Posts Made By: Andrea Salati

Does anyone use it? I am interested into purchasing one but I would be attaching a Celestron support (Quick Release Finder Bracket 50 mm., model 51149-A) and it seems to me it wouldn't work with that because everywhere I see it advertised with a Losmandy unit.
Can anyone confirm this? Thank you.

For reasons too long to explain, we are considering installing a C11 OTA in a 12" LX200 mount. Has anyone done that before? Horror stories you want to share? Hints and tips maybe? Thank you in advance,

Andrea

For reasons too long to explain, we are considering installing a C11 OTA in a 12" LX200 mount. Has anyone done that before? Horror stories you want to share? Hints and tips maybe? Thank you in advance,

Andrea

I recently put my hands on a very old Starfinder Equatorial, the 10 inches one. The mount came with no declination control, neither manual nor electric.
Does anyone have a source where to find ideas and plans about how to make one? I know what Meade's looked like but copying that requires tools I don't have. An el cheapo solution would be more like it ...

I recently put my hands on a very old Starfinder Equatorial, the 10 inches one. The mount came with no declination control, neither manual nor electric.
Does anyone have a source where to find ideas and plans about how to make one? I know what Meade's looked like but copying that requires tools I don't have. I am no machinist ...

I do not mean to start a war on brands or designers or manufacturers or anything like that.
I am considering buying a 6" achromat in a lens cell. I have personal reasons to avoid the chinese refractors the world is flooded with at the time being (I don't like the f/ ratios, in the first place).
I would love to go f/12 or f/15 (with the latter being the preferred one but not for "portability" ...).
I would appreciate your comments and reviews about D&G's and TMB/APM's Fraunhofers.

Andrea from Italy here.
I used to use a CG11 but then I had to sell it because of a relocation. Then I bought a TV102. I used it some on an alt-az thing. Then on el-cheapo equatorial, a la C5.
You could tell the optics where great but ...
Then I bought, used, a Vixen GP-DX with a SS2000PC. It's awesome. The complete setup, a 7 amp battery included, can be lifted with one hand, at least I can, and it's small, light, sturdy, has the goto ability and works well. I wouldn't go back an inch from here. I don't do any imaging on film, just some occasional web cam work on the planets and I am happy of that too.
If you don't need the goto you could go cheaper and buy the drive controller.
Or you could buy a Synta/Star Watcher HEQ 5.
Enjoy your TV102 and write me an email if you want.

Look here:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=52&pid=268&m=

Andrea

This picture is the best one I could find online.
I think it says it all.

Andrea