User`s manual

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180110V1

GETTING STARTED

BASIC OPERATIONS

PREPARING THE NEXGUIDE

SPECIFICATIONS

OPERATION UNDER THE

NIGHT SKY

NEXGUIDE USER’S MANUAL

Summary of content (16 pages)

PAGE 1
NexGuide User’s Manual getting started PREPARING THE nexGUIDE BASIC OPERATIONS OPERATION UNDER THE NIGHT SKY SPECIFICATIONS Thank you for choosing the NexGuide autoguider. The NexGuide can guide an equatorial mount without the help of a computer. It will improve the image quality and help you achieve pin-point stars in your long-exposure photography.
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ABOUT THE nexguide PACKAGE Please take some time to check your new NexGuide package and become familiar with each component. Some parts are installed on the NexGuide main body out of the box. You may need to remove them before using the NexGuide. 1.25” Extension Barrel M42-to1.
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nexguide MAIN BODY Front View Rear View A G B C D E F A. M42 Thread B. CCD Sensor E. Autoguider Port F. Hand Control Port G. LCD Screen C. Power Jack D.
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PREPARING THE nexguide Powering the NexGuide User can use four D type 1.5V batteries (not included) with the battery case as the power supply for NexGuide. To use an optional power supply, it must meet the following requirements: • DC 6V~14V output voltage, lower voltage is recommended • 250mA and up output current • 2.
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BASIC OPERATIONS It is highly recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic operations of the NexGuide indoors before going out under the dark sky. Attaching NexGuide to a Guide Scope There are two ways to install the NexGuide on a guide scope: Option 1: The NexGuide can be threaded onto a telescope with a M42 thread adapter. Generally, this installation method provides the most secure connection. It is best suited for the guide scope equipped with a finderscope or a red dot finder.
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BASIC OPERATIONS Using the Hand Control s s working mode of the autoguider: • Preview Mode: Sends a signal to move the dec motors at guiding rate. MENU • Guiding Mode: Set the Dec correction aggressiveness. • Menu Mode: Used to scroll between menu items and change values under sub menus: Noise Menu: Increases/decreases noise menu values. Lock Menu: Moves crosshair vertically across preview area when manually locking on a star.
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BASIC OPERATIONS Operating the Menus Press the Menu button to activate the main menu tree. Use the UP or DOWN buttons to scroll between the menu items. Press the ENTER or the RIGHT button to choose between the following submenus: Lock Menu: This submenu is used to lock (or Re-Lock) a star in NexGuide’s field of view (FOV) for later guiding operation.
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BASIC OPERATIONS GUIDE Menu: This menu is used to activate or de-activate autoguiding. Use the UP/DOWN button to choose from the following three options: • Auto Cal: The NexGuide will start an auto-calibration routine prior to the start of autoguiding. • Resume: The NexGuide will immediately re-start autoguiding with the previous guiding parameters. • No: The NexGuide will stop autoguiding and return to the locked mode. SWAP Menu: This menu is used to manually change the button logic of the hand control.
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BASIC OPERATIONS DEC BACKLASH Menu: To reduce the affect of Dec axis backlash during autoguiding, the NexGuide can send a signal to the DEC motors for a pre-determined time whenever the NexGuide reverses direction while guiding. Once this menu is selected, you will see the current setting displayed on the left side of the LCD screen. Use the UP/DOWN button to change the value. Press ENTER or LEFT button to confirm.
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OPERATING UNDER THE NIGHT SKY The key steps of operating the NexGuide are: Step 1: Adjust the focus (PREVIEW mode) Step 2: Find and lock a guide star (LOCKED mode) Step 3: Start autoguiding (GUIDING mode) The following section explains the practical operations of the NexGuide: ADJUST FOCUS (PREVIEW MODE) The NexGuide enters the PREVIEW mode as soon as the power is turned on. Following is an example of what you will see. The left half of the LCD screen displays text information. The current mode.
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OPERATING UNDER THE NIGHT SKY Follow these steps to adjust the focus of the guide scope: 1). Insert an optical eyepiece into the eyepiece holder of the guide scope. Activate tracking of the mount. Center a bright star in the eyepiece’s field of view. 2). Remove the optical eyepiece and replace it with the NexGuide. 3). Use the “+” or “-” buttons on the hand pad to set the exposure time to 256 milliseconds. 4). Use the NOISE Menu to set the noise control level until the LCD is free of background noise.
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OPERATING UNDER THE NIGHT SKY Follow these steps to make a par-focal eyepiece: 1). Remove the autoguider from the guide scope. 2). Place the parfocal ring loosely around the eyepiece barrel. 3). Insert the eyepiece into the guidescope focuser. A crosshair or reticle eyepiece is helpful for precise centering of the guide star. 4). Slowly slide the eyepiece towards your eye until the star image is sharp. Do not move the focuser knobs. 5).
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OPERATING UNDER THE NIGHT SKY Finding and locking a guide star: 1). Locate the celestial object that you will be imaging through your main telescope. Activate tracking on the equatorial mount. The guide scope should also be pointed to the same region in the sky. 2). Insert the par-focal eyepiece into the guide scope. Locate a bright star nearby and adjust the guide scope so the star appears in the center of the par-focal eyepiece. 3). Replace the par-focal eyepiece with the NexGuide. 4).
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OPERATING UNDER THE NIGHT SKY Once in locked mode, a small cross will display on the screen to indicate the center of the star. The X and Y coordinates of the star will be displayed in the text area of the LCD. The diagram on the right is what you will see in the LOCKED mode. LOCKED EXP BRI 256 10 X Y 105 68 Autoguiding (GUIDING MODE) Once the NexGuide is successfully locked onto a star, you may activate guiding with the GUIDE menu.
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OPERATING UNDER THE NIGHT SKY The following diagram is what you will see in the GUIDING mode. RA and Dec aggressiveness (milliseconds/pixel). The drift in RA. The drift in Dec. Indication that the NexGuide is sending RA+/RA- or Dec+/Dec signals via the autoguider port. GUIDING RA 300 Dec 220 BRI 13 dR -1 dD 1 RA+ Dec- A crosshair is displayed for you to monitor the effects of autoguiding. The center of the cross is the position of the guide star when guiding is activated.
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SPECIFICATIONS IMAGE SENSOR Type: SONY ICX404AL CCD Sensor Chip size: 5.59 mm (X) * 4.68 mm (Y) Number of effective pixels: 510 (X) * 492 (Y) Unit cell size: 9.6um (X) * 7.5um (Y) Formula for angular resolution in arc second: (206.265/FL * Pixel size (mm) FL is the focal length of the guide scope in millimeters. POWER SUPPLY DC 6V~14V, 250mA Power Jack: 2.