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ISkyWatcher AzGti GoTo AltAz mount has some nice features. I like compact size, light weight, 11 lb load capacity, side saddle design and ability to control from SkySafari. However, performance out of box were hit and miss, with shakiness and GoTo accuracy been main issues.
When I got the mount in the first place I felt that the stock legs were the main weak point. I switched right away to the Slick tripod which improved stability considerably.
In this configuration it handled 80ED frac nicely but with 127mm Mak it still had lots of shakes. I suspected that not just the legs but also the weak saddle contributing, so for my next upgrade I have focused on both issues.
I got M10 to 3/8" Berlebach adapter from Vixen
which with a bit of filing
fits nicely Twilight I tripod
AzGti pier extension then fits the 3/8" side of the adapter.
Next step was to replace the saddle. ADM sales this nice conversion kit.
And ADM saddle is attached in turn to the plate. Here is the final product
Happy to report that my new Stellarvue 102ED, which loaded weights 10lb+ is rock solid on the updated AzGti. Not a single shake even when focusing on planets at high power.
I am starting to feel good about AzGti, now just need to sort out some GoTo inconsistency.
I got mine recently, but haven't had any chance to take it out for a run. I've got it on a Berlebach Report 212 and it seems to be very sturdy. I like the looks of that ADM saddle upgrade - I may do that as well. It's impressive that your SV102 handles well on it. That gives me hope for my ES102!
Exparrot wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:44 pm
Nice upgrades!
I got mine recently, but haven't had any chance to take it out for a run. I've got it on a Berlebach Report 212 and it seems to be very sturdy. I like the looks of that ADM saddle upgrade - I may do that as well. It's impressive that your SV102 handles well on it. That gives me hope for my ES102!
I bet it is rock solid on Berlebach Report 212. I highly recommend ADM saddle upgrade. I feel it helped considerably to kill the vibrations from focusing at high powers.
Now I am sorting out inconsistency in GoTo. I suspect it might be balancing issue, so I will play with counterbalance next time.
Exparrot wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:44 pm
Nice upgrades!
I got mine recently, but haven't had any chance to take it out for a run. I've got it on a Berlebach Report 212 and it seems to be very sturdy. I like the looks of that ADM saddle upgrade - I may do that as well. It's impressive that your SV102 handles well on it. That gives me hope for my ES102!
I bet it is rock solid on Berlebach Report 212. I highly recommend ADM saddle upgrade. I feel it helped considerably to kill the vibrations from focusing at high powers.
Now I am sorting out inconsistency in GoTo. I suspect it might be balancing issue, so I will play with counterbalance next time.
I hope you can sort out the GoTo issues. Please update us as you make progress. Since I haven't tested mine outside yet, I may have GoTo problems, too, and just not know it.
In the meantime, I've been checking out the WiFi connectivity. I've had success with a laptop, an iPhone and iPad, but no luck with an Android phone.
Don't know if you're interested, but have you seen this USB cable from FirstLightOptics?
It allows you to connect the mount directly to a computer/laptop without having to have a Synscan hand controller. I picked one up and have been testing it with SkyTools. It works very well.
Exparrot wrote: ↑Mon Aug 26, 2019 5:44 pm
Nice upgrades!
I got mine recently, but haven't had any chance to take it out for a run. I've got it on a Berlebach Report 212 and it seems to be very sturdy. I like the looks of that ADM saddle upgrade - I may do that as well. It's impressive that your SV102 handles well on it. That gives me hope for my ES102!
I bet it is rock solid on Berlebach Report 212. I highly recommend ADM saddle upgrade. I feel it helped considerably to kill the vibrations from focusing at high powers.
Now I am sorting out inconsistency in GoTo. I suspect it might be balancing issue, so I will play with counterbalance next time.
I hope you can sort out the GoTo issues. Please update us as you make progress. Since I haven't tested mine outside yet, I may have GoTo problems, too, and just not know it.
In the meantime, I've been checking out the WiFi connectivity. I've had success with a laptop, an iPhone and iPad, but no luck with an Android phone.
Don't know if you're interested, but have you seen this USB cable from FirstLightOptics?
It allows you to connect the mount directly to a computer/laptop without having to have a Synscan hand controller. I picked one up and have been testing it with SkyTools. It works very well.
Good to know about the cable Jerry! I have not tried to connect it to anything else but Android phone, and it worked out from the box with Android. It may have to do with particular model of Android phone or firmware version on Az Gti.
According to reports on forums AzGti should come with firmware set for left side AltAz only operation, but one can upgrade the firmware to right hand AltAz/EQ mode. Mine came out of box configured for right hand AltAz/EQ mode. I had a "fun" session trying to run it in left hand mode, before I figure it out.
I bet it is rock solid on Berlebach Report 212. I highly recommend ADM saddle upgrade. I feel it helped considerably to kill the vibrations from focusing at high powers.
Now I am sorting out inconsistency in GoTo. I suspect it might be balancing issue, so I will play with counterbalance next time.
I hope you can sort out the GoTo issues. Please update us as you make progress. Since I haven't tested mine outside yet, I may have GoTo problems, too, and just not know it.
In the meantime, I've been checking out the WiFi connectivity. I've had success with a laptop, an iPhone and iPad, but no luck with an Android phone.
Don't know if you're interested, but have you seen this USB cable from FirstLightOptics?
It allows you to connect the mount directly to a computer/laptop without having to have a Synscan hand controller. I picked one up and have been testing it with SkyTools. It works very well.
Good to know about the cable Jerry! I have not tried to connect it to anything else but Android phone, and it worked out from the box with Android. It may have to do with particular model of Android phone or firmware version on Az Gti.
According to reports on forums AzGti should come with firmware set for left side AltAz only operation, but one can upgrade the firmware to right hand AltAz/EQ mode. Mine came out of box configured for right hand AltAz/EQ mode. I had a "fun" session trying to run it in left hand mode, before I figure it out.
Actually, I should correct my earlier statement about Android - I can connect the Android phone to the mount's WiFi network, but the Synscan app itself won't connect. Fortunately, my old iPhone 7 is working okay with it. I just think it's cool that you can grab this thing with a scope on it and take it outside, pull your phone out and start doing GoTos in a matter of a few minutes.
In the pictures, I noticed your scope was on the right-hand side. Can't believe it came out of the box, already upgraded. That must have been some fun trying to figure out why the mount was doing everything in reverse!!! Wow!
I had a chance to play more with AzGti last weekend. I added counterbalance and experimented with encoders and backlash settings.
The mount has very little if any backlash, so turning on backlash control did not help the goto accuracy. Adding the counterbalance and turning on the encoders (after alignment) did seem to improve goto and tracking accuracy. Now both of them are consistent.
The only issue left is that GoTo while always getting the target within 1 degree FOV, places it consistently of center to the lower right. This is not backlash related, and re-aligning on target does not help.
At least this time the mount managed to locate many and different kinds of targets (including Moon and planets) with similar precision. So, good progress.
Next time I like to check if the lower right offset is reproducible between the sessions, and if so I will look for the ways to correct it manually.
Just wondered if you found the source of the pointing error that placed the target off centre?
I recently bought another AZ-GTi after foolishly selling my first one to a mate. I also made some changes to mine,
Changed to RRS TVC-23 tripod, made an adapter and added a better saddle clamp, installed Talent Cell 3000mA pack into the mount and installed a holder for the Synscan handset.
Matt in Oz Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15
Rainmaker wrote: ↑Fri Feb 21, 2020 8:59 pm
Just wondered if you found the source of the pointing error that placed the target off centre?
I recently bought another AZ-GTi after foolishly selling my first one to a mate. I also made some changes to mine,
Changed to RRS TVC-23 tripod, made an adapter and added a better saddle clamp, installed Talent Cell 3000mA pack into the mount and installed a holder for the Synscan handset.
Hi Matt. No, still remains an issue. I have tried all that I could.
It seems that the accuracy of GoTo and tracking depends on the load. With lighter scopes like 80mm frac and 127mm Mak I am getting the target within 1 deg or less.
With 102mm frac the accuracy goes down but it still gets the target within 1.5 deg. So still usable.
I tried my 6" SCT once and it did not go well. It has similar weight as my SV102ED but narrower max FOV (~1 deg), so after alignment the GoTo would always place the target out of FOV.
I hope to be testing mine in the next few days, when the clouds go away !!!
I will only use the FOA60Q or FC76DC Tak on the AZ-GTi so should be well within the weight/size range of the mount.....
Attachments
Matt in Oz Rainmaker “Excalibur” 18” F3.5 +SIPS @ 1860mm TMB-LZOS 152mm F7.9 @ 1200mm Takahashi FOA 60mm F8.8
Takahashi FC76DC F7.5
Skylight AR101.15