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dhaval
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/21/08
Loc: Round Rock, TX
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Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
#5326091 - 07/19/12 11:53 PM
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I have the Orion Atlas and I polar align using the following HA Clock method of PA.
The question that I have is, can I use this method for G11 and/or iOptron iEQ45? I realize there are other methods, but I would appreciate if people can tell me if this method will work or not.
I am guessing the only real variable is the polar scope and if this method works with the polar scopes found in those mounts.
Thanks,
Dhaval
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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/24/11
Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dhaval]
#5326116 - 07/20/12 12:08 AM
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The iEQ45 doesn't have setting circles, so I would say no. Honestly, I didn't look at the whole video, but when he started using the setting circles and the level to set his mount up I stopped because of the lack of circles on the iEQ45 and figured that was the answer to your question with this mount.
I'm not sure why you would ever want to use this method with the iEQ45 anyway. I just turn mine on, get a GPS signal within about a minute or so which shows me where Polaris is located relative to the polar scope reticle. I then just adjust the mount so that the Polaris is located where it should be in the reticle. Takes at most 3 minutes, including getting the GPS lock.
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dhaval
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/21/08
Loc: Round Rock, TX
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: mgwhittle]
#5326171 - 07/20/12 12:44 AM
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Hi Mark,
Thanks for the insight on iEQ45. I guess, I should have realized that iEQ45 has the GPS - so, I don't really have to use the HA method. With the GPS method - how accurate is the polar alignment? Do you use any other method to further refine polar alignment? Do you do any AP with the EON 120? If so, how long are the unguided subs, using just the GPS/Polar Scope polar alignment routine?
Personally, I was more leaning towards the G11 given it's higher weight rating, but the iEQ45 sounds like a good mount too.
Thanks for the input.
Dhaval
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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/24/11
Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dhaval]
#5326208 - 07/20/12 01:07 AM
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I do not do any AP, I'm strictly visual. I suspect the polar alignment is very accurate. Lately I have been setting up early in the evening, doing a bit of observing, then leaving the mount powered up while I go to bed and get up early in the morning to catch Jupiter rising. I have noticed that objects stay in the eyepiece for several hours while the mount is just humming along.
Having said that, I used to own a GM-8. The Losmandy mounts are built to a higher quality than the iOptron. I also think the Losmandys weight ratings are more conservative than the iOptron. I am running 34 pounds of equipment (I weighed it to make sure) and am at the limit for visual IMO. It's just starting to get a little too much vibration at high powers at that load for my taste and I'm 11 pounds under iOptron's "weight limit". I suspect the weakness is the tripod. At least with the G11 you have not only a substantial tripod included but there are other portable (yet very stable) options for the G11 that don't really exist off the shelf for the iOptron.
Sorry I couldn't help more regarding AP. I can't remember who, but someone on here a while back mentioned using the iOptron with the size refractor you are asking about for AP, hopefully they will chime in.
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Astronewb
sage
Reged: 09/19/11
Loc: Connecticut
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: mgwhittle]
#5328136 - 07/21/12 11:52 AM
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Dhavel,the iEQ45 polar align routing is so easy..'a caveman could do it'...:) As far as accuracy, if you have the mount leveled, and put Polaris in the correct position in the reticle..you will be within 5 arc-minutes of a perfect 00-00 on the first 2 star align. If you run the 2 star align routine a couple more times, using a Meade astrometric EP to make adjustments, you can get to 00-00 polar offset easily, making drift aligning a little redundant. As far as weight rating, I don't think iOptron is over optomistic..I have used a AT10RC on the mount (33 pounds) along with 27 pounds of counterweights with no issues. Here's an image taken with the setup when I was testing it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/astronewb2011/7432751260/
Hope the info helps..
Clear skies,
Paul
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dhaval
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/21/08
Loc: Round Rock, TX
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: Astronewb]
#5328335 - 07/21/12 02:03 PM
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Hi Paul. Thanks for the information. I am liking the iEQ45 and at nearly half the price of the G11, I think it makes more sense to buy it. But then again, I have the Atlas, which has been Hypertuned, so at this point, I have a couple of decisions to make - the first one, is 5 lbs worth $500 and if it is not, then how easy/difficult is it to adapt to the G11? I have heard about the difficulties with Gemini. However, everything else is secondary, given the method that I have been using for PA - I get 5 minute unguided subs with my AT90EDT and almost 3.5 to 4 minutes with the ES127, so the PA is fairly accurate with the above method and I do want something that is simple and accurate, without the need for computers/software and more importantly drift alignment.
I do like the picture of the Trifid nebula - looks really nice!
Dhaval
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dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dhaval]
#5328911 - 07/21/12 09:37 PM
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Thanks for the thread - I also have a tuned Atlas/ NEQ6 (actually, Astrotroniks), and have been thinking of an IEQ45 to save a bit of back strain on the mount.
But, my scope is a 30 lb. 10" f/4.5 Newt in a 48" tube. The weight is probably OK, but the length of tube is another issue.
I think I'll spend another observing season with the NEQ6. They really are work horses, if not the last word in refinement.
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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/24/11
Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dvb]
#5329121 - 07/21/12 11:54 PM
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Quote:
Thanks for the thread - I also have a tuned Atlas/ NEQ6 (actually, Astrotroniks), and have been thinking of an IEQ45 to save a bit of back strain on the mount.
But, my scope is a 30 lb. 10" f/4.5 Newt in a 48" tube. The weight is probably OK, but the length of tube is another issue.
I think I'll spend another observing season with the NEQ6. They really are work horses, if not the last word in refinement.
I had a 10 inch f/4.5 Newt and used it twice on my iEQ45. It was a pain because I couldn't get the mount low enough with the tripod fully retracted. I like to sit while observing, and that might not be an issue for you, but the eyepiece was never low enough for me to do this. I ended up selling the Nextonian and have stuck with SCTs and refractors because of this.
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dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: mgwhittle]
#5329205 - 07/22/12 02:03 AM
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Quote:
Quote:
Thanks for the thread - I also have a tuned Atlas/ NEQ6 (actually, Astrotroniks), and have been thinking of an IEQ45 to save a bit of back strain on the mount.
But, my scope is a 30 lb. 10" f/4.5 Newt in a 48" tube. The weight is probably OK, but the length of tube is another issue.
I think I'll spend another observing season with the NEQ6. They really are work horses, if not the last word in refinement.
I had a 10 inch f/4.5 Newt and used it twice on my iEQ45. It was a pain because I couldn't get the mount low enough with the tripod fully retracted. I like to sit while observing, and that might not be an issue for you, but the eyepiece was never low enough for me to do this. I ended up selling the Nextonian and have stuck with SCTs and refractors because of this.
Thanks for the comment. Apart from the comfort issue, the iEQ45 handled the Newt OK?
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vdb
sage
Reged: 12/08/09
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dvb]
#5329293 - 07/22/12 04:34 AM
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I have both and the IEQ45 is superior on any count for polar alignment,
the polarscope is Tak class ones aligned and I take 30 minute subs just using the polarscope. With my G11 I needed to drift align ... because the polarscope can rotate in it's housing it's a PITA to center and more over it looses that alignment pretty quickly if you have a units that is not 100% ...
But on build quality and weight capacity the G11 wins hands down ...
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CounterWeight
Postmaster
Reged: 10/05/08
Loc: Cloudyopolis, OR.
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: vdb]
#5329716 - 07/22/12 12:35 PM
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I'm still teething phase with my new iEQ-45 and am using my FS-128 on it.
Still trying to get over how amazingly simple they made the PA routine and how well integrated it is to the mount as a whole - it's really NICE! I almost want to use the terms 'modern' and 'up to date with electronics or our time'. It would be my first time for that. A caveat here is that IMO that doesn't mean somehow it will work better than others, and there is something to be said for simplicity where appropriate(my A-P mount a great exaple for the latter).
Kept waiting for the 'gotcha' step... and I'm still waiting, ... don't think there is one!  ! I'm visual only with the mount so far and it's exceeded my expectations, though I'm not nearly pushing any of the sepc's as I understand them.
I want to add, I had a question, a minor one about counter weight and called the service / support line. Had to leave a message and thought... oh well maybe I'll hear back in a day or two... Wasn't very long - between 1 and 2 hours and I received a call and the person who I was talking to was extremely knowledgable... not going from a script at all, and easily adressed a tangent question or two. [edit - happily also no interrogation about proof of purchase] That gets them highest marks in my book.
Edited by CounterWeight (07/22/12 12:37 PM)
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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/24/11
Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dvb]
#5329735 - 07/22/12 12:45 PM
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Thanks for the comment. Apart from the comfort issue, the iEQ45 handled the Newt OK?
Well....yes in regards that it wasn't too heavy for the mount, but no in overall user satisfaction. Maybe if I had rotating rings it would have been a better experience, but I got so frustrated with getting a good eyepiece position that I just gave up. Quickly.
Now if you can mount the head on a low pier, that would be a whole different story.
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mgwhittle
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/24/11
Loc: Chattanooga, TN
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: CounterWeight]
#5329743 - 07/22/12 12:49 PM
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I want to add, I had a question, a minor one about counter weight and called the service / support line. Had to leave a message and thought... oh well maybe I'll hear back in a day or two... Wasn't very long - between 1 and 2 hours and I received a call and the person who I was talking to was extremely knowledgable... not going from a script at all, and easily adressed a tangent question or two. [edit - happily also no interrogation about proof of purchase] That gets them highest marks in my book.
That is the best part of the iOptron owner's experience. I've experienced this first hand. When you call them, you talk to someone who has apparent first hand knowledge of the mount, it's operation and has experience trouble shooting problems.
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dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Loc: Vancouver, Canada
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: mgwhittle]
#5331119 - 07/23/12 10:58 AM
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Thanks for the comment. Apart from the comfort issue, the iEQ45 handled the Newt OK?
Well....yes in regards that it wasn't too heavy for the mount, but no in overall user satisfaction. Maybe if I had rotating rings it would have been a better experience, but I got so frustrated with getting a good eyepiece position that I just gave up. Quickly.
Now if you can mount the head on a low pier, that would be a whole different story.
Thanks, Mark. Good to know the iEQ45 can handle the load.
I have a Wilcox ring on my tube, which is pretty good for letting me rotate the tube.
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dhaval
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/21/08
Loc: Round Rock, TX
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Re: Polar aligning G11 or iOptron iEQ45
[Re: dvb]
#5331181 - 07/23/12 11:38 AM
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Thanks all for the information. The more I read about G11, the more I get the feeling that there are many after market parts that I may have to buy, bringing the overall cost to nearly $4K. Also, adding some of those parts, like the OPWB, might be for someone who is more mechanically inclined than I am. At this point, I am not sure if I should change my existing mount, till maybe I can save some funds to buy something like the AP Mach1.
Thanks,
Dhaval
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