From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: January 18, 2009 10:56:52 AM MST

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Stupid questions?

Hi Jess;

On 18-Jan-09, at 4:41 AM, Jesse Ohlsson wrote:

Hello friends.

I am a Mac user and it looks like an Imaging Source firewire camera with Astro IIDC software

is the way to go.

My scope is a Meade 7" Mak OTA on a Losmandy GM-8 mount (without the Gemini goto).

I've still got my old Meade field tripod, which I've heard is more stable than the GM8 stock

tripod. I may buy the adapter so I can put my mount on the Meade tripod if anyone can

confirm it is steadier for AP.

But, my main question is about the camera itself. Oceanside Photo and Telescope, for

example, sells the IS cameras, but it looks like they come with no mounting hardware. How

to mount the camera to the OTA is my question.

You need a C-Mount to 1.25" adapter for the TIS camera.

Search with Yahoo or Google with the phrase

c-mount to 1.25" adapter

and you'll find lots of them.

For example, scopetronix sells the "STC125" for $23 at

Adirondacks carries them

etc.

I plan on using IIDC to autoguide using a USB to serial adaptor, which should do the guiding

task nicely.

As long as the controller (i.e Gemini) for the GM 8 supports Meade LX200 type controls, it will guide okay with the serial port adapter.

The GPUSB work better as they have lower latency and more direct control of the motors.

See the ShoeString web site

and read the section on Losmandy mounts for GPUSB details.

Hope That Helps..

Milton J. Aupperle