As soon as I started imaging (pretty much straight away) I realised that focusing the ETX was a bit of a nightmare, especially when using a webcam. So I got myself a Meade #1244 Electronic Focuser. This has improved things no end, although it's not a perfect fit, as it was originally designed for the ETX-90.
I bought a set of Orion filters, which along with red, green, blue and yellow included a SkyGlow filter and a variable polarising filter.
When you remove the standard lens of the ToUcam, you also remove the IR filter that's built in to it. As webcams are very sensitive to IR light, I bought myself a Sirius NIR filter. This makes focusing and makes the colours that you capture more natural.
In anticipation of using the Sony PC110 on the scope, I bought a BC&F Ultra Afocal/Parfocal Digital Camera support.
It gets a bit chilly and damp here in the UK in the winter, so I've taken to running the scope from indoors. This way, only one of us has to get cold :-) What it does mean though is that there's always a mess of cables trailing up the garden into the house. I control the scope serially via a Keyspan Serial-USB adapter, and run the camera feed through 2 active USB extenders and a powered hub. Long exposure control is via a standard parallel extension cable.
Knowing that it gets quite damp and moist here in the UK ;-) I got a flexible dew shield for the ETX. I've found out since, that although it works, in the British winter it only works for about an hour, and this is barely enough time for the scope to cool down. So I'm now experimenting making my own, using foam from the local upholsterers. So far I've tried 1" (25mm) thick foam, which works brilliantly. Keeps the dew away for hours. Unfortunately, it's also so thick that it blocks the view of the finder scope!
I've now got a DewBuster heater controller for my battle against dew here in the UK. I made myself some heater tapes in various lengths for my various tubes, and a selection of new improved dew shields to match :-) A few shots of these shields can be seen on the setup page.
I've now made myself solar filters for my SLR lenses and the Vixen tube from Baader solar filter material.
Update: October 2004
As my setup has now changed drastically, I thought I'd add to my original list rather than changing it, and not being one who likes to get rid of stuff, I've still got most of the other bits.
I've now got a second-hand set of SBIG LRGB 1.25" imaging filters, an Orion 2" SkyGlow filter and an Astronomik 13nm Hydrogen alpha filter.
I got various threaded adapters with which I can hopefully fit anything to anything :-)
I've made myself a large battery box with a 72Ah leisure battery in it. I've fitted it with an inverter to give me mains to drive cameras, scope, laptops etc. and some cigarette lighter outputs for the DewBuster, and the webcam fans.
I've also made a side by side mounting plate for the Megrez refractor and the VC200L. I made this from a piece of 8mm aluminium plate, and a few holes.
You can see a couple of shots of this mounting plate on the setup page.
Update: February 2005
Upgraded my filters yet again to a set of Astronomic Type II LRGB filters. These match the Ha filter I'm using. I've also got an Astronomik filter drawer unit with 6 drawers.
I've picked up a 2" Astronomik CLS light pollution filter too to replace the Orion SkyGlow one.
Got a Losmandy DSBS dovetail plate to replace my piece of alluminium :D Now I can balance the scopes properly.
Picked up a second hand JMI NGF-S motorised focuser for the TV76 refractor.
I've also got on order a Starlight Xpress guide camera in ana attempt to reduce the number of cables that need to run from the computer to the scope. This is still to arrive so I'm not sure how well it will perform, though by all accounts it should be very good.
I'm also beta testing a funky little device called a Star-Mate. This allows wireless remote control of the NGF-S focuser, shutter control of the 300D and mount control via the WinCTC unit. Really nice piece of kit so far, though I have only had one night out under the stars with it so far.
Update: August 2006
Well it's been a while since I updated this page, and a lot has chamged. I bought a very nice Canon 100-400mm IS USM L lens to take to Turkey in March to image the Total eclipse of the Sun. I picked up a second hand TruTech Superslim motorised filter whell, with computer control, so I can now take automated image rns once I've set up and focused the scopes. Also got an Astronomik SIII and OII filter to match the Ha one I already have, so narrowband imaging is now on the cards too.
Probably the biggest 'accessory' purchases to date however, are a Coronado SolorMax 40 filter and a BF10 blocking filter, and I have adapters to fit it to both the TV76 and the Tak FS102. So I can now image the Sun in hydrogen alpha too. Spectacular views through the scopes, and lovely images too :)
I'm also awaiting delivery of a Losmandy Gemini telescope control system for the G-11.