John J
super member
Reged: 11/05/07
Posts: 190
Loc: Sioux Falls SD
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It's like having an ugly baby, you still gotta love it! I got 4 ugly babies!
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Things are looking up!
http://inskysd.org/gallery/
My Flicker Astro Site
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7331Peg
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/01/08
Posts: 718
Loc: North coast of Oregon
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It's SO big, and SO ugly, and SO efficient, that you can't help but NOT like it. If you want small, there's always the Rigel - if you can tolerate the adjustment knobs being on the wrong side.
My suggestion is leave the Telrad alone - it's a classic that does what it does very well.
John
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b1gred
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 15703
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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In the spare space, I keep spare batteries... whoa!
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / W0RDR
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40151
Loc: montana
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Quote:
it's a classic that does what it does very well.
That pretty well describes our beloved Telrad. 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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StarStuff1
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 04/01/07
Posts: 969
Loc: South of the Mason-Dixon Line
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Now if someone would combine the ruggedness of the Telrad with the compactness and blinking feature of the QuickFinder and add built-in dew prevention...
VOILA!!! 
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Tools that make objects very far away appear much closer than they actually are.
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Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1038
Loc: Suburban Maryland
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I think I'll leave my Telrad alone and just attach it to my larger scopes. I'm not going to cut it down to size. Actually, when I use a Telrad under my red zone home skies, the 4 deg circle is pretty much a waste, so I might as well utilize the Rigel here. I don't see enough stars in the Telrad for star hopping. I just use the Telrad to get in the ball park, then I star hop with my 8x50 finder. No goto here.
Mike
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Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
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Fireball
sage
Reged: 03/24/06
Posts: 347
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Quote:
Now if someone would combine the ruggedness of the Telrad with the compactness and blinking feature of the QuickFinder and add built-in dew prevention...
VOILA!!!
I think a kind of "deluxe" version would be pretty much accepted! Why is nobody offering this? Patent issues?
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20x90 Bino
12" Lightbridge
Meade UWAs, TV Ethoi, Pentax XW, Hyperion, AT Titan.
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Darenwh
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/11/06
Posts: 1219
Loc: Covington, GA
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From what I understand the origional Telrad design was patented and the person who came up with it passed on prior to finallizing the design. The family then sold the patent with the caviet that no changes could be made to the design. For that reason we are stuck with a working prototype design and not a well refined design.
Just what I have heard so may not be correct.
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Daren
Covington, GA
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6556
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Quote:
From what I understand the origional Telrad design was patented and the person who came up with it passed on prior to finallizing the design. The family then sold the patent with the caviet that no changes could be made to the design. For that reason we are stuck with a working prototype design and not a well refined design.
Just what I have heard so may not be correct.
Yep That was the impression I got too... and I love the looks of my Telrad...
I mean it looks CLUNKY ...
NOBODY in their right mind would add one to their Telescope UNLESS
It was EXTREMELY efficient ...
It was EXTREMELY easy to Use...
It was free ...
Guess 2 out of 3 is reason enough for many of us use a Telrad...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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hudson_yak
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 1105
Loc: Hyde Park, NY, USA
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This web page shows some older versions.
Mike
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Meade 8" LX10
Orion ED100 + Losmandy GM-8 + Berlebach UNI 24
Meade 12" LightBridge
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SteveG
sage
Reged: 09/27/06
Posts: 235
Loc: Seattle, WA
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You can add a self-contained internal dew heater. Mine works great!
Here are the directions:
http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3387883&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=all&fpart=1&vc=1
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WO Megrez 110 ED on SP Mount
10" Meade LightBridge
Orion ED 100 on Polaris Mount
6" f8 Edmonds reflector on GP Mount
4.5" F8 Orion EQ Reflector
Astroscan
Meade 226 2.4" f11.7
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sarastro
sage
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 402
Loc: Seattle
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Quote:
From what I understand the origional Telrad design was patented and the person who came up with it passed on prior to finallizing the design. The family then sold the patent with the caviet that no changes could be made to the design. For that reason we are stuck with a working prototype design and not a well refined design.
Just what I have heard so may not be correct.
Is there actually a patent on the Telrad? If there were it seems to me that the very similar Rigel would infringe on that patent. 
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dave b
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 3529
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telrad makes a "blinker" circuit called a Pulser for $8.
personally, i dont have a need for it, but it is in their catalog.
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dave bonandrini
30" f/5.2 Dobsonian
President of GCAC
Astromart Moderator
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ccs_hello
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/04
Posts: 3298
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What I did is to replace its standard red LED with a red LED IC blinker. It's a one for one exact replacement.
I now give the LED blinker away for free.
LED on
LED off
Clear Skies!
ccs_hello
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Sarkikos
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/18/07
Posts: 1038
Loc: Suburban Maryland
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I bought the Dew-Not heater for the Telrad. Works very well. No more dew on the Telrad window.
Mike
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Celestron 10" f5 Newt on 1stBase (DSO)
Zhumell 8" f6 Newt, Bosma 6" f12 MCT (NSO)
6" f5 Newt, 130ST, 4.5" f4.4 Ball w/GLP, ST80 w/Crayford (RFTs)
C4-R (NSO/DS)
90mm f13 MCT (Luna/DS)
SkyMaster 25x100, 15x70
Zhumell 20x80
Barska XWA 10x50, 8x40
OptiView LPR 10x50
Const View 2.3x40
BV-125C
CG5, 2 drv / CG4, 2 drv, wood legs, ScopeStuff saddle / CG3, 1 drv
SV AZ / 501HDV on Bogen 055XB / P+ on Oberwerk
QuikFinder, Telrad
Orion Dynamo Pro 12, Dew-Not
Have GLP and not afraid to use it!
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2071
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Quote:
Quote:
it's a classic that does what it does very well.
That pretty well describes our beloved Telrad.
I'm with John and Carol. It's a classic and will always occupy a place of honor on my scopes.
Dew prevention? That's why they invented shirt sleeves. 
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40151
Loc: montana
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Now, that's a thing of beauty!! Oh, the scope isn't bad either!
Seriously, what a beautiful setup you have, Wow!  And our beloved Telrad looks great on that fantastic scope.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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turtle86
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/09/06
Posts: 659
Loc: Red Sox Nation
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You're in excellent company. I was recently at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, and the famed 24" Clark refractor there (33 feet in length) also has a Telrad.
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
it's a classic that does what it does very well.
That pretty well describes our beloved Telrad.
I'm with John and Carol. It's a classic and will always occupy a place of honor on my scopes.
Dew prevention? That's why they invented shirt sleeves.
Ron
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4556
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Quote:
Hi all,
Now that I have your attention, why has there never been an upgrade to the Telrad? I understand that *if it ain't broke don't fix it*
There have been a couple of variations on the theme, from Chinese clones to the Rigel Quikfinder. Some are pretty good, especially the Quikfinder, but none is as good as the original. The Only Enemy of Good Enough is More Better. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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RAKing
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/28/07
Posts: 2071
Loc: West of the D.C. Nebula
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Quote:
Now, that's a thing of beauty!! Oh, the scope isn't bad either!
Seriously, what a beautiful setup you have, Wow! And our beloved Telrad looks great on that fantastic scope.
Thanks. 
This rig is the best I've had for simply "getting out of the way" and letting me enjoy the stars. And the Telrad has been my finder of choice since I came back to the hobby. I think it looks pretty good sitting up there. 
Thanks again,
Ron
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Time spent looking at the stars is added to your life.
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