Telescope Reviews: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO

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Chris Curran
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/14/05

Loc: Brandon, FL

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Alph]
#3181671 - 06/25/09 08:30 AM

<sigh>....

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Jaxdialation]
#3181701 - 06/25/09 08:53 AM

Quote:

Is there a GEM mount that is used in a "portable" setting that doesn't have to be polar aligned every use? I don't think so.

Quote:

Is it true that you have to accurately polar align every time the mount is moved in order for the goto and tracking to work properly?

I guess it depends on what one means by "properly polar aligned".

For visual, I set up with a compass to get the scope pointed north. Do my alignent and the gotos are good to go.

However, if you do something like that for imaging, unless you were darn lucky and got it right with the compass, you need to do a proper PA routine.

David

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Alph]
#3181712 - 06/25/09 08:59 AM

Quote:

Any GEM equipped with the Gemini controller will do the trick for visual observing.

It doesn't have to be Gemini to be used for visual. A compass and protractor level will get you good enough for visual. The Gemini may build a pointing model, but if you are going to go through all that for a portable visual setup, you may as well do an accurate polar alignment.

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Chris Curran
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/14/05

Loc: Brandon, FL

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#3181726 - 06/25/09 09:10 AM

LLEEGE,

I presume you meant contractor level. For those who don't own an AP mount - you can use this method to polar align at noon on a bright sunny day.

Post Extras:

LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Chris Curran]
#3181968 - 06/25/09 11:46 AM

No. A protractor level can be used to set your latitude. I use a torpedo level for the AP when aligning in the day.
My point was the Gemini doesn't do anything magical.

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Alph
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/23/06

Loc: Melmac

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#3182338 - 06/25/09 03:02 PM

Quote:

My point was the Gemini doesn't do anything magical.

The Gemini controller can track an object both in Dec and RA for hours without an accurate polar alignment. The AP-GTO controller does not have that capability. I hope you see the point now.

Post Extras:

LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Alph]
#3182350 - 06/25/09 03:08 PM

Quote:

Quote:

My point was the Gemini doesn't do anything magical.

The Gemini controller can track an object both in Dec and RA for hours without an accurate polar alignment. The AP-GTO controller does not have that capability. I hope you see the point now.

Not without building a pointing model.

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Alph]
#3182360 - 06/25/09 03:13 PM

Quote:

Quote:

My point was the Gemini doesn't do anything magical.

The Gemini controller can track an object both in Dec and RA for hours without an accurate polar alignment. The AP-GTO controller does not have that capability. I hope you see the point now.

As do Autostar and Nexstar. The AP can be polar aligned in under 5 min. About as long as it would take to do an alignment with any Gemini powered mount. Of course, you will fail to see my point.

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Alph
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/23/06

Loc: Melmac

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#3182365 - 06/25/09 03:17 PM

Quote:

As do Autostar and Nexstar

Nope. Now I understand why you have missed the point. In the equatorial mode, the Nexstar tracks only in RA likewise the AP-GTO.

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Chris Curran
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/14/05

Loc: Brandon, FL

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Alph]
#3182373 - 06/25/09 03:20 PM

Good grief.

You mean to tell us that you can plop down a Gemini system, and it can figure out where it's at, no polar alignment and no user intervention? No, it cannot do that. You have to do a multi-star alignment, and that takes longer, and arguably more troublesome, than looking through the PAS, which will give you "good enough" for goto operation and tracking.

But I digress... Is there a reason we're discussing Gemini? Didn't the OP ask a question about a AP 1200? Or did I miss the memo where he asked everyone with some other mount to chime in?

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Alph
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/23/06

Loc: Melmac

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Chris Curran]
#3182401 - 06/25/09 03:36 PM

Quote:

Is there a reason we're discussing Gemini?

I actually replied to this question.

Quote:

Is it true that you have to accurately polar align every time the mount is moved in order for the goto and tracking to work properly?

The answer is: It is true for the AP-GTO/AP1200 but It is not true for the Gemini/G11. Hope this helps.

Post Extras:

Chris Curran
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 06/14/05

Loc: Brandon, FL

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Alph]
#3182408 - 06/25/09 03:41 PM

LOL.. OK. You've convinced me. I made a huge mistake buying all these AP mounts. I should have bought a G11/Gemini. Now will you go away?

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Jaxdialation
Post Laureate

Reged: 04/01/07

Loc: Northeast, FL

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: Chris Curran]
#3182432 - 06/25/09 03:56 PM Attachment (39 downloads)

I feel the same way. Its too bad this thread has become a bit of a:

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SteveC
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/15/06

Loc: Sunshine State & Ocean State

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: LLEEGE]
#3182639 - 06/25/09 05:58 PM

I forgot that I had post in here, sorry for the lack of follow up.

The only reason why I asked about the polar alignment is that I observed someone using this mount and all night long he was making adjustments to find objects after using goto. He said that the scope was "roughly polar aligned" and the mount had no 2-3 star realignment features.

I found this quite annoying since I might not be able to always get an accurate polar alignment in the home I'll be living in in a few years. I'll be rolling the mount out of a garage like I do now and currently I've only had to do a very rough polar aligment and 2-3 star alignment to be up and running without a lot of fuss. I didn't mean to get this into a Gemini vs. AP discussion, since there are other options available and I don't know what I'll buy in 3-4 years

Post Extras:

Charlie Hein
Postmaster

Reged: 11/02/03

Loc: 26.06.08N, +80.23.08W

Re: Just how good is an AP 1200 GTO new

[Re: SteveC]
#3182710 - 06/25/09 06:35 PM

Okay, this one seems to have run its course...

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