Jim, When you get all set up, you will end up with a harness of bundled cables, wrapped up in split coil sleeves, or something. If you do remove the CP3, I would put a small plastic bag (or

Hi Joseph, Definitely the Hand Paddle comes in, and I was given the same advice by someone at AP with respect to the CP3. I guess there are two approaches. One school seems to argue that a tight

Hi, One thing that Marj once recommended to me was to at least remove the CP3 controller, and bring it inside. The concern was for condensation getting into the electronics, causing corrosion.

Hi Niels, Yes the amplitude will be slightly less for an impact, but will be the same for a force applied. A force deflection of the mount depends on the stiffness of the pier tube, not the mass.

There is a often bit of misunderstanding about condensation etc. and equipment. The military has this sort of problem and uses environmental covers and spray treatments for a wide range of equipment

... somehow, I wouldn't feel right about doing that indignity to an AP mount. :-) Joe

My MI-250 portable pier has wood discs wedged tightly into each end (about 4") and this acts as dampeners and does a good job, without increasing weight. Dean

Hi Don, OK. But don't you agree that the amplitude will be smaller when the mass is increased? (for same impact) Best regards, Niels

I still like the one that looks like an outhouse, including the half moon on the door. Just open the door and it rolls away from the scope. Should fit right in behind any modern home

I haven't seen condensation inside yet, but a bag of dessicant sitting on the base of the mount might be a good idea. I think hardware stores sell them to dry musty closets. Some of them might

Hi Jim, I think we are on the same wavelength ... I have also been thinking of how to protect my AP900, without actually building an observatory. You see, I AM my own aesthetics committee, and

John, it must have been the angle Ray took the picture at making me look shorter ;-) thanks Ray.!!! Actually its huge, makes my 1200 look like a toy. The mount is so big, I'm sure John could put

James, You can fill the pipe with concrete at ANY time you like, perhaps in a year or two - if you think it might help. The only problem is welding the top, which then commits you to the

Hi all, I am in the process of buying a used 1200 with gtocp2. Since I do not have the mount yet nor have I used one, my questions is this, is there any good reason to upgrade to the gtocp3? If I did

Hi Niels, Filling the pier with sand doesn't dissipate any energy during the cantelevered oscillation. The sand just goes back and forth with the pier. The added mass lowers the frequency, which is

Here are three panoramas I put together that try to show the conference in a different way (people were moving so that's why there are "ghosts" in some spots in these images): Vendor

Borrowing from a commercial "You're going to love your mount". My 1200 is the stepper version, and you almost forget it's there. Roll the roof off, power up the mount, and away ya go. Tom Sings with

Hi JS, Yes, condensation is a issue. There are many approaches. I suggest that you make the cover completely air tight on all sides and the top. On the bottom, have it so that air can enter and exit,

Whoops- Didn't see you had linked to the same paper, Edd. Sorry to step on your toes. Tom Sings with Stars a "white stability, any ourselves... >

Jim - not sure how much help this will be to you... I have a C14 mounted on an AP1200/portable pier. Its been here in my back yard (in Ireland) for close to 18 months now and not been broken down