Posts Made By: Rod Kaufman

Welcome back Floyd, I was wondering why it so quiet around here!
It seems like you enjoyed your time there although it appears seeing conditions could have been better. I was hoping to try Pinos tonight as the clear sky clock indicated superb conditions for Saturday but the clock did a flip-flop and now the conditions are in the pits. Maybe next time...

You might try Parks as their pedestal bases are of a similar design.
Another way to go is to buy three large "L" brackets from a home improvement store such as home depot. These are the type of brackets that attach large book shelves to a wall. I have three of them attached as pedestal legs to an aluminum tube pedestal. The "L" brackets come reinforced and can be easily drilled to attach them to the sides of the pedestal. You can obtain three castor wheels from Apogee and attach them to the end of the "L" bracket feet if you want to wheel the scope around a driveway. The castors also have built in levelers if you need to level of scope. These L brackets are probably the most cost-effective way to go and can be purchased in sizes to meet most needs.

I can't comment on their scopes as I don't have any experience with them but a positive feature in your situation is the fact that they are relatively local to Southern California so shipping and/or problems may be more easily solved.

From what I've been told by an ATMer, most of the business newport does is commercial glassworks with a minor interest in astro materials. My buddy has been there and describes the place as a massive warehouse where he had to walk a lot just to find someone who helped him by a secondary for his 15" scope. I and some of my astro buddies have had their mirrors aluminized by them.
I would try the phone contacts again until you get satisfaction. It doesn't surprise me you have had communication problems with them although I read of such complaints with other vendors in these forums on a fairly frequent basis.

Floyd,
I haven't encountered any encoder errors due to the Altitude mounting arm on my astrosystems scope. I have read of encoder errors that occur because of the method of attaching the encoder at the end of the mounting arm to the box. I use a mounting block to receive the shaft of the encoder and unless the mounting block isn't positioned properly on the box, errors in altitude may occur. The mounting block is itself attached with adhesive and has occasionlly loosened with temperature extremes and I make sure I re-mount the block so the scope remains orthogonal.
It's possible the slot in a mounting arm may have to be "notched-out" more for a specific scope so that it does it's job but I haven't seen a case where the arm itself is the cause of an encoder error.
As far as the AZ arm goes, I haven't encountered any problems with the bar itself and I haven't read of any to date. Problems with an AZ nut loosening are not uncommon and can be remedied with a locking nut/bolt combo and vendors sell them in their kits. It seems you were unfortunate enough to encounter an unusual problem with your set-up but it seems you've remedied it.

Well, I have been waiting for it to happen and now it has: the first mass-produced truss-dobs are reportedly on their way to market from Meade. I was suspecting truss dobs might be mass produced from Synta or GSO but Meade has beaten them to it.
The first units are supposed to be available in December but Meade's track record of having it's new product line available when they say it's supposed to be available is equivocal, at best.
I'd like to see an independent review of these scopes along with independent testing of the primary optics above and beyond the usual amateur reviews that lack any independent professional analysis of the optics but appear regularly in review forums...

Costco stores have a fairly good deal on Meade 90mm refractors with autostar for around $195.00. I think it's a better deal than the celestron 4.5" reflector that I bought on sale from them a few years ago.
The refractor is a good way to go if people aren't too familar with a scope and the autostar can help them find objects they probably wouldn't be able to locate without it.

I am in the process of attemting to get Fedex to deliver my recently recoated 16" mirror. Delivery was slated for yesterday, March 21. Needless to say, they didn't show-up. A signature is required so I made sure someone was home to sign for it at all times. After talking to six Fedex reps on the phone, one stated the truck arrived at my home at approximately 9:00pm but no one was home. I politely told the Fedex rep that this information was bogus since I was at home with my family and no Fedex truck was at my residence. I did see the Fedex truck deliver a parcel to my neighbor at 3:00pm and I nodded to the driver and he nodded back so I thought he would be at my home next but he simply got back into his truck and drove away.
I have now asked that Fedex to deliver at my residence after 5:00pm in their designated PM delivery schedule so I can be at home today for a delivery.
What do you have to do to get your box from these guys?
We will see...

In contrast with my unpleasant experience with Fedex ground delivery services, I am delighted thus far with the recoating of my 16" mirror and 3.1" secondary with enhanced coatings from Nova Optical Systems.
Here's what you get when you open the box:
1. An invoice noting the fees for services and shipping, marked "paid".
2. A graph noting the reflectance of the coating, averaging around 97-96%.
3. The composition of the layers with the thicknesses applied to the substrate.
3. A one year warranty against failure of the coatings with free stripping and recoating if the coating does fail, personally signed by the optician Steve Dodds.
4. A center-spotted primary.
5. Cleaning instructions including a description of the use of isopropyl alcohol if the mirror becomes very dirty.
6. A quick turn around time of one week.
7. The best price I've seen for this service.
8. I am a happy camper!
I am hoping to center spot the secondary in a day or so and re-install my optics in my scope and test it at Mt Pinos on Friday or Saturday, dependant on road and weather conditions.

Gregg,
I use a white cotton athletic sock to cover my 3.1" secondary. I open it up and carefully pull it over the secondary without touching it and drape it over the opposite end of the spider. I've done this for years and never scratched the surface of the secondary or seen any evidence of deposition of cotton fibers or other material. Works for me...