Telescope Drive Master

[Tandum]

Has anyone here got one of these units? There is a thread on CN (http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4596205/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1) about them and they look like an advanced encoder for consumer mounts which can dramatically reduce PE and other RA errors.

The CN thread shows a bog standard G11 with a PE going from 3.6RMS to .46RMS. The product web site shows adapters to suit an eq6 and indicates dramatic improvements in RA accuracy.

Costs about $2K.

[renormalised]

When they originally brought out the first models of the TDM, they also had an adaptor for the EQ5/HEQ5 mount as well. It seems they've discontinued that adaptor, although if you asked they'd probably machine one for you. Though, with the number of adaptors that are available and the performance specs of the TDM encoders, I'd say they'd be a handy purchase and well worth the money. The have adaptors covering most of the popular mounts.

[Tandum]

I still see the eq5 adapters on the meade europe site. There's no reason to drop them.
This device seems to knock performance up into the super mount league.
Talk about hypertune :lol:

[Dennis]

Hi Robin

Some stuff here.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=39857

Cheers

Dennis

[allan gould]

Robin
It relies on essentially perfect polar alignment to work correctly.
There was also a movie on CN where they interviewed Astronomics about the Drive Master and showed it up close at NEAF.

[garymck]

There is an alternative, though ATM, using the drive system at:

http://www.siderealtechnology.com/

This has the capacity of running a high resolution Gurley encoder on the RA axis for drive error correction as well as providing a wealth of other facilities.....Means you can fit it to any mount with a little effort.

FWIW
Gary

[renormalised]

Oh, that's good news. Didn't know they still had them there.

[Tandum]

Cheers guys, in retrospect, an AO unit would probably do more for you.