Transportable, easy set up scope

[Solanum]

Well, I've been in the new place a few months now and my well loved dob is gathering dust due to the terrible view (see here: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=54558 ), though I have had it out a few times. The light pollution doesn't help either, it's better than my last place, but still bad compared to when I was in Mildura.

So, I think I should get an easy set up and easy transport scope. I am thinking about the Meade 6" Lightswitch. I don't think I would be happy with anything smaller than that after the 10" dob and I want something with an OTA I can keep in a case and put in the back of a small car with the tripod. I also want something I can set up on a hillside somewhere dark in 5 minutes. Whilst my dob may be transportable, it just isn't realistically so - at least not with my life and vehicles.

Right now price is no problem as I couldn't even afford the postage on a 2" tasco, but when I do have some money I want another scope. Does anyone have anything good or bad to say about the lightswitch or any serious alternatives?

[madwayne]

Sell the 10" Dob and put the proceeds in to a 12 or 16" Light Bridge - transportable and more aperture - now there is a win win situation.

Or another alternative could be an 8" Meade LX90 or Celestron equivalent, reasonably portable for their size and very quick and easy to setup. Been ruing the day I sold mine a couple of years ago.

Wayne

[mental4astro]

Solanum,

How are your tool skills? You can always rework the optics of your 10" dob into a truss dob. No step backward, and you can keep the Argo Navis too. There are 10" truss scopes that fit inside a brief case.

[Paddy]

Way to go if you can. Have a look at Tim Nott's thread on his 10"

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=38956

Simple, very portable and if you don't have tool skills, you could do what Tim does - get a professional to laser cut the materials and all you have to do is put it together.