Houdini
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/13/07
Loc: Europe
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: doctordub]
#2162750 - 02/02/08 12:30 PM
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Thanks for the review!
I guess a lot of people would also be interested in a shoot-out between the 102ED and the WO Megrez 110. They're about the same size, same weight, same price...
Robert
|
CollinofAlabama
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/24/03
Loc: Lubbock, Texas, USA
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#2163120 - 02/02/08 03:14 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Okay, you've got 4 months to post the pictures! Did some measuring and think I have my answers. The AstroTech 80ED comes in a fairly large case with eyepiece/diagonal extra cut-outs. It's 13"x22.5"x8" The Orion 102ED's case (theoretically since, yep, it is vaporware) supposedly comes in at 9"x31"x9" -- that's not much difference in actual displacement in the ole car. It's a much longer case, but really not much more in terms of space utilized. Just for grins, what are the dimensions of the AstroTech's case? Folks might wanna know what they'll have to pack into the car for trips.
I got my AT80ED from Astronomics in the early Fall of 2006 and I LOVE this scope. I'd just as soon get the AstroTech 102, but made a foolish purchase over Christmas -- the Mak 127 with SVP from Orion. I find the SVP simply NOT grab 'n go. This mount doesn't fit in my car well and is very heavy and unwieldy to me, so it went back to Orion. I now have a LOT of credit with them, so their 102ED makes sense for me. Waiting on the case till May does NOT make me happy  On top of that, getting this scope in December is a painful reminder of how LONG it takes for a 5" Mak to cool down. Let's just say it ain't NOTHING like the AT80ED  Though I'm sure the 102 doublet takes a little longer to reach equilibrium than the 80, I imagine it can be measured in some minute increments, not hour ones.
Oh well, I suppose I learn the hard way. Your review is making everyone water at the mouth, Jon. You're serving up a tasty meal alright, and one folks are ready for! Thanks again,
CDS
|
Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego, California
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: CollinofAlabama]
#2163214 - 02/02/08 03:46 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Okay, you've got 4 months to post the pictures! Did some measuring and think I have my answers. The AstroTech 80ED comes in a fairly large case with eyepiece/diagonal extra cut-outs. It's 13"x22.5"x8" The Orion 102ED's case (theoretically since, yep, it is vaporware) supposedly comes in at 9"x31"x9" -- that's not much difference in actual displacement in the ole car. It's a much longer case, but really not much more in terms of space utilized. Just for grins, what are the dimensions of the AstroTech's case? Folks might wanna know what they'll have to pack into the car for trips.
In this case(pun intended), the measurements are better than a picture I think.
The case for the 80mm WO Mergez II FD is 6.5x 11 x 18, quite a bit smaller than the AT-80ED case. But in reality it is too small because there is no room for the 5 or 6 eyepieces one wants so an added case for the eyepieces is necessary.
The AT-102ED is slightly smaller than the Orion Case, its 9x10x29in, pretty big, not airline portable but as you say, reasonable in a car.
Jon
|
runner
super member
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#2163247 - 02/02/08 04:07 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I cannot seem to find a Canadian dealer..If anyone can help,please do..If not somewhere close to the Northeast,I'm in Nova Scotia..Thanks on advance..
|
Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego, California
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: runner]
#2163370 - 02/02/08 05:08 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
I cannot seem to find a Canadian dealer..If anyone can help,please do..If not somewhere close to the Northeast,I'm in Nova Scotia..Thanks on advance..
Astronomics carries the AT-102ED and ships to Canada.
Jon
|
Talstarone
Lunar Man
Reged: 09/12/06
Loc: Pinetops, NC
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#2163530 - 02/02/08 06:47 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Great Review on the scope,Jon. I am thrilled it offers so much at a good price for the aperature.
If you think its a keeper,then I know it must be a very good performer.
|
gripweed44
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/12/05
Loc: PDX
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Talstarone]
#2163755 - 02/02/08 08:32 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
No Airline??
Case to big?
|
Duncan Rosie
super member
Reged: 02/14/04
Loc: South Africa
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: doctordub]
#2164366 - 02/03/08 02:31 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Thanks for the great review Jon!
I'm envious of the 102/Portamount combination - my ETX only takes about 10 minutes to set up but I'm so lazy these days that the thought of that 10 minutes of calibrate motors, training drives and aligning often prevents me from carrying the scope outside.
The options are a new setup like yours, or to get off my butt, guess I'll try the latter for now!
|
Jon Isaacs
Postmaster
Reged: 06/16/04
Loc: San Diego, California
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Duncan Rosie]
#2164510 - 02/03/08 07:01 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Quote:
Thanks for the great review Jon!
I'm envious of the 102/Portamount combination - my ETX only takes about 10 minutes to set up but I'm so lazy these days that the thought of that 10 minutes of calibrate motors, training drives and aligning often prevents me from carrying the scope outside.
The options are a new setup like yours, or to get off my butt, guess I'll try the latter for now!
Duncan: I am basically a refractor/Newtonian guy. The AT-102ED is a nice companion for a larger scope like a 12.5 inch Newtonian. The AT-102ED on a ALT-AZ mount is sweet. The wide field of view is nice, it is capable of a 3.7 degree True Field of view so it does not need a finder, it's a 102mm Superfinder for Starhopping.
Still... your Etx-125, do you need to calibrate the motors everytime, with the one I had, it was only necessary to do that once. And while it doesn't enjoy the generous field of view that the AT-102ED does, you could use it without setting up the goto... Just a thought...
But yeah, a 4 inch refractor on an ALT-AZ mount: pick up scope and mount, open the door, walk though door to backyard, set scope down. You're done...
Jon
|
Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Jon Isaacs]
#2165133 - 02/03/08 12:44 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Excellent review Jon and pretty matches my experience comparing my M102ED and Z80FD both mounted on my EZ-Touch mount. I’ve had no issue with my focuser, WO said that they correct all focusers as needed before shipping them out, my sample is better then the focuser on my ZS. I did have the same issue with the dew shield but as you said, it’s a simple fix. IMHO these 102EDs are the great value of the year!
|
David Pavlich
Transmographied
Reged: 05/18/05
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: asaint]
#2165474 - 02/03/08 03:36 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Very nice report, Jon. An enjoyable read.
David
|
Duncan Rosie
super member
Reged: 02/14/04
Loc: South Africa
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: David Pavlich]
#2166700 - 02/04/08 01:36 AM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Hi Jon,
With the ETX running on an external 12V that does duty elsewhere as well, the Calibrate Motors and Train Drives before every session does improve GOTO accuracy markedly.
|
Clive Gibbons
Mostly Harmless
Reged: 05/26/05
Loc: Oort Cloud
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: asaint]
#2167441 - 02/04/08 01:18 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Very objective and informative review, Jon!  
|
ckwastro
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/23/05
Loc: Tempe, AZ
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: asaint]
#2167647 - 02/04/08 02:53 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Great review Jon - very well done!! Thanks!
|
vct
newbie
Reged: 03/04/08
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: asaint]
#2236657 - 03/04/08 10:22 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
I would say the review is right on the money
I have an at102ed.
|
skymac
member
Reged: 11/07/05
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: asaint]
#2553425 - 07/31/08 09:20 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Jon,
I use a Porta Mount with my AT-80ED and find its marginal for handling even that 8 or 9 pound scope (including diagonal and heavy EP) Did you find that it still worked OK with the added wwight of the AT-102ED?
|
BCB
Undercover Saboteur
Reged: 11/24/03
Loc: Look over your shoulder
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: skymac]
#2595882 - 08/21/08 06:58 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
That article, as well as an in person inspection, is what sold me on mine.. 
VERY accurate article..
|
CollinofAlabama
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/24/03
Loc: Lubbock, Texas, USA
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: Chris Schroeder]
#2728673 - 10/31/08 05:50 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Okay, Jon,
You've had this for more than 6 months now, what do you think? Is this scope better than your 130ST? How do they compare?
Inquiring minds want to know,
CDS
|
Jack Huerkamp
Vendor - Waning Moon
Reged: 10/13/05
Loc: Louisiana
|
Astro-Tech 102ED *DELETED*
[Re: CollinofAlabama]
#3030726 - 04/07/09 08:51 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Post deleted by Jack Huerkamp
|
neptuneblue
member
Reged: 04/04/09
|
Re: Astro-Tech 102ED
[Re: asaint]
#3030816 - 04/07/09 09:30 PM
|
|
Edit
|
Reply
|
Quote |
Quick Reply
|
|
|
Very fine unit.
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
