Telescope Reviews: Re: Mallincam+16" F4.5 Lightbridge Dob+BrianReed RTP ?

Heres the link Dave.

http://www.equatorialplatforms.com/eq_platform.alignment.tool.shtml

Its something I could use in the field alright but I wouldn't be able to use your method or the Tom O method from home because I forgot all about the new house blocking my view of Polaris.

I am just wondering about whether readjusting the dial on the compass to coincide with a known good polar alignment would be accurate enough for Mallincam. Which would mean I would only have to do a good alignment once using either your method or a drift align. Hence forth I could then just use the compass in the field or at home.

Did your paving slab marking trick work good enough that you didn't have to use your finderscope method again. ie. After marking the slabs, all you ever had to do from then on was to set the platform down exactly on the marks and you were good to go with the mallincam without any further polar alignment??

Basically I am trying to figure out what I can get away with.

ie.

1. Good alignment once (whether it breaks my back or not

) and then rely on the re-adjusted compass at home or in the field

or

2. Good alignment once and mark paving slabs at home and purchase Tom O RDF stalk for use in the field

or

3. Drift align everytime everywhere

Option one is most preferable as it involves me wrestling with the massive weight of the LB16 on the platform only once and involves no extra cost.
Option two is OK too as it only involves the cost of a few paving slabs and a $90(50 euro) RDF stalk.
Option 3 is a non starter and could put an end to my Mallincam dreams if it was the only way to get reliable enough tracking for the mallincam. The hassle of a drift align and trying to move the platform with the weight of that scope on it every single time I wanted to mallincam with the scope would kill me in no time at all.

Is Brian Reed himself still Mallincaming? I might drop him an email in a few days to get his opinion too. He's incommunicado at the moment going on other posts on CN. Must be on vacation:D

BTW.

Happy July 4th USAians!!

--------------------
Keith D.

Knightrider - 16" Meade Lightbridge - See Here
Moonlite CR Focusser with Rigel motofocus and Filterslide (2" Orion Variable Polorizer,UHC & H-Beta, Lumicon OIII)
Stellarvue F80M2 80mm Finder
Dewbuster and DewNot Dew Control
Servocat & SkyCommander
Howie Glatter Holograhic Collimator and Blug
Baader Hyperion 21/32mm,17mm,13mm,8mm,5mm,3.5mm EP

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