Yankee Robotics Trifid Nugget Autoguider

[Meng Lee]

Hi all, I guess most of don't know who I am. Just a newcomer in Singastro.

Let me write a simple review of the Nugget autoguider that was recently bought to replace my Vixen AGA-1 autoguider.

It is a very compact autoguider but I have not yet tested it under the stars for its guiding accuracy. Here are the preliminary points:

1. No guiding software is provided. Provided with CCDsoft and MaxIm DL plug-ins. Guidemaster has options to control the nugget but there is some bug with it, the author is clearing up the problem, then there will be a free guiding software.

2. Controls the scope through the auotguider port of the mount. Its ST4 pinout. This is a plus since some scopes may have problems communicating with the guider through the RS-232 connection. Sphinx pinout is ST4 but SS2K is not, so you can rewire the auotguider port of SS2K. I did that, and the relay controls are fine. People who are scared of rewiring may get a cable from Shoestring Astronomy.

Let me test it under the stars before I can talk about the accuracy of the guider and what magnitude of guide stars are preferred.

Thanks for reading.

[rcj]

Welcome on board the ship Meng Lee! It may be the first post in SINGASTRO but certainly not a newcomer to practical astronomy!

[weixing]

Hi,
Welcome to SingAstro!!!

Do let us know the result of the test as some of us might be interested...

Have a nice day.

[Airconvent]

welcome to singastro!
looking forward to your reviews and participation in the "collective"...

[Meng Lee]

Hey Thanks to all. Let me test the Nugget with respect to 3 mounts: SS2K, Sphinx and EQ6 with Synscan. Will keep you all updated.

Other reviews will be coming along. Maybe next time I try to write imaging articles in the context of case studies

[neoterryjoe]

hey man,
let me welcome you again! Entry with a boom eh? heheh...

[Meng Lee]

Hi all, the night is good and so there is a chance to test the trifid Nugget with SS2K mount (rewired to ST4 pinout)

Equipment used:
William Optics Megrez 80mm II with Apograde at 555mm focal length
SkySensor with Autoguider on with 0.9 rate for RA and DEC
MaxIm DL with Agressiveness X=6 Y=6
Nugget with typical exposure 0.01s and 1 dark frame subtraction

Dimmest star seen is the 4th star of the trapezium in M42

Tried guiding on Betelgeuse = excellent guiding
Tried guiding on one of the belt stars of Orion = excellent guiding for at least 15 mins

Any star dimmer than that was guided unsucessfully.

Here are the pictures:

[Meng Lee]

Hi all, the night is good and so there is a chance to test the trifid Nugget with SS2K mount (rewired to ST4 pinout)

Equipment used:
William Optics Megrez 80mm II with Apograde at 555mm focal length
SkySensor with Autoguider on with 0.9 rate for RA and DEC
MaxIm DL with Agressiveness X=6 Y=6
Nugget with typical exposure 0.01s and 1 dark frame subtraction

Dimmest star seen is the 4th star of the trapezium in M42

Tried guiding on Betelgeuse = excellent guiding
Tried guiding on one of the belt stars of Orion = excellent guiding for at least 15 mins

Any star dimmer than that was guided unsucessfully.

Here are the pictures:

[Meng Lee]

Hi all,

The latest version of Guidemaster finally works with the Nugget autoguider. I will test it out. Thus finally there is a free guiding software to use with the Nugget rather than the expensive MaxIm DL or CCDsoft.

Also starlight Xpress may have a new product , that is, like the Nugget, is a dedicated autoguider.

[Meng Lee]

Some updates:

Guidemaster works well with Trifid Nugget, just avoid the automatic search for guide stars. Guidemaster has very good controls, including taking Dark frame and stacking pics to give you better Signal to noise ratios so that the software can see the guide star better.

Even if the initial calibration fails, choosed centering the guidestar option allows it to learn the motors also. So autoguiding can literally take place in 5 mins! No nonensense.

But note that the gain control of Guidemaster is opposite, big numbers means small gain. Put to 3/4 gain and increase the exposure, you can guide on dimmer stars. The nice thing is, it can guide with centering the star so it will not spoil the framing in the imaging camera.