Excellent alternative to Argo Navis?

[jeroenhmg]

Hello All,

I purchased a 10" Guang Sheng Dobsonian recently and enjoy using it very much. But I would like to get the most out of it.

I want to add digital setting circles and am looking at different options. Argo Navis looks good but I want to know what other options are available.

I saw an announcement on the www.cloudynights.com forum for BETI - a Bluetooth telescope adapter (in the vendor announcements section). Here is the website: www.astrodevices.com. It is an Australian company too. So I am thinking about the following configuration:

1. BETI ($200);
2. Astromist planetarium software (US$39);
3. Treo680 (free since I've already got one);
4. Telescope encoder kit.

BETI's pinout for the encoder connector seems to be the same as the Argo Navis pinout so I should be able to get the encoders kit ready-made. I can just attach BETI to the base and not worry about the wires as it will communicate through Bluetooth to my phone/pda.

This configuration seems to cost significantly less than Argo Navis - just ~$250 if I use my Treo. I searched the Internet and everyone seems to have a very good opinion of Astromist. Astromist also provides a lot more in terms of functionality than Argo Navis - I downloaded the free version and it seems to be a very nice piece of software. I should also be able to use CDC software on my laptop (that does not have a COM port) as it seems to be compatible with BETI.

I am seeking an opinion on this configuration. What does everyone think?

Regards,
J.

[Starkler]

I cant comment on the functionality of astromist but i can recommend the argo navis for what it gives you as a complete all in one box with the simplest of user interfaces consisting of two buttons and a scroll wheel.

If you're the type of observer who doesn't mind complex setups and thinks nothing of dragging a laptop and all the associated kit around to do your observing, then its worth a look. The Beti is certainly a step up from the old Dave Ek box. Being bluetooth i wonder what happens if another Beti owner turns up at the observing site?

Me i like to keep things simple with as few things to go wrong as possible.

[Omaroo]

As much as I love the standard-setting Argo Navis - this device looks very cool indeed. It's also Australian made. Uses standard encoders to plug into the device, and it talks via Blutooth to you PC or PDA's planetarium software. I'd rather this device work on a WiFi 802.11 link rather than Blutooth, as Blutooth doesn't come on cheaper laptops where 802.11 most likely does, buy hey.

For those of us with equatorial mounts and guidescopes, we already carry a laptop as par for the course. This is very interesting indeed. I must say I've used Argo Navii a few times and absolutely love them - as a standalone unit they're completely unbeatable. But... if you already have to have your laptop along.....

The Sky 6 on a PDA... hmmm... :)
Having said that, I've been utterly impressed by Gary Kopff's service over the past week and will buy an A/N for sure. I may get one of these too to see what they're all about though.

[netwolf]

Jereoen, briefly took a look at this and it looks like a Bluetooth version of DaveEk's box. All this does is provide the encoder possition to the Computer. Then its up to the software to provide the brains for the operation. The AN is a dedicated hand held multi-processor brain. With plenty more features than any software control system i have seen for these type of encoder to serial box's. The one big advantage is that the AN is does not require a PC and is very portable and easy to use. While this could be duplicated by software control from Astromist on a PDA, I think you will find that AN has a longer list of features.

All that aside the BATI certainly is another good addition to the DSC market and definelty will be a good and ecconomical way for people to get up and running. You could build this yourself google DaveEk's box. The only difference is this uses bluetooth transmiter to make it wire free comms to the PDA or PC. But you could easily add this to a DaveEk's system by getting a AirCable Bluetooth to Serial adapter for about 60$USD.

Regards
Fahim

[Astro Devices]

Hello Starkler,

It is not really a problem if numerous BETIs are used in the same spot. Each BETI has a unique name and Bluetooth provides plenty of channels (79) and the Bluetooth module in BETI will find a free channel to communicate with the owner's PDA/PC.

Also Buetooth modules installed in most PDAs/PCs are class 2 modules with a range of reliable communications of probably 10 metres. It is very unlikely that there will be so many observers in such a limited space.

Best Regards,
Serge Antonov, Astro Devices.

[acropolite]

Interesting product although I think you're stretching it a bit to compare a bluetooth adapter to an Argonavis.

I have a cable which will allow connection of a dob or Eq mount to my PC and with suitable software allow control, the cable is not an alternative to the Argonavis, simply an interconnect device, as is the Bluetooth adapter.

[tnott]

An interesting device if you are already carrying around a laptop or already have a PDA. If you had to buy the software and a PDA it wouldn't really be cheaper than the Argo Navis - would it?

Also, it wouldn't interface with a GOTO unit like Servocat if you wanted to motorise. Reason why I chose Argo Navis for the 16" Tridob was to have a unit that was standalone, had lots of features and could connect to a drive system.

[madtuna]

Recieved my Argo Navis yesterday and all I can say is WOW!

What a brilliant bit of gear it is...to say I'm very impressed is an understatement.

Remember when you purchase an Argo Navis unit you also get ongoing tech support here, email, phone, yahoo use group etc..etc.. etc..

[jeroenhmg]

Thank you everyone for the replies. It certainly helps a lot.

To netwolf:
I am after a ready made solution and David Ek's box requires quite a bit of soldering and I'm not too comfortable with that.

To acropolite:
I am not trying to compare the adapter to Argo Navis. I am just interested in an alternative to it.
These days it is nearly impossible to buy a laptop that has a serial port - mine does not have one. On top of that I already have a PDA (that also does not have a serial port) and I use Astromist on it that has a 2-star alignment and also N-star alignment then BETI seems to a better solution to me. Also if I carry a laptop with me all the time (which I do) then it makes even more sense to use BETI if I use a program like Megastar (that also has support for the encoders box). Am I missing something?

To madtuna:
I exchanged a few e-mails with Astro Devices and got good and comprehensive answers to my questions.

To everyone else:
What makes BETI attractive to me is that I tried Astromist and I like its numerous features and I could have it connected to my telescope to have a 'push-to' functionality as well. I quite like having a graphical user interface. Now if there will be a version for the iPhone then it will be even better :)

Best regards,
J.

[netwolf]

Jeroen, I also like Astromist, I tried out the beta on my Ipaq whent it was released and I quiet liked the features of it. There is another one that is now Free called Tachyon http://tachyonweb.net/ you may want to look at this. It can also be run on the PC.

You may wish to review your thread title as this is what implies a comparison between AN and BETI. On its own BETI only offers a small fraction of the feature of AN. As it pretty much only tells you the encoder position. AN does a lot more. With PDA and Software at best it is an alternative. The cost comparison when you add encoders, cables, encoder mounting kit, PDA and Software you will find is not much.

Regards
Fahim