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Posts Made By: Bill Byrd

November 8, 2003 04:49 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Sources For Lightweight Mirrors??

Posted By Bill Byrd
Anyone have experience with a thin mirror maker? For my last hurrah of ATMing, I'm thinking of doing a fairly lightweight 16-18" dob. I'm looking for a mirror that will be lighter than the usual 1.6" you find from most makers. Does anyone know of a maker who can do something like a 16"X1" thick mirror? Maybe an 18"X1.25" ?? For reference I currently have a 14.5" truss dob with a 1.6" mirror. The mirror box weighs 57 pounds. I'd like to go up one notch in size but keep the weight down. Hence the idea of using a thin mirror.
Thanks! Bill in SA

November 8, 2003 06:38 PM Forum: Equipment Talk

Encoder Resolution

Posted By Bill Byrd
2 sets of US Digital encoders, both S2 models. One set is S2-2048 and the other is S2-1024. With quadrature, are these 8192 and 4096 counts, respectively, as far as DSCs are concerned??
Thanks! Bill in SA

November 12, 2003 03:06 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Source For Finder Dovetails??

Posted By Bill Byrd
No one seems to have these any more. Is there a source out there for those of us who need a few more?
Thanks! Bill in SA

November 27, 2003 02:47 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Meade Schmidt-Newt OTA Weights?

Posted By Bill Byrd
Anyone know the weights of the 8" & 10" SN OTAs?
Bill in SA

December 28, 2003 02:39 PM Forum: Telescope Making

DSC Stalk

Posted By Bill Byrd
If you can see past the mess in the picture, you'll see the holder I put together for the new (to me) DSC computer for my scope. I wanted it to be close but I didn't want to add that much weight to the upper cage. Soooo...I gave up one 2" EP spot in the EP holder that mounts on the side of the rocker box. Since the pole is not 2", I use a 1.25" to 2" adapter I had laying around. The little platform that the DSC computer rides on is free to turn so the display can be positioned to be read from the EP or from the back of the scope. Nothing groundbreaking about this...I just like to make things that make observing more enjoyable.
Bill in SA

February 10, 2004 04:57 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Re: Tube Currents

Posted By Bill Byrd
You have GOT to use a solar filter to view the sun!
Bill in SA

February 15, 2004 06:30 PM Forum: Chinese Optics Imports

What To Do?

Posted By Bill Byrd
My order for a 1026 was placed with Anacotes just over one year ago. I decided to wait patiently as the delays and setbacks mounted. I figured I could wait a year for a decent 4" wide field scope, especially for the price. When the "yellow" lens problem cropped up, I opted to wait for the re-worked semi-apo lens and to take delivery when the replacement lenses were available; supposedly in about 30 days. Now it seems that those lenses may not be ready for another 4 months, if then. I'm beginning to run out of patience. At this point, I think I'm going to ask Anacortes to credit my card for the $100.00 deposit and I'll use my purchasing power to buy something that I can actually get and use within a reasonable time frame. In a year or so, I can probably buy one of the 1026 OTA with the semi-apo lens off of Astromart. Seems like quite a few of the 1278s were sold not too long after they were received so it may be the same with the 1026s. I'll take my chances.

Any good reasons I should hold on and wait at this point?
Bill in SA

February 20, 2004 04:22 AM Forum: Chinese Optics Imports

I'm Out!

Posted By Bill Byrd
Hi All:
With no end in sight to the 1026 saga, I've cancelled my order with Anacortes and I'll wait to see what the corrected scopes are like when and if they finally arrive. Maybe then I'll decide that I want one. Maybe not.

Good luck to all who stick it out.
Bill in SA

February 29, 2004 05:16 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

Apogee 102mm X 550mm Objective

Posted By Bill Byrd
I know it's a long shot but I'll ask here anyway: Has anyone had any experience with this lens? I'm curious as to its optical performance and as to what kind of cell it comes in. I'm thinking of making a fairly portable, quick look scope and a short focus refractor would be nice.
TIA, Bill in SA

February 29, 2004 11:43 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Apogee 102mm X 550mm Objective??

Posted By Bill Byrd
I know it's a long shot but I'll ask here anyway: Has anyone had any experience with this lens? I'm curious as to its optical performance and as to what kind of cell it comes in. I'm thinking of making a fairly portable, quick look scope and a short focus refractor would be nice.
TIA, Bill in SA

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