[erick (Eric)]

If I was starting from the beginning:-

1. Orion Cheshire/Sight tube - used solely as a sight tube to adjust/check secondary mirror is centred and "round". Once set, it has not moved on either GSO scope.

2. Bintel (GSO) laser to adjust secondary tilt and primary tilt. (Check laser collimation occasionally on a "V-block", certainly after battery change. Have added a layer of "Contact" to the laser barrel to ensure a snug fit in the focusser.)

3. Barlow the laser (GSO 2x or Televue 3x) to check reflection of shadow of centre spot is centered at focusser. (It always is.)

4. An Andrews Cheshire collimator (again a layer of "Contact" to the barrel for snug fit) to do a final check. (It is usually spot on after 1, 2 and 3 - and even after just 2.)

5. What's the stars look like? - focussed and just out of focus, either side.

I am learning how to use an autocollimator and may add that at one stage, but I'm not sure the mechanics of the GSO dobs are really up to this accuracy/precision - eg. the laser return at the focusser in step 2 will move slightly as scope is elevated from horizon to zenith.

Usually, I will only do steps 2, 4 & 5, unless I have a particular concern. I've found I can bounce the OTA in a trailer over general highways and side roads without much loss of collimation.

Of course, my needs are visual, not imaging - I think I can tolerate less than perfect collimation.