70 replies to this topic

[sparrowhawk]

That makes sense. The one direction the M-Uno looked problematic for observing is when it is pointed towards the pole. Maybe that isn't an issue though.


Shawn

[classpath]

 

Hi Derek,

 

How's M-uno for visual observing? Of course, my primary purpose is astrophoto, but when I go to darksite with my son, we spent first one hour for visual observing together before I switch to astrophoto mode. I heard that it might not be comfortable due to its shape. Since keeping current mount (AVX) too is not an option for me, I'd like to make sure before making final decision. Thanks

 

 

I am also curious how it works for visual.

 

I don't use it for visual, but I would argue that because it is a single arm fork, the shape is more amenable for visual observation than a GEM, due to fewer awkward eyepiece orientations during observations, and after slews from one side of the meridian to the other (no flip). It also offers an advantage over a traditional fork in terms of weight ( you can remove the OTA for transportation ) and ability to observe near the zenith without risk of the eyepiece colliding with the fork base. The hand controller however has no built in built in database / goto functionality, but the mounts / Stargo are now wifi capable so you can control the mount with a smartphone/tablet. Depending on the expected imaging load, if observing is a major focus, the M Zero might be a good alternative as it is very light and can be used in true alt-az mode for observing, particularly with binos.

 

Derek

 

Thanks Derek, it is really helpful  

[CrzHrs]

Derek do you have bt or wifi version? It seems like bluetooth has a bigger development. I was sure to go wifi, i am not anymore..

[schmeah]

Derek do you have bt or wifi version? It seems like bluetooth has a bigger development. I was sure to go wifi, i am not anymore..

I have the earlier blue tooth version. Had the wifi version been available when I bought, I definitely would have gone for it. I never was a big fan of bluetooth. I presently leave a laptop in the garage, wired to the mount and control it over Team Viewer from my ipad in the house.

[CrzHrs]

I re-up this post. my mount has arrived friday in the shop, almost 1 month left to bring the lady at home.

 

well.. it is deeply misunderstood.. it is a true monster mount. Great finishes, incredible looking and flawless smoothness on both axes. the same tripod is great. Incredible to see that all the mount with an apo 104,guide and eagle s on it was lighter than a cgx. two conterweights were WAY TOO MUCH!

 

Rock solid.. i didn't find any other mount that is not 10micron close to it

Edited by CrzHrs, 10 June 2017 - 05:41 AM.

[schmeah]

I re-up this post. my mount has arrived friday in the shop, almost 1 month left to bring the lady at home.

 

well.. it is deeply misunderstood.. it is a true monster mount. Great finishes, incredible looking and flawless smoothness on both axes. the same tripod is great. Incredible to see that all the mount with an apo 104,guide and eagle s on it was lighter than a cgx. two conterweights were WAY TOO MUCH!

 

Rock solid.. i didn't find any other mount that is not 10micron close to it

Congrats! Look forward to hearing your experiences with it. Which tripod did you get? Yes, it is solid yet truly portable. I don't need any counterweights with my Apo on it; in fact I need to put a light weight on the scope side if I want to use the same fork position that I use for my SCT. I agree, perhaps misunderstood and underappreciated.

 

Derek

[CrzHrs]

T-pod 110. it was placed next to the geoptik, there's no competition. the tpod is beautiful, sturdy and awesome

[schmeah]

I got the Geoptic. I like it. Classic looking and sturdy. But I wish I had gotten the Tpod, because it is lighter.

[Stelios]

I got the T-pod 110 for my Mach1 GTO. Fantastic tripod. Dual clamps on each leg and great little padded "feet". Very attractive and accommodates a variety of top plates. 

[CrzHrs]

Really.. the true point is that hercules looks like a toy next to the tpod. They perform the same but the looking is totally different

Inviato dal mio SM-G930F utilizzando Tapatalk

[schmeah]

Really.. the true point is that hercules looks like a toy next to the tpod. They perform the same but the looking is totally different

Inviato dal mio SM-G930F utilizzando Tapatalk

Not sure what you mean by toy. It's just a matter of taste. I liked the varnished wood with red metallic trim.

 

geoptik hercules

avalon t pod 110

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by schmeah, 10 June 2017 - 09:59 PM.

[CrzHrs]

On picture yes, i was close to buy an hercules. face to face.. well not 

[CrzHrs]

 

Can i post my thought and experiences here? i dont feel like opening other post and overflood the forum. The mount arrived yesterday, and obviously it is cloudy as hell

Edited by CrzHrs, 11 July 2017 - 10:59 AM.

[schmeah]

 

Can i post my thought and experiences here? i dont feel like opening other post and overflood the forum. The mount arrived yesterday, and obviously it is cloudy as hell

 

Please do. It's often quite helpful to have a single thread for reference with multiple users experiences. It looks sweet by the way! But I'm not yet convinced that the Tpod "looks" nicer than the Hercules😀

Two initial observations/questions: What are the red dovetails? And it looks like with the fork arm in that configuration, your camera will have trouble clearing the base. Did you get a dec extender?

 

Derek

Edited by schmeah, 11 July 2017 - 03:08 PM.

[CrzHrs]

The red dovetails are from PrimaLuceLab, that is a dealer next to my home. And i got the 10cm extender, but at this point the camera is not yet a problem i am considering: i will start to capture with an apo80, due my low experience, the c925 is too much challenging now.

 

The T-pod: it is extremely well done on every detail. It feels more on the 10Micron Aries side than the hercules one. It is big, stable and studied on every detail. Even the legs are rugged, so you can finetune them without slipping. under the pressure of the mount you just unscrew a safe slowly and it will go down click by click. Well done!

 

The Mount: the first approach is a continuous "What?!?" that last for 5/10 minutes. Just becouse you don't get the point in the way you were used to.You have to understand that balancing is the same than a german mount, but the axe are placed a little different. You still have to work on the polar scope axe, so what is on top of that have to be balanced benath.. pretty easy in the end, also becouse the moviments of the axes are true butter.

 

The Software: Again, the first approach is... "Whaaat?!?", just becouse we're not used to its interface. You just follow the guide and in the time you install it you also get the idea of how it works. Stright easy

 

Some early considerations: The mount is stable, beautiful and well detailed. I will add some more grease only to the screws i use more, but it has no flaws. The selling package is perfectly safe to ship, not easy to transport. it is pretty big, i will have to figure out a carrying bag with a more compact size.

 

Is it worth to buy it? absolutly yes, it is a joy of machine

 

Looking forward to bring it out tonight

[CrzHrs]

Some more news:

 

- the mount eats 0,42A/h, up to 1A when slewing fast, not ultra.

- The two positions for the conterweight are the same, they don't affect anyhow the balancing.

- when using skysafari for visual, and StarGo is setted up in Multistar alignment, each time you press align you rise up the 24 star model! that is SWEEEET!

- X-Solver can help polar alignment without viewing polaris. More to come on this.

 

Up to now... i love it!

[torsinadoc]

I never got the X solver to work for PA. It has been a while since I tried it

[Becomart]

Ditto. Haven't got the x solver working properly so interested to see how you set it up. 

[CrzHrs]

Right now i am downloading all the database, more to come

[CrzHrs]

First of all, i apologize for the long absence, i am seriously overbusy. i think i will come back working on the machine in 10-12 days. meanwhile, got an hard case from geoptik. suits perfectly

 

[CrzHrs]

Finally i had time to go out.. i have tested x-solver last night. No iussues at all, but you have to choose the right fields of view. Becomart any news on that?

 

i have experienced two other small missing items.. goto after polar alignment, and collision limits.

 

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Talking about the PA, you that are way more expert than me, how you do?

 

i run x-solver's PA, it says me the error. then i choose an align star, add the error and do a goto. after that i correct altitude/azimuth to center the star. Re-do then drift. This problem comes up only when Polar is not visible, otherwise i center polaris, sharpcap -> correction