Laptop Tent

[Tamtarn]

Anyone interested in one of these ???



ANACONDA have them on special right now

Normally $79.95 We picked one up yesterday on special $48

Very handy for keeping Laptop and other equipment dry

[Astroman (Andrew Wall)]

Hey pretty neat idea that.

[netwolf]

Where could one get one in Sydney?

Regards
Fahim

[Tamtarn]

Hi Fahim

According to their catalogue there is a Anaconda store in Auburn Power Centre
92 Parramatta Road Lidcombe ( Below Spotlight ) Ph : 02 9737 8433.

To get the special price you just have to join their store club on the day and it's free. That's what we did and this entitles you to any specials that they may have at any time.

[netwolf]

Thanks Tamtarn. I will give them a call.

[astroron (Ron)]

Anaconda have just opened a store in Logan south of Brisbane, just a little far to go from here

[Ric]

What a top idea, perfect for keeping the dew off. I'll have to have a net search and see if there are any stores in the Canberra area.

Cheers

[Tamtarn]

Hi Ric

No store listed in Canberra. They do have in their catalogue phone orders welcome Ph : 1300 669 137.

Website - www.anaconda.com.au

[Ric]

Thanks for that, I'll give them a call tomorrow.
I love the way that as amateur astronomers we can look at something and see a totally different application for it, must be all that fresh night air.

Cheers

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Ron they do have a store in the Everton Park area - northside Brisbane, a lot closer than Logan (and I get down that way somewhat.

Everton Park Store

429 South Pine Road
Everton Park Queensland
Ph: (07) 3355 4455
GPS: S 27 24.595 E 152 59.585

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Looks like a great idea.

Yep, joining the club is an excellent idea. I am a member of Rays Tent City and I get amazing discounts and its free to join.

[iceman (Mike)]

That's great! Nice find!

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

For those who do not have an Anaconda store nearby, but do have a BCF (Boating Camping Fishing) store - read on.....

My nearest Anaconda store is over an hour trip away, each way, so I decided to check what BCF had available. Browsing their website I found they had an Oztrail Popup Ensuite on sale for $69.90, no pic available but sounded interesting. This is still $20 dearer that Anaconda's price but the difference in price is worth it in terms of fuel alone. I gave BCF a call to ask a couple of questions, and was on my way almost immediately thereafter.


I have to say that this seems near identical to the Anaconda version. It comes with a large carry bag (side pocket carries all poles, 8 pegs & instructions) plus it has small nylon guy ropes for extra stability and a fold away floor section which attaches internally to inbuilt hook/strap attachments in each corner so if you WERE using it as a shower you don't have to stand on the dirt.

My focus was to find a shelter for my scope itself and not a hutch for a laptop, etc. I was pleasantly surprised by the instore display model and I purchased it immediately!

(I also grabbed a LED headlamp unit for $20 - 3 white LED's, 2 red - best thing is it has a slide switch so you don't have to step through "white" modes to get to a pure red light, and the price was right! Look for "Carolina Knife and Tool" unit in the torch/lighting section)

The "Latrine" has plenty of room to house my 12" dob in comfort, and with the door wide open I can wheel it in and out on the trolley over the front lip without ripping the tent (tent was NOT pegged down at this point though, I will re-test later). The Latrine is 210 cm high in the domed roof, and 120 cm (I think) along each side at ground level.

Again please note that in these pics the tent was not pegged down - in fact I tried opening the tent up and simply slipping it over the dob as a fast fix for a sudden shower of rain. This worked fine, in fact I found it easiest to lower it down over the dob with me also inside to guide it better, then I unzipped the door and stepped outside!

Al in all I think this is a great unit, and mine will be on display at Astrofest this year for sure!

Please note : guard dog is NOT included!

[Tamtarn]

The Oztrail is identical to the one that we got Steve. Right down to the floor, guy ropes, carry bag with pocket and exactly the same size. Just a slightly different colour and brand name.

Looks like it's readily available to more people with at least two franchises stocking it

We love these type of stores, just browse around and there's lots of goodies for astro equipment.

We have also picked up a great little aluminium table which collapses down into a tube bag like the camp chairs. Terrific as a travel table for equipment.

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

Yes it's great to see so many different products that can be of use in the pursuit of backyard astronomy.

I was originally going to try this portable observatory, as purchased from the ABC Shop ..... the advertising blurb led me to believe that it was much bigger on the inside than it appeared. Sadly this proved to be false, and my dob did not fit.

[Tamtarn]

You've got to be kidding Steve

You could always use it to change into your SUPERMAN suit

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

It's a great idea guys, but you are all wwaaaayyyy too late. Note the h0ughmyster from Qld last year.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...3&d=1153636542

I must say though, the ones on this page look a bit roomier. Might have to look into one of these.
Though I must say these ones look more stylish....

[Gargoyle_Steve (Steve)]

I saw h0ughy's elegant imaging abode at Astrofest last year Paul and yes it was impressive - the idea of getting something similar has been in my head ever since. I went for this model in the end more because to me it seems to provide more of a dust "seal" to keep errant particles from blowing onto my mirrors, and also I liked the "pop-up" idea too so I can get it up and in place almost instantly over the scope (and me) if needed.

But I agree ... h0ughy's mini control room is a great piece of kit!

[Tamtarn]

Dave 47 had a similar one last year at Snake Valley. We thought it was a great idea but hadn't got around to finding one until now

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

You can get those shower/dunny tents at pretty-well all camping stores. Rays, Kangaroo, Anaconda, BCF - they all have an equivalent. I've found that the zippers fall apart in no time (we've been through three of these pop-up tents) because of the way the bendy frame keeps the material too tight. You do up the door and the zipper is under huge stress. Otherwise they're OK.

The other type is the Coleman Insta-Set Deluxe Shower/Toilet. It sets up with permanently attached articulated poles and pops up in around ten seconds. It's a little more expensive - but it is far better in winds and is larger.

Either way - they're all good!