Synscan on Vixen GP (original)

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:12 pm

The Starbook kit has motors and housing that won't fit onto the old GP mounts. You need the MT-1 motors and use either the SD-1 (single drive) or DD-1 (dual drive) hand controllers. Prob is, it's pretty hard to find the motors as not much support for the GP/GPE mounts...sigh! Sometimes you may get lucky and find a 2nd hand deal.
Not sure about the Synscan kit...perhaps someone else here could fill you in on this.
Do note however that most of the RA/DEC motor kits come with a handbox for driving the motors only! And no GOTO or ST-4 guiding ports.
Most have gone with a Modification by adding the ST-4 port with instructions from Shoestring Astronomy through the handbox. But this renders the warranty void and if you damage anything you would have to replace it with a new one again.
Motors with a computerized GOTO handset is costly...so as Orly has mentioned, what are your aims in motorizing the GP.
Most of the complete GOTO kits with motors would not fit the GP (Starbook and newer accessories), SynScan works as MooEy pointed out, other brands may need slight Mods or total rethink.

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:38 pm

Now that you mentioned it Croy...I did see something like that! Prob is, Vixen and everyone states that 'Only works on GP2/GPD2/etc etc and not GP/GPE...blah blah'
Perhaps the shape of the mounting area which aligns the motor chassis to the mount needs some tweaking. Trick I guess is to be able to line up the Gears. Once that is done everything else falls in line.
Hard when we don't have physical evidence and have to rely on the internet and images which don't say much.
I've read on CN forums some have tried with failure, then again maybe didn't try hard enough!
Personally I think if you can mate the gears it's all ok with any brand even if it means re-making a new cover or no cover at all...lol! Just that if anything screws up it's money gone and re-order again....sigh!
And with most newer mounts motorized, older mounts manual mounts lag behind.
I may wish to change my IOptron to something else if I can't solve the guiding issues, but just read (after countless nights of digging thru the net) that another driver is possible. Now for a clear nite, no work and a test on this theory!
But back to qinjuehang2's question for his GP,....whats the cost your willing to spend and anyone here have motors that he could purchase and perhaps get together for a fitting to see if any serious mod is needed? I'm sure ome help is at hand...hang in there!

timatworksg · Post by **timatworksg** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:24 pm

Ah...did some quickie Google
The Starbook S Goto Upgrade Kit (its the complete kit with the Monochrome display)....yes it fits the GP and even Synta EQ4/5...cool! But it's just GOTO,
for guiding I think you need the AGA-1 adapter.

MooEy · Post by **MooEy** » Mon Sep 27, 2010 9:51 pm

I believe the Starbook S can take ST-4 input. Do check with the vendors regarding this.

~MooEy~

qinjuehang2 · Post by **qinjuehang2** » Wed Sep 29, 2010 5:27 pm

I am actually quite budget limited, which is mainly why I'm considering the synscan. I think since the synscan seems to work, and according to my research, the full upgrade kit include motors and everything, so I probably will go with it. I'm actually looking into upgrading my current visual setup for photography. Hopefully I can get the 2nd hand KWIQ before it is sold out [smilie=ahaaah.gif]

r-ion · Post by **r-ion** » Thu Oct 07, 2010 9:45 pm

rather than the KWIQ, i think that a small refractor, such as the Orion 80mm short tube with a cheap autoguider would work much better for approximately the same cost, only thing is that you would have to get a couple of rings and acessories to attach it onto the mount, instead of using a finder bracket like the KWIQ.