Hello , i tried to work first time with ccdautopilot and autoguiding calculator but something i am doing wrong cause my images are very bad with autoguiding than without it.
I have as autoguider (separate scope)ED 80 CELESTRON attached with Sbig ST 5C.
And my imaging equipment is C11(working at f/6.3 with focal reducer) and Sbig st2000xm.
What are the correct values for autoguiding in autoguiding calculator?

Thanks in advance
and Merry Cristmas

Hi np252003,

Assuming you have a good calibration of your guider, you have eliminated the C11's mirror flop by locking down the mirror, you have eliminated the flexure between your guidescope and your main scope, and have reduced to a minimum or eliminated any backlash in your mount, then the calculator suggests the following:

1. Your ED80/ST-5C binned 1x1 has a plate scale of 3.43 asp
2. Your C11/ST-2000 binned 1x1 has a plate scale of 0.86 asp
3. Assuming your tracking rate is 0.5 sidereal
4. Assuming you are using guider relays
5. Your Min. move = 0.043
6. Your Max. move = 0.266

I used the following to arrive at those numbers:
1. Guide Rate: 0.5x of Sidereal
2. Autoguider Image Scale: 3.43 Arc-Seconds
3. Peak to Peak Allowable Error: 0.645 Arc-Seconds
4. Maximum Allowable Movement: 2 Arc-Seconds
5. AutoGuiding Method: Guider Relays

This should get you started. You should tune those numbers based on the conditions of each night, as some nights the seeing will be better, some nights worse. HTH ..... and Merry Christmas to you as well :-))))

Thanks Frank,some problem i think is already solved , mount backlash is 0 (Paramount ME),and i use Direct guide.But how can i lock the mirror and eliminate the flexure between guidescope and main?
I also should try the "guider relays"

Sorry for the off topic now, if this is a problem please answer at np252003@yahoo.gr

Thanks again

Nikos

Hi Nikos,

If you are using a Paramount and Directguide, then change the input parameter AutoGuiding Method to "Directguide". Everything else stays the same. What you get back will be in arcsec so Min move now = 0.32, and Max move = 2.

Locking the mirror on a C-11 may be difficult as I haven't seen many way to do it that didn't require major surgery and modification. I have used a Software Bisque Mirror Lock on my C14, but they don't make one for the C-11. The issue with a SCT is the mirror can "drift" as the mount tracks across the sky. This will change the relationship between the imaging camera and the guiding camera as the guiding camera isn't aware of the movement taking place on the imaging camera. The flexure issue comes into play in a similar way. The two optical paths change relationship as the effects of gravity move the two scopes differently. This can be caused by adapters, focuser sag, mounting bracket movement, or a long list of other things. CCDAP3 does a great job of directing all the software that is controlling all your hardware, but it can't compensate for something it doesn't know about. To get the most out of your imaging setup, tighten everything you can and make it as rigid as possible. If you can't get the guidescope working to your satisfaction, you might consider trying an Off Axis Guider (OAG). It guides on the same optical path as the main camera, so even if your C11 mirror drifts, the guider now knows about it and corrects for it. I use one on my 16" RCOS and my FSQ-106N and they work great. HTH .....