smithers3
member
Reged: 10/26/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Massachusetts
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 I am looking to get a mount that I can grow into. It will be permanently installed in my ExploraDome. I would like to be able to carry a decent amount of weight, especially if I upgrade my telescopes later. I want to be able to do visual and astrophotography. Also, and this is a key point, because of some physical disabilities, I cannot do a lot of alterations and maintenance, either at set up or if something goes wrong. I want something that, once it is set up, will be easy to just go out, turn on, and use.
With that said, here are the mounts I am currently considering: Mountain Instruments 250(Everyone says great things about the customer service. Fantastic quality, somewhat worried about issues with Gemini's compatibility)
Losmandy HGM Titan(weight capacity, a trusted name, and lots of people who know how to handle them)
Takahashi EM-400 Temma II(great rep with astrophotographers, elegant design, ease of setup)
Vixen Atlux(also great reputation, easy to control, gives up some weight, but highest end Vixen I can afford).
I'm open to any other suggestions as well. I did not include the CGE Pro, even though I like Celestron's hand controller, because I currently have a CG-5 which has given me a number of problems over the past couple of years.
Thanks! 
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LLEEGE
Running out of Oxygen
Reged: 03/03/05
Posts: 9764
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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I'd look for a used AP900.
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"Okay! You draw the straws. I'm-a taking the parachute."
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2970
Loc: Due south of the North Pole (A...
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You can find a used AP900, sometimes even a used AP1200 for that price.
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mattw
super member
Reged: 07/19/06
Posts: 172
Loc: Arkansas
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I have an MI-250 in my exploradome and I love it, and I only
do imaging. It's been there for ~2 years and I have never
so much as touched it, maintenance-wise. I don't use the
GCC (if that's what you mean with the Gemini), but the Gemini system works great for me. Matt
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TeleVue 127is/Tak Epsilon 180/MI-250
SBIG ST-10
Awesome dawg
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smithers3
member
Reged: 10/26/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Massachusetts
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Thanks for the replies. I know a lot of people love their APs. Matt, what kind of setup do you have with your SBIG? A laptop with CCDops, or something else? And I'm interested to know what all you use to control the mount.
Thanks!
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lambermo
member
Reged: 07/16/07
Posts: 74
Loc: .nl
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Maybe a Gemini G42 ? Or Alt 5-ADN, or AOK WAM 8000 ? Or ASA DDM60, Astro-Physics Mach1GTO ? There's even more options here in my list.
Or this used AP-900.
I'm curious as to what you choose and why, please let us know.
-- Hans
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mattw
super member
Reged: 07/19/06
Posts: 172
Loc: Arkansas
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Hi, nothing special. A laptop with CCDSoft,
which controls the camera/autoguider and TheSky6,
which controls the mount, along with PinPoint for platesolving,
which integrates nicely with CCDSoft.
The most weight I've had on it is only about 55 lbs,
not including counterweights, so I haven't really
tested the limits.
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TeleVue 127is/Tak Epsilon 180/MI-250
SBIG ST-10
Awesome dawg
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smithers3
member
Reged: 10/26/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Massachusetts
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Hans, your list is amazing. It's given me a lot of great information, but it's also made me more confused than ever! So many different options.Quote:
Maybe a Gemini G42 ? Or Alt 5-ADN, or AOK WAM 8000 ? Or ASA DDM60, Astro-Physics Mach1GTO ? There's even more options here in my list.
Or <a href="/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=3440854" target="_blank">this</a> used AP-900.
I'm curious as to what you choose and why, please let us know.
-- Hans
Also, in terms of some of the other mounts you listed, while there is a certain logic in getting a German GEM, I ultimately want to get a mount that I can easily get repaired if something goes wrong.
Edited by smithers3 (11/13/09 05:58 PM)
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galacticphoto
super member
Reged: 11/12/09
Posts: 114
Loc: Huntsville, AL and Atlanta, Ga
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I've used a MI-250 carrying either a Tak 10" Mewlon or 10" newt for a couple years (MaximDL for imaging control,embedded Desltop Universe as the planetarium program, PemPro for PEC). It works great every time. I simply turn it on, hit one sync star, and away I go for the night. No complaints, and I know that the "factory" support is there if I need it.
No doubt the other mid sized mounts (AP, Tak) are also good, but I can atest to the value (price, performance, support) of the MI.
If the CGE-Pro is as trouble free as the CGE (yet to be determined), you may find it to be a good low priced alternative. My CGE carries a couple small refractors, and has done so, problem free, for several years.
Robert
Edited by galacticphoto (11/13/09 09:10 PM)
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Texas
member
Reged: 01/14/08
Posts: 52
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There's an AP900 available under the SS Mounts thread. I believe it's going for ~$6500. What are you waiting for??
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Typical stargazer. Too much money spent on too much stuff. This "hobby" has gotten out of hand.
Mewlon 250
AP Traveler
TV 85
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smithers3
member
Reged: 10/26/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Massachusetts
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Quote:
There's an AP900 available under the SS Mounts thread. I believe it's going for ~$6500. What are you waiting for??
I'm worried about the weight capacity of the AP 900 as compared to the MI 250
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Texas
member
Reged: 01/14/08
Posts: 52
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What do plan on putting on it??
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Typical stargazer. Too much money spent on too much stuff. This "hobby" has gotten out of hand.
Mewlon 250
AP Traveler
TV 85
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maknewtnut
Vendor (Teton Telescope)
Reged: 10/08/06
Posts: 939
Loc: SE Idaho
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MI-250
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Mark
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Psyire
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/24/07
Posts: 1033
Loc: 55* North
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I'd go with the MI-250 as well. If you can stretch your budget for an AP-1200 you probably won't regret it if you intend on going to bigger and bigger scopes.
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Celestron CPC 1100 XLT, Sky-Watcher Equinox 80ED
TV 31T5-Nagler, 8&13mm-Ethos
EarthWin Binoviewers w/ 24mm Panoptics
Elusive Photons.com
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David Pavlich
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/05
Posts: 9682
Loc: Mandeville, LA USA 30.22 X 90....
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If you prefer to buy new with your budget, the MI250 is your mount. I have one and it's terrific!! It's capacity matches the Tak EM400.
If you don't need that capacity, then I'd grab the AP900 in S&S.
David
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Proud Member; PAS NOLA,
"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research..."
A. Einstein
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smithers3
member
Reged: 10/26/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Massachusetts
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I'm definitely starting to see some consensus.
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smithers3
member
Reged: 10/26/07
Posts: 23
Loc: Massachusetts
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The AP 900 is awfully tempting, but I want something that I will be able to keep for many years to come even if I move up to bigger and better telescopes. Right now, I plan on putting my 9 1/4 inch SCT on it, and as soon as I can afford one that I like, I will add a refractor for imaging.
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Bowmoreman
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 4136
Loc: Bolton, MA
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Quote:
The AP 900 is awfully tempting, but I want something that I will be able to keep for many years to come even if I move up to bigger and better telescopes. Right now, I plan on putting my 9 1/4 inch SCT on it, and as soon as I can afford one that I like, I will add a refractor for imaging.
Smithers3:
If you are anywhere near Bolton, MA; you are most welcome to come over and checkout my MI250 setup here at WSO...
I've got a side by side setup of C11 and TMB80SS, with STV guide scope to boot. If my observatory were big enough, it would handle a C14 with no issues.
I can't say enough about the mount; mine was purchased used... deal of the century IMHO! It's solid, massive, easy to setup and adjust, and just works... every time...
Just a few days ago - during our ONE clear night LOL - I went out after a hiatus of over 3 weeks... turned on the Gemini, told it to slew to Deneb... and there it was; dead center. Ah, I love equipment that works!
It tracks beautifully, guides fantastically (I get avg errors of 0.2 - 0.4 arcseconds using a guide scope with a focal length of only 100mm!).
I debated long and hard between AP900 and MI-250 and AP Mach1GTO... when I simultaneously came "up" on the AP mount list; my decision became a no brainer when at the same time I found the MI-250 used for under $6K...
The new MI-250's have an extra 10# capacity due to a re-worked mounting base.
My neighbor has an AP1200 setup with his Tak Mewlon 300; now THAT is a true LIFETIME mount setup! But that's the next "class" up!
Anyways, if you're interested in seeing one first hand, just drop me a PM. I'd be happy to show you how Gemini works (it's arcane the first use or two, but then becomes DEAD simple - in fact the ONLY system that you can operated in the dark without LOOKING at it; just from memory!)
BTW: welcome to CN!
Clear enough skies
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Dave
Imaging: MI-250+ADM/SBS/Optec Libra: C11Hyperstar,TMB80SS
Visual: XT10i RTP
EP: 31T5,22T4,17T4,12T4,13Ethos,10XW,8Ethos;2x Powermate,Paracorr, 1.6X Antares, Hyperion8-24Zoom
Cameras: Mallincam Color Hyper Plus, QHY8
Guider: SBIG STV eFinder
Key Add-ons: Gerbings Heated clothes, WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO#90), Speco 9"Monitor
Edited by Bowmoreman (11/14/09 04:59 AM)
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skybsd
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 694
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Hello,
Given that the OP explicity stated their concerns with Gemini, why is the MI-250 being suggested, anyways?
Smithers3: If your weight concerns center on your wanting to eventually carry a C-9.25, you have NOTHING to worry about as far as the AP900GTO is concerned. It'll take that C-9.25 and more without breaking sweat.
Seriously, unless the constraints you mentioned in your intial post about your physical limitations, and set up requirements are now not that important, you'd want to carefully consider what's involved in each suggestion being put forward here.
Best wishes.
Regards,
skybsd
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Phil Cowell
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/24/07
Posts: 519
Loc: Southern Tier NY
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Quote:
Hello,
Given that the OP explicity stated their concerns with Gemini, why is the MI-250 being suggested, anyways?
skybsd
Good question, but it seems to be a common issue when asking about mounts in a large number of threads. Titan would have the same electronics issue and Titan reliability from the threads I have read is not so great.
The AP900 seems to be the right match.
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If it'll fit on a sig you don't have enough
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