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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts
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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: NHRob]
      #2960044 - 03/02/09 11:40 PM
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Thanks, Bob. That's impressive looking. The depth of field in the pic is deceiving, but it seems that the diagonal clears the tripod legs.

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Bob Moore
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Reged: 04/07/06

Loc: New York
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Fred1]
      #2960117 - 03/03/09 12:45 AM Attachment (67 downloads)
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I'll tell you Fred the first time I hit the park scope button I was not so sure, the funny thing is the the scope is in balance, If I would have had to slid it down just a little it would not have cleared the leg. here is a photo that shows the leg a little better. And yes that the observatory in the back and yes that's the ditch to run the power & data.

Bob

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Waduino
sage


Reged: 10/24/08

Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Bob Moore]
      #2960447 - 03/03/09 08:40 AM
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Does anyone know the height of the mount (dovetail receiver) with the tripod fully extended? I'm thinking about this mount for a TV85, but I do visual and have to get the eyepiece to something of a reasonable height.
My current setup places the centre of the dovetail at 50" which seems OK.
Thanks.
Wad.

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Covey32
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Reged: 12/09/04

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Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Waduino]
      #2960542 - 03/03/09 09:38 AM
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From the ground to the center of the dovetail receiver is 53.5 inches with the legs fully extended.

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Waduino
sage


Reged: 10/24/08

Loc: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Covey32]
      #2961314 - 03/03/09 04:14 PM
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Nice. So, does anyone know if the mount is stable for a TV85 (600mm)with the tripod legs extended fully?
Thanks.
Wad.

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
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Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: NHRob]
      #2966691 - 03/06/09 12:02 AM Attachment (64 downloads)
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That's not necessarily true. I used mine with a C8 and a 6" MAK at the same time.

Rob: Yes. It should work just fine.

Steve

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
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Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Telescopeman54]
      #2966699 - 03/06/09 12:05 AM
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It is very stabile with the TV 85. I have one client nearby with exactly that setup. He is very happy with how solid it is.

Steve

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
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Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Telescopeman54]
      #2966704 - 03/06/09 12:07 AM Attachment (64 downloads)
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Another set ot OTAs on the Mini. A 4" f1/5 Jaegers and the MAK.

sbf

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Joe H
super member
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Reged: 07/19/06

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Telescopeman54]
      #2975076 - 03/10/09 12:50 AM
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Hi,
How does one access double stars in the mini tower database?
thanks
joe

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Dreetje
member


Reged: 05/06/08

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Joe H]
      #2975214 - 03/10/09 04:34 AM
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Hi Joe.
According the manual one can access the (named)double stars via the "STARS MENU" en then via the "DOUBLE STARS" submenu.

Kind regards,
Andre Roeleven

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Mark Jenkins
sage
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Reged: 06/25/08

Loc: Wisconsin
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Telescopeman54]
      #2975630 - 03/10/09 12:17 PM
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Quote:

That's not necessarily true. I used mine with a C8 and a 6" MAK at the same time.

Rob: Yes. It should work just fine.

Steve



Interesting! That about cinches the deal for me! I was thinking of getting one to use as my home based grab and go with my TEC 8" MAK and my AP 130 GT side by side.

Do you think it will handle that? The AP 130 GT weighs 15lbs. Not sure about the TEC but I would estimate it weighs in at about 25-28 lbs.

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Dr Benway
professor emeritus
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Reged: 03/27/08

Loc: Abilene, TX
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Mark Jenkins]
      #2975773 - 03/10/09 01:37 PM
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I think you would be beyond the upper limits with both on board at the same time.

John

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Joe H
super member
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Reged: 07/19/06

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Dr Benway]
      #2975802 - 03/10/09 01:48 PM
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How many Double stars are in the sub-menu?
Thanks
joe

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Bob Moore
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Reged: 04/07/06

Loc: New York
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Joe H]
      #2976023 - 03/10/09 03:25 PM
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As far as I can tell their are 40 DS listed

Bob

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Mark Jenkins
sage
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Reged: 06/25/08

Loc: Wisconsin
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Bob Moore]
      #2976047 - 03/10/09 03:35 PM
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Well, I suppose I could live with just using one at a time.

What other Alt/Az (ie. grab and go) with goto and tracking would handle my combo?

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Joe H
super member
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Reged: 07/19/06

Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Mark Jenkins]
      #2976189 - 03/10/09 05:00 PM
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So there are only 40 double stars possible in the mount or can you access some of the 120,000 objects?
Thanks
joe

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Fred1
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 09/19/07

Loc: Somewhere in the Orion Spur
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Joe H]
      #2976270 - 03/10/09 05:47 PM
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Can you punch in coordinates to execute a GoTo as with Nexstar?

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
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Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Joe H]
      #2976273 - 03/10/09 05:51 PM
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The double star list contains 40 entries. The variable star list has 38,624 items. The SAO Bright Stars listing has 26,584 objects. Is this a good start?

Msrk:

The TEC or AP on their own should be no problem. If I were to use them both I would set the AP on the primary side and the TEC on the secondary side. The weight is not an issue. The moment arm of the SP MIGHT be one, though. With the Timken bearing upgrade it would be less prone to vibrations and moment arm issues. The 4" f/15 refractor shown above weighs 25 pounds and the 152mm MAK was anothter 12 pounds. That mount did NOT have the bearing upgrade and it did reasonably well. We did place a C11 on a Mini at the WSP and it was prone to some wiggles. Once we installed the bearing upgrade the vibrations were reduced by 75%. Still, the C11 was pushing it a bit. This was mostly because we did not have enough counterweights to fully balance the load. Also, we were stuck with the Vixen doevetail and did not have the ability to use a Losmandy dovetail. Had we had the latter then it definitely would have made a difference.

I hope that this is helpful.

CS

Steve

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Telescopeman54
Vendor - Trapezium Telescopes & Services, LLC.
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Reged: 08/17/07

Loc: New Hampshire
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Telescopeman54]
      #2976277 - 03/10/09 05:52 PM
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Yes, there is a direct entry function in the controller. You enter the RA and DEC then press ENTER and it will go to that location.

Steve

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Mark Jenkins
sage
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Reged: 06/25/08

Loc: Wisconsin
Re: iOptron MiniTower Mini Review. new [Re: Telescopeman54]
      #2976300 - 03/10/09 06:05 PM
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Steve,

I will keep that in mind.

The astronomy budget has been blown by the recent purchase of the 130 GT so it will be a while until I am ready to do anything.

Your ultra-tune-up sounds like the ticket.

Thanks!

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