jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan
Reged: 02/28/06
Loc: Petaluma, CA
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: BlueGrass]
#4431287 - 03/06/11 11:19 PM
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Well that doesn't suck, does it? 
- Jim
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BlueGrass
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/25/09
Loc: Wasatch Front, UT
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: jrbarnett]
#4431428 - 03/07/11 12:56 AM
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Jim,
No sir, it doesn't...  The precision and craftsmanship of AP equipment has to be seen in person to really be appreciated. Now if the weather would just cooperate ....
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Paul G
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/08/03
Loc: Freedonia
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: Daniel Mounsey]
#4431616 - 03/07/11 06:04 AM
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Congrats. It does sound like a coffee grinder though. I was really surprised to hear that.
I guess it sounds a bit like my $2000 coffee grinder, only much quieter.  That's the sweet sound of the big Swiss servo motors, music to my ears. The Mach1GTO has oversized motors, same size as AP uses in the 900 and 1200 mounts. Dropping the slew speed one notch makes them very much quieter. One nice thing about using big servos on the Mach1 is that it is very insensitive to balance. One can be way out of balance and it doesn't mind at all.
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EdTheEdge
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/10/09
Loc: Lomita, CA
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: Paul G]
#4432262 - 03/07/11 01:05 PM
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Wow beautiful.... just plain beautiful!
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Duncan Kitchin
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/16/04
Loc: Beaverton, OR, USA
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: drksky]
#4435503 - 03/08/11 05:33 PM
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No need to apologize. If I'd been able to, I'd have bought it. The plain truth, though, is that it was way out of my price range. Maybe I'll be a little better off when they start the new production run this spring. I'm on the list.
somewhat OT, but do you have any insights as to what the wait time is for these? I'm also on the list, but only since late last year...
Regards & Clear Skies
Duncan
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drksky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/01/09
Loc: Bloomington, IL
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: Duncan Kitchin]
#4435643 - 03/08/11 06:29 PM
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You probably missed just the tail end of last year's production run. Going by an email I received from AP about a month ago, the Mach-1's are next up on the machines for delivery in late May and after. Nobody has received availability notices yet as far as I know.
I've only been on the list since early February, so you're at least in front of me.
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Duncan Kitchin
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/16/04
Loc: Beaverton, OR, USA
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: drksky]
#4436310 - 03/08/11 10:47 PM
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You probably missed just the tail end of last year's production run. Going by an email I received from AP about a month ago, the Mach-1's are next up on the machines for delivery in late May and after. Nobody has received availability notices yet as far as I know.
I've only been on the list since early February, so you're at least in front of me.
thanks for the info - guess we'll just have to see what transpires... 
Regards & Clear Skies
Duncan
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mewmartigan
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/02/08
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: Duncan Kitchin]
#4436889 - 03/09/11 08:21 AM
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I've been on the list since last October and I am hoping to get into this production run. Last production run I believe they fullfilled the entire waiting list and then still had some for sale "off the shelf" so I hope everyone on the list gets in on this run.
My info agrees with Tony C, AP posted in their yahoo group that the Mach 1's are next for delivery in late spring/early summer.
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BlueGrass
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/25/09
Loc: Wasatch Front, UT
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: mewmartigan]
#4437590 - 03/09/11 02:05 PM
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It depends on when the notification email arrives and whether someone opts out. Even if you're not notified by AP, and you're intent on getting one, follow up with AP and check their website / UG and the vendors. Keep your ears to the ground ... occasionally one will pop-up due to last minute problems, etc.
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drksky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/01/09
Loc: Bloomington, IL
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: BlueGrass]
#4437861 - 03/09/11 04:07 PM
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I looked through last year's notifications on the AP availability page:
They started notifications in December, completed notifications in February after which they stated that there were still some available. The sold out update didn't come until the middle of May, so there appears to be a little wiggle room. Unless, of course, demand is greater than they expected.
I really, really want one, and it's going to be a very difficult decision and that stinks.
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nemo129
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/03/10
Loc: WMass
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: drksky]
#4438202 - 03/09/11 06:45 PM
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So, to quote the most recent owner of a Mach 1 that I know of:
"making the jump to a Mach1 feels like a paradigm shift in how I perceive my equipment. It's that profound."
and
"It was one of those, "If you don't buy it now, you'll regret it later.." moments..."
If you really want the mount and you are not going to lose your house or something more valuable...your wife..I don't know if you are married so forgive any presumption, buy the mount!! It is very obvious that you really really want one and have given a good deal of thought to it. Anyway, life it far to short not to enjoy good things that are within your reach. Just my .02!
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drksky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/01/09
Loc: Bloomington, IL
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: nemo129]
#4438221 - 03/09/11 06:51 PM
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Just trying to be a responsible adult, and that is fighting with my inner-child 
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nemo129
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/03/10
Loc: WMass
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: drksky]
#4438237 - 03/09/11 06:59 PM
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One more quote and I am done ...I am not sure if you are a Dr. Who fan or not...but the character once said: "There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes."
BTW ...I just bought a G11, granted no where near the investment you are looking at, but for me it was a leap!
Now back to our regularly scheduled thread of "ooooing" and "ahhhhing" over George's new mount!
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mewmartigan
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/02/08
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: drksky]
#4438447 - 03/09/11 08:24 PM
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Just trying to be a responsible adult, and that is fighting with my inner-child
My responsible adult won this battle for years.....but the wife's blessing gave my inner child the boost in needed
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BlueGrass
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/25/09
Loc: Wasatch Front, UT
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: mewmartigan]
#4438716 - 03/09/11 10:35 PM
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Kirk,
You gave me a good chuckle, after a long day of commuting and fixing all those sad little computers we depend so much on .... 
Mounts of this class (and much higher) are an investment. Not just in a money sense, since they do retain most of their value, but an investment in the hobby. For my goals and desires, I don't see myself out growing the Mach1. Maybe, someday, perhaps but that's so far in the future I can't even think that far ahead. I'm thinking the next 5 years, 10 years of use. This is a mount that I really won't tax anytime soon with my imaging plans. 4 - 5" APO? No problem. 8" SCT / RC? No problem. I'm sure others will chime in with their larger setups and performance info.
So, for everyone on the list, or thinking about getting on the list, all I can say is you have to make the decision. Don't let others sway your thinking. I've yet to have mine outside, hopefully this weekend.... this crummy weather can't last all Spring and Summer .. right? .... RIGHT? 
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drksky
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/01/09
Loc: Bloomington, IL
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: BlueGrass]
#4438731 - 03/09/11 10:44 PM
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this crummy weather can't last all Spring and Summer .. right? .... RIGHT
I'm starting to wonder. It's a good thing I don't have a mount right now or I'd REALLY be depressed.
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Duncan Kitchin
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/16/04
Loc: Beaverton, OR, USA
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: drksky]
#4443492 - 03/11/11 11:46 PM
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Much the same thing here... I've only just got my Atlas back together - the one clear night of the year a week or so ago and the motor control board finally gave up the ghost (it's been making a funny noise for a while. I'm generally concerned when solid-state electronics makes noises). Orion came through very quickly and I got a replacement board...
Now, of course, the weather is back to type for this time of year in the NW.
Maybe I'll be in line to get a new mount by the time the clouds clear in, like, July?
Regards & Clear Skies
Duncan
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BlueGrass
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/25/09
Loc: Wasatch Front, UT
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: Duncan Kitchin]
#4443603 - 03/12/11 01:16 AM
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Hopefully not that long .... Don't think I could take sitting in the house until July.... 
Frankly, at this point in time, I'm ready for a road trip. We're getting the camper out of storage at month's end and once it's serviced, I'll be looking at the southern deserts for relief, if that's possible ... if only for one or two blissful nights ...
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BlueGrass
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/25/09
Loc: Wasatch Front, UT
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: BlueGrass]
#4448210 - 03/14/11 01:49 AM
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I've done some extensive testing and setup configurations. One item that I really like is the ASCOM driver and it's setup / monitoring features. I'm using Cartes du Ciel 3. The ASCOM driver reported a few COM errors using the lower RS232 port but none with the upper port.
There were two 10.7 x 1.87 CW shafts included in the boxes as well as the standard 14.5 x 1.12 shaft. The CWs are for the shorter shaft. The 10.7 shafts can be joined to give a 20" CW bar and allows me to mount any combination of gear I have. I can't seem to find the actual weight of this shaft but I'm estimating about 5 to 7lbs.
Although it looks a bit much with that length of CW shaft (20") and they don't completely mate together, anyone done something similar? This all goes back to the CW closer / CW farther away discussions that pop up here every few months. My original intent was to get another 10lb CW and use a single shaft but I'm thinking that a shaft extension would do just as well and be alot cheaper. Any thoughts on the CW distance question for these mounts? Based on what I've setup so far, this mount just doesn't seem to care ...
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RAKing
Postmaster
Reged: 12/28/07
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Re: What can I say - A Mach1 and Eagle
[Re: BlueGrass]
#4449695 - 03/14/11 05:02 PM
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The short shaft (M1053-A) weighs 7.7 pounds and was designed to stow inside the RA housing for travel.
I have the longer 1.87" shaft (M9404-A) and use it with two 14.5 pound Casady counterweights for my heavier scopes. My personal preference is to use the standard Mach1 shaft with a few 9 pound A-P weights and a couple Casady weights. I don't have a permanent setup so the thinner CW shaft is much easier to grab and carry with my arthritic hands. 
To answer your other question - I don't think the mount cares. It's so robust and smooth, I have accidentally set it up way off balance and the mount never whined or complained. 
Cheers,
Ron
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