Keith Howlett
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 1029
Loc: Northumberland, UK
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Quote:
So after an initial post asking for comments...
Comments were offered. 
One poster had observed with one. A poster commented on the even field illumination in the published images. I considered one as a travel scope but it was outside my budget. Another poster commented on the etalon construction. Price and physical limit comparisons can be useful. (The OP also asked for comparisons with the PST.)
QED
Here is what I considered when I looked at buying one myself...
Plus:
1) Probably achieves the advertised bandwidth
2) Attractive and adaptable OTA
3) Attractive manufacturer's upgrade path if I don't like it
Minus:
1) High price for 35mm aperture
2) OTA is not all that small
3) Temperature limits would be a factor for me
Hope that's clearer.
Cheers,
Keith
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Solar B
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/28/07
Posts: 1029
Loc: By Edinburgh , Scotland
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I think im right in saying that the REDI sports a 35mm BF as well...i guess that goes some way to explaing its price at this aperture. Brian
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" Gentlemen only ever use Refractors "
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blackhaz
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/20/06
Posts: 1598
Loc: Prague, Czech Republic
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What's the point of a 35mm BF if the diameter of the Solar disk is less than a few mm at the place BF is installed with that aperture? The only answer comes to my mind is that SolaREDi is more like a kit designed for modding then.
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Maxim Usatov,
Photos and Projects: http://www.bcsatellite.net/bao/
ČAS Solar Section
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DesertRat
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/06
Posts: 1045
Loc: Valley of the Sun
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Daystar is marketing it as kit for growth. Larger aperture front end, like a user supplied refractor, would call for an ERF.
Glenn
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Brandon 94mm f7, Televue TV102 f8.6; GM8
Baader Wedge & Filters, Coronado SM90/BF30
IM715; C11 & C14; G-11 Gemini
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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Max,
The typical Mica etalon design has two blocking filters, both the same dia as the etalon, one ahead of the etalon and one behind. They have slightly different bandpasses. The front one is cheaper to make and is the one that wears out first making repairs less expensive.
Does anyone know if there are threads on the front of the SolaREDi in order to attach a larger objective and tube?
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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blackhaz
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/20/06
Posts: 1598
Loc: Prague, Czech Republic
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Would an ERF like Baader C-ERF be suitable to replace the BF that is in front of the etalon? If not, what goes there if I want to change the OTA to, say, Skywatcher 909?
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Maxim Usatov,
Photos and Projects: http://www.bcsatellite.net/bao/
ČAS Solar Section
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DesertRat
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/18/06
Posts: 1045
Loc: Valley of the Sun
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Quote:
Would an ERF like Baader C-ERF be suitable to replace the BF that is in front of the etalon? If not, what goes there if I want to change the OTA to, say, Skywatcher 909?
Blocking filter is required and must be behind etalon. ERF before etalon for larger apertures. Further speculation about threads and connecting elements without contacting Jen at Daystar would not be helpful.
Glenn
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Brandon 94mm f7, Televue TV102 f8.6; GM8
Baader Wedge & Filters, Coronado SM90/BF30
IM715; C11 & C14; G-11 Gemini
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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Glenn,
It is not as simple as an air spaced etalon. Instead of diagraming the design here I ask you wait till part II of my article. The "etalon" in a mica etalon contains two blocking filters (one ahead and one behind) but still needs a ERF for large apertures.
Max,
The short answer is no, the first blocking filter has a much more narrow bandpass than the Baader ERF. The Baader ERF or red glass is used to increase the life of the blocking filters. The system is visually safe without it, it simply will not last as long.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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blackhaz
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/20/06
Posts: 1598
Loc: Prague, Czech Republic
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Glenn, I'm sure it is helpful. At least for me. We are just sharing the knowledge here. Thank you, colinsk!
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Maxim Usatov,
Photos and Projects: http://www.bcsatellite.net/bao/
ČAS Solar Section
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pennyandchris
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 678
Loc: Horsham, England
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Quote:
Quote:
BTW, my 'factoid' about the PST's 30mm clear aperture came from this forum. Anyway, it is certainly less than the 40mm Solarmax 'scope.
I am told it originates from the Coronado book, "Observing the Sun with Coronado Telescopes" by Philip Pugh (which I have not read).
Yes. Sorry. I DO have this book. The exact quote is "Unlike similar producs manufactured by Coronado, the etalon is housed nearer the eyepiece. This is a slight disadvantage as it reduces the effective aperture of the PST to about 30mm. However, this change was undertaken to reduce the cost."
More importantly the quoted bandpass of the SolaREDi is 0.7A as opposed to 1A in the PST. This makes its natural competitor the Solarmax 40, which is about the same price (certainly here in the UK).
Much seems to be made by some posters of the quoted effective temperature range of the SolaREDi. Is it just that the manufacturers have tried to be honest about this? Coronado don't quote temp ranges, but are they an issue with their 'scopes? PST or Solarmaxes? I'd like to hear if this is the case.
I own a PST, and am relatively happy with the views I can get. BUT, a narrower bandpass would be nice, and the choices (at reasonable cost) include double stacking the PST, a Solarmax 40, a Lunt or the SolaREDi.
Like the OPer I'd be grateful to hear the opinion of someone who'd actually looked through or imaged with the SolaREDi(or a Lunt).
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Orion UK OMC140 Mak Cass
TeleVue Ranger
Coronado Ha and CaK PSTs
Meade LXD75 mount
Ambermile alt-az mount on wooden surveyors tripod
Manfrotto 074 photo tripod with 501 head
+ various binocs
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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Air spaced etalons only change 1A in 200C so temperature is not an issue for them. Pressure is however so if you are balloon borne or in space then you have another issue. 
I too am eager for more first hand reports. I heard some stuff from NEAF but that has been all. I have total confidence that the quality will be equal or superior to the DayStar T-Scanner because of the large amount of experience DayStar has in making quality systems.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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BobH1357
super member
Reged: 01/15/05
Posts: 161
Loc: San Jose, CA
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I remember hearing about Coronado filters not working at a recent total solar eclipse (in Egypt), where the temperature was very hot. I wonder if anyone here has experienced a falloff in performance of those filters at higher temps?
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Rob Willett
Vendor (Degree Circles)
Reged: 02/07/05
Posts: 655
Loc: London, UK.
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Quote:
Yes, this is apparently the Coronado/Meade users group. Oh yes, and Lunt of course.  
It ain't the Lunt users group yet, unless somebody has managed to wrangle one out of Lunt. It may be the "Possible Lunt Group" or the "Maybe Lunt" group or the "Sometime in the Future Lunt" group (as well as Coronado/Meade/Solarscope...) 
Rob
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Thanks,
Rob
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zuan_furlan
member
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 60
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Hi all,
thanks for your replies. I asked this question because I'm looking for a "grab and go" little solar scope (I'm already using the Daystar 0.6 Ang Quantum SE of my astro-club). Recently, during a sun-party, I have seen through several solar scopes, however I have not seen yet through a SolaREDi.
I was wondering, as well, if the extra money of a SolaREDi (compared to a PST) is well worth. What I can report here, are just the comments of a dealer (who is selling the SolaREdi and the PST, as well): he told me that these new scopes are superior to any PST for several reasons:
1) optical quality of ethalon
2) narrowband tested and certified (while for the PSTs, Coronado only states that the passband is < 1 Ang)
3) full aperture (35mm) exit, while PST has only a 5 mm diagfram at the end of the optics train (and will obviously produce vignetting through any SLR camera)
4) modularity that allows you to see and image through it with a variety of barlows, eyepieces, binoviewers, SLRs, CCDs, webcams, etc.
However I lack the "hands on" experience...
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LarryAlvarez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/05
Posts: 2955
Loc: Texas
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When the blockers fail over time how much will it cost to fix? I saw a quote on the site for the larger type filters costing $700+. Clear Skyz, LA
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My Solar Website
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MikeTaormina
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/15/05
Posts: 1236
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Good question Larry,
When Del still owned Daystar, I recall the cost being $300 to replace the Blockers and Trimmers.
In November 2007, under the new ownership, the cost for replacing the Blockers & Trimmers on any Daystar filter, large or small, was $625.
Daystar has raised the price again since November 2007 and is currently quoting a blocker & trimmer replacement cost of $750.00 on their website.
Mike
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http://www.pbase.com/miket883/solar
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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Quote:
I remember hearing about Coronado filters not working at a recent total solar eclipse (in Egypt), where the temperature was very hot. I wonder if anyone here has experienced a falloff in performance of those filters at higher temps?
My PST is unchanged at 105F.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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