Telescope Reviews: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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Phil Frederick
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/19/05

Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: mypontiac]
#3103879 - 05/14/09 01:05 AM

Quote:

Recommendations then for a TV85?

Trying to keep costs at about $500

Well, I've tried a number of alt-az mounts including the Portamount, the Voyager and the WO EZT and (ON A GOOD TRIPOD) they're ok. However, I've settled on the Tak Teegul (Lapides)--far superior and I've used these for years. They're expecially excellent on a Tak or TV Gibraltar tripod. I've used an M603 along with other larger scopes on the Teegul and it is excellent, extremely smooth and stable. The TV85 (which I now have on a Teegul) is great.

Yup, they're expensive. the only other alternatives that I can think of are the DM4/6 or the HalfHitch--REALLY expensive.

And please everyone, I'm NOT denegrating these other mounts, they're just not as good as the Teegul IMO.

Edited by Phil Frederick (05/14/09 01:08 AM)

Post Extras:

Starlighter
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/03/07

Loc: Sunny California

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Phil Frederick]
#3103892 - 05/14/09 01:17 AM Attachment (44 downloads)

You should try the Orion Skyview now that they addressed the tension issue. It's an excellent mount. Very stable. It looks even better in person. It easily handles two scopes at the same time. Once I balance a scope (or scopes), just a slight push on the diagonal slews to where I wish to go. When I take my hand away, it remains there. I've just got to get used to not using slow motion controls. But I am getting pretty adept at keeping an object centered. It just takes a little practice.

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Phil Frederick
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/19/05

Loc: Seattle, WA & La Paz MX

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Starlighter]
#3104479 - 05/14/09 11:30 AM

Starlighter,

I've thought about getting another dual scope mount and have been considering the Giro III. I looked at the Skyview AZ at a dealer awhile back and completely nixed the idea because of the tension issue. You couldn't lock it down and you couldn't get the tension properly adjusted so you could smoothly slew and at the same time change EPs without having the scope flop.

Sounds like they've corrected this??? If so, I'd think this could be a very nice mount as it's quite stable and aesthetically it looks great. Wish they'd sell just the mount as I'd like to try it on my Gibraltar tripod.

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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/06/07

Loc: Austin, Tx.

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Phil Frederick]
#3104519 - 05/14/09 11:54 AM

Seems like a good idea as you don't have to search for the controllers in the dark.

But how much "push" ?

If you push too much at high mag yoy may keep pushing out the object.

Also, do you have the "drop" problem as mentioned above?

Sean

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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/06/07

Loc: Austin, Tx.

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: mypontiac]
#3104538 - 05/14/09 12:05 PM

How about this:

iOptron CubePro GoTo Alt-Azimuth Mount

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=439-277-12390&tb=8

Sean

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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/06/07

Loc: Austin, Tx.

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Psyire]
#3104714 - 05/14/09 01:31 PM

Quote:

My vote: AstroTech Voyager w/ Celestron CG5 tripod (2") & a couple of Manny Myles' mods. (works very good)

Can I just keep the tripod that comes with it?

Sean

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Starlighter
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/03/07

Loc: Sunny California

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Phil Frederick]
#3104723 - 05/14/09 01:37 PM

Quote:

Starlighter,

I've thought about getting another dual scope mount and have been considering the Giro III. I looked at the Skyview AZ at a dealer awhile back and completely nixed the idea because of the tension issue. You couldn't lock it down and you couldn't get the tension properly adjusted so you could smoothly slew and at the same time change EPs without having the scope flop.

Sounds like they've corrected this??? If so, I'd think this could be a very nice mount as it's quite stable and aesthetically it looks great. Wish they'd sell just the mount as I'd like to try it on my Gibraltar tripod.

They fixed it.

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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/06/07

Loc: Austin, Tx.

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Starlighter]
#3104817 - 05/14/09 02:21 PM

So once its ballanced it will work even with going to different size EPs?

Sean

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Starlighter
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/03/07

Loc: Sunny California

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: mypontiac]
#3104856 - 05/14/09 02:40 PM

If you mean with the Porta, the answer is yes.

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mypontiac
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 09/06/07

Loc: Austin, Tx.

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: Starlighter]
#3104908 - 05/14/09 03:12 PM

How about the Skyview AZ ?

Sean

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: mypontiac]
#3105042 - 05/14/09 04:16 PM Attachment (33 downloads)

For my ED80 which is much lighter than your TV85 I was considering the Portamount, Mini Porta, and AT Voyager. I did not consider any other grab and go mounts because I wanted the slow motion controls, turns out that was the right decision too, for me anyway. I finally got the AT Voyager mainly because it was on sale for $250 at the time, but also because it allows you to move the arm up to a vertical position that is much better for daytime viewing and the Portas did not allow that. I am very happy with the AT Voyager, its "push-to" performance in up/down direction is a bit jumpy but after using it a while I realized that is not important at all. I don't use Manny's Mods on mine but they look like great additions to the mount and might be more useful with a heavier scope than mine to balance out the weight better.

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Starlighter
Post Laureate

Reged: 08/03/07

Loc: Sunny California

Re: Please recommend mount for TV102 or TV85 new

[Re: mypontiac]
#3105292 - 05/14/09 06:57 PM Attachment (32 downloads)

Quote:

How about the Skyview AZ ?

Sean

Like I suggested earlier in this thread, it's a good, solid mount. Orion fixed the lack of proper tension problem. When I use it with the TV-85, I hardly notice any vibration. Those 1.75" tubular steel legs eat the flimsy aluminum ones. Both the Vixen Porta and the AT Voyager should chuck them in favor of these legs. The SkyWatcher AZ4 uses them and that mount is not at all expensive. It lists for $250 so I'm sure both Vixen and AT could include them and not charge extra.

By the way, I just added a bubble level to my Skyview.

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