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INDI Library v2.0.6 is Released (02 Feb 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

RST-135 mount - what are the best practices?

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I can't tell about any best practices as I don't have the mount.  I love the tiny size and light weight of that mount and big carrying capacity but am unsure about the backdriving issue.  I would like to image unattended, at least some of the time and I'm sure I couldn't sleep, worrying about it, so I'm holding off.. I'm looking at a couple of other mounts too but I keep coming back to the rainbow.  I didn't read the whole thread on CN, was there any talk about a brake for the 135 like they have on the 300 model?
2 years 11 months ago #69756

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multi-star guiding, 0.5 s guide camera exposures
The following user(s) said Thank You: maxthebuilder
2 years 11 months ago #69769

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Do I need to use the hand controller at all if I use Ekos and don't need GPS?
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 11 months ago #69772

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I only use the hand controller to do the initial home and set the time and location from the gps. I am not sure you can home it to the microswitches without the hand controller and haven’t confirmed you can set time and location from indi. Certainly you could unplug the controller after initializing.
2 years 11 months ago #69781

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I got it today!

Connected to Stellarmate to test with the CCD Simulator.
Hand-controller is not connected.

Slewing to targets seem to go in right directions.
BUT

I tried to perform Polar Alignment - it was scary!
Slewed to Polaris and started the procedure.
Instead of going 30dgrs it went full 360 and wanted to go further but I stopped it.
I pressed Park (which I set to 0,270) - it went 360 in the other direction and parked successfully.

Location/date/time is set correctly in KStars

What could be wrong?
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 2 years 11 months ago by maxthebuilder.
2 years 11 months ago #69980

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OK. Figured this one out.

The hand-controller has to be connected to provide coordinates/date/time to Ekos.

Once I connected the HC, selected "Mount updates KStars", PA procedure went as it should
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 11 months ago #69981

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Now, the confusion starts.

- is it enough to connect the HC just once for a certain location to sync the GPS data?
- or I need to do this every session?
- is it save to disconnect the HC after GPS sync and proceed with Ekos?
- my concern is the Meridian Flip - if the HC is connected it will interfere with Ekos.

What is the workflow? Anyone?
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 11 months ago #69982

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  • Thank you received: 86
OK.
Looks like I figured this mount out.
I am testing it outside for guiding right now.

Performed the PA routine. It worked nicely.
Control knobs of the mount are very smooth.

Guiding is good at around 1" RMS total (0.5 sec interval) with occasional RA runaways.
I had to adjust Min/Max parameters quite a bit (from what I am used to with HEQ5) for guiding to work.
Internal guider.

Can someone please share good Control Parameters for the Internal Guider?
Will be much appreciated!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 11 months ago #70081

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Running it outside with everything attached.
Will have the flip in 15 min.

Guiding is good - below 1" RMS but even after tweaking I still have RA runaways every 1-3 minutes.
Those are just spikes which settle in 10-30 sec.
I guess it's OK but if someone knows how to get rid of them - please let me know.

For guiding I settled at:
Min/Max RA 120/12
Min/Max DEC 1000/12
0.5s guiding interval.
Internal guider.

Thanks!
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 2 years 11 months ago by maxthebuilder.
2 years 11 months ago #70135

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The flip didn't go well.
It went under horizon.
When I parked after that - the position was off by 90dgrs in RA.
I guess, I had to have "simulate pier side" option enabled (without it the pier side was "unknown').
Next time I'll see if it helps.
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
2 years 11 months ago #70138

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Also, after the flip, the DEC guiding became worse (still good at around 1") but RA spikes disappeared.
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 2 years 11 months ago by maxthebuilder.
2 years 11 months ago #70139

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Continuing talking to myself...
Tonight, I am having the second night out with the mount.
Same thing - guides smoothly at 0.6-1.0" RMS total and then every 1-3 min RA spikes.

Out of curiosity I installed a counterweight (2kg). Luckily, I had a proper shaft and a weight.
Guess what? No more RA spikes/runaways!

That's with my smallish AT72.

I wanted to lighten my travel bag with this mount but it's not going to happen, I am afraid....
Guiding is really great at 0.6-0.8" RMS total now.
-- Max S
ZWO AM5. RST-135. AZ-GTI. HEQ5. iOptron SkyTracker.
TPO RC6. FRA400. Rokinon 135 and other lenses.
ZWO ASI2600MC. D5500 modified with UVIR clip-in filter.
ZWO ASI120MM Mini x 2. ZWO 30F4 guider. Orion 50mm guider.
ZWO EAF x 2.
Last edit: 2 years 11 months ago by maxthebuilder.
2 years 11 months ago #70172

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