Argo Navis Lite???

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

Hi there, all you push-to lovers.
I know we all love our Argo Navies, and I think I know all the arguments why the AN is superior to all the other telescope computers, but I have to admit that when I'm lazing about with the 80 mm on the Panoramic mount (thoughtfully set up with encoders by a previous owner) I wish mine came in a more compact form factor, something smaller and lighter that would attach, say, to the Sky Tour mounting plate without looking like a gargantuan accessory.
Am I alone in this wishful thinking, or are their other IISers out there who might desire the same thing? Would there be a market for an AN mini? Enough to petition Gary at Wildcard?
Cheers,
Brian.

[Wavytone]

... is a mount fitted with encoders, with a WiFi / bluetooth link to an iPhone - and use the iPhone as the user interface. This would eliminate most of the electronics on the mount and at the same time give you a much more capable computer and user interface.

It looks like the developer of StarMap Pro is heading in this direction as the current release already sports some aspects of the controls for a scope, though they aren't functional yet, and it looks a whole lot better than Vixen's StarBook.

[Starkler (Geoff)]

A Dave Ek or Ouranos box and a palm pilot running palmdsc is a smaller option.

[kinetic (Steve)]

Originally Posted by Miaplacidus

Am I alone in this wishful thinking, or are their other IISers out there who might desire the same thing? Would there be a market for an AN mini? Enough to petition Gary at Wildcard?
Cheers,
Brian.

Hi Brian,

I'm in the process of refining a microcontroller based project with a set
of encoders which operates standalone as you describe.
It would be more suited to ATM dabblers/hobbyists but a minimal set
of parts and a pre-programmed chip could be one option.
When I'm happy with the end result, plans/circuits and details of how to
build it would be posted in a forum like IIS for the benefit of others free.
Programs would be open source and able to be updated and improved
by all.

Stay tuned.

Steve

[MrB (Simon)]

Programs would be open source and able to be updated and improved
by all.

Nice one Steve, I'm crossing my fingers that you're programming in C

[gary]

Originally Posted by Miaplacidus

Hi there, all you push-to lovers.
I know we all love our Argo Navies, and I think I know all the arguments why the AN is superior to all the other telescope computers, but I have to admit that when I'm lazing about with the 80 mm on the Panoramic mount (thoughtfully set up with encoders by a previous owner) I wish mine came in a more compact form factor, something smaller and lighter that would attach, say, to the Sky Tour mounting plate without looking like a gargantuan accessory.
Am I alone in this wishful thinking, or are their other IISers out there who might desire the same thing? Would there be a market for an AN mini? Enough to petition Gary at Wildcard?
Cheers,
Brian.

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the post which is appreciated.

You may not be aware that Argo Navis employs a dual CPU architecture including a
full 32 bit CPU with external 32 bit data bus deployed on a multilayer PCB
with double sided multi-layer surface mount technology manufactured using
state of the art lead-free processes that employ tin-silver-copper. As part of this
advanced process, our PCBs currently utilize state-of-the art laminates and finishes
of nickel and gold to ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability.

In other words, there is a lot of technology packed in there including CPU peformance which
provides orders of magnitudes of performance over legacy DSC units and yet which can be powered
by a set of ordinary alkaline AA cells.

For the Panoramic mount, we recommend the mounting cradle be attached to the tripod
leg using the Velcro OneWrap strap option as suggested in the instructions that
come with the cradle.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[wavelandscott (Scott)]

Originally Posted by gary

Hi Brian,

Thanks for the post which is appreciated.

You may not be aware that Argo Navis employs a dual CPU architecture including a
full 32 bit CPU with external 32 bit data bus deployed on a multilayer PCB
with double sided multi-layer surface mount technology manufactured using
state of the art lead-free processes that employ tin-silver-copper. As part of this
advanced process, our PCBs currently utilize state-of-the art laminates and finishes
of nickel and gold to ensure the highest levels of quality and reliability.

In other words, there is a lot of technology packed in there including CPU peformance which
provides orders of magnitudes of performance over legacy DSC units and yet which can be powered
by a set of ordinary alkaline AA cells.

For the Panoramic mount, we recommend the mounting cradle be attached to the tripod
leg using the Velcro OneWrap strap option as suggested in the instructions that
come with the cradle.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

I don't understand much of the "tech talk" outlined in the above post...but I do know that the Argo Navis is a great aide to my viewing! I don't need to understand how the magic works, I just appreciate that it does!

[Astrolabe]

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

I don't understand much of the "tech talk" outlined in the above post...but I do know that the Argo Navis is a great aide to my viewing! I don't need to understand how the magic works, I just appreciate that it does!

Come on Scott, admit it; it just sounds impressive and it is.
By the way, I use the AN on two dobsonians and one GEM, and if the brackets (not the encoders, I have no problem with their cost) were cheaper I will put them on two Alt-Az mounts.

George (astrolabe)