Time for some new kit

[MarkS]

You should be well set up for Kelling Heath then ...

[Mike]

Just need to learn how to use it all now.

[Mike]

H-EQ5 arrived today.

[Mike]

...followed closely by the QHY5 

Great service from Bern at Modern Astronomy as usual.

[Mike]

The QHY5 was a bit of a pig to set up. Took several goes of installing and reinstalling different types of drivers before it was recognised by PHD. Got there in the end.

Haven't tried it in MaximDL or AA yet.

[Fay]

Gosh, Mark, that was some info you posted, you are a very helpful chap!

[The Thing]

I always use the QHY5 Ascom Driver.

[Carole]

The QHY5 was a bit of a pig to set up

Yes I'd conclure with that.  I've done it twice now on both laptops.

Carole

[Mike]

Canon 1000D arrived today

Now I just need to learn how to use it all !!

[mickw]

Excellent, is it modded yet or will you break it later 

[Mike]

I went down the lazy route of buying a pre-modded one from astronomiser. Simply because I know it has been done properly and is still covered by warranty. It's got the Baader filter in it.

[Fay]

Same as mine Mike

[mickw]

Wise choice Mike

[Mike]

One of the other items I got from Bern was an adaptor to allow the QHY5 to be connected directly into the ED80 Finderscope. I think it's a great idea and cuts down on complexity and weight a lot:-

[The Thing]

Beats cutting the end off your finderscope as I did with my Meade. But that was mostly so I could get it to focus with a webcam where the CCD is set back inside the housing a cm or more.

BTW Flocking the inside of the finder/guide scope greatly improved contrast and allows me to pick out faint stars when no easy ones are visible with my QHY5 (or use shorter exposures).