[cwjohn (Chris)]

Hi

Please excuse the long post but some context is necessary.

My first passion (other than my family) is sailing and I had set aside a considerable sum of money to buy a boat and sail around the Pacific. This would be my second trip in this regard. Unfortunately, I have been diagnosed with Stage 3 unresectable malenoma. Those of you who understand Malemoma will know that unless you are incredibly lucky you do not ascribe remission to the disease but rather describe it in terms of survivability statistics. Eventually, I am sure it will kill me but how long that will take lies in the lap of the gods.

In any case it will require me to undergo immunotherapy involving frequent injections in the short term of pbs listed compounds and probably later concoctions of whatever comes next at trials.

My long suffering and wonderful wife has a favourite saying.

The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
The realist adjusts the sails.

William Arthur Ward

My second passion is astrophotography although I have not indulged it for many years and did not intend to indulge it for many years to come. However, clearly I am unable to indulge my first passion, other than for very short periods of charter, so "adjusting the sails" as it were, I am now changing focus.

We are building at Maleny on the Sunshine Coast on 25 acres and whilst I would not call it a dark sky site it is not bad. My first thought was to put together a simple system, so that if and when I pass, my wife would not have any problems disposing of the equipment. However, when I discussed this issue with my wife she encouraged me to go all out in building whatever gives me the most short term enjoyment. Further, she is quite adamant that if and when I pass, she will not sell any equipment but open it up to any local enthusiasts in the area.

So my plan is as follows. I already have a large shed being built on site to handle gardening equipment. I will convert part of that to a control room. I already have an F6 fluorite triplet, and a Tak Mewlon, with a Temma mount, both of which are superb for observing, and I will probably buy a 16" RC mounted on an AP1600 for astrophotography. These will be mounted in two domes.

I will buy cameras equipped with guide chips in front of the filter wheels so guiding should be no problem.

So all of this preamble leads me to my question. Whether to equip the AP1600 with Absolute Encoders or not?

In this regard the community seems to be split as to whether unguided imaging is possible. Those with 10micron mounts swear that guiding is not necessary. Others say this is a load of rubbish. The other issue I have is that previously I had the large Losmandy mount and between family and friends constantly moving the scope for visual observing I found that homing never really worked properly and I spent a lot of time rehoming the mount for photography use. However, I am assured that homing with the Paramount and AP work well. The obvious answer to this is to put a lock on the photography dome and to direct everyone to the visual dome.

In regard to AE on the 1600, it is not really a matter of affordability, but I do not necessarily want to spend 10 grand on something that I do not really need.

I would seek opinions on those far more experienced than I in this regard.

Thanks in advance
Chris