Compatibility and functionality

Jaaph

I am currently using an ASIAIR to control my Astro-Physics Mach1 mount. You state the SL is compatible with this mount (CP4 controler). Have you tested this in practice or is it compatible on paper?
I just bought the SL and before I open the box and break the seal I would like to know.

Furthermore I would like to have an option to use the SF with the Wanderer electronic tilt adjuster and for my travel mount to use it with the MLAstro-One automatic Polar alignment. The ASIAIR can work with the Automatic Polar Alignment.

I have the Heliostar 76Ha. A friend of mine has managed to use the ZWO EAF with his and built an autofocus application for his Heliostar. You might consider this as well.

The two power inputs could/should be replaced with one XT60 or XT30 socket. These can handle much more currents. They are easy to solder and clamp really well.

I hope this compact controler works well so I can put one on each of my 5 scopes

Yin-UMa

Jaaph Hi, thanks for choosing SynLink and for sharing the details of your setup!

The Mach1 with the CP4 controller is listed as compatible based on our support for the Astro-Physics GTO protocol.
SynLink supports a wide range of equipment, so it's not possible for us to test every model and hardware combination individually. Even with the same model, actual performance can vary depending on firmware versions and other factors.

What we can assure you is that if you encounter any compatibility issues, we'll do our best to investigate and work toward a solution.
Regarding autofocus for the Heliostar, SynLink already includes an Iterative autofocus method using RMS Contrast. Unlike star-based focusing, this method evaluates image contrast to determine the best focus position, so it may also be useful for solar imaging.

As for your other suggestions, we'll take them into consideration as we continue improving SynLink.

Jaaph

Thx a lot for your prompt reply. I will open the box now! 😉

Jerry

Hello, I'm currently using the ASIAIR Plus, and it's included mount, attached to one of the finder mounts on my Askar 106 SQA. Will the mount that comes with the Synlink be compatible with my scope?

Thanks for your time. I'm really looking forward to the Synlink and hope it has some features that I wish were on the ASIAIR.

Moontanner

Jerry
I'm in the process of adding some new accessories during a clean up of my scope collection. This is what I've found so far:

AA+ vs SL (It's the bottom of the foot that's the issue on many finder shoes)

ZWO scope (Not a chance)

SVBony shoe (Just fits)

SW Achro with built in shoe ( Press fit tight with no screw needed)

Meade SCT and a couple of other shoes I have floating around don't fit the SL foot
Datyson cheapy (just fits and you can see 120ED manual rotator on the left of the standard shoe that fits the SL)

A tiny arris on the edges of all of the SW green accessories wouldn't go astray either. Those dings are standard as supplied new on most of my green dovetails and fittings.

You're probably good for height on the 106. The SL foot is nice and tall which gives good clearance in most cases. On my SW Esprit 120ED it could do with a riser block to clear the "ships wheel" style angle adjustment mechanism if you're not running a rotator.
HTH.

stephenramsden

Jaaph
I am using the SynLink with a CP4 on an Astro-Physics 1200 mount. The mount selection you have to choose is “LX200 mount”.
It “works” sort of in that it does show an LX200 mount connected but it definitely needs some work in communicating properly.
The Park and Home functions do not work and are greyed out.
The mount speed selection has 1X, 2X, 3X, and 4X all of which produce the same speed when slewing which seems to be whatever speed you had the mount set on when you connected to it. Sometimes very slow, sometimes very fast.
The goto hasn’t worked accurately yet on the first try but it has worked on the 2nd try of the same target twice so far. Mostly it just slews somewhere else and fails.
The guider pulse commands sent are not currently being accepted by the “LX200 mount” so you can’t calibrate guiding which means you can’t use guiding. All sort of errors show up and then the guiding just fails.

The Skywatcher SynLink support team has been very receptive and responsive to all of these issues and I have sent all the debug logs to them. I’m betting that they will have a dedicated and working “Astro-Physics” mount selection in the drop down menu in a coming update as so many imagers use them.

I would be really interested in your experience when connecting your AP/CP4 mount to the SynLink to see if you have the same result or if I am just dumb.