A 400AE mount would be incredible for use with the Stowaway and GTX. I'd be all over that and that would make driving over Snoqualmie Pass to get to better skies a much less labor intensive packing

If you've balanced the mount properly then there shouldn't be any risk with the gearbox lever.

For visual use, wouldn't encoders be way overkill? For imaging mobile space is a serious concern, especially if you have a smaller car or when it is a family outing as well. Mount, counterweights,

Hi Roland. Thanks for this explanation. However, I am now a bit confused again. This discussion would seem to recommend using the gearbox release levers when repositioning the mount. However, I

That's a nice compact obs you have there, Tom. Would be interested seeing the inside as well... What NUC model do you use ? Is it a rugged type ? I like your idea of the goldenrod heaters. I suppose

I would be interested in a smaller Astro-Physics mount. In terms of size, I would want to be able to carry my 130 GTX for imaging. That would allow me to leave my big Astro-Physics mount at home

Rolando, when you get those encoders to put on the 400 mount I have one that I would love to retrofit. it is such a delight to use on small set ups and enables carefree observation Tom fischer

The RST135 really fits the airplane carry on portable need well. The revived 400AE mount would be really great for trips where space is at a premium in your vehicle. You really want that performance

I would love a smaller mount of this size and quality. It was what I wanted when I signed up for the Mach2 honestly. Something lighter and portable but still with great accuracy and same APCC/CP4 or

Thanks for the explanations Rolando. That clears it up a bit. Indeed resolution and accuracy are two different beasts... What I was missing is the fact that the accuracy spec is for an entire

I will put in my 2 cents on this. Back in the day I put my name on the list for a 400 as I wanted a smaller mount to go with the 600E. I wound up with a Mach1 as the 400 was superseded by the larger

I love to see a portable mount from Astro-Physics. However, before you go ahead and design one, you may want to ask what kind of portability you are aiming at. Portable with a car? Then I think Mach2

I should add to this with a little more detail. Lets say you are a new imager. You buy yourself a CEM mount from iOptron and walk out for about 3k-ish. You use it for a bit, like it, but now you want

Thank you for the response, Roland. On the smaller mount, I have posted and talked about this topic pretty frequently on CN. The Mach 1 being gone leaves a void in the lineup and in the marketplace

The 1100/1600 were always designed to accept encoders. These mounts were designed to replace the 900/1200 mounts which could not be retrofitted with encoders. The whole idea of the 1100/1600 was to be

Yeah the 1100 is really well designed. If a bonehead like me can use it for 5 years and not have it be smoldering pile of aluminum -- anyone can use it.😂 Speaking of design, there is a sentiment

There are no Delrin plugs. You can tighten to your heart's content. Use hex keys to really lock them up if you wish, but make sure that your scope doesn't run into something since the clutches won't

One more thing, modern A-P mounts no longer use Delrin plugs. Read the operating manual about tightening knobs. Peter

I use the long side of the Allen wrench into the knobs and tighten the short side with my fingers. This way it’s more difficult to over tighten. Peter

Hand tight works for me. Can always get it a little baby nudge with a hex if you really care that much.