QHY Q-Focuser Review (with lots of extra autofocus talk!)

QHY’s new autofocus motor, the Q-Focuser is a compact and adaptable focuser for your astrophotography needs. It has neat features like USB-C power and data, optional 12V power, and lots of included accessories. In this video I go over the basic features and run some real world torture tests in rural frozen Alaska. I review the Standard Version in this video but a High Precision version also exists.

And thanks all for watching and sharing these videos! It’s really been fun.

0:00 - Intro
2:03 - What’s Included
3:57 - Features
6:21 - Install and Testing
10:13 - Real Results
12:34 - Backlash Info
14:40 - My EAF Story
17:53 - Temperature and AF Triggers
21:28 - Final Thoughts

[gunnar]

Thanks a lot! Wonderful information! Here in Moscow, Russia is not so cold but anyway colder then in the most astonomical spots in the world! I have a couple of Q-Focusers installed in my SCT scopes (precise versions) and I like them too, although they are not very common and need some special settings. BTW thank you for your speech pace and pronunciation. They are completely comprehensive for a non-english speaking viewer! Great job, dude!

[Bortle--Astrophotography]

I bought the Q standard before Christmas this year and everything you hit on is 100%. It was my first AF'r and my only issue was step size for backlash set up, I got there in the end and now have 0 issues. I did notice at about -12 (my reg winter temp) it got somewhat laggy about 4 hours in and took undue time to do runs (set on HFR and every 60 mins). I had been using the USB cable alone with 'keep force' which may or may not soak up power in use, and as I'm running remote on a Mele I thought maybe the power draw from imaging, guiding and focusing might put some strain on the consumption in cold weather. I decided to try it with the 12V attached and connected. No problems now, which was relieving. It's a wonderful little piece of gear and would recommend on the same lines you have put forth. It's size, Step size, includes temp gauge, nice USB cable for sure, the 'keep force' component is an added bonus for any cold weather scenario. So easy to attach, And the price for all of the above was perfect. Great review!

[ClearAmbientSkies]

Great video and comparison. I need a qfocuser. And yes, star HFR FTW. Clear skies.

[jimthommes]

Great video on this Q-Focuser! I like the detail you go into with regard to features and capability. I have acquired a Q-Focuser (precision version) and I mostly like it. One thing I am having trouble with is that I see temperature updates on every 1-2 seconds. From reading to reading, the readout changes +/- 1.0 C or more each time! This of course plays havoc with my autofocus trigger frequency - pretty much every one or two exposures with NINA. I have the thermal sensor plugged fully into the connector socket. The sensor is firmly strapped to my OTA

I have contacted QHYCCD Help Center and was told that this is OK and I should not have to set the trigger closer than 2 C. Well, I have an FSQ-106 and that just doesn't cut it. I can abandon the temperature change autofocus trigger and use other triggers, but that seems like a strike against the Q-Focuser. Everything else works great! Autofocus runs are accurate with great curves.

Have you experienced anything like this? Or maybe some of your subscribers have? If anyone has suggestions, I am all ears.

[dereksmith]

If I do drop into this hoby, this one will be the one I will be bying. Cheers.

[ruastromonk]

Very nice setup! So it is ok to leave the scope outside under the cover? No issues with dew induced potential corrosion? Greets from (not so cold anymore) Russia!

[junktrunk]

Thanks for putting this video together. I hadn't considered the temp ratings on EAFs and was shocked to see the ZWO EAF have such a poor rating now. The Pegasus FocusCube 3 (their current model) is also only rated to -20C (-4F) which is significantly worse than the previous FocusCube 2 (-40C which is also -40F) so I emailed them to be sure that wasn't a typo! Where did you find QHY's temp rating though? I don't see it on their product site or PDF user guide.

[syberand]

at 17:42 - What is that black box with the connectors?

[ferniriz-vf]

I wonder if you can wrap a small dew heater around it, just enough to make it reliable in those sub-zero temps.

[jesuschrist]

Looks same as no brand ali express one for $70. No biscuit tin though