digital setting circles

[suma126]

Hi i have a losmandy gm8 and what to fit digital setting circles to my mount should i go with losmandy setting circles or tele vue sky tour computer the losmandy price is $450 or tele vue is $350 and has anyone retro fitted losmandy mount .

[gary]

Hi Shane,

We stock the genuine Losmandy encoder mount hardware, Losmandy part number
DSCH, along with the all important Delrin Gear Govers, DGC, as our part
number pn-g11-8l-spec.
See http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/kits/pn-g11-8l-spec_describe.html

This kit is manufactured by Hollywood General Machining (aka Losmandy)
and is machined in such a way that it has the same quality and finish as
the mount itself. The supplied encoders are 8192 steps per axis.

You can find a copy of the installation instructions on our
web site here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/images/enc_losmandy.gif

We design and manufacture the Argo Navis Digital Telescope Computer right
here in Australia and it is designed to operate with the above encoder kit.
Al Nagler himself, in front of his own engineering team, described the
Argo Navis as the "best digital setting circles ever made".

Actually, Argo Navis is best described as a Digital Telescope Computer (DTC)
rather than a DSC. One of the key differences is that Argo Navis can
analyse and potentially compensate for various systematic geometric,
eccentric bearing and gravitational flexures with the mount/OTA itself.
This can make a dramatic difference to the pointing performance.
You might want to have a look at this case study here for a G-11, rather that
a GM-8, but the same still applies -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/group_post_5573

Argo Navis can even assist you with your polar alignment.

Finally, Argo Navis has the mandatory C-Tick compliance labeling for
legal operation in Australia and New Zealand. Note that other DSC units
do not have C-Tick approval and are therefore illegal to import and operate
within Australia and New Zealand.

We have a wealth experience with the fitting of telescope computers to the
GM-8 and don't hesitate to email or call if you think we can be of
some assistance.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Phone +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[suma126]

but what is the price last time looked it was around the $1000. mark ?

[gary]

Hi Shane,

Keep in mind that you require two components. Firstly, you require the
encoders, encoder mount hardware and encoder cable. Then you require
a telescope computer.

As mentioned, we always supply the Losmandy solution with the Delrin Gear
Covers to prevent your fingers or cables becoming caught. Our online price for
the encoders, encoder hardware encoder cable and gear covers as at today
is AUD536.42 inc GST.

Losmandy's own pricing for those components is US$425 for DSCH plus
US$85 for DGC, a total of US$510 (approx AUD651.34) ex California (i.e.
add shipping, etc).
See http://www.losmandy.com/access.html

An Argo Navis DTC is only AUD599.00 inc GST.

Therefore an Argo Navis plus a Losmandy encoder solution is AUD1135.42
inc. GST ex Sydney.

The Losmandy encoder hardware solution is definitely the way to go and
fits all GM-8's and G-11's irrespective of vintage. Installing the encoders
on a GM-8 using anything but this kit would be challenging.

The Losmandy kit comes with encoders that provide 8192 steps per axis.
Argo Navis is designed to be able to interface with these high resolution encoders
without dropping encoder steps. Legacy systems lack the sampling
rate performance necessary to reliably interface with the 8192 step encoders.

Please don't hesitate to email or telephone if you would like any clarification
on what components you would require to make a working system.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Phone +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au