Argo Navis

[Lyinxz]

Hi All, I really want to get the Argo Navis for my SW collapsible dob.
However the pricing for all the parts comes comes to $1,496.51 !!! :sadeyes:

I was wondering if there is a cheaper alternative?

Or should i just be patient and save for a few months..

[erick]

Second hand - but you have to be quick when one comes up!

[Kevnool]

Just think of it as investment and what you will get in return.
Your observing night will get way better as you will be able to see more objects in less time than searching through star maps.
Then when someone says to you show me this object then you can feel proud by saying ( YEP ).
Its a must if your really getting serious.
Cheers Kev.

[GrahamL]

Are you sure about the priceing ash?... Ithought all up unit ,and mounting hardware was a fair bit less than $1500.

[gary]

Hi Ash,

Thanks for wishing to purchase an Argo Navis.

The good news is that the figure you quote is incorrect.

As at today 4 March 2009, an Argo Navis system for a Sky Watcher collapsible
Dob, including the unit, encoders, encoder mounting hardware and encoder
cable is only AUD977.15 which includes GST.

Delivery in the Sydney area is only AUD16.00.

Email sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au for further details or phone
us on 02 9457 9049 (09:00-17:00 AEST). I would be delighted to then be able to assist
you further.

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

[Lyinxz]

I must admit i did think i may of had the pricing wrong.

Youve made my day, ive been thinking about how to save up for $1500 all day. :P

$977 is a good price for me! :D

Just a couple of weeks of saving and il be able to say YEP :thumbsup:

Thanks for the info Gary and all.
you'l be hearing from me very soon :)

Cheers,
Ash

[gary]

Thanks Ash,

We would look forward to filling your order when the time comes.

In the meantime, you might like to browse a copy of the User Manual which can
be downloaded from here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/documentation.html

The installation instructions for the encoder kit for the Sky Watcher Dobs,
including your collapsible Flex model, can be downloaded from here for the
Az axis -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/images/synta_az.pdf
and here for the Alt axis -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/images/synta_alt.pdf

Thank you for your support.

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

[Lyinxz]

Thanks Gary :)

Two thumbs up for customer service!:thumbsup:, i look foward to dealing with you when it comes time to purchase.

Cheers,
Ash

[RB]

Ash you will not regret buying an Argo Navis, they are the best accessory you can buy for your setup and well worth every penny !

Eventually I hope to put a set of encoders on my daughter's LB as well.

:thumbsup:

[Lyinxz]

Thanks Andrew, haha yes on Saturday night at PC everyone had one so it looks like a telescopes best friend!

[erick]

Good news!! :thumbsup:

[Deeno]

Yep
A very wise investment:thumbsup:

[Kevnool]

Out on the observing field Ash you will be able to run sky tours ( a real crowd pleaser) with the Argo-navis.
I feel a few sleepless nights are coming your way soon.
Cheers Kev.

[Starkler]

"Price is what you pay, value is what you get"

The argo multiplies the amenity of the dob many times over imo ;)

[astroron]

As an ARGO NAVIS user for a few years, I can tell you that you get more than a Digital Telescope Computer,you get a life time of service with a smile:):):)
As you can tell I love my ARGO Navis:D:thumbsup:

[CamelOK]

I have to agree the Argo Navis is the best accessory I have purchased. I origanally got one for my Meade Lightbridge and then for my Televue Gibralta mount. For the Meade Lightbridge I also made up a Stalk to mount my Argo Navis handset from a paint roller extension pole handle and a paintbrush holder that screws onto the pole, cheap, easy and functional.
I have a few photos, but as I'm new to postings I haven't figure out how to add them, what's the procedure ? :)

[toryglen-boy]

i have read throught the blurb for this and it sounds great, am i right in saying that you have to move the scope itself, and it just zero's you in on objects? like digital setting circles?

might be a good purchase for my 12" skywatcher dob

:P

[vespine]

You are correct, by itself, the argo navis is a "push to" system, however, the argo navis is 50% of a "go to" system if paired up with something like stellarcat, which you can also eventually "upgrade" to. So you can buy an argo navis with the knowledge you won't have to get rid of it if you decide to take the next step. I can't get the stellarcat web site up at the moment, not sure if the problem is their or mine.

[toryglen-boy]

thanks for that, i have read loads of reviews on it in the past hour, and it looks to be an excellent piece of kit.

I am guessing i might well get one (or at least order it!) in the next week or two

:thumbsup:

[iceman]

Hi and :welcome: to IceInSpace!

When replying, click "Go Advanced" and then "Manage Attachments" to upload photos from your computer.

They have to be under 200kb jpeg's.

Cheers

[gary]

Hi Duncan,

Thanks for your consideration, which is appreciated.

Also thanks to vespine for his response to your question.

In a nutshell, a pair of optical encoders are attached to each axis of the scope.
After aligning on a couple of objects, typically a couple of bright stars,
you can dial up an object from the catalog and Argo Navis will guide you
to it, its display updating as you push the scope so you can 'zero-in' on it.

Conversely, you can point to an object and ask Argo Navis what it is.
You can even tour objects based on user definable selection filtering
criteria.

By the way, the Argo Navis User's Manual can be downloaded from here -
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/documentation.html

As vespine pointed out, the Argo Navis can also be interfaced to some
third party motor controllers such as the ServoCAT to provide full slew
and track support. The ServoCAT is a popular choice on Dobs of about
16 inches of aperture and up. Argo Navis works is popular on scopes
of all apertures.

Vespine, you were asking about the StellarCAT web site. Gary Myers informs
me that it was briefly offline today but the issue has been resolved and you
can visit them at http://www.stellarcat.com

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

[Tannehill]

I'll add my vote of support. I used my Argo down there for a year to great effect.

Upon my return here, I returned it to its home on my 18 Obsession, and last night tried in vain for an hour to get it to work doing Go-To slews. The Argo-ServoCAT set up steadfastly refused to cooperate, giving me that polite but steadfast bee-boop sound when I hit the GoTo button.

Then, after going back to the manuals of the 'Two Garys' as I call them, I realized the Argo was still set to Location: Melbourne. Thinking it was in Melbourne, it was politely informing me that my requested slews would put the scope in an anatomically impossible situation.

Conclusion: My Argo smarter than me.

And firmware updates are a lot easier for the Argo....

Cheers

Scott

[erick]

Only one solution, Scott. Come back down under........




.......oh, and bring the Obsession this time! ;)

[Lyinxz]

Just thought I would share my excitement, I went ahead and purchased the device from Wildcard Innovations and received it today :D:D

Its going to be a long night tonight getting this beast hooked up.
Fingers crossed it goes through smooth :)


Cheers,
Ash

[RB]

Congrats Ash !!

Good decision, you'll be able to give me a sky tour at the pony club next time.

:D

[gary]

Hi Ash,

Welcome to the extended family of Argo Navis owners. :welcome:

You may find this alternative procedure for establishing the encoder direction
senses helpful. See -
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=414694&postcount=139

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you should ever require any assistance.

Hope to meet you at the Pony Club in the near future.

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

[gary]

Thank Scott,

We appreciate your support!

Hope the posting in Arizona is going well and proving productive for you and that
life is good.

Best regards

Gary

[White Rabbit]

Wait until you start looking into motorized tracking platforms for them, ouch. You can get cheap tracking for observing but if you want to use it for photography kaching $$$. Have a look at the servocat system.

[Lyinxz]

Hi Gary or Anyone that can assit.

I am Going to post this on here just in case someone else has the same problem in the future.

Unfortently due to my lack of mechanical knoweldge :P I am Developing a major headache trying to setup the ALT. :sadeyes::sadeyes::sadeyes:

I cant get my head around instruction 5 on ALT setup.
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au/images/synta_alt.pdf

It says:
With one hand rotate the tangent arm around to approx 4oclock position. - Easy, done

With the other hand , slide the locating coupler beneath the slot in the tangent arm so that the shoulder screw is mid-way along the length of the slot. - I am completely lost here!

I dont understand which "slot" and "sholder screw".
Where exactly is the locating coupler ment to go? It would be really help me if could see the end result of what the ALT setup looks like? any pics anyone? tried googling it but couldnt find anything..

Sorry for the hassel Gary.

PS - have you thought about making instructional setup videos for these kits?

Cheers,
Ash

[gary]

Hi Ash,

Thanks for the post.

Please see attached image that shows the locating coupler with the shoulder screw
currently fastened in it and in turn, the rectangular slot in the end of the bracket
sliding over the shoulder screw.

What you are doing in the end is fastening the plastic locating coupler to the
side of the rocker box using three of the supplied self-tapping screws.
The shoulder screw which is screwed into the coupler then 'fixes' the far
end of the bracket in place.

As to where you are placing the locating coupler, it will be placed beneath the
slot of the bracket when the bracket is rotated to the position as shown in Fig.
3 of the instructions.

You can find additional installation photographs right here on the Argo Navis
sticky thread on IceInSpace posted by Dave47Tuc.
See http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showpost.php?p=404398&postcount=112
A photo of the bracket interfacing with the locating coupler can be seen here -
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=52981&d=1232755570

Drop me an email at sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au as if you require
further 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



Best Regards

Gary

[Lyinxz]

Champion, thanks Gary.
That pic helped me get my head around what was ment to happen.
All good now :D:D:D:D

:thumbsup:

[gary]

Thanks Ash! :thumbsup:

Best Regards

Gary

[CamelOK]

"For the Meade Lightbridge I also made up a Stalk to mount my Argo Navis handset from a paint roller extension pole handle and a paintbrush holder that screws onto the pole, cheap, easy and functional."

The paint extension pole allows a height adjustment and the paint brush holder can adjust the angle for viewing, all parts purchased at Bunnings.

Thanks Iceman

[Starkler]

Now thats a cool idea camel man :thumbsup:

[gary]

Hi Stephen!

Thanks for the post and pictures of your improvised stalk. :thumbsup:

I've referenced your stalk before on other forums and here are the
original notes you kindly sent.



Some nice ingenuity!

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

[Tannehill]

Yepper, 'mate. Don't think that's not on my mind!


Scott

[Tannehill]

Thanks, Gary. It's okay here, thanks. Sky is a tad duller, but it's home. Hope all my VIC friends have come through the bush fires and the earthquakes okay.

I am poised now, with my wireless control of my scope using the Argo/ServoCat Sky Tools on my lappie, to massively 'cheat' on a Messier marathon on 3/28/09 (er, sorry gents, I mean 28/3/09) run by a local club.

Based on a quick trial run last night in my driveway, I predict no difficulty in locating every object, except for being able to see the few at the beginning and end due to twilight conditions. Indeed, it should be fairly easy to accomplish. Yes, very tacky. But I lack any form of astronomical scruples at this point having gone a year without using my main scope. I am looking for any victory, hollow tho it may be - to satiate my astronomica nervosa....

Cheers

Scott