Thank you very much, Scott. I'm just now my first telescope, William Optics Zenithstar 73, from a great guy on eBay. He has been very patient with me going over all his add-ons that he has with the scope. I was looking for something to make things easier, and your video did it. The last thing I need to purchase is the Go to Equatorial Mount. Thanks again, and Happy New Year!!!
Thanks Scott, you have just explained a revealed of mysteries that no one else has done. I will follow you whole awaiting clear skies in here south Sweden!
11/18/22 Glad I took the time to review this video. Have ordered the Plus and it cleared the China hurdles on 16th & 17th, made it to Korea on the 18th 09:00 then apparently crossed IDL to Ankorage AK on 17th 20:00 and should get her in upstate NY by 22nd. Also, getting the ASI174mm mini hopefully by the 23rd. I see you had that guide scope in your Plus settings, awesome! Just got the CGX-L and Edge 1100HD in yesterday. Unpacked to check for damage and all seems good. My daughter, who's into this, is helping me set this up this weekend. So, should get my feet wet as this is my first real telescope and be ready for the long weekend, next week, to work with the Plus, ASI EAF, and ZWO 7 place EFW and a simple cam, NextImage 10. Will upgrade that eventually. Apparently, I live in a Bortle 4 zone and as I have acreage for a back yard with no surrounding lighting, maybe can get a 3 out of that! So, I thank you for the video, excellent work there, clear and concise with additional quality info for the Plus and astrophotography in general. Extra thanks for showing a run through of the software set up for the Plus. You've help tremendously already with that alone. Just subbed here with you. Thanks and good day, clear skies.
Oh wow! So glad I decided to give this a checkout, I was assuming this little device I see on many of the expert level astrophotographers rigs, such as astrobiscuit and astrobackyard and astrofarasography, was FOR experts! Looks so damn useful to me as I don't even have a backyard to set my scope up in. Good tutorial/review bro 👍
Nice video I have both the pro and the plus they both work great I read in your comments someone asked about the thread size 1/4- 20 very short same as camera tripod. Keep up the good videos
A very good video Scott, thank you. I've just bought one of these gizmos, but haven't had the chance to try it out yet. I live in the UK and clear skies are sometimes few and far between.😥 Grey skies are quite common though.🤣 Thanks again.
Thank you Scott. It was a very nice video and I am going to follow these steps using my HEQ5PRO mount with 102 Triplet, 120mm guide scope, ASI183MC, and EAF from ZWO. I hope to have some success switching from Pentax K DSLR to this setup. My mount was tracking good enough I could do 2 minute unguided exposures, and with this set up I will try to go 3 + minutes. From what you've showed the ASIAIR plus is and should be great !!!!!
Loved the channel. All new to this game. Would it be possible to show beginners the complete set up from ....downloads required to how to fully wire. Currently have eqr 6pro, Williams 81/102. Good look with your venture.based in UK. Cheers Mick
Thank you! I made a beginner break down video. Give it a check out. I'm actually working on making a how to playlist and I'll be sure to include a wire hook up video.
Thank you scott for this very useful information. Where did you buy this antenna which amplifies the range of the wifi. I live in france and here i have not had the opportunity to find this type of antenna. Thank you and good day
I just ventured into astrophotography after two years of visual. I have the Adair mini,120 mini guide scope and the asi585mc cooled camera. I’m having trouble viewing through the main camera. All I see is a black screen and plate solving keeps failing. Can’t even polar align because it fails. If I can’t polar align I can’t use any of the features until it polar aligns.
I actually just found a 12 DBI antenna that should work for the ASI air plus. Here's the link www.ebay.com/itm/WiFi-Antenna-12dBi-For-ASUS-AC68U-AC88U-AC66U-Wireless-LAN-Wi-Fi-Router-Ada-Tj4-/224738857395?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
Hey im new to the hobby and i wonder , if i have only a main imaging camera will i be able to auto guide or plate solve with that camera while still using it to take videos/picutres trough my telescope.
Ivan You will be able to plate solve with the main imaging camera before you start taking images. But you will need an additional camera for auto guiding.
Great video.. I was wondering if you know what size screws and type of thread fits in the holes on the side and bottom of the unit? I am asking because I want to get one but not sure if I can attach it to my William Optics Losmandy-Style Dovetail Plate.
It should attach on to the dovetail, I wanna say it comes with extra screws. If not you should be able to find the right size at your local hardware store.
Fantastic review. I hadn't thought about how I would transfer files once I got my Plus and I definitely agree that transferring via the USB C port would be a pain. Can you recommend a USB stick? Thanks
Sorry meant to say the other version came with a USB stick. I believe you can use any USB stick. I'd recommend a high GB capacity as too not fill up the Memory
Hey Scott. I have the Star Adventurer set on the ⭐️function. I set ASIAIR mount to On camera and have it connected via the cable to my guide scope. My guide is connected to the ASIAIR as well. When I try to polar align I get No Mount Connected. It says I can skip if I have a manual mount. Any suggestions?
Great video Scott very comprehensive, I’ve just received mine today and cannot view anything, as I’m pretty new to this game, I have it all set up but feel I’m doing something wrong. I’m using a Zwo 120m-cs which according to what I’ve read this is compatible can you throw any light on it. It’s certainly not as easy as 1-2-3, well not for me anyway.
Yes I definitely agree the hobby astrophotography isn't as easy as 123 but once you get the idea of it all the ASIAIR BB is the easy way to go. Hmmm what scope are you using? The asi120mc is more used as a guider or planetary camera. It's sensor isn't that large.
I'm new to the telescope game. I'm living in the DR for a couple years and I got about 600 or so to spend on a smaller powerful telescope that I can take with me as I bounce around this island.. Help me out please
Excellent video, thanks! At first I thought that it was me in the video, but it didn’t look like me... I had the Plus out last night for the first time and it took me awhile to figure out how to manually focus (the manual is lacking), but it’s pretty sweet once I figured it out. Then onto PA. It successfully plate solved and then rotated the RA axis 60 degrees, but after that, plate solving failed (multiple attempts and it stated the is was seeing 100+ stars. This is as far as I got (very cold outside too & I’m very wimpy!). Any thoughts on what I’m doing wrong? Thanks again!
I actually was going to put polar aligning in my next video. Yes, when you are plate solving check the box below for auto. It will then continuously be taking exposures. It will fail if you're moving the mount, but let it sit for a little bit after you've adjusted and then it should solve correctly. What mount are you using?
@@CosmicSandcastles okay, I’ll try next time. I have an iOptron iEQ30 Pro mount. Also, I think (I’m old and my brain is partially fossilized) it was running really short exposures. From what I’m hearing is that they should be about 5 seconds. Also, as soon as the mount moved to its 60 degree position, plate solving failed at the first attempt. Thanks!
@@kurtbauch5491 interesting, I would only use longer exposures if you have a narrow band filter, but other than that I tend to use two to three second exposures. Exposures. Make sure you're roughly polar lined first before the mount moves the 60°. I think this hobby takes a little bit out of all of us lol. But once you get it, you got it! And thats the thrill
Depending on your F stop I recommend not having less that 1 second. I think I'll do 3 seconds at F6.3 and 2 or 1 with hyperstar at F2 depending if I have a filter on. That should definitely help your plate solves.
Great video!! I use a similar setup (redcat 51 + zwo asi183mc pro + az-gti + asiair Pro). I recently purchased the EAF + ProAstroGear Black-Cat Mount autofocuser, but I am having some issues with this setup. What value do you have in your Step Size in the Auto Focus Setting menu? I can't get star size values less than 3. In backlash I have set 0 since I do not observe that it has. I have tried different backlash values (0, 60, 120 ...) but I always get the same results. Thank you!!
Are you talking about the autofocus feature or when you are focusing manually? You may need to check your backlash on your gear. I have mine at 0 but I think I have like 10 backlash with the black cat gear. Do you have 50mm back focus?
@@CosmicSandcastles Yes, about the autofocus feature. I have my AF exposure to 2 seconds and the Step Size to 30. My back focus is 55mm (16.5mm T2 extender + 21mm ZWO Filter Drawer with L-Pro filter + 17.5mm camera). I had read some comments that backfocus was not very important in Redcat because of its Petzval design, but maybe you are right.
Yeah sounds like your backlash might need to be set. I'll see about making a back focus and backlash video for the black cat. I would recommend seeing how many steps your gear is off on the backlash it shouldn't be more that 25 but unsure because it is all 3D printed parts so might not be exact as mine
Well I have an ASIAir Plus and it won't work with my iPhone. Does work with my 2 iPads though. After a first night with the iPad I wanted to scale down and use the iPhone instead. Not happening. I've checked my settings and everything else I can think of. So far 2 hours wasted on trying to get this to work.
I am newbie i keep on searching for UA-cam channel for beginners how to start with luckly I got you..please make videos on how to select telescopes how to use them, accessories to find.and i am ready to donate please provide patreon details
Check out my gear breakdown video. I would start off with a star tracker and a wider field telescope because they are more forgiving. I started out with a big Schmidt cassegrain (C9.25) and it was very hard to figure things out because I was so zoomed in.
I was hoping you would show how to manually focus the cameras. I can’t get an image or stars!! Doing 2 second looping exposures and tried to focus. Nothing
I love the voice over pretty awesome
Thank you! I try and put a lot of effort in these videos.
Outstanding walk through! Thanks much! BTW, I just subscribed and hit the like button.
Awesome thank you for your support!!!
Thank you very much, Scott. I'm just now my first telescope, William Optics Zenithstar 73, from a great guy on eBay. He has been very patient with me going over all his add-ons that he has with the scope. I was looking for something to make things easier, and your video did it. The last thing I need to purchase is the Go to Equatorial Mount.
Thanks again, and Happy New Year!!!
Awesome! Glad you found value from this video
Very informative video. The intro was great.
I had to give it a like just for the intro haha that’s so me.
Thanks Scott, you have just explained a revealed of mysteries that no one else has done. I will follow you whole awaiting clear skies in here south Sweden!
Thank you Jan.. cheers
11/18/22
Glad I took the time to review this video. Have ordered the Plus and it cleared the China hurdles on 16th & 17th, made it to Korea on the 18th 09:00 then apparently crossed IDL to Ankorage AK on 17th 20:00 and should get her in upstate NY by 22nd. Also, getting the ASI174mm mini hopefully by the 23rd. I see you had that guide scope in your Plus settings, awesome!
Just got the CGX-L and Edge 1100HD in yesterday. Unpacked to check for damage and all seems good. My daughter, who's into this, is helping me set this up this weekend. So, should get my feet wet as this is my first real telescope and be ready for the long weekend, next week, to work with the Plus, ASI EAF, and ZWO 7 place EFW and a simple cam, NextImage 10. Will upgrade that eventually.
Apparently, I live in a Bortle 4 zone and as I have acreage for a back yard with no surrounding lighting, maybe can get a 3 out of that!
So, I thank you for the video, excellent work there, clear and concise with additional quality info for the Plus and astrophotography in general.
Extra thanks for showing a run through of the software set up for the Plus. You've help tremendously already with that alone.
Just subbed here with you.
Thanks and good day, clear skies.
Nice glad to hear
Thank you for your time😊
Good job....Announcer voice over was very cool. I'm waiting for my ASIAIR and EAF from OPT ASAP. Will rewatch your video afterwards.
Right on! I had alot of fun making this video
Just starting the hobby…excellent instructions
Right on. Keep it up
Thanks so much - I am definitely learning from your videos.
Awesome I'm glad you've found value from these
Great Video!!
Thank you very much Scott!😃
I'd be taping those led lights once comfortable with use of the asi air plus.
I image at my apartments where there's a bunch of lights. But definitely will have to once I go to a dark location
Oh wow! So glad I decided to give this a checkout, I was assuming this little device I see on many of the expert level astrophotographers rigs, such as astrobiscuit and astrobackyard and astrofarasography, was FOR experts! Looks so damn useful to me as I don't even have a backyard to set my scope up in. Good tutorial/review bro 👍
Definitely a must
Nice video I have both the pro and the plus they both work great I read in your comments someone asked about the thread size 1/4- 20 very short same as camera tripod. Keep up the good videos
Right 9n thank you Mark!
A very good video Scott, thank you. I've just bought one of these gizmos, but haven't had the chance to try it out yet. I live in the UK and clear skies are sometimes few and far between.😥 Grey skies are quite common though.🤣 Thanks again.
Great vid ! Thanks for the info 🙌 funny as well !
You don't ever want to feel like Jeff
Hi, will you please describe the replacement WiFi antenna you installed. Thanks
Thank you Scott. It was a very nice video and I am going to follow these steps using my HEQ5PRO mount with 102 Triplet, 120mm guide scope, ASI183MC, and EAF from ZWO. I hope to have some success switching from Pentax K DSLR to this setup. My mount was tracking good enough I could do 2 minute unguided exposures, and with this set up I will try to go 3 + minutes.
From what you've showed the ASIAIR plus is and should be great !!!!!
awsome! yes once you get around the app it makes astrophotography exciting to image. hope all turns out well!!!!
Loved the channel.
All new to this game.
Would it be possible to show beginners the complete set up from ....downloads required to how to fully wire.
Currently have eqr 6pro, Williams 81/102.
Good look with your venture.based in UK.
Cheers Mick
Thank you! I made a beginner break down video. Give it a check out.
I'm actually working on making a how to playlist and I'll be sure to include a wire hook up video.
I’ve added mine to a large mesh network. Building a dark library right now from across the house.
Nice
great information on the ASIAIR thanks
Your welcome!
So I am new to astrophotography, I went right away with asiair plus. Being new, glong this route the best for me? Waiting for it to come in. Thanks
Definitely makes things alot easier
Thank you scott for this very useful information. Where did you buy this antenna which amplifies the range of the wifi. I live in france and here i have not had the opportunity to find this type of antenna. Thank you and good day
I believe I found it on Amazon. I'll see if I can't find any send link
Sharpless and Gum have awesome targets in those catalogs.
Definitely
I just ventured into astrophotography after two years of visual. I have the Adair mini,120 mini guide scope and the asi585mc cooled camera. I’m having trouble viewing through the main camera. All I see is a black screen and plate solving keeps failing. Can’t even polar align because it fails. If I can’t polar align I can’t use any of the features until it polar aligns.
Great video! I was interested in the replacement antenna you displayed on the ASIair plus. I couldn't quite make out the name form the audio
I actually just found a 12 DBI antenna that should work for the ASI air plus. Here's the link
www.ebay.com/itm/WiFi-Antenna-12dBi-For-ASUS-AC68U-AC88U-AC66U-Wireless-LAN-Wi-Fi-Router-Ada-Tj4-/224738857395?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0
Hey im new to the hobby and i wonder , if i have only a main imaging camera will i be able to auto guide or plate solve with that camera while still using it to take videos/picutres trough my telescope.
Ivan You will be able to plate solve with the main imaging camera before you start taking images. But you will need an additional camera for auto guiding.
does this still work if there is no wifi for miles?
Yes it connects your phone via Wi-Fi. Locally
Great video.. I was wondering if you know what size screws and type of thread fits in the holes on the side and bottom of the unit? I am asking because I want to get one but not sure if I can attach it to my William Optics Losmandy-Style Dovetail Plate.
It should attach on to the dovetail, I wanna say it comes with extra screws. If not you should be able to find the right size at your local hardware store.
The large hole is 1/4x20, the smaller holes are M4x4 (straight from ZWO)
Fantastic review. I hadn't thought about how I would transfer files once I got my Plus and I definitely agree that transferring via the USB C port would be a pain. Can you recommend a USB stick? Thanks
I actually use the USB stick that came with the asiair pro
@@CosmicSandcastles Didn't realize it came with a USB stick. What capacity?
Sorry meant to say the other version came with a USB stick. I believe you can use any USB stick. I'd recommend a high GB capacity as too not fill up the Memory
Hey Scott. I have the Star Adventurer set on the ⭐️function. I set ASIAIR mount to On camera and have it connected via the cable to my guide scope. My guide is connected to the ASIAIR as well. When I try to polar align I get No Mount Connected. It says I can skip if I have a manual mount. Any suggestions?
Yes you do not need to connect the mount to the ASI air because it's not a go-to mount.
Great video Scott very comprehensive, I’ve just received mine today and cannot view anything, as I’m pretty new to this game, I have it all set up but feel I’m doing something wrong. I’m using a Zwo 120m-cs which according to what I’ve read this is compatible can you throw any light on it. It’s certainly not as easy as 1-2-3, well not for me anyway.
Yes I definitely agree the hobby astrophotography isn't as easy as 123 but once you get the idea of it all the ASIAIR BB is the easy way to go.
Hmmm what scope are you using? The asi120mc is more used as a guider or planetary camera. It's sensor isn't that large.
I'm new to the telescope game. I'm living in the DR for a couple years and I got about 600 or so to spend on a smaller powerful telescope that I can take with me as I bounce around this island.. Help me out please
A good way to start is with a star tracker and DSLR very portable!
@@CosmicSandcastles aight. Ima check it out. Thanks man
Excellent video, thanks! At first I thought that it was me in the video, but it didn’t look like me... I had the Plus out last night for the first time and it took me awhile to figure out how to manually focus (the manual is lacking), but it’s pretty sweet once I figured it out. Then onto PA. It successfully plate solved and then rotated the RA axis 60 degrees, but after that, plate solving failed (multiple attempts and it stated the is was seeing 100+ stars. This is as far as I got (very cold outside too & I’m very wimpy!). Any thoughts on what I’m doing wrong? Thanks again!
I actually was going to put polar aligning in my next video. Yes, when you are plate solving check the box below for auto. It will then continuously be taking exposures. It will fail if you're moving the mount, but let it sit for a little bit after you've adjusted and then it should solve correctly. What mount are you using?
@@CosmicSandcastles okay, I’ll try next time. I have an iOptron iEQ30 Pro mount. Also, I think (I’m old and my brain is partially fossilized) it was running really short exposures. From what I’m hearing is that they should be about 5 seconds. Also, as soon as the mount moved to its 60 degree position, plate solving failed at the first attempt. Thanks!
@@kurtbauch5491 interesting, I would only use longer exposures if you have a narrow band filter, but other than that I tend to use two to three second exposures. Exposures. Make sure you're roughly polar lined first before the mount moves the 60°. I think this hobby takes a little bit out of all of us lol. But once you get it, you got it! And thats the thrill
@@CosmicSandcastles yes, that all makes sense. I think that my exposures were less than a second (not positive though). Thanks!
Depending on your F stop I recommend not having less that 1 second. I think I'll do 3 seconds at F6.3 and 2 or 1 with hyperstar at F2 depending if I have a filter on.
That should definitely help your plate solves.
Great video!!
I use a similar setup (redcat 51 + zwo asi183mc pro + az-gti + asiair Pro). I recently purchased the EAF + ProAstroGear Black-Cat Mount autofocuser, but I am having some issues with this setup. What value do you have in your Step Size in the Auto Focus Setting menu? I can't get star size values less than 3. In backlash I have set 0 since I do not observe that it has. I have tried different backlash values (0, 60, 120 ...) but I always get the same results.
Thank you!!
Are you talking about the autofocus feature or when you are focusing manually? You may need to check your backlash on your gear. I have mine at 0 but I think I have like 10 backlash with the black cat gear. Do you have 50mm back focus?
@@CosmicSandcastles Yes, about the autofocus feature. I have my AF exposure to 2 seconds and the Step Size to 30.
My back focus is 55mm (16.5mm T2 extender + 21mm ZWO Filter Drawer with L-Pro filter + 17.5mm camera). I had read some comments that backfocus was not very important in Redcat because of its Petzval design, but maybe you are right.
Yeah sounds like your backlash might need to be set. I'll see about making a back focus and backlash video for the black cat. I would recommend seeing how many steps your gear is off on the backlash it shouldn't be more that 25 but unsure because it is all 3D printed parts so might not be exact as mine
@@CosmicSandcastles Cool!! I will wait for your video for the black cat
Well I have an ASIAir Plus and it won't work with my iPhone. Does work with my 2 iPads though. After a first night with the iPad I wanted to scale down and use the iPhone instead. Not happening. I've checked my settings and everything else I can think of. So far 2 hours wasted on trying to get this to work.
I would try cloudy nights there's some helpful people on there
Excellent videos made..can you guide begginers step by step for astrophotography
Yeah I'll be adding more videos with step by step. You can't also find me on Facebook or Instagram where I can't answer detailed questions.
I am newbie i keep on searching for UA-cam channel for beginners how to start with luckly I got you..please make videos on how to select telescopes how to use them, accessories to find.and i am ready to donate please provide patreon details
No need to donate. I'm fairly new myself. Any recommendations I'll consider making a playlist for beginners.
Do you have any suggestions?
Check out my gear breakdown video. I would start off with a star tracker and a wider field telescope because they are more forgiving. I started out with a big Schmidt cassegrain (C9.25) and it was very hard to figure things out because I was so zoomed in.
@@CosmicSandcastles make a playlist saying "Beginner Start up "
The Eagle is supposed to be a better unit but expensive
Not sure, I haven't investigated that unit.
@@CosmicSandcastles have a looks it’s supposed to be good but like I said expensive.
I'll look into it
@@CosmicSandcastles ok no worries… I’m thinking about purchasing one this summer.
I was hoping you would show how to manually focus the cameras. I can’t get an image or stars!! Doing 2 second looping exposures and tried to focus. Nothing
I'll have to make a separate video