New high end, GEM mount from Meade

[allan gould]

has anyone else seen the Meade advert for their new "High end" mount in the latest (April, 2006) issue. This will rattle a few cages especially for those that bought a new RCX400 on the old mount.
Regards, Allan Gould

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Which Mag is it Allan?

[RB (Andrew)]

It's in the April S&T Paul.
Huge, and that's just the add.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I've only picked up the Aus one today. Looks like I'll have to go hunting for the US one somewhere tomorrow. You don't happen to know if there is an add online somewhere? I've checked the meade site but couldn't see anything.

[RB (Andrew)]

I've been looking for it online too, but can't find anything.

[acropolite (Phil)]

No mention on Meades website.

[JohnG (John)]

Have a look here:

http://www.optcorp.com/productList.a...5-439-278&pg=2

JohnG

[RB (Andrew)]

Ah yes OPT, should have thought of that, thanks John.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Trusty ol' OPT

[allan gould]

Sorry should have stated S&T but forgot. The ad states list price of $US15,000. Time to save a few pennies - only if I win a few lotteries will I ever go there.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I have just looked at it on the OPT website I thought they might be going in for competition with the G11. No way. They have really gone bigtime. 250 lb capacity, though the info is a bit confusing. It says at one point 250 including wieights and then further down 250 instument capacity. If this includes counter weights, so say halve that. 125lb = approx 70 kg. You would have to assume that this is photographic carrying capacity and not visual. Who in their right mind would pay that much for an equatorial mount just for visual use.

I'm looking forward to reading the first reviews of this beast and see how it compares to the established Astro-Physics etc.

(me buy one HA! This is more in Strikers territory )

[Striker (Tony)]

Have a look at the size of it and this is to scale with a optional 20" OTA ...lol

http://www.users.on.net/~striker/max...erson_lo-L.jpg

[xstream (John)]

Your new grab and go travel setup Tony?

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Now who is going to write the how-to for stripping it down and cleaning out the synta glue-grease

[g__day (Matthew)]

More specs here

http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?...-278-7838&tb=1

[acropolite (Phil)]

All of a sudden I lost interest, maybe it was the price....

[Octane (Humayun)]

That mount looks very tasty.

Resembles Software Bisque's Paramount ME, somewhat. Brad, thoughts?

$15K. Ouch.

Regards,
Humayun

[h0ughy (David)]

it certainly is no portable mount!


Meade - MAX Robotic German Equatorial Mount with Tripod


Made in the USA with 650 gear teeth on RA & Dec drive, a 1.1667" diameter worm, and massive 13.8" worm gear.


This mount package comes with a heavy-duty tripod.


Includes internal cabling, local/network control, remote/web control, 3 USB2 ports and a clutchless, fully-enveloped, hard-loaded worm drive.


Weight capacity is 250 lbs.


Shipments to begin mid-April, 2006. Pre-orders accepted. Price includes shipping to addresses in the US.

[g__day (Matthew)]

When you are looking at a mount like this, it's in the class of a Astrophysics 1200 GTO ($13,500), Mountain Instruments 500($16,700), a 750 ($25,500) or 1000 ($50,000) or a Takahashi 3500 ($118,000) or Paramount ME ($18,000).