AP1200 versus Paramount MX

[CDKPhil]

I have made my choice.
I have cancelled the Titan and I am going to go with the PMX.

cheers
Phil

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Excellent decision. Proven system, no bother. Gemini is great, but the SB way is a different level altogether.

[gregbradley]

I think you will be happy with the PMX Phil.
In my situation I just got perfectly round stars with unlimited exposure time with my
Tak NJP and TEC180 (a very large APO scope with a huge bunch of gear hanging off the back of it).
The key is using a MMOAG and ST402 (Lodestar also works but ST402 is most sensitive). So a PMX has
big shoes to fill. I think mounts improve with age as the gears wear in more perfectly and little micro abrasions
smooth out.

Who did you order with?

Opt offered no money down deposit and possibly still in the June run of deliveries although that needs to be confirmed.

A pretty good deal eh?

Greg.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Terry B

The Titan is about A$7200 including GST etc quoted yesterday delivered in July at that price. I chose not to get one for reasons you know.

I bought my Titan just recently but in a way i am lucky - i will use my G11 L1 brains and controller until they get the handbox softeware to a workable stage with the G2. I am dissappointed with the G2 for the reasons mentioned but i am sure they will be sorted very soon. As for TheSky - i can take or leave that (nothing positive has happened with that piece of software in my hands ) If i had a little bit extra i would get the AP1200 - simply because you can image well past the meridian without having to do a flip, and it has a hand controller - especially if the laptop goes south

[CDKPhil]

That does sound like a good deal.
I have ordered my PMX through Bintel. It was easier for me to go through them. I had purchased the Titan, so instead of getting a refund they are organising it all for me. I am also am getting the CDK through Bintel.
When the OTA ships hopefully the MX can be put with the same shipping consignment, this should save a few dollars. The guys at Bintel have been great.

Thanks for the tip, the MMOAG looks like a great piece of kit.

Just in reference to David's post, I like the Idea of the Sky X because of its Mac compatibility. There are not many other choices out there for Mac. Software Bisque seem to be pushing the Mac frontier which is great to see.
As far as having to cart a laptop around I don't see this as much of a problem. If you are imaging you need to have one anyway, and if you go to the Apple website you will see the Mac Book Air, not much bigger than a hand control but a lot more powerful and a lot more reliable. The PMX does come with a had paddle.
I guess the thing that put me off the Titan was the problems with Gemini 2.
I think a product should be well developed before it is put on the market. I hope the PMX is because as of tomorrow it will be to late.
As Greg has said the PMX has some big shoes to fill.

Cheers
Phil

[gregbradley]

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I bought my Titan just recently but in a way i am lucky - i will use my G11 L1 brains and controller until they get the handbox softeware to a workable stage with the G2. I am dissappointed with the G2 for the reasons mentioned but i am sure they will be sorted very soon. As for TheSky - i can take or leave that (nothing positive has happened with that piece of software in my hands ) If i had a little bit extra i would get the AP1200 - simply because you can image well past the meridian without having to do a flip, and it has a hand controller - especially if the laptop goes south

The PMX goes 2 hours past the meridian. With that also it depends on where the scope is. No mount will allow going past the meridian more than say an hour if the scope is parallel to the pier or tripod as the camera will hit the pier or tripod. So it depends on the angle you are imaging at. But if it can miss the pier or tripod being able to image all night without a flip would be a bonus as often that is at 2am when an object needs to be flipped! As far as no hand controller if my laptop goes south then the night is a writeoff as I image and its all totally computer dependent. But if you are using a DSLR with its portability then yes that would be an advantage. Although you probably can run the PMX off a tablet type computer.

Greg.

[PRejto (Peter)]

I've had my PMX on order now for a couple of months. I'm curious as to why you have gone through a dealer when SB will ship the mount directly?

I'm in the first group to get the mount when it finally ships, hopefully soon. In case you are not aware of this, SB will ship the software in advance of the mount if you request it.

[gregbradley]

Only reason is OPT did not require a deposit and SB did and also OPT said they may still be able to get in the first run (not confirmed though, SB site indicates first run is sold out).

Greg.

[PRejto (Peter)]

In case anyone is looking for an MX Tripod:

http://www.astromart.com/classifieds...fied_id=717189

[gregbradley]

Thanks Peter,

I bought a counter weight shaft extension piece from him and it was very well made.

Greg.

[CDKPhil]

Those tripods look real nice. They look very similar to the tripod that Bisque is selling for the MX. Good to see some photos of the MX with the ME.

I placed a post on the Bisque web site asking about Mac compatibility. Daniel and Tom both replied and said the MX was the most Mac friendly mount that they had ever used. You don't need any extra drivers, port assignments, adaptors or IP addresses, you just plug the USB in to your Computer and into the mount and away it goes. Precision PEC was also being integrated into Sky X so you would be able fit a PE curve to the tracking log and apply it to the MX, all Mac Compatible.
This for me is one of the main reasons I chose the MX over the Titan, and I would choose the Mx over the AP1200 as well.
The ease and simplicity of using a Mac far out ways the abundant amount of windows based software that is available.
Software Bisque is on the right track as far as making a mount that is hassle free. I know it has not been tested by the masses yet, so far it is looking good. I cant wait to get it.

cheers
Phil

[PRejto (Peter)]

Originally Posted by CDKPhil

Those tripods look real nice. They look very similar to the tripod that Bisque is selling for the MX. Good to see some photos of the MX with the ME.

I'm fairly sure that the tripod is the same tripod SB is selling....I think I saw that at Cloudy Nights in a post about the MX which led me to the Astromart ad.

[frolinmod]

Originally Posted by PRejto

I'm fairly sure that the tripod is the same tripod SB is selling....I think I saw that at Cloudy Nights in a post about the MX which led me to the Astromart ad.

Ahem, please ask Rob Miller if they are the same and report his response back here. Thanks.

[DavidTrap (David)]

Originally Posted by CDKPhil

I placed a post on the Bisque web site asking about Mac compatibility. Daniel and Tom both replied and said the MX was the most Mac friendly mount that they had ever used. You don't need any extra drivers, port assignments, adaptors or IP addresses, you just plug the USB in to your Computer and into the mount and away it goes. Precision PEC was also being integrated into Sky X so you would be able fit a PE curve to the tracking log and apply it to the MX, all Mac Compatible.
This for me is one of the main reasons I chose the MX over the Titan, and I would choose the Mx over the AP1200 as well.
The ease and simplicity of using a Mac far out ways the abundant amount of windows based software that is available.
Software Bisque is on the right track as far as making a mount that is hassle free. I know it has not been tested by the masses yet, so far it is looking good. I cant wait to get it.

cheers
Phil

I don't know that being "Mac friendly" would be high on my list of priorities (and this is coming from a Mac fanatic). I found using a Mac for imaging to be so limiting in terms of software availability and advice from other users, that I started using XP under bootcamp, and then bought a PC laptop for the purpose.

I realise that a direct USB interface is nice, but personally have found no problems setting up a Keyspan USB-Serial adapter - I suspect most problems related to such adapters are caused by using the cheaper one, the Keyspan ones just seem to work.

I'm not trying to put down the MX or wave the flag for AP - I'm just not sure that what you say above would be a deal breaker for me.

DT

[CDKPhil]

Originally Posted by DavidTrap

I don't know that being "Mac friendly" would be high on my list of priorities (and this is coming from a Mac fanatic). I found using a Mac for imaging to be so limiting in terms of software availability and advice from other users, that I started using XP under bootcamp, and then bought a PC laptop for the purpose.

I realise that a direct USB interface is nice, but personally have found no problems setting up a Keyspan USB-Serial adapter - I suspect most problems related to such adapters are caused by using the cheaper one, the Keyspan ones just seem to work.

I'm not trying to put down the MX or wave the flag for AP - I'm just not sure that what you say above would be a deal breaker for me.

DT

Well it is not just the Mac compatibility, the fact that Software Bisque have a great reputation, they are quick to respond to e-mail, they are always on the ball updating their software and their proven track record with the PME is outstanding. Dollar value against the AP is good also. I must say having a mount that works with a Mac out of the box is quite appealing to me.
Yes I understand that there is limited software for the Mac but the more people demand Mac software the more will be created, and the less frustrations there will be. This is a discussion for the software and computer forum.

For me the PMX came out on top over the AP 1200 and the Titan.

Cheers

Phil

[RickS (Rick)]

Originally Posted by frolinmod

Ahem, please ask Rob Miller if they are the same and report his response back here. Thanks.

I have one of Rob's tripods on order for my AP900. He told me that Software Bisque will be selling his tripods, at least until they come up with their own design.

[gregbradley]

Gee there's a lot of high end gear coming into the Aussie astro community these days.

Greg.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by gregbradley

Gee there's a lot of high end gear coming into the Aussie astro community these days.

Greg.

I was looking at the differences between the PMA and the PMX and in particular at the levelling mechanisms on both.
The schematic for the PMX says that it is not fitted with micro-levelers like the PMA. So I'm wondering a little about the best way to adjust the mount base/pier top plate so as to get the best level I can. HAve any of you who are going down the PMX road figured this out yet. Mine is #5 on OPT's list for delivery and they still say next month.
Peter.

[CDKPhil]

Originally Posted by pmrid

I was looking at the differences between the PMA and the PMX and in particular at the levelling mechanisms on both.
The schematic for the PMX says that it is not fitted with micro-levelers like the PMA. So I'm wondering a little about the best way to adjust the mount base/pier top plate so as to get the best level I can. HAve any of you who are going down the PMX road figured this out yet. Mine is #5 on OPT's list for delivery and they still say next month.
Peter.

Hi Peter
I wish I was number five on the list. I don't think I will be getting mine till after July.
For the moment I will be mounting my MX on the tripod that Bisque is selling. The tripod has adjusters on each leg so it should be quite easy to obtain a good level. I will use a engineers precision level which is accurate to .01 mm.
I am going to make my own pier and I will incorporate micro adjustment into the pier top plate. I have not started on the design yet. It is still a concept in my head.

Cheers
Phil

[gregbradley]

I wonder if you can buy those microlevellers as an accessory.

They are nothing special just a knobbed bolt inside another bolt. As I recall its not actually part of the PME just screws into it. So if the thread sizes for the mounting holes are the same you could get 4 of those and use them.

Otherwise 2 pier plates with adjusting height bolts would do similar as long as they are strong.

Greg.