Excellent video! Thanks for including the part about using the vixen dovetail mount and tightening the RA and declination bolts after polar aligning (I'm the guy you were helping a few days ago with the Goto issues!). I'm still struggling to get my Goto function to work correctly on my GTi. But I'm getting pin point stars at 75 second exposures, so for now I am just manually star hopping and learning the night sky until I finally figure out what I'm doing wrong. I found some videos about "setting home" on your equatorial mount by using a bubble level. Not sure if the GTi needs to have a "home" position, but it's the only other thing I can think of. I did make sure that my RA and declination bolts were fully tightened after I polar aligned 😅
Yes. Sometimes the SynScan app will move the mount and camera close enough to whatever star I'm trying to use for alignment that I can then use the SynScan app to center the star in my viewfinder. But then it will go to a completely random area if I try to align to a second star. Last night I selected the moon for my alignment star (out of curiosity), and it was probably 4 feet away from pointing at the moon. Sometimes if I turn off the mount and restart the app it works better, but it's very hard to predict. I've gone out about 6 nights with it now and never successfully gotten the Goto function to work. I can't find a lot of videos about people struggling with the goto function (seems like polar alignment is most peoples' issue), so I'm kind of stumped why the goto is causing me so much trouble
Yes that is puzzling. Without me standing there my other suggestion would be to give skywatcher a call. They are really good about returning voicemails. Everytime I have called wiith a question they have called me back within days. Awesome support there. I just feel like there is something simple there being missed.
I'm sure you are right. Thanks again. I will give them a call. I didn't realize Star Watcher would be willing to help me out with something like this! All of your suggestions have been so helpful. I will continue to follow along in your UA-cam journey!
Yea they are awesome although I am sure they are getting lots of calls RN. I wish I could just stand there where you are at to see what is happening but it really does seem like you have a handle on things there.
As a newbie looking to purchase a GTi, I find your videos quite helpful. There are times you mention new terms that confuse me and likely other newbies as well. You mentioned “meridian flip” in this episode, maybe just a tiny explanation of what it is would be very helpful. Thanks for your excellent videos.
Yea sure! The meridian is a imaginary line the runs through the north celestial pole and south celestial pole. When your mount reaches meridian and it will know this by either software or the date your mount will slew to and start to track in the opposite direction this is the "flip" part of things. It basically changes sides and instead of tracking upward as your target rises over the horizon it follow the target downward as it sets into the horizon. Not all targets will cross the meridian either but it's handy feature when they do. Thanks for watching these videos I'm glad you find them helpful!
Good review. I've had mine for about sixteen months. The only issue I had was with backlash in both DEC and RA, but this is easily adjusted (there are a number of videos on how to do this on YT). The plastic cover for the polar scope is a pain. I don't like the saddle, as you said the screw marks the dovetail bar but actually I've gone over to using Losmandy plates which the supplied saddle won't accommodate. The ADM saddle solved both problems. I really like this mount ( it is really a small EQ mount more than an out and out tracker ) and I use it mostly with my Red Cat 51, Samyang/Rokinon f2 135mm lens and Lunt LS50Ha. I'm getting more or less the same guiding figures as you, which is fine for the relatively wide field views I capture when using this mount. I still have the original Star Adventurer I bought around ten years ago and it still works fine, but these days I tend to use it just for wide field photography with a DSLR.
That RA screw thanks for pointing that out! I haven’t been back out yet to give it a try because of the weather but I did try indoors and so far works correctly
A very nice and informative video that is very accurate. Keep up the great work. I've had my GTI for about 8 months and love it, and it too will be my travel mount. I have a hard case for it.
Thanks for the video, Im still watching it. I am considering this tracker along with an iOptron and the Benro Polaris. Currently I shoot wide Milky Way with 16mm, 20mm lenses on a Nikon z6 ii. I would like to expand into deep space imaging at some point by either getting a telescope or a 300 or 400mm lens, or perhaps the Sigma 150-600. Thanks again, cheers from the Jersey Shore.
Actually IMHO the only mount that bests this, and by a significant amount, is the Explore Scientific iExos-100. It is truly superior in every way and is expandable to your needs. I started with a Redcat 51 on it and have upgraded the tripod and added more counterweights and am using my 103 Apo on it now with guiding regularly under .8”. A truly great and portable rig that can grow with you…BUT I am saving up for an AM5! Perhaps next Christmas. BTW, Tuki says hi to Taco!
I have the GTI as well as an AM3. As long as there is no wind it does well enough. My guiding was not quite as good as yours but good enough for wide field imaging. Same gripes with the plastic bits and the vixen screw marring up my equipment.
hi nice video, i have the gti, my main issue is the tripod has way to much flex in it have heard the star adventurer one that you got was actually the better one or alot of people use the Heq5 one
My GTI just arrived today along with the Askar SQA55.. Paired with ZWO 533 MC Pro Svbony Guide Scope ZWO 120mm And Ofcourse we have snow and expecting another huge snow storm lol.. Clear Sky’s
Yes, I watched that video previously. I have a Skywatcher Dobsonian, with SynScan. So it works well enough for visual. When I got the GTI, I found the app difficult and inaccurate. The asiar solved all that. Now I want to use the GTI without asiar. You didn't go into this. I'll re-acquaint myself with the app. UA-cam videos are old. SynScan has a different look. Thanks.
I shot with the one I bought only one night. I returned it because balance was impossible to achieve to get good guidance. The RA and Dec was very, very stiff. Also excessive backlash could not be corrected with the hidden adjustment screw. Perhaps it was a lemon. It was sold as new from Amazon, but was actually an Amazon referb. I have an HEQ5 Pro, but wanted a lightweight rig for wide field. Saving for an AM3.
I heard there is a difference from the gen 1 sagti and gen2. From what I've seen the first batch was kind of nightmare. Thanks for watching this one btw!
If I remember correctly it was announced in spring of 2022 with GEN1 pre-orders during the summer and shipments by the holiday 2022. by summer 23 people were reporting all sorts of things happening there primarily the mount developing backlash among other things. It wasn't officially announced but by the time I got mine December 2023 I had an updated model. If it wasn't for a subscriber contacting me urging me to open the device to see if there were certain nuts installed I would have never have known. He also pointed out the newer GTI's have come with 2 counter wieghts instead of one large one. That said I have never seen an older production GTI. We spoke about it on my instagram DM's and I took it at face value. I've never had any issues with mine. Not sure when skywatcher actually updated things but apparantly it was different than the release model. Any GTI bought now should be good to go it's been awhile since then.
It does quite a bit actually. It will control your mount to a very precise accuracy. It will control your camera and if you have an autoguider it will guide on a star and track it through a smaller scope on top of your camera and lens/ telescope so you can take longer exposures. It will platesolve meaning it will use your camera to take a picture to determine where it is pointing into the night sky and keep taking photos and adjusting your mount until it aligns your lens/telescope to center the target you want to photograph. It will change filters for you if you have a electronic filter wheel and also focus for you if you have an electronic focuser ( This is for telescopes) It also does quite a bit more. I have a ASIAIR hardware set up video if you want to give it a watch so you can see the device and how it is integrated with equipment ua-cam.com/video/i1NObOskiUc/v-deo.html
Great video. thank you. I had my first (ever) astro night with my GTI and Askar 65PHQ for 3 consecutive nights on new year's eve. It's been a nightmare. So many issues. Any help would be appreciated. My main issue was that the mount struggles with alignment, managing 1-star or 2-star alignment but failing 3-star alignment completely. even with great polar-alignment. After 2-star alignment, the mount often loses accuracy and fails to find targets. I also noticed the RA axis (top one where the plate attaches) does not return to the correct home position, always pointing sideways. I am simply using synscan pro app (tried wifi and cable connections to my laptop). same issue. I tried my laptop, my tablet, my phone. nothing worked. I managed once to get it to find and track Orion (the only happy thing in those three nights), I managed to get 100 lights frame (30-seconds). but i couldn't repeat that. What am I doing wrong? Is it a software issue within mount or mechanical issue (my fear as I can't return it). P.S. I am simply using my telescope, my Nikon Z6 camera, and synscan pro.
The top that you mention is actually the declination it's the part that has the saddle on it. You said when it returns to home position it's sideways. How far sideways is it? If it's really far off check the declination wheel and tighten it after polar alignment.
@@astronotna It is random but i noticed it is mostly about 40 to 60 degrees (quarter of a turn) to the left (if i am standing behind my mount). I do always tighten the big ring (the black one) after alignment. I am sorry I know it's hard for your to help with little information. I think I am just venting frustration lol.
Aw man I get it. Astrophotography is really hard actually but I feel like you are fighting with your equipment to make things worse. It's not normal to have it return to home and be that far off. What happens if you set your telescope postion straight and pointing forward then home it via the synscan app. If it is off then loosen the declination move it to where it should be, then tighten it back down, slew it away from home then send it home via the app again. Will it return to home in the proper position after? Also a few things worth checking is in the synscan app go to advanced / autohome then make sure it is set to zero Then power cycle it and then with your mount straight slew away from home position then go to utilities/ hibernate / "at home position" to see what it does
I've never seen a lens collar that cheep. I bought a few from Aliexpress. Can you provide that Amazon link? Maybe they have a selection of sizes. Thanks.
Alright TLDR 2 questions; 1- What do you think the battery life would be in cold weather? I'm shooting at 12C (~55F) or lower. I know that my camera only lasts about an hour of shooting instead of 3 hours in 4C (40F). 2- Can I use something else then those dovetails? For an example ball head? What can I switch a saddle with? I only have a mirrorless camera. Max I want to do is get a lens converter and a 70-200mm lens. I mean would it be doable with a ball head or something like that? To me it's not much about the price but availability of stuff that makes me think if I should quit before going deeper into astrophotography. I mean price is also an issue, but hey I as long as I keep working, I should be able to afford the stuff. We do not have dovetails readily available over here. I can pre-order them from a website, easier I don't have to deal with customs, but I have to wait around 15-30 days and paying 120$ for a 48$ skywatcher dec bracket really puts me off. I don't even know If I can find replacement for the saddle. All the other accessories you talk about sound nice, aftermarket stuff. Oh man I don't think I have a chance at them. I mean I made myself a barn door tracker to test and see if I'll enjoy a star-tracker. It was inexpensive since It's just some wood bolt and nuts. I don't want to commit too much just in case It's like my Hotas. In short I bought Thrustmaster T16000 kit and extra joystick now they are collecting dust. I've decided to re-make the barn door tracker. It's taking me couple of hours to write this comment :D So I'm back to planning the new lightweight barn door tracker so I can test it out. Hopefully I can make it in time for tonight's shoot :D So Giving up on the hobby is postponed for the time being
That’s a great question. You would be surprised what you could capture at 200mm. It's one of my favorite focal lengths for astro. Battery life definitely drops off in cold weather. But Last winter and fall I easly got 2 nights of shooting with it. at 29-35F. You can carry another set of AA batteries if it becomes a problem and It will also accept external power. I do really recommend a dovetail. A ball head can off set balance to much because you are extending the length and the counterwieght bar is only so long. The camera also needs to be parallel to the mount in order for the Goto feature to be accurate. A ball head could be off even though it looks straight. You could try to star align it in position but I've never tried that. If you have a quick release plate for a tripod that might work in a pinch to mount it in the stock saddle if you turn it sideways. It's not as thick but it is around the same size in width as a vixen dovetail but I'm not sure how secure your camera would be using that method. If you have access to a 1/4 20 screw and some hard wood you could make a dovetail? I wish you luck and clear skies out there!
OMG I didn't realize Taco made an appearence in this video! He was busy making biscuits in the background!
Excellent video! Thanks for including the part about using the vixen dovetail mount and tightening the RA and declination bolts after polar aligning (I'm the guy you were helping a few days ago with the Goto issues!). I'm still struggling to get my Goto function to work correctly on my GTi. But I'm getting pin point stars at 75 second exposures, so for now I am just manually star hopping and learning the night sky until I finally figure out what I'm doing wrong. I found some videos about "setting home" on your equatorial mount by using a bubble level. Not sure if the GTi needs to have a "home" position, but it's the only other thing I can think of. I did make sure that my RA and declination bolts were fully tightened after I polar aligned 😅
When you are star aligning are you using the synscan app to move the mount to move the star in the center of your view finder on your camera?
Yes. Sometimes the SynScan app will move the mount and camera close enough to whatever star I'm trying to use for alignment that I can then use the SynScan app to center the star in my viewfinder. But then it will go to a completely random area if I try to align to a second star. Last night I selected the moon for my alignment star (out of curiosity), and it was probably 4 feet away from pointing at the moon. Sometimes if I turn off the mount and restart the app it works better, but it's very hard to predict. I've gone out about 6 nights with it now and never successfully gotten the Goto function to work. I can't find a lot of videos about people struggling with the goto function (seems like polar alignment is most peoples' issue), so I'm kind of stumped why the goto is causing me so much trouble
Yes that is puzzling. Without me standing there my other suggestion would be to give skywatcher a call. They are really good about returning voicemails. Everytime I have called wiith a question they have called me back within days. Awesome support there. I just feel like there is something simple there being missed.
I'm sure you are right. Thanks again. I will give them a call. I didn't realize Star Watcher would be willing to help me out with something like this! All of your suggestions have been so helpful. I will continue to follow along in your UA-cam journey!
Yea they are awesome although I am sure they are getting lots of calls RN. I wish I could just stand there where you are at to see what is happening but it really does seem like you have a handle on things there.
As a newbie looking to purchase a GTi, I find your videos quite helpful. There are times you mention new terms that confuse me and likely other newbies as well. You mentioned “meridian flip” in this episode, maybe just a tiny explanation of what it is would be very helpful.
Thanks for your excellent videos.
Yea sure! The meridian is a imaginary line the runs through the north celestial pole and south celestial pole. When your mount reaches meridian and it will know this by either software or the date your mount will slew to and start to track in the opposite direction this is the "flip" part of things. It basically changes sides and instead of tracking upward as your target rises over the horizon it follow the target downward as it sets into the horizon. Not all targets will cross the meridian either but it's handy feature when they do. Thanks for watching these videos I'm glad you find them helpful!
Star Adventurer GTI is the most affordable goto mount. I've since acquired ZWO AM3 but still use SAGTI for a second rig
Great review notna!
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
Good review. I've had mine for about sixteen months. The only issue I had was with backlash in both DEC and RA, but this is easily adjusted (there are a number of videos on how to do this on YT). The plastic cover for the polar scope is a pain. I don't like the saddle, as you said the screw marks the dovetail bar but actually I've gone over to using Losmandy plates which the supplied saddle won't accommodate. The ADM saddle solved both problems. I really like this mount ( it is really a small EQ mount more than an out and out tracker ) and I use it mostly with my Red Cat 51, Samyang/Rokinon f2 135mm lens and Lunt LS50Ha. I'm getting more or less the same guiding figures as you, which is fine for the relatively wide field views I capture when using this mount. I still have the original Star Adventurer I bought around ten years ago and it still works fine, but these days I tend to use it just for wide field photography with a DSLR.
That RA screw thanks for pointing that out! I haven’t been back out yet to give it a try because of the weather but I did try indoors and so far works correctly
A very nice and informative video that is very accurate. Keep up the great work. I've had my GTI for about 8 months and love it, and it too will be my travel mount. I have a hard case for it.
Thanks for watching! I'm glad it was helpful for you!
Thanks for the video, Im still watching it. I am considering this tracker along with an iOptron and the Benro Polaris. Currently I shoot wide Milky Way with 16mm, 20mm lenses on a Nikon z6 ii. I would like to expand into deep space imaging at some point by either getting a telescope or a 300 or 400mm lens, or perhaps the Sigma 150-600. Thanks again, cheers from the Jersey Shore.
Thanks for watching! Im glad this helped in some way!
Actually IMHO the only mount that bests this, and by a significant amount, is the Explore Scientific iExos-100. It is truly superior in every way and is expandable to your needs. I started with a Redcat 51 on it and have upgraded the tripod and added more counterweights and am using my 103 Apo on it now with guiding regularly under .8”. A truly great and portable rig that can grow with you…BUT I am saving up for an AM5! Perhaps next Christmas.
BTW, Tuki says hi to Taco!
Thanks for sharing your experience, sounds like a great setup! Taco is making biscuits as we speak!
I have the GTI as well as an AM3. As long as there is no wind it does well enough. My guiding was not quite as good as yours but good enough for wide field imaging. Same gripes with the plastic bits and the vixen screw marring up my equipment.
The AM3 will be my next mount.
It is a significant step up from the GTI- obviously more money as well so it should be. That said the GTI works for me, just not as confidently.
hi nice video, i have the gti, my main issue is the tripod has way to much flex in it have heard the star adventurer one that you got was actually the better one or alot of people use the Heq5 one
Well that's encouraging! It is really solid looks cool too. Thanks! 😊
My GTI just arrived today along with the Askar SQA55..
Paired with ZWO 533 MC Pro
Svbony Guide Scope
ZWO 120mm
And Ofcourse we have snow and expecting another huge snow storm lol..
Clear Sky’s
Sounds like a great set up! Congrats on your purchase! Clear skies!!
Can you plese direct me toward the video where you explain using the GTI with the SynScan app?
Here you go buddy! ua-cam.com/video/S5_EMuOYuS0/v-deo.html
Yes, I watched that video previously. I have a Skywatcher Dobsonian, with SynScan. So it works well enough for visual. When I got the GTI, I found the app difficult and inaccurate. The asiar solved all that. Now I want to use the GTI without asiar. You didn't go into this. I'll re-acquaint myself with the app. UA-cam videos are old. SynScan has a different look. Thanks.
Ah ok sorry I didn't have what you need! Hope you find it my friend!
Certainly no apology necessary. Thank-you for all you do.
Just the fact you use a Nikon is an automatic sub for me. Jk, sorta, thank you for this video.
LOL. thanks and thanks for watching this one!
I shot with the one I bought only one night. I returned it because balance was impossible to achieve to get good guidance. The RA and Dec was very, very stiff. Also excessive backlash could not be corrected with the hidden adjustment screw. Perhaps it was a lemon. It was sold as new from Amazon, but was actually an Amazon referb. I have an HEQ5 Pro, but wanted a lightweight rig for wide field. Saving for an AM3.
I heard there is a difference from the gen 1 sagti and gen2. From what I've seen the first batch was kind of nightmare. Thanks for watching this one btw!
@@astronotna In which year brought Sky Watcher the gen1 sagti and in which year the gen2?
If I remember correctly it was announced in spring of 2022 with GEN1 pre-orders during the summer and shipments by the holiday 2022. by summer 23 people were reporting all sorts of things happening there primarily the mount developing backlash among other things. It wasn't officially announced but by the time I got mine December 2023 I had an updated model. If it wasn't for a subscriber contacting me urging me to open the device to see if there were certain nuts installed I would have never have known. He also pointed out the newer GTI's have come with 2 counter wieghts instead of one large one.
That said I have never seen an older production GTI. We spoke about it on my instagram DM's and I took it at face value. I've never had any issues with mine. Not sure when skywatcher actually updated things but apparantly it was different than the release model. Any GTI bought now should be good to go it's been awhile since then.
What does the asiair do that the Sysscan app does not?
It does quite a bit actually. It will control your mount to a very precise accuracy. It will control your camera and if you have an autoguider it will guide on a star and track it through a smaller scope on top of your camera and lens/ telescope so you can take longer exposures. It will platesolve meaning it will use your camera to take a picture to determine where it is pointing into the night sky and keep taking photos and adjusting your mount until it aligns your lens/telescope to center the target you want to photograph. It will change filters for you if you have a electronic filter wheel and also focus for you if you have an electronic focuser ( This is for telescopes) It also does quite a bit more. I have a ASIAIR hardware set up video if you want to give it a watch so you can see the device and how it is integrated with equipment
ua-cam.com/video/i1NObOskiUc/v-deo.html
Great video. thank you.
I had my first (ever) astro night with my GTI and Askar 65PHQ for 3 consecutive nights on new year's eve. It's been a nightmare. So many issues. Any help would be appreciated.
My main issue was that the mount struggles with alignment, managing 1-star or 2-star alignment but failing 3-star alignment completely. even with great polar-alignment. After 2-star alignment, the mount often loses accuracy and fails to find targets. I also noticed the RA axis (top one where the plate attaches) does not return to the correct home position, always pointing sideways. I am simply using synscan pro app (tried wifi and cable connections to my laptop). same issue. I tried my laptop, my tablet, my phone. nothing worked. I managed once to get it to find and track Orion (the only happy thing in those three nights), I managed to get 100 lights frame (30-seconds). but i couldn't repeat that.
What am I doing wrong? Is it a software issue within mount or mechanical issue (my fear as I can't return it).
P.S. I am simply using my telescope, my Nikon Z6 camera, and synscan pro.
The top that you mention is actually the declination it's the part that has the saddle on it. You said when it returns to home position it's sideways. How far sideways is it? If it's really far off check the declination wheel and tighten it after polar alignment.
@@astronotna It is random but i noticed it is mostly about 40 to 60 degrees (quarter of a turn) to the left (if i am standing behind my mount). I do always tighten the big ring (the black one) after alignment.
I am sorry I know it's hard for your to help with little information. I think I am just venting frustration lol.
Aw man I get it. Astrophotography is really hard actually but I feel like you are fighting with your equipment to make things worse. It's not normal to have it return to home and be that far off. What happens if you set your telescope postion straight and pointing forward then home it via the synscan app. If it is off then loosen the declination move it to where it should be, then tighten it back down, slew it away from home then send it home via the app again. Will it return to home in the proper position after?
Also a few things worth checking is in the synscan app go to advanced / autohome then make sure it is set to zero
Then power cycle it and then with your mount straight slew away from home position then go to utilities/ hibernate / "at home position" to see what it does
Can you do a video on how you use the ASIair, its guiding, and how it connects with the GTI technology with the DSLR/Mirrorless camera? Thank you.
I touched on some of those subjects here.
ua-cam.com/video/i1NObOskiUc/v-deo.html
I've never seen a lens collar that cheep. I bought a few from Aliexpress. Can you provide that Amazon link? Maybe they have a selection of sizes. Thanks.
Here you go buddy! amzn.to/4hcpzsH
Alright TLDR 2 questions;
1- What do you think the battery life would be in cold weather? I'm shooting at 12C (~55F) or lower. I know that my camera only lasts about an hour of shooting instead of 3 hours in 4C (40F).
2- Can I use something else then those dovetails? For an example ball head? What can I switch a saddle with? I only have a mirrorless camera. Max I want to do is get a lens converter and a 70-200mm lens. I mean would it be doable with a ball head or something like that?
To me it's not much about the price but availability of stuff that makes me think if I should quit before going deeper into astrophotography.
I mean price is also an issue, but hey I as long as I keep working, I should be able to afford the stuff. We do not have dovetails readily available over here. I can pre-order them from a website, easier I don't have to deal with customs, but I have to wait around 15-30 days and paying 120$ for a 48$ skywatcher dec bracket really puts me off. I don't even know If I can find replacement for the saddle.
All the other accessories you talk about sound nice, aftermarket stuff. Oh man I don't think I have a chance at them.
I mean I made myself a barn door tracker to test and see if I'll enjoy a star-tracker. It was inexpensive since It's just some wood bolt and nuts. I don't want to commit too much just in case It's like my Hotas. In short I bought Thrustmaster T16000 kit and extra joystick now they are collecting dust.
I've decided to re-make the barn door tracker. It's taking me couple of hours to write this comment :D
So I'm back to planning the new lightweight barn door tracker so I can test it out. Hopefully I can make it in time for tonight's shoot :D
So Giving up on the hobby is postponed for the time being
That’s a great question. You would be surprised what you could capture at 200mm. It's one of my favorite focal lengths for astro. Battery life definitely drops off in cold weather. But Last winter and fall I easly got 2 nights of shooting with it. at 29-35F. You can carry another set of AA batteries if it becomes a problem and It will also accept external power. I do really recommend a dovetail. A ball head can off set balance to much because you are extending the length and the counterwieght bar is only so long. The camera also needs to be parallel to the mount in order for the Goto feature to be accurate. A ball head could be off even though it looks straight. You could try to star align it in position but I've never tried that. If you have a quick release plate for a tripod that might work in a pinch to mount it in the stock saddle if you turn it sideways. It's not as thick but it is around the same size in width as a vixen dovetail but I'm not sure how secure your camera would be using that method. If you have access to a 1/4 20 screw and some hard wood you could make a dovetail? I wish you luck and clear skies out there!
I don’t like that it doesn’t have any decoders to remember where mechanical home is to polar align. There’s not even markers to where home is
Where is your knife mate
Lol waiting for the next unboxing!