While imaging with my 10" dob and EQ platform at the very long focal lengths I use, the planet often drifts around the FOV and I need to use the adjustable speed control to speed up/slow down the tracking to help keep the planet in the 640x480 FOV.
This was a bit of a pain when the pot speed control knob was down on the control box.. meant leaning down or kneeling down on the sometimes wet ground, turning the speed control trying not to bump the whole setp, at the same time with one eye on the laptop screen. Painful for my back and frustrating too!
Brian from
Round Table Platforms was kind enough to send me a hand controller, which I believe comes standard on the new units (I've had mine for about a year now).
It's basically the same potentiometer (speed control knob) on a long chord, so I can use it while standing up, saving my back and allowing me to do it in more comfort. I might even be able to sit down while imaging one day!
So tonight I finally got around to cutting the leads to the old speed control knob, and soldering the new hand controller in. I put some velcro on the back of the hand controller, and the other half of the velcro on the bottom plate of the platform, as well as some on the dob base.
Here's a few pics.
Thanks Brian! Now I need some clear skies to test it out!