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Originally Posted by shahgazer
Maybe I can do without the travel case, or maybe I can get it done locally to save some cost.
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Salamat datang!
Thanks for the response.
The travel case is quite robust. Though, unlike the Blackbox flight recorder,
wouldn't survive an air crash, it would survive the Olympic hammer throwing
ambitions of the most eager baggage handler.
Having said that, shipped in their conventional disposable cardboard packaging,
the Obsessions routinely arrive in good order around the world. Having helped
unpack both a conventional 18 and a 25 that were sea freighted to Sydney,
it was evident that Dave Kriege had ensured the scopes were well packaged.
In fact, Customs or Quarantine unpacking to check them and then re-packing
them would possibly pose one of the bigger potential risks of damage
(visions of the sniffer dogs claws trying to make traction on top of the mirror
)
So not purchasing the travel case and shipping it the way all the other
Obsessions are shipped can save some money. As I mentioned, whereas I find
lifting and loading the 18 UC into a car on my own easier than just about any other Dob
I have used (including things like solid tube 10" scopes), if the scope is packed
in the ATA case, it becomes a two-person job for me, though strong armed
individuals wouldn't think twice about it. For that reason, a lot of the time, I would
have left the case at home and just loaded the scope.
By the way, you definitely want to lay the scope flat, not put it on its side.
There wouldn't be many cars in the world it wouldn't fit into. Whereas when I
transport the conventional 18, I need to fold down the back seats and it then
takes up all of the back of the car, including the back seat area and wagon, with
the exception of the folded truss poles, the 18 UC just fits in the back of
the wagon without folding down the seats. The poles are compact and don't
take much space, so can sit on the floor or one back seat.
As you mentioned, buying an off-the-shelf case or getting one locally made
in Malaysia would definitely be an option. In the end, you will mainly want
to use the case for stowage when the scope is not in use, to keep the spiders
out, so it need not be ATA compliant. Besides, you will be the only one handling
it from now on whereas the ATA is designed along the lines that some
baggage handler who is having a bad hair day will be handling it.
Quote:
What do you guys think about the wireless handpad? I looked at some of the photos, I believe the Argo Navis itself is wired to the Handpad, right? or did I see it wrong? 
If it is, then I don't see the logic to have the wireless handpad as it may always need to be close to the argo navis box? right?
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If you are trimming the budget, don't worry about the wireless handpad.
The handpad is connected to the ServoCAT and the ServoCAT then wired
to the Argo Navis. You want to be able to see the Argo Navis display and
you want the handpad in your hand when at the eyepiece. It has buttons that
allow you to slew the scope and adjust its position (up , down, left, right).
The wired version works exactly the same and on the 18UC with its short
focal length (many don't need a ladder. I need to stand on one step when at
the zenith), the utility of the wireless version is not as compelling as say on
the 25" when you are way up the step ladder.
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and yes, I want the Ethos! 
Thanks
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Not cheap, yes. Absolutely brilliant eyepiece, yes. A good combination in the 18.
Thanks for the background and the link to your web site which I checked out!
Also great to hear a little about the amateur astronomy scene in Malaysia and
it sounds as if you will have long queues both from colleagues and the general
public at the 18 during IYA! (People always queue for the biggest scope and
let's face it, aperture wins
)
Take care!
Best Regards
Gary Kopff
Wildcard Innovations Pty Ltd.
together with the ServoCat and Argo Navis 
. I am playing around with my budget and see where I can fit it. I'm kinda considering letting go the Travel Case with the Ethos. Most of my travelling for observation will be on the road (Malaysia is quiet a small country), so I was also considering of making a custom travel case locally. Still haven't decided though.
wow, those are really nicely crafted telescopes!! Sure worth to consider. Thanks for the info.
,Lookout cosmos here you come. Great idea with the servo-cat so you can use your video systems. Do you post on the Yahoo tech mallincam forums? make sure when you get it all up and running you post the results on the Mallincam forum. Have fun.
