Telescope Reviews: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review.

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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Dr Benway
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/27/08

Loc: Abilene, TX

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: ragebot]
#2937289 - 02/19/09 01:40 PM

I think there must be an art to leveling the Mini Tower. I start by running the leveling screws out about 3/8". I loosen the big mount bolt and level it. I keep adjusting the leveling screws as I tighten the mounting bolt. Next, I add my telescope and counterweight. Back the mounting bolt off slightly and go through the same motions again. Usually this works pretty well, unless I am trying to do this in the dark, cold, or after a few drinks. Sometimes I have just shortened legs to get level in the above-mentioned conditions.

John

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ragebot
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/26/05

Loc: Tallahassee, FL, USA

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Dr Benway]
#2937477 - 02/19/09 03:18 PM

One note on leveling.

I have a concrete patio that I am leveling my mount on. When I go to an outreach event I always try and find a sidewalk or like base to put my tripod and mount on. At my clubs dark site I also look for one of the poured concrete slabs to put my stuff on.

At times when I am forced to set up on grass, dirt, or other surfaces issues about leveling are more pronounced.

Maybe it is just my history; but I have always had a much harder time leveling my Atlas than my iOptron.

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therocksal
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/02/08

Loc: Everett, WA

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: ragebot]
#2937935 - 02/19/09 07:16 PM

Thinking about bagging the CGEM till next year and getting one of these for pure visual.

I know it's been said that a 9.25 works on this mount...does it work WELL...or is there strain on the motors..don't want to ruin my new mount. I could get a C8 instead but I really want that 9.25.

Thanks...James.

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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: therocksal]
#2938299 - 02/19/09 10:17 PM

There are 2 magazine reviews I've found on the MiniTower. One by Dennis Di Cicco in S&T 12/08 issue and another by none other than Tom Trusock in the 2/09 issue of Astronomy. DiCicco noticed a jiggle in the image at magnifications of 100x in certain parts of the sky as if a bit of turbulance had passed. Trusock notices settle down times of more than 5 seconds after rapping slightly on the scope (a 20 lb load). Any owners have similar experiences?

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jasonj998
Banned - Duplicate Account

Reged: 08/19/08

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Fred1]
#2938366 - 02/19/09 10:55 PM

I am one of the first group minitower users. Quite a few people reported the same jiggling problem as Dennis observed at that time. iOptron released a firmware upgrade late of last summer and then the problem was solved. As of the damping time, 5 seconds was high. Mine was about 2 sec for 21 lbs with proper CW, balance rules.

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therocksal
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/02/08

Loc: Everett, WA

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Fred1]
#2938370 - 02/19/09 10:57 PM

I just read the Astronomy review. Since a lot of settle times get cut by 1/3 to 1/2 with vibration pads, wonder if that would work with this. Set the thing up on the pads, level it..use it. If I can get settle times down to 3 seconds with a 9.25 or down to 1-2 with a C8, I'll probably be buying one.

Can anyone comment on the settle times with their mount/scope?

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Dr Benway
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/27/08

Loc: Abilene, TX

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: therocksal]
#2938416 - 02/19/09 11:22 PM Attachment (58 downloads)

I am running a C8, Hyperstar3 and QHY8 camera on the right side and a ST80 and finder on the left this evening. I just checked after reading the above post and my damping time is less than 2 seconds. No vibration pads and sitting on concrete.

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therocksal
professor emeritus

Reged: 12/02/08

Loc: Everett, WA

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Dr Benway]
#2938426 - 02/19/09 11:29 PM

Good deal. Think I'll get one of these instead of a CG5 as my first GOTO mount. I don't know how much AP I might end up doing and if I decide to go that way, I'll get another mount for that...but these seem like very nice, easier to use, decent load carrying, lighter mounts for the newbs like me.

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scubaanddreams
super member

Reged: 11/24/08

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: therocksal]
#2938431 - 02/19/09 11:33 PM

Funny, I just typed "mount for traveling" into google and this thread came up...

I am looking for a mount that I can use for AIRLINE travel with a 80mm ED to do some short exposure (30sec?) astro imaging at my destination. Will the iopton minitower or the ioptron cube fit into standard suitcase? I tried taking a SVP before and that turned into a big hassle..mostly due to the size of the tripod.

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Dr Benway
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/27/08

Loc: Abilene, TX

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: therocksal]
#2938439 - 02/19/09 11:39 PM

I bought the Mini Tower last October. It is a sweet grab n go mount that has had a bunch of telescopes on it in the last few months. I like to do AP and get great pictures at 56 seconds (alt/az) with the Hyperstar3. I have a CGEM on order but don't really have a clue when it will arrive, so the Mini Tower is my imaging mount until then. I usually set it up with two refractors at public star parties. It tracked M42 for 3 hours one night without any adjustment. I finally got back to check on it and the target was still centered in a 20mm eyepiece.

John

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: johnpd]
#2938624 - 02/20/09 03:26 AM

Quote:

My only issue with the MiniTower is trying to level it. I find it difficult to level, especially if you have a decent size scope on it. I am using the mount basically for solar viewing and mount a Vixen ED103 with a H-alpha filter. The filter is heavy, but I think the combination is within the mount's capacity. Once you level without the scope, then add the scope or tighten the tripod connecting rod, the level changes and I go crazy trying to re-level it. I will keep trying.

It sounds as if you are not using the counterweight. With that set up it is very necessary.

Steve

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scubaanddreams
super member

Reged: 11/24/08

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: scubaanddreams]
#2940586 - 02/21/09 02:31 AM

Quote:

Funny, I just typed "mount for traveling" into google and this thread came up...

I am looking for a mount that I can use for AIRLINE travel with a 80mm ED to do some short exposure (30sec?) astro imaging at my destination. Will the iopton minitower or the ioptron cube fit into standard suitcase? I tried taking a SVP before and that turned into a big hassle..mostly due to the size of the tripod.

bump on the portability question, I have never seen this mount in person and the pictures dont show me how well the tripid will fold up (small)

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johnpd
sage

Reged: 04/13/08

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Telescopeman54]
#2940661 - 02/21/09 05:56 AM

Hi Steve,

Yes, I am using the counterweight.

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BobH
sage

Reged: 01/03/08

Loc: Right Coast

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: ragebot]
#2940758 - 02/21/09 08:34 AM

I think I'm pretty much sold on this mount now.

The iOptron website says you can increase payload by 50% with "heavy duty accessories,"
but when I open their accessories tab for the MiniTower, it's blank.

Bob

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ottovonrotton
super member

Reged: 01/01/09

Loc: Where is Port Perry?

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: scubaanddreams]
#2940768 - 02/21/09 08:44 AM

Hello scubaanddreams, was thinking the same thing about a cube pro when I travel to Cuba with the wife. I hope someone has tried, The weight would be 1/2 of the limit for travel still leaving room for clothes.(need some)

Cheers

OttoVonRotton

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Jimyw123
Banned - Duplicate Account

Reged: 09/23/08

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: BobH]
#2941697 - 02/21/09 06:02 PM

Quote:

I think I'm pretty much sold on this mount now.

The iOptron website says you can increase payload by 50% with "heavy duty accessories,"
but when I open their accessories tab for the MiniTower, it's blank.

Bob

Asked the same question. The answer I got was that the heavy duty accessories were counter weight, shaft, and secondary saddle. Pretty amazing words.

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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Jimyw123]
#2945994 - 02/24/09 12:15 AM

Can anyone tell me if the MiniTower's hand controller has a cradle on the mount?

With m CG5 I can keep the HC in its cradle and just press the buttons without lifting the HC out of the cradle. Can you do that with the MiniTower?

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Dr Benway
professor emeritus

Reged: 03/27/08

Loc: Abilene, TX

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Fred1]
#2946049 - 02/24/09 01:17 AM

The handset hangs by string from a peg.

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ragebot
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/26/05

Loc: Tallahassee, FL, USA

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: Fred1]
#2946108 - 02/24/09 02:59 AM

Quote:

Can anyone tell me if the MiniTower's hand controller has a cradle on the mount?

With m CG5 I can keep the HC in its cradle and just press the buttons without lifting the HC out of the cradle. Can you do that with the MiniTower?

As posted earlier the answer is no.

What I wonder is how easy it is to reach the controller. I have always placed strips of velcro on all three legs of my mounts and velcro on the back of the hand controller. Even so several times a night I have to move the hand controller from one leg to the other as I slew from one object to another. I also have to once in awhile walk the controller around the mount because the cord is not long enough for another turn around the mount.

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.

Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new

[Re: scubaanddreams]
#2946287 - 02/24/09 07:35 AM

Quote:

Funny, I just typed "mount for traveling" into google and this thread came up...

I am looking for a mount that I can use for AIRLINE travel with a 80mm ED to do some short exposure (30sec?) astro imaging at my destination. Will the iopton minitower or the ioptron cube fit into standard suitcase? I tried taking a SVP before and that turned into a big hassle..mostly due to the size of the tripod.

Being here at the Winter Star Party is great. However, net access is random and unreliable. That is not really a complaint, though.

The Cube Pro LE comes with a custom case that will go either as baggage or carry on. It depends upon the airline and air craft.

The Mini has a case that will go as carry on. The tripod is 31" long and will not, to my knowledge, fit into any suitcase which I own.

Either one will do well for you.

I hope this helps.

CS

Steve

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