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Clay
super member
Reged: 05/09/07
Posts: 104
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Hi, Guys-
Happy New Year to you all! I hope you have plenty of interesting ATM projects for the year. I'm just starting my first scope, a 12.5" f 4.74 typical K&B dobsonian with a Guy Walton folding truss. Rounded-over the edges of the rings today and started drilling holes.
Before I get anywhere *near* need-to-know, I'd like to know if any of you are using Dob Driver II, and if so, how it's working out. I'm specially interested in combining it with their "Roboscope" program, which should generate a go-to configuration. StellarCat and Navis or Sky Commander are just too expensive for a first go, although if I get a lot of negative response on DDII, I will just do the Sky Commander. I did read John Crilly's "how to" articles, but saw no later follow-up. Help appreciated!
Thanks,
Clay
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highertheflyer
sage
Reged: 07/08/05
Posts: 325
Loc: Ft. Worth, Texas
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I use a Dob Driver II for tracking on an Alt/Az 12.5 Dobsonian, and use it also with a wooden equatorial mount too.
For years in locating objects, I have found Dave Ek's DSC circuit to be of great value.
Running on ASCOM, and a small laptop computer with programs called Cartes du Ciel or HNSKY, or on a PDA, a program called Planetarium.
All of these programs are shareware and found on the internet.
It's a great combination, easy on the wallet, and will stay up with the big boys scopes any day!
I have converted over to exclusively using now the Sky Commander for positioning and locating objects.
Sky Commander has a port by which you can run in parallel, the above laptop or PDA programs too.
And so, with separate Digital Encoders running the Dave Ek or Sky Commander, there is no common circuit to the Dobdriver II.
So the telescope, after the star alignment, always keeps track of where the telescope is pointed, even tho the Dob Driver may be unclutched and "push-to" is in operation.
Its a great set up.
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bbriggs
sage
Reged: 01/09/06
Posts: 217
Loc: Graham, Wa.
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I have a Dob Driver II and NGC Sky commander as well. Highertheflyer makes a good point about the independent setting circles and drive. With the Roboscope once you clutch and move the scope you loose the information about where the scope is because roboscope is counting the encoder pulses. I intned to have the Sky commander hooked up with a laptop running The Sky 6 so there is a crosshair on the screen telling where the scope is pointing. Right now I enter the object on the sky commander, clutch and move the telescope to the general vicinity and finish lining up with the dob driver. When everything is properly lined up initially this set up is dead on even with a high power eyepiece. The only issue I have had with the Dob Driver is that there are some unwanted vibrations that happen when tracking with it. This is because the motors are running at different speeds and at certain speeds they will resonate. I have to also state that my telescope is all metal and may be especially efficient at transmitting vibrations and there also may be ways to use rubber mounts to isolate them on my scope. It may well not even be an issue on a wooden scope.
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18 f4.5 home made newt
14.5 f4.5 homemade newt w/Zambuto
16x70 Fujinon Binoculars 20x110 Garrett Binoculars
Denk II power x switch 21's and 14's
31, 17, 9 Naglers
Televue Ranger
Astrogizmos Portable Observatory
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