Skywatcher eq6 pier mount??

[meade expert]

Hi All

I'm interested in finding out which of the two pictures attached is the version of the eq6 skywatcher pier mount that is selling here in Australia?
One appears taller than the other?

[Poita (Peter)]

Both are available locally.
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/mounts.asp
http://btow.com.au/telescopes/pier_m...eq6_pier_mount

http://binocularsandtelescopes.com.a...and_extensions

[meade expert]

Thanks for the reply

Surprisingly none of these stores can tell me the hieght of the shorter one ???

Can find a spec sheet or drawing for it ?

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

i'm curious as to how these sorts of piers compare with

a) the stock EQ6 tripod
b) a permanent pier setup

can anyone share their insights/experiences ?

[meade expert]

Ordered one from Andrews Comms the other day and tested today.

Found after assembling it (20kg) and placing eq6 mount on it and 17kg of scope it is very , very stable compared to normal eq6 tripod.I believe it will handle a heavy scope much better than the tripod.

Its height (pier only is 880mm) and feet adjustment screws very substantial and chromed.Nice

Pier can be cut down to accomodate larger newts if desired.

Legs are cast iron and very solid.

Price $364 plus shipping (all white)

If you have very uneven or sloped ground the tripod is your best option.

[Waxing_Gibbous (Peter)]

I've got an HEQ6 mounted on the pier.
Tho' it's a little fiddly to set up (couldn't for the life of me work out what flange went where).
I've found the pier much easier to work with as my scopes (IM815 & TOA130) easily clear it. The tripod, while a little more stable on rough ground, can interfere with some scopes (particularly long refractors).
The pier assembly is also a little easier to shift IMO.

[rmuhlack (Richard)]

I too am thinking about a pier for a semi-permanent setup, so this is all helpful feedback.

Regarding the two pier types in the initial post, does either one stand out as a better design? I have seen other threads here which talk about piers with tension cables offering a more stable platform than those without. Could either of the commercial offerings above be easily modified to incorporate such tension cables if this was deemed necessary?