group by Slot for your filters. You said in the video that changing filters every shot is a pain and I take your point as it can increase imaging time. However, I would argue that it's better to change your filter every shot or fairly frequently to ensure you get good data for all of your filters. If you image one filter at the beginning of the night and the seeing deteriorates or clouds roll in before you get data from another one of your other filters, it might be a while before you can get data from that filter. If you change filters more frequently then you're more likely to get something useable for all of your filters. It's a personal preference I guess and something each person has to decide for themselves. If you're planning on getting a ton of integration time on a single target spanning several nights then it may not make a difference, but if you're only planning on imaging for only one night, you might not get all your data and it might be something you want to consider.
I think that it would only be worth it if your filters are parfocal (or if your offset is perfect) so that it doesn't have to always refocus with each frame.
@@GalacticHunter that's a valid point. I have a Redcat and I'm using Chroma filters the broadband and narrowband filters are all parfocal with each other within a step or two. I rarely ever have to refocus even with temperature changes since the critical focus band is so large.
Is the ZWO ASI120mm camera compatible with the ZWO NEW ASI AIR PLUS 256GB?
By the way, when doing the guide setup, don't select a star. Just click the double arrow to start looping and click the target button. You'll have multi-star guiding then.
Oh I didn't know that! Very interesting thanks!
To make it more clear, I've just quickly created a small demo video. It was in my ASIAIR screenrecordings folder, which stores a lot of those recordings that are unusable for my TH-cam vids :P This part was not freezing ;)
th-cam.com/video/h1mUgmo05x0/w-d-xo.html
@@GalacticHunter I hope my video link will not get auto-moderated away. Else you'll find it in TH-cam Studio.
@@KopLamp Perfect thanks for sharing!
I have tried creating screenrecordings for my video's on the ASIAIR too and the iPhone screenrecordings most times freeze up... Annoying.
Yes super annoying... this was my 3rd night re-recording this exact same video...
Hi Antoine, Great tutorial and great channel. I had a quick question. How do you connect your Atlas EQ-G mount to the ZWO Asi Air Plus? I mean what cables are used and is the Syn Scan V5 hand controller involved (in PC direct or non-PC direct mode)? Thanks!
Thank you! I use an EQ-Dir cable, the one I bought is this one: amzn.to/3fNDsjm And no I don't ever use the hand controller :) Just plug in the mount with this one cable going straight to the ASIAir
Thanks for replying. I have ordered the cable. That is certainly the way to go. Incidentally, I was able to use the USB-A to USB-B cable (between Hand controller and Asiair) with the SynScan V5 in PC direct mode and ASIAir could talk to the Atlas EQ-G mount successfully. (Using EQMOD mount instead of Orion Atlas EQ-G mount when choosing mount in the ASIair settings (which is counter-intuitive)). Had to also upgrade SynScan to at least version 04.39.15. In case, someone wants to have both options of Hand Controller and ASIAir..
@@mgillvideos I do it exactly the same way with my EQ6 (different cable supplier and skywatcher branded EQ6). I never use the handcontroller during photo sessions but I need to the feel the buttons when doing visual observing. I'm not certain that you CAN have them both working simultaneously though - I've only done one or the other. By the time I have have entered the details into the handset, I've never felt like fiddling about to get the ASIAIR working again as well. If you want the richest user experience - namely skysafari goto feature from a tablet or phone (via the asiair), and a visual opportunity with "eyes free" tactile up down left right of a hand controller, then expect to do some investigating & trouble shooting and keep track of exactly what you did and in what order for next time. For me this would be ideal configuration, but the setup is challenging and subsequent good operation vulnerable to disturbance. The minute the hand controller makes an adjustment, the ASIAIR will lose its place (and will need to plate solve on the next goto). While that *can* work - in fact I've seen it recover orientation after moving the scope by hand with clutches loose it can fail too. In the general case, and if you slew across the sky with the handset to a new target (rather than browsing around the vicinity of target with fine control), or move the scope by hand, then ASIAIR will definitely lose its place, and until it is reorientated it *could* do anything, like slew to pointing at the ground or obstruction - no plate solve - (or worse case drive into a tripod leg). So, if that is a physical possibility, keep a finger hovering over the cancel button if you subsequently use the goto.
@@amp2amp800 Yeah I get what you mean. What I meant was using one or the other, using them simultaneously is definitely a challenge and probably not a good idea
@@mgillvideos If I get a clear night to play I want to try hand controller/AAP plate solve/AAP sync to mount/AAP goto sequence. I THINK that will work in that direction, but if I remember/guess right, the synscan controller will be greatly offended by this, and will insist that I reconfigure and realign it before it will play. But that'll be OK if it will just let me use the slomo buttons. I've just suggested to ZWO that supporting a bluetooth gamecontoller (mini) as an option, instead of the 4 touchscreen goto buttons on the AAP, would give us everything we really need (for visual) so that the synscan controller can be retired completely. AAP can provide a goto feature using the guidescope and then we could switch out the main camera for an eyepiece whenever we feel like it. The only thing in the way is having to look at and press buttons on a touchscreen to make slow motion adjustments when browsing around your target. You never know. It's an idea that might make the shortlist.
I see that you're using an OAG. Does the asiair plus pause guiding during an automated refocus?
is this support sky watcher star adventurer GTI?
You have all your kit that's mount two cameras a focuser and filter wheel do you fit all your kit onto the zwo Aslair thanks
Yes as long as they are all ZWO products (besides the camera that can be a DSLR for example) then they can connect to the ASIAir.
Thanks I have two alter Cameras and moonlite foucer and a Atik filter wheel wil they're working on it thanks
@@alangriffiths1432 No sadly it has to be ZWO.
Thanks
Been using one for 3 years now (asiair 1 and pro) I can never go back now
Definitely a good investment!
Very nice guide , however, you could more focus on ASIAIR PLUS screen.. During showing your face, I thought "where.. where..." many times.
Anyone know about that cheater astro addict , who stoles photos of others and post it in Instagram!!!!!
?
The most important is com/usb cable!!! without it you are ZERO!
It would help for us using phones if the subject talked about in inset were the full frame and you and mount were the inset.
Hello!l how did you connect asiair to the mount -specifically, your Atlas Eq-g mount. cable.port etc? Intial mount alignment required?
greetings!! have you been able to use your asiair with the 10micron? i have one coming. your review on the 10 micron just pushed me over the edge....... must have! thank you for you for your videos
Haha thanks, I actually haven't tried using the ASIAir with the 10Micron yet but I read on forums that they are compatible.
Merci antoine pour cette vidéo. Qu'est ce qu'il en est de la calibration pour l'auto guidage avec L'ASIAIR? Par ailleurs, la raquette de commande est-elle encore active sur la monture pour la calibration GOTO? Ou n'y a t il plus du tout de calibration sur des étoiles avec le plate solving?
perfect bro
Excellent guide going to save this to show my friends when they ask, how I get some of my images.
Haha I decided to make this video after your comment on Discord :D
Au top, j'ai commandé l'aisair ce matin . Ce tuto va bien m'aider .
Parfait timing alors! :)