My Video setup
Tracking Setup
This allows me to track satellites across the sky.
Also gives me a nice feild of view, so I can see lots of stars.
The mount is part of the Celestron Nexstar 102 SLT telescope, I purchased
I had to removed the telescope tube from the mount, in order to attach the video camera
The dovetail adaptor.
I got this one
I had to add an extra bolt to it, so my Manfrotto adaptor would be tight on it. Otherwise it's to lose.
A close up shot, showing my video camera attached to the mount.
A different view, of the camera attached to the mount
Note: The Supercircuits video camera shown above, has been replaced with a KT&C Video Camera.
I used an C MOUNT TO MINOLTA adaptor, to attach the minolta lens to the camera
The lens I use, is a Minolta One
Focal length = 50 mm / F ratio = 1.4
Feild of View with above lens = 249 by 332 Arc Minutes
I can see stars down to roughly Mag 9. How faint I can see to, depends on the how good the sky is each night.
Telescope Method
This allows me to see fainter satellites, like the geo sat's.
Note: I Don't track's satellite using this method.
Only used to observe the higher up stuff.
Video Camera attached to End of Telescope
I am using a KT&C Video Camera
I use a C Mount adapter, to attach my video camera, to the end of the scope.
Also using a focal reducer, to increase the feild of view
Feild of View = 38 by 51 arc minutes
How I Wired the House for Controlling the Goto Mount
I use Cat 5 Network Cable, for the Connection between My Computer and Telescope.
That shows the Cable coming from the handcontoller used by the scope, and it's connection to the Network Cable.
I use a Network Modular Adapter - DB9 Female to RJ45 Female, to connect the Network Cable to the scope's Cable.
DB9 Female to RJ45 Female Network Modular Adapter Connections
| PIN | WIRE |
| 2 | Orange |
| 3 | Black |
| 5 | Green |
I store the extra Network Cable in a Plastic Storage Box, when not in use. The extra coaxial cable, is also stored in it.
The coaxial cable is for the video signal from the video camera.
The main coaxial cable and network Cable, goes to the inside the House.
I use a Network Modular Adapter - DB9 Male to RJ45 Female.
That's used to connect the Cat 5 network cable that runs to inside the house, to the serial port at the back of the Computer
DB9 Male to RJ45 Female Network Modular Adapter Connections
| PIN | WIRE |
| 2 | Orange |
| 3 | Black |
| 5 | Green |
I need to use a Coupler, to connect 2 of the Cat 5 network Cables together.
This becuase the network cable that run's from inside the house to the scope, was to short.
I also had to connect 2 coaxial cable's together, because of length.of the cable.
Recording of Video
The video sent by coxial cable, is sent into a Lite-On Recorder.
It's got a large hard drive for roughly, 34 hours straight of recording at the highest quality. The video is captured in MPEG 2 format.
After which I play back th video, and capture that video with my computer.
I sometimes capture the video coming directly from the video camera, on the computer. Video again captured in MPEG 2 format..
My computer uses a ATI video capture card.
After the video is on the Computer's hardrive, I use Windows Movie Maker to edit the video, and convet the video to window media format
What Other stuff I use
The garmin gps receiver is a GPS 16 model
The gps time inserter is made in England ( No longer in production )
Another GPS based time inserter
The Time Inserter, insert's the time on the video. The time it gives, is UTC and not local time.
Portable Dvd player, I use as a TV set.
It's made by Toshiba. It's Module Number is SDP1900
Software
This software contols the tracking setup, telling the mount where to point, to find then track a satellite. Mount must be aligned first., in order to use it.
This is used to align the mount from inside the house, and to control the mount.
I use this to plan my observing for the night.
I also, use this to plan my observing for the night. Nice graphics.
The Person using this setup.
Comments / Questions can be sent to
Where I will try to answer them, as best as possible
Hope this site help's other's, in building a system like mine.
Kevin