asaint
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/25/03
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iOptron Mini Tower
#2630476 - 09/08/08 10:18 AM
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iOptron Mini Tower
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Tapio
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/24/06
Loc: Tampere, Finland
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: asaint]
#2630673 - 09/08/08 12:00 PM
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Interesting review.
I would like to know if/how it will work with eq mode and how well it tracks.
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howard Lazerson
member
Reged: 02/25/08
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Tapio]
#2631121 - 09/08/08 04:07 PM
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what is the noise level of this mount?
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RAKing
Postmaster
Reged: 12/28/07
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: howard Lazerson]
#2631214 - 09/08/08 05:04 PM
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Quote:
what is the noise level of this mount?
Howard,
First of all, welcome to Cloudy Nights. I hope you enjoy this site and learn as much as I have.
Jeffrey said it is quiet in his review, but that is a very subjective term, especially if there is no reference level to compare. I have been told that it is not as quiet as my Atlas, but it is a little quieter than my old Celestron. I have not seen one in person yet, but hope to do so next week.
I hope that helps a little.
Ron
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Gary
sage
Reged: 06/12/05
Loc: Southeast, Ga
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: RAKing]
#2631295 - 09/08/08 05:49 PM
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Thanks Jeffrey. I'm gotten to the age where my LXD650 is a bit heavy for me. Based on your review I may have found a suitable replacement. Thanks for taking to time to test and post your findings.
CS,
Gary
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kfred
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/11/03
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Gary]
#2632103 - 09/09/08 05:01 AM
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Excellent review! Might have to end up getting one.
Fred
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Loc: South Louisiana
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: kfred]
#2632182 - 09/09/08 07:45 AM
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Thanks for the nice review. It is very tempting.
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Starman1
Vendor (EyepiecesEtc.com)
Reged: 06/24/03
Loc: Los Angeles
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: coopman]
#2634020 - 09/10/08 12:26 AM
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I own an ASGT (CG5) mount from Celestron.
This is just as easy to use and a whole lot more portable.
If visual observing is your interest..........this one's a winner!
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Dave Ponder
super member
Reged: 04/12/06
Loc: Greenville, SC
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Starman1]
#2634844 - 09/10/08 12:16 PM
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What was the vibration level with each scope? Good, bad, ugly?
Thanks for the good review.
Dave P.
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Great Red Spot
Vendor-Great Red Spot
Reged: 06/17/07
Loc: Detroit, Mi
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: asaint]
#2636929 - 09/11/08 01:11 PM
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NICE job on the review Jeff!!!  I have onwed one of these units now for a month and I have yet to experience any problems with mine. So far no matter what I hang on it, the mount seems to be able to handle the load. I'm even trying to figure out how I can place a 8" Newt on it and still clear the legs. I have found it to be quite acurate at goto and tracking as well. GPS seems to pick up in about 90 seconds and alignment takes me two more minutes. In under five minutes I am up and runing.
I run mine using an Celestron Power-Tank. It easily runs the entire weekend on one charge. If you start to get erratic behavior, it seems to get a bit wierd when the power is low, but that is easily diagnosed and fixed with a fresh charge. 
Jeff Hineline
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Great Red Spot
Vendor-Great Red Spot
Reged: 06/17/07
Loc: Detroit, Mi
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Tapio]
#2636931 - 09/11/08 01:12 PM
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Although there is an EQ mode for this unit, ioOptron does not have an EQ tripod for it yet. That is expected to come out later this year.
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Great Red Spot
Vendor-Great Red Spot
Reged: 06/17/07
Loc: Detroit, Mi
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: howard Lazerson]
#2636932 - 09/11/08 01:13 PM
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VERY low. Quiter than the LX200. I can't even hear the drive motors when tracking unless I place my ear against the mount
Jeff Hineline
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BlueMoon
sage
Reged: 06/14/07
Loc: Idaho, USA
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Great Red Spot]
#2637453 - 09/11/08 06:45 PM
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Wonderful review! The Mini is on my "must buy" list for sure!
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JimP
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/22/03
Loc: South Carolina
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: BlueMoon]
#2654623 - 09/21/08 11:27 AM
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Can you tell me the size of the dovetail mount? This sounds like a wonderful option for those nights when one does not want to spend a lot of time setting up. I went to the OPTR sitre and they mention an increase of 50% of payload (?) with heavy duty excessories. Any idea what they are talking about? Thanks for a wonderful review.
JimP
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StarStruckCarter
member
Reged: 08/31/08
Loc: Manchester, NH
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: howard Lazerson]
#2725273 - 10/29/08 07:39 PM
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The noise level is minimal. When at local star parties it gets drowned out by CG5s and LXDs!
jhc
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StarStruckCarter
member
Reged: 08/31/08
Loc: Manchester, NH
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Dave Ponder]
#2725280 - 10/29/08 07:40 PM
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I have no vibrations when using my Burgess 5" f/8.
jhc
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StarStruckCarter
member
Reged: 08/31/08
Loc: Manchester, NH
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Tapio]
#2725282 - 10/29/08 07:42 PM
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My friend is working on an EQ wedge. It's not done yet so I don't know.
jhc
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StarStruckCarter
member
Reged: 08/31/08
Loc: Manchester, NH
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: JimP]
#2725284 - 10/29/08 07:43 PM
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It uses the Vixen dovetail.
I think the options are the ones that come with it.
jhc
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StarStruckCarter
member
Reged: 08/31/08
Loc: Manchester, NH
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: StarStruckCarter]
#2725289 - 10/29/08 07:45 PM
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I'm sorry to take so long to get back to everyone. I haven't had much time and then I lost my password. I'm still learning to use this system.
jhc
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Terry - W6LMJ
journeyman
Reged: 10/25/08
Loc: West Palm Beach, FL
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Re: iOptron Mini Tower
[Re: Great Red Spot]
#2725861 - 10/30/08 04:34 AM
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Jeff, I appreciate your comments, and description of the GPS operation.
I received my MiniTower just the other day and had it out last night under perfectly clear skies here in West Palm Beach for nearly 11 hours. I had an observation plan, comparing a few cameras and wanted to use the iOptron's MiniTower first light with an older C8 - it is 25 years old.
However, I was never able to get the GPS to lock in. It showed "On" but never switched to "Ok".
I believe I set the hand controller up correctly. I did it about five times. I had another GPS running in the drive, connected to a KIWI OSD time insertion device that I use for location and time stamping video recorded occultations.
I wonder if the two could have interfered with each other? They were only five feet apart.
I love the size of the mount. It appears well made. I did use it to move a small refractor, Astro-Tech 66 mm APO, around the sky. But without the GPS lock (Ok), I was never able to use the tracking and GOTO features.
I will next try it with nothing else electrical turned on. Wish me luck.
Terry - W6LMJ
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