Another great video Simon, quality USB cables are essential and often overlooked when kit is unreliable or not working correctly. Automation is the key to a productive hobby - once you have the roof all integrated into NINA the next step is an AAG Cloudwatcher to protect your kit from our fickle weather and transient showers, it will also allow unattended all night imaging which really adds another dimension as the number of clear nights we get in a season is terrible, you really have to make the most of 2-3 hour clear spells if possible. I control my backyard Dome in fully automated mode (I use Starkeeper Voyager Advanced instead of NINA) with the system starting up automatically with clear skies any time of the night and the AAG Cloudwatcher is the essential piece of kit that allows the reliability required for unattended imaging and it means I can do so from the rather wet West of Scotland. They are not cheap (but neither is a wet / damaged Observatory) but are superbly reliable and trusted by the Pros.

@SimonsAstro

4 ай бұрын

Hi, sorry for the late reply! Thanks for watching 😀 My roof is now fully automated with Nina, it’s great to be able to leave Nina to do everything, including closing the roof after a session! Your system sounds great! I am definitely going to look into a weather station of some sort, your AAG sounds good! Thanks, hope you get some clear skies in Scotland 👍

Nice video and never stop with the commentary, it's all useful. Your videos are really helping me. I've finally got the observatory built and have been frustrated by a broken camera (under warranty, phew) and as always bad skies. But surely that can't last. NINA is next. I'm sure my wife already suspects 😅

@SimonsAstro

Ай бұрын

Hey Simon, thanks so much for watching and I’m really glad my videos are helping you! Any questions mate, if I can help, please ask! Nina is a natural progression, happens to us all! Funny how the wife’s just seem to know🤣 Clear skies mate!

Very good video to show your beginning with NINA Simon and also and especially showing some problems and how to solve it. Always good not to show unreal "firsts". 👍🏼 I'm sure you'll like NINA. Such a good software.. :) Clear skies mate

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Tully, appreciated mate👍 I already like Nina, it can only get better 😀🤞🤞 Clear skies!

NINA is very good. As you've jumped in at the deep end with advanced sequencer make sure you take advantage of "Centre after drift". It keeps target centered after a cloud etc. Very useful for unattended imaging through the night.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip Dunk! I’ll be doing that for sure! Thanks for watching and clear skies!

I switched from Maxim DL 5 and Sky X to Nina and Stellarium. I used to have to use alignment stars and sync my G11 Gemini 2. Now I polar align with QHY Polemaster, focus roughly, and start the sequence. Like you, I’m sitting under clouds, Lancaster Pa. Bortles 5 skies.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey, thanks for watching, I think switching to Nina, was a good move! Hopefully it won’t take me long to get used to it! I use ipolar for my polar alignment! Bortle 4 here! Clear skies

Congrats on the transition mate, I don’t think you’ll have any regrets, especially once you get NINA opening and closing the Obsy for you. Good video showing all the steps and little problems you face along the way, this will really help others who want to do the same. Happy New Year and clear skies mate

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Glenn, I wouldn’t have got this far without your help mate👍 I’m looking forward to being able to open and close the roof in a sequence! Nearly there, just need it to stop raining to test it and get the magnets in the right place🤣 clear skies and happy new year mate👍

Ah you dipped your toes in at last nice one mate we've never used the advanced sequencer just used the legacy one as it just works for us, we've also binned EQMOD in favour of Greenswamp server as it just seems to be better but glad you've got it running.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Tich! Happy to year mate to you & Nicky, hope all is well! Yes I’ve well & truly got my toes wet🤣 That green swamp server sounds popular mate, have to have a look at that! Thought I’d get right into the advanced sequencer, no time like the present! Have a good one Tich and clear skies for 24👍

@dumpydalekobservatory

5 ай бұрын

Yeah we're good thanks & here's wishing you all a happy & clear 2024

Great video and congrats on the new setup!

@SimonsAstro

4 ай бұрын

Thanks very much 👍

Another excellent video Simon, and a beautiful image!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Jeremy 👍 You’ve got this all to come mate🤣 A natural progression!

Great image and great commentary during testing. Great when the plan comes together and it works 👍

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Rob! Nina is a great program, can’t wait to really get stuck into it, just need some clear skies! Thanks for watching 👍

Happy new year Simon, good to see you back 👍

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey thanks Arnstein😀 Happy new year to you mate! Looking forward to meeting you in March 👍 Clear skies!

Hi Simon ... Caution ... Once you get comfortable with NINA, you'll never want to go back. I Love it. Plus, the advanced sequencer has so many options to choose from along with all those additional plugins. I was following along with your step-by-step setup and was cheering you on.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Pat😀 Thanks for watching! I’m already loving Nina, I can see the advantages already! Today I’ve been setting up my roof automation with Nina, that’s the next step! Thanks for cheering me on🤣 Happy new year Pat and clear skies!

Hi Simon great work getting the mini computer and NINA installed looking forward to seeing your next videos, thanks for taking us on your astro journey mate, Happy New year to you and yours mate

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Tony😀 I appreciate all of your support mate! I’m working on getting the roof to open and close with Nina in a sequence! Looking forward to getting stuck into some long projects this year! Happy new year to you and your family Tony and clear skies for 24👍

Glad you've got it all up and running, Simon. Amazing to think you can almost image from anywhere by remoting in!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Paul, thanks mate, the technology is amazing really, if I can get my head around it🤣 I’m getting there! Just got to get into Nina now! Clear skies and happy new year Paul👍

I’m dipping my feet into astrophotography and NINA intimidates me being so complex to use. Been looking into the Zwo platform also.

@SimonsAstro

24 күн бұрын

Hi Pete I totally understand mate, I can highly recommend you using the ZWO platform and the ASIAIR, I used that for 18months and found it so useful for people starting out! Nina still makes me have to think a bit harder as I’ve not long been using it, but is it a really good program! But if you’re just starting out, and don’t want to be intimidated, too much!! Then go for the ASIAIR Plus, it’s a great system! Any questions please ask! Good luck👍

Awesome Simon! I'm right there with ya.. Pretty much separated with LOLA now. and getting down with NINA now. Loved seeing your reactions and commentary as you went through the first time... my reaction was exactly the same as yours. Great choice in target for 1st NINA image! CS and happy new year!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Jason, lol, that’s so funny, I really was intrigued as to what was going to happen 🤣! Poor LOLA, have you spoken to her since the break up?🤣 We both have great things to come, now we’re using the big boys tools😀 Thanks for watching mate and clear skies and a happy new year to you and your family!

Nice one dude, looking good 👍

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks Booty😀 Clear skies mate👍

Great video Simon. You wont look back with nina. Nice final image with short integration time. All the best mate and clear skies.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Rob, many thanks mate! I’m looking forward to getting stuck into Nina and some long projects! Just need the weather for it😀 Happy new year mate and clear skies!

Great video Simon, and we all get teething issues with such a big change, I also use all Lindy Anthracite cables too, and find them superb TBH..and I agree about ditching EQMOD and moving to GS Server, it’s tons better…there are also a few settings that need to be changed in EQMOD to use in NINA, but assume you figured that out.. You won’t regret the change in a few weeks when you get your head around it… Happy new year to you

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks so much Stuart👍 It has been a big change, and it will take a little while for me to get there! Those Lindy cables are great! EQMOD may well be ditched in the future, when I’ve got my head around this change🤣 I’m looking forward to getting stuck into Nina now and getting some decent images in the new year, if it ever stops raining!! Clear skies and happy new year to you mate👍

@Astro_Shed

5 ай бұрын

@@SimonsAstro your doing well as I have been using NINA for nearly 2 years, and still only use the legacy sequencer, not even tried the advanced one yet, mind you the legacy does all I need TBH..

Awesome job! I don't regret my switch from ASI to NINA.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks! I’m looking forward to using Nina😀 Clear skies

Hi Simon Been following you through the Obsy build, just about to start my own. I noticed in your video what remote camera are you using and what motion detection system please? Or did I miss that in one of your previous vids? Cheers keep up the good work

@SimonsAstro

3 ай бұрын

Hi John Thanks for watching! The WiFi camera system I’m using is Osaio, I think it’s the T1 or T1 pro, I can check when I’m back from holiday, be back Saturday! I may be able to get you a link when I home👍

Great when everything works!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Dave, thanks, yeah when it works it’s great😀 Clear skies!

Hello! Great work! I went the other way. I started with NINA and went to pick up AA+. I think I got lazy, that's why LOL! But I do miss my focuser offsets for the filters in Asiair. My filters supposed to be parfocal, but they are not. Ask me how I know. Only if AA+ would add focuser offsets for the plan sequencer, it would be fantastic. Also if their guider would have the guider assistant, to get my mount backlash measured, that also be a big plus. All this of course is available if someone uses a mini pc and NINA+PHD2. But other than that, I still use NINA with my non-Zwo stuff, so I keep myself up to date with both platforms.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey, thanks for watching! I still love and use the ASIAIR! The only 2 reasons I changed were, as you said, the filter offsets, and I wanted to be able to open and close my observatory roof in a sequence! Nina and ASIAIR are both great tools, just Nina can do a little bit more! Thanks & Clear skies!👍

Hey top work Simon:) I had those few setup issues when setting up my first mini PC usually drivers and stuff. You're looking good mate great first test. If you can I'd grab the advanced sequence templates from Patriot Astro. They pretty much have everything you need. Nice first outing with NINA and great image. 👍

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey thanks Ollie! Yeah I’ve made the inevitable jump! I’ll have a look at those templates, they’ll come in handy mate 👍 Think I’m over the teething problems now🤞 Can’t wait for some decent clear skies to get a long project under way😀 I’m fitting the magnets on the obsey roof today so I can open and close the roof in a sequence, we’ll see how that goes!! Thanks for watching Ollie, happy new year mate and clear skies!

@Abaunzamarco

5 ай бұрын

x2 on Chad’s templates from @PatriotAstro. He also explains the logic behinds them. Now I just have the AA as a last resource backup.

I just purchased the MeLE quieter 3 and I intend to switch over from ASIAIR shortly. I'm nervous about the switch because everything just works with the ASIAIR. Do you have control over the power settings for the pegasus power box? Great video, glad you kept in all of the issues you had, I'll definitely reference this video later :) Happy new year!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey thanks for watching! If I can be of any help, please ask! I had the same concerns about switching. I too love the ASIAIR and am still using it with my portable Asker FRA400 rig! But I wanted to be able to open and close the roof automatically using Nina in a sequence, which I’m working towards! Yes you do have control over the Pegasus power box, and everything else you connect to! It’s a great program and you should soon get used to it! Good luck and happy new year to you👍

NINA is great if you have a permanent setup or pier, I started off using it but for someone like me that sets up every night ASIair is just so much easier, 10 mins and I'm up and running. I miss a few of the advanced features of NINA and one day I'll have a more permanent setup and do something like you, nice rig!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks👍 I totally agree with you! I love the ASIAIR and still use it on my Askar FRA400 rig! I only changed to Nina so I could control my observatory roof in a sequence! I’m still getting used to it, I’m sure I’ll love it as much as the ASIAIR! Thanks for watching and clear skies!

Great Video Simon. Hopefully see you at PAS Sat. How did you find NINA. I’m having a battle as well whether to switch over from APT.

@SimonsAstro

2 ай бұрын

Hey thanks so much for watching, yeah I’m at the show, come and say hi👍 Nina is great! I’m slowly getting used to it and she can shut my obsey roof when I’m asleep at 4am😀 Give a go, you’ll love it! Clear skies!

In EQmod, there is a setting when you expand the control view that allows you to set the park home position once everything is where you want it.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tip Mark👍 Thanks for watching and clear skies!

Lovely image

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks very much👍

`great video. i just installed nina to on my melee quiter 3c. great little pc. what cables did you order for the pc power connection. Beceause i use a pegasus power box aswell and was looking for proper cable/plugs.

@SimonsAstro

4 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for watching! I used one of the Pegasus power leads that came with the power box, then used an adapter for the round 5.5x2.1 plug to a USB C which goes into the PC! Available on Amazon

Hi Simon. I use both Kstars (the open source project that ASIAIR was derived from) and N.I.N.A . Yes lots of differences but also a lot of similarities. There are pro's and cons of both systems (INDI Linux based vs N.I.N.A Windows based). Not so difficult to adjust to a different system once you have mastered the first one. I spent a few hours watching Patriot Astro channel to get up to speed on N.I.N.A. I found it very useful on autofocus setup. Looks like you are having fun.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hi, thanks for commenting, I’ll have a look at Patriot Astro, I liked the simplicity of the ASIAIR, but wasn’t able to open and close my observatory roof using the ASIAIR! I’m now working to get that happening with Nina, just got to position the magnetic switches on the roof! Thanks for watching and clear skies!

Fantastic video Simon, exactly what is your telescope? Seems like a handful for the EQ6 ?

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Woody, thanks mate! The scope is the Skywatcher Esprit 120ED. The EQ6 can actually hold it all very well! It’s probably just over half of its max payload which is about right, and I often get consistent 0.3 to 0.4 guiding! Thanks for watching, clear skies and happy new year mate 👍

Btw, I bought a Kamrui mini pc with I7, 16 gb ram, 500 gb drive for $400. Comes ready to g. Just install software. I have mine sit on a shelf under the G11 tripod. I use a GL.Inet travel router that is powered by usb-c. Works great, but during star party with 400 people using WiFi, I had to use Ethernet. Airwaves were full of interference I guess.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

I’ve Not heard of a Kamrui mini pc! Seems a fair price though! I imagine with all those people at a star party using WiFi it would be a bit slow🤣

Time to upgrage to green swamp server for the mount simion m8, unity is a pain keep it all updated and its all good

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey Darrell, thanks mate, yeah Glenn and others have talked about green swap server before! May just have to look into that mate👍 Clear skies!

I stoppped using eqmod and to green swamp server, which works like a breeze!

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching Rita, I’ve heard a lot of good things about Green Swamp Server! I’ll have to check it out👍 Clear skies

I know that you said you've been wanting to change the rig over from ASIAIR to NINA but you didn't explain why. Was there any particular reason?

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Hey, thanks for watching, and yeah, you’re right! I forgot to mention in the video the reason! I still love and use the ASIAIR on my other rig! No problems at all, it’s just that I want to be able to image all night and be able to open and close my observatory roof in an imaging session automatically! Nina allows me to do this, and I’m working on getting that done now! Thanks and clear skies!

@hawkesworth1712

5 ай бұрын

@@SimonsAstro . Thanks for that. I'm in the process of building a small observatory and I was thinking the same thing. The asiair is about as plug and play as it gets but it has its limitations.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

@@hawkesworth1712 That’s true, but it is a great piece of kit I would recommend it to anybody wanting to get into the hobby due to the fact that it just works😀 But yeah, if you want to automate your observatory roof, you’ll need Nina! Good luck 👍

Are you not afraid of the heat coming from the mini PC disturbing your guide camera? Clear Skies Herbert

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching! The heat from the mini pc disperses nicely without affecting the guide camera! Clear skies👍

I've had trouble with the new nina hf2. I had to to Uninstall and reinstall hf1.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

That’s not so good! Hope it’s all ok now! Thanks for watching! Clear skies

Simon, I sort of got thrust into NINA when the ASIair I purchased just would not communicate with my mount. I found a series of videos on PatriotAstro (kzread.info/dash/bejne/hpVp1padc6jQfsY.htmlsi=axWzAxyTw94lxyHp) which helped a lot; however, you have more experience in AP than I did when I started with NINA five or six months ago. I have since upgraded to a Losmandy G11g mount but I have no desire to go back to an ASIair if, for nothing else than the TPPA, HocusFocus, and Advanced Sequencing.

@SimonsAstro

5 ай бұрын

Good points Joe, Nina has got a lot to offer! Luckily, I never had any problems with the ASIAIR, so I am happy to continue using it with my second rig! Thanks for watching, I’ll check out Patriot Astro!👍 Clear skies!

couldn't stand the overly lous music. tries turning the volume down but then I couldn't hear what you were saying