My route to armchair astro imaging

[Dave_S]

On my return to astro imaging after an 8 year hiatus, I started back with the scope on the HEQ5 Pro, on its tripod in the garden, and running cables over the ground back to the summer house.

 

After having had a permanent observatory back in the day, the idea of setting up each time, lasted all of 5 minutes 😅.

 

The next move was to install a permanent pier in the garden, leaving the mount attached, and polar aligned. The telescope is not left on the mount.

 

This still left the job of running power and control cables out to the mount, and scope. So the next move was to install a mini PC (Gigabyte i7 BRIX) on the scope, and remote control via wi-fi, using Windows Remote Desk Top.

 

This worked, but the lag was too long. The router is at the front of the house, and the summer house at the far end of the rear garden. Two wi-fi repeaters/extenders in the 'chain' improved things, but I was still not completely happy with the performance.

 

I then laid a buried conduit between the summer house, and the pier,  ran an Ethernet cable, and two DC power cables, one 12V and the other 19V (the Mini PC is 19V). These terminate in a weather proof enclosure attached to pier.  On the scope, I have small distribution box, with three jumper cables,  12V, 19V, and Ethernet (RJ45) which I plug into the relevant sockets on the pier. All other connections (power, usb, and Ethernet), to the equipment are left permanently connected. The Ethernet connection is super fast.

 

Setting up now, is just a matter of attaching the scope to the polar aligned mount, and plugging the three jumper cables into the sockets on the pier.

 

I do like to keep an eye on the progress during image capture, but don't really want to sit in the summer house for several hours, nor make frequent trips down the garden to check. So, I have now installed "Team Viewer" on the laptop, and on my Android tablet, and can see, via wi-fi, the laptop screen on the tablet from the comfort of my armchair indoors. Isn't technology wonderful😀

 

Edited February 8, 2022 by Dave_S
typo

[TerryMcK]

Similar to how I do it Dave. I long ago dispensed with wifi and only use ethernet now and can also sit in front of a roaring fire while the rig does its funky stuff.

The only time I use wifi is when portable and then only to set the rig off and then I can walk away. Images get stored locally on the imaging computer and that also does the rig control. I use a Raspberry Pi in preference to a PC. The PI only needs 5v which the Jackery 500 battery provides on its multitude of power outlets.

[Padraic M]

Definitely the way to go! That's a very neat set-up.

[MartinS]

Nice setup Dave, now all we need are some clear skies. Not too long to wait the full moon is coming.

[Dave_S]

4 hours ago, MartinS said:

Nice setup Dave, now all we need are some clear skies. Not too long to wait the full moon is coming.

I have now purchased an Optolong E Enhance filter, so the Moon might not be such a 'pain the butt', but we will see 🤞

Edited February 8, 2022 by Dave_S
typo

[MartinS]

I have the L-pro, L-enhance and L-extreme in a filter wheel I use with my ZWO2600 on the Redcat. For me, these filters have transformed the effectiveness of my colour camera when the moon is present. Interested to hear how you get on with the filter.