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Jason Freeland
sage
Reged: 05/28/04
Posts: 346
Loc: Warr Acres, OK
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Since I have yet to find my ideal GEM I decided to make a "wish post". For me, the single largest consideration is weight. I have arthritis and can't really deal with more than 25#s at a time. Now there are a lot of mounts that the EQ head weighs about that, but they all have something that disqualifies them from the ideal. I need something that can image with my VC200L or a Mewlon 210 if I ever win the loto, and a 80mm guide scope. It's a lot to ask of a mount like the AS-GT I have, a GM8, or a Tak EM-11. I also want a simple to use GOTO system (yes I'm a goto heathen). Of all the mounts I've looked at, the EM-11 is probably the closest.
Ok manufacturers, here is what I want. A split axis (RA and DEC) mount like the AP900 and MI250, to cut down on individual component weight. The individual pieces should weigh no more than 25#. The mount should handle a photographic load of 30#. The hand controller goto system should be as simple as a Celestron or Meade system (no star names in Japanese  ), and a polar scope as accurate as a Takahashi would be a definite bonus. The motors should be enclosed from the factory, I don't want to have to buy accessories just to make a mount usable out of the box.
Everything I want has been done on some existing mount, just never combined in the size I want it. Now that I've described my ideal mount, is there one you want and can't find?
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CF C8XLT
AT66 ED
AS-GT
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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My ideal mount will have the following features:
- Motors and electronics contained in the Dec axle assembly.
- DC power connector on the main RA axle body (no cable wrap).
- RF wireless hand controller.
- Wireless LAN and Bluetooth interfaces allow direct control from laptop. These interfaces should be built into the mount itself, so the hand controller is not needed when using a computer.
- Nothing protruding from mount body (motors, gear shafts, etc).
- RA axle can be pointed straight up (alt-az mode). RA axle is positioned directly above the center of the tripod in this mode.
- Encoders on axles, so GOTO computer won't get lost when you release the clamp and move telescope manually.
- Smooth, adjustable friction when clamp is unlocked, allowing Dobsonian-like free movement.
- Power connector and autoguider port at the base of the dovetail saddle (again, no cable wrap)
- Tracks past meridian
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