Telescope Reviews: Goto for Skyview Pro Mount w/TrueTrack Drives?

I think Orion used to sell an "Intelliscope" upgrade kit that would not convert the mount to "Go-To", but rather would add digital setting circles (DSCs) that would give you the same navigation control as a Go-To mount would. You have to push the mount to the target, but once you get the scope on center, you latch the clutch and the mount tracks it.

Otherwise, it is not in my own mind economically feasible to convert the the mount. You might as well sell it and just buy a used LX55/75, or a Celestron CG5. It will be cheaper than retrofitting your current mount.

In some ways, I LIKE the DSC approach better. I don't NEED true Go-to, and you might not either. The value is really in the computerized pointing, not the Go-to. And with a DSC system, the encoders are locked to the axis shafts, so you can manually move the telescope for quick peaks at other targets. The DSCs don't loose position like the true go-to mounts.

BUT.. The cost is still enough that if you just sell your current mount, even if you don't get that much for it, you may still come out ahead just moving to a Go-to mount.

There is a decent argument for the Intelliscope option though. The mount will run off of a small battery pack for hours (the hand controller has its own battery I think), the mount will not make grinding noize when slewing, and it is often much faster to actually push the mount to the target than it is for the scope to manually slew to the target.

So, don't rule out the Intelliscope DSC option if what you REALLY want is pointing, but financially, you might be better off selling your current mount and moving to a full go-to.

It is a hard choice, but I thought I would mention the option.

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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)

The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.