I want an Argo Navis system...

[fremanwarrior]

but the price puts it out of reach for a while .


I was wondering if there was a poor mans interim solution?

Is there any product or way that allows you to install the encoders first , hook them to a computer/laptop and use the computer in the same way as the A.N. computer head?

Cheers

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Indeed there is, its called a David Ek decoder box which can be hooked up to a laptop running a compatible star chart program, or a palm pilot running PalmDSC

I used this system for about a year before biting the bullet and upgrading to an argonavis.

[CoombellKid]

I'm in the same situation as you. I just say to myself one it will happen.
I dont want anything else so'll I'll starhop untill I can. I figure I'm still
learning things and being productive. With an AN it would be sweat!!
no more star maps & sore necks, just lists lol

sorry if this was spaming it weren't meant to be, just my 2 cents worth

regards,CS

Rob

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Originally Posted by CoombellKid

. With an AN it would be sweat!!
no more star maps & sore necks, just lists lol

This is where the PalmDSC has it over the AN. You just load up plain text lists of objects into it , and it retrieves them from its internal catalogues and finds them for you.
Dead simple. You can have as many lists as you want and skip between them.

To load a list into AN is a bit more cumbersome as you need an external prog such as astroplanner ($) to do it, and you can only have one

Another nice thing about PalmDSC is you can point your scope at something, press the sort button, and up pops a list of all objects in the selected catalogue sorted by angular distance within 5 degrees

These are two features that I miss using the AN. AN can do the object search, but its a bit more convoluted with the number of steps to set it up.

By the way, PalmDSC is freeware

[CoombellKid]

Geoff,

Not having seen it in action. I guess you have to get a PC card
of sorts hooked up to encoders. How did you go about that?

regards,CS

Rob

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Rob, thats what the Dave Ek box is about (see link in my first post).
The encoders plug into it, and by virtue of a PIC microcontroller, it outputs to a serial port in a form your planetarium program or palmdsc can understand.

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

I don't suppose it can render a live zoomable sky map centred on where the scope's pointed? Now that would be something.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

It can if hooked up to cartes du ciel, or other planetarium program.
You get a crosshair target on your laptop screen, but who in their right mind goes chasing dso's with a laptop there to ruin your dark adaptation

Oh thats right, imagers do

[janoskiss (Steve H)]

That is too cool! I want one. But laptop is probably too big and impractical for visual observing. With a palm sized unit it would be great.

[fremanwarrior]

Thx very much, been reading a lot thx to your links.

The encoder interface box thing is dirt cheap and can be purchased as a full kit from what I can tell for about $24US.

Definately going to go down that route. Now to find the $280 for the encoder kir from the AN guys.

[gbeal]

Hi,
I have had the Palm/Dave Ek set up and can report that it works, and very well. I now have the Argo Navis, and it is all it is advertised, and more. The biggest draw card for the AN is the superb back up you get from Gary K, it is simply wonderful.
As an aside I do have an Orion Sky Wizard in the Buy Sell section, and this would certainly fit what you were asking about, a poor mans interim solution.
Regards,
Gary BEAL
New Zealand

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Ever thought of maunal setting circles as an interim measure. With those and a PDA you can get the alt/azm in real time on most objects in the sky. If the object is not in the catalogue on your program then use one near the object of interest and you will be within spitting distance and could star hop easily.