Sky-Watcher CQ350 overview, (my new mount)

hey guys, bear with me, never done a video before for youtube but some guys I know in the hobby have asked me to do one on this mount.
I purchased the mount from FLO, had to sell a lot of stuff to fund it but got there in the end just about. Very excited. My neq6 was I think struggling with my scope weight, guiding was very inconsistent with the esprit 120 but was is excellent for my small ed80, I thought about upgrading to the EQ6-R but learnt that mount has the same horrid bendy bolts the neq6 has so i had to look at other options and this one came up. A lot more money than i wanted to spend and afford but unfortunately not much choice beyond eq6-r price.
hope the vid helps you guys who are thinking of buying this mount.
As soon as we get some clear sky ill test the guiding. I read on Astrobiscuit's review that the mount needs running in a bit so will be interesting to see if mine requires the same.

[@paulholdsworth2502]

Congratulations on your new mount it's a beast for sure. Look forward to seeing how the mount guides. Well done on your first video .

[@Mrpaulgs]

I just ordered one of these tonight! Not a lot of info out there yet so nice to see your video. Looking forward to seeing your guiding experience.

[@BrotherKplays]

Congrats on the new mount. Yeah, there’s a lot to like about the CEQ35, which is at the top of my list right now. Just like you, the OTA weight headroom is a big factor. Definitely a bit of a beast to move around for those of us without a permanent pier, but not much heavier than a EQ6Rpro. Look forward to your next video.

[@neilsmith5883]

I’ve done a video on it’s guiding will upload tomorrow

[@KWASolek1]

Looking forward reviews of your imaging!

[@petesastrophotography]

Nice overview, there aren't many videos of the CQ350 online so this is nice to see👍I have just received mine as an upgrade to an EQ6-R Pro which I use with an Esprit 100. We have so few clear nights up here in Scotland that I decided to build a dual APO rig to get much more data so needed something with a bit more payload capacity.

[@GIOSTEOPAT1]

Hi, how it works? Is there a way to insert a Polemaster in the front of the mount?

[@petesastrophotography]

@@GIOSTEOPAT1 The CQ350 does not have a built in polar scope like the EQ6-R so you cannot fit a Polemaster in the same way. There may be an adapter but I personally do not know of one. There is an optional polar scope for the CQ350 that comes on a bracket which bolts on to the mount, it would be fairly easy to make an adapter for the Polemaster which works in a similar way. However, a lot of people with mounts like this use the polar alignment feature in tools like SharpCap or NINA which uses your main scope or guide scope. This is what I do and it works very well and is just as effective as a Polemaster.

[@GIOSTEOPAT1]

@@petesastrophotography Ok, thank you. Clear skies.

[@Tony-Elliott]

Hi Neil very nice mount mate looking forward to seeing the next video

[@Astro.Q]

Looks like a fantastic mount looking forward to seeing more videos, and some dso just subscribed nice video mate 👍🏻

[@astroneil78]

Thankyou

[@palmereldrich]

Thats a beauty. Good to see a review. Ok. I am a huge SW fan F/9 62evolux. If your looking for resolution i'm not sure C11 is right. DSOs then ?? CW are cool. I'll subscribe. P.s. Esprit is lovely also.

[@GIOSTEOPAT1]

Hello and thanks for your nice video. I just want to ask you if it is possible to insert a QHY Polemaster on the front of the frame, in that sort of circular cap.

[@AstroReyak]

After one year of use, will you buy it again, or maybe go for one of those new armonic mount Ioptron, just for be moving with it around.

[@collins7299]

Hey there, how are you getting the Asiair to connect? I've tried via usb as with my EQ6 but no luck.

[@astroneil78]

on the EQ6 i believe you need a serial eqmod cable. this is what i used on my eq6. this is the exact one i got it works a treat www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203890036736?var=504355282503

[@jwing6269]

Hello! it looks like your spreader plate is not touching one of your legs, i am having a similar issue. any idea how to fix this?

[@neilsmith5883]

I hadn’t done the nut up enough at the bottom I think.

[@KWASolek1]

hello, which plate do you use on top of rings to handle quidescope?

[@neilsmith5883]

It’s an adm plate I think

[@anthonygreen8279]

I'm looking at one of these as a possible replacement for my meade lx850, would this mount handle my meade 14"sct?

[@neilsmith5883]

I’d love esprit 150 but can’t afford it lol.

[@castronomy]

Gz, looks well made!

[@desbarry8414]

Sounds exactly like my EQ6R lol

[@1966wasp]

All to image a handful of strong image subjects every year, in cold temps at ungodly hours. I'm glad I'm out...

[@neilsmith5883]

I do wonder that myself sometimes but the hobby is too addictive.

[@screwyouyoutube5493]

I bought the same mount, although my EQ-6 works flawlessly with my C-11 Edge HD with less than .5 .arc seconds guiding. Fingers crossed that we get some clear skies and I can image using the CQ350. Cheers from Germany 😀

[@Backcorner_Astronomy]

Hi Neil, I have some questions about your setup. Can i ask them here or can I reach you on fb or ig?

[@neilsmith5883]

Hi yes fire away.

[@Backcorner_Astronomy]

@@neilsmith5883 Great, ok so I have a few. - how is the guiding now that your mount has worn in a bit? Did you needed to tweak it? - have you used the usb ports to connect your equipment and if so did you like it that way? - are you planning on using an oag for the espirit? And how is the build quality of the scope? (I’m planning on upgrading to the same setup) - are there things you don’t like about the mount? You mentioned the power cable and handcontroller being on the other side, it that a problem with cable snags? - you also mentioned that you needed to get a pier adapter or extension. Was it available and how does your scope run by the mount now? These are some of the things that came up in my mind when looking at your video. I hope to upgrade to this setup somewhere this year. It is amazing!