Autoguiding...

BTW, where did you get the glass from? Any issues with it's thickness or is it the same as the original?
Best of luck tomorrow!

I got the glass from Edmund Scientific. Its the same glass as recommended by Gary Honis uses in his mod procedure. The glass is 2.7mm thick compared with 3mm in the stock filter the .3mm difference is almost compensated for by the refractive index of the glass, but it needs some 0.1mm shim to get the autofocus back working. I bought a 0.1mm feeler gauge which i'll cut up and use to make the washers.

BTW if anyone else is planning this mod I should have enough glass left over to make a few more optical windows maybe another 5 or so. If anyone wants one I'd be happy to provide it gratis.

If your operation works out well tomorrow Dave, I might take you up on that offer of the glass, if you don't mind. I'd be really interested to know how easy or difficult it is to do.

I've also heard that the RS232 port is not always reliable in term of correction, this is one of the reasons why in the next few months I'm going to get a ST4, it has scintillation correction aswell as backlash compensation and has a brilliant reputation. Its main downfall is that if you're scope has excessivly rapid periodic error, its not able to correct it as it cant keep up with it. This will be another astromart purchase. The beauty with the ST4 is that if it doesnt work out, you'd be able to sell it on pretty quickly.

I was going to get a DSI for guiding but have gone off this idea, also I dont think its built-in autoguiding function will work on the lx200 classics.

I'm going to get a ST4, it has scintillation correction aswell as backlash compensation and has a brilliant reputation. Its main downfall is that if you're scope has excessivly rapid periodic error, its not able to correct it as it cant keep up with it.

We managed to get Jeds ST4 working on my CG5 mount quite well. Theres no doubt the ST4 is the way to go if the cash is available. Problem is they seem to go on astromart as quickly as they come up. The other little issue with the ST4 is that you have no visual feedback on whats in the cameras field of view but the benefit of a 1 stop standalone autoguiding solution faar outweights all of that IMHO.

Thats good stuff Dave.
To be honest I want a system that definitely works, without hacking/tweaking/fiddling/micro-managment and all that, end of story!
They do go VERY quickly on astromart, but its really the best way to get one as they are not manufactured anymore, the new version is the STV, it has a built-in display but it costs over 2300$, thats just way to much for me for a guider.

Michael, as for your questions, the 2 lads answered them pretty well.

In terms of the scope, at the moment I have the scope on the wedge and did a quick version of the ccd drift (faster slew speed, shorter exposure). This was very easy to do. The scope is now very close to polar alignment.
Next step is to update the tracking speed. At the moment it's not quite right.
Once this is done, I'll re-check the polar alignment more precisely.
Once these two are fully complete, I'll then train the PEC. I should then be ready for autoguiding. Just have to wait for some clear skies now.
Clear skies,