New EQ Mount - options? MI-250, Titan, Altux, ...?

[rogerg]

G'day all,

As mentioned in another thread my 12" LX200 is almost certainly gone, after 10 years of hard service and an estimated 5000+ hours work, much of it automated.

I'm looking for a mount to put my 12" OTA on until I can afford a new OTA in the 12" to 16" size in 5-10 years.

I always hoped to upgrade to the PME, but it's simply pushing the budget too far.

The mount will, as was the LX, be used primarily in an automated & remote fassion, 100% astrophotography.

At this stage I'm just after people making me aware of the alternatives.

Equipment capacity of 60lb looks like the absolute minimum I'd be happy with. Price under $15k, much much preferrably around $10k.

Suggestions to increase my scope of selection appreciated.

- MI-250
- Altux
- Titan
?

Thanks,
Roger.

[gregbradley]

There is a mini Paramount ME coming out soon. Perhaps that may fit. Not sure on price but with the Aussie dollar strong $10-15K surely is enough.

For that matter you should be able to get a 2nd hand ME for less than $15. I paid AUD$13 for mine and there is another one already in Oz for sale on Astromart although it is part of an RCOS16 package which he may or may not split up (I imagine he will eventually as demand for that will be super low).

There are lots of quality mounts in that price range.

Tak EM400
AP900
AP Mach 1 GTO (may be a bit light weight for that weight)
for starters.

A 2nd hand AP900 should be less than AUD$10K. They come up every now and then on Astromart.

When you say remote do want internet controlled robotic type control?

Greg.

[rogerg]

Thanks for the reminder re that one.



Thanks.. had a PM regarding second hand too, definitely an option.



Thanks for the extra ideas.



Minimum of being able to control the mount over my LAN. I would like to have full internet control but that is a flexible requirement. I would use it, but can live without it, so it will depend on price and other factors I expect. I cerainly always imageind I'd get a PME which would give me that capability. Unsure what others would yet, the catch is usually the startup from cold from what I've learned.

[Zaps]

Hello Roger.

As a Tak man through-and-through, I would ordinarily suggest the EM-400 without reservation (it's a fantastic mount), but I just got off the 'phone with a former colleague who spent two days at NEAF and while he was there had long discussions in the OPT booth with the folk from ASA.

It sounds as if they have almost reached that 'economy of scale' point with their mounts which means lower costs and prices. Those direct drive mounts are selling well in Europe it seems. You may wish to keep an eye on those: they are likely the future of mount technology in amateur astronomy.

http://www.astrosysteme.at/eng/mounts.html

[rogerg]

Crisis has been temporarily averted, my LX200 is working again :shrug:

I am going to continue investigating new mount options with the expection I'll be having more faults with the LX soon. It could be argued that it's certainly worked it's hours.

[gregbradley]

Woo Hoo! You should buy a lottery ticket - you're on a roll!

The ASA DDM85 would cost around AUD$19,000 landed and handles up to 65kg so its still a very expensive mount.

The fellow selling the 16 inch RCOS and Paramount ME is here:

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=680058

You never know he may break up the package if no takers for the lot.

From memory I actually paid about AUD$11500 for mine in a similar situation. Shipping from WA though was about $950 though.
But you save the GST and shipping from Mooruk or wherever it is may be less than mine but allow at least $600 no matter where it goes. It is quite big and heavy and several boxes.


I did see an older Paramount Mount a while back that had been updated and to the later electronics but was not an ME. It went for a really low price. So if you have the time I'd monitor the Astromart mount ads. Something will come up eventually or place a wanted ad there.

Greg.

[Doomsayer]

I had the same trigger a number of years back. I had a 12" LX200 classic with repeatedly unreliable electronics as well, subject to many retrofits. So I was looking at an MI-250 for the 12 OTA very seriously. I eventually got turned off by the gemini motors however and then decided to go to a PME, which I bought on Amart. Shipping and insurance cost $1000 - definitely makes a local source attractive. Since then I've moved to a different ota.

If you want the full benefits of unnattended local or remote (observatory-based) robotic imaging a PME is hard to go by. I have heard reports that AP goto systems are not as good in this type of scripted usage. I would still like to think that I may get an AP900 or 1200 for 'attended' field use in future however.

Of course, new direct drive mounts are another highly viable option as said elswhere.

guy

[Zaps]

It will be interesting to find out if it's true that ASA mounts are due to drop in price soon. I hope they do because IMHO they represent the new wave of telescope mounts. The sooner we do away with gear-based drive systems and the resulting periodic error the better. :thumbsup:

[chuckscap]

I found a very old (1997 vintage) used Parallax HD 150. It is not very portable unless I start seriously lifting again (EQ head alone weighs 70 plus lbs lol )... And it is definitely overkill for my Mewlon 250, but I got it, including the portable pier and Gemini Retrofit kit for the price of a new G11 with Gemini so I couldn't resist ... Photographic load capacity is 120 lbs. The pier is too high though (my fault) so I'm sending back to Joe Nastasi at Parallax to have 10" taken off ...


http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg144/chuckscap/HD_150_Mewlon_250_2_Small.jpg

http://i247.photobucket.com/albums/gg144/chuckscap/HD_150_Mewlon_250_Small.jpg

Regards,

Chuck