Mojo, You do realize that the Mach1 can also be divided into two pieces. As I recall you just remove 6 bolts. It only takes a minute. Woody

NO on the Mach1 being little and light-weight. Got one – and as the years go on, it keeps putting on weight. It’s already at my limit to schlepp around just the mount in a rolling case. And lifting th

Dale, I agree with you on just about everything you said. I've pretty much given up on soldered connections too. And I too have recently discovered L-com for USB cables. They're expensive, their shipp

Christopher, Thanks for that insight on GPS clock accuracy. I realized it took several minutes for greatest geographical accuracy (often called 3D by GPS makers), but didn’t realize that the clock acc

And BTW – AP sells this exact same one. Woody

#Mach2GTO

Doubt it. First you have to figure out the pinouts of the SkySync, then does the data protocol even match? If I were you, I’d just buy a StarGPS. When you order it you order it with the AP cable adapt

#APCC

Eric, Yes, StarGPS does have specific instructions for AP mounts. Here’s the link: https://www.stargps.ca/manual.htm#astro I forgot that another suggestion they make is to switch to UTC for your HC. A

#APCC

Eric, It’s been a long time since I’ve used my Mach1. But as I recall, there’s a setting in the HC that tells it where to look for time/date/location data. It can be set to look to the HC for that dat

#APCC

Eric, I hope it works for you. I forgot to give you a link. Here it is: https://www.stargps.ca/ I don’t have or use APCC so my StarGPS just connects directly to my old CP3 controller. Hopefully that’s

#APCC

Eric, I don’t know about APCC, but I’ve used a StarGPS for years with my CP3. When you order one, you specify your mount and they supply the GPS module with the proper adapter cable. It plugs directly

#APCC

Cytan, Nothing against your super-human strength claim, but I’d say your knobs weren’t properly done. I just looked up red thread lock specs on both LocTite’s website and Permatex’s website. LocTite s

And red thread-lock needs temperatures above 600° F to start loosening up. And my experience with the stuff is that it lasts for decades. I have a trailer hitch that’s been outside for 20 years and th

Jack, Ah. And as I mentioned, I didn’t have success running my Celestron Alt/Az mounts set to UT either. Another “First World” problem. There are worse problems than changing to DST and back. Woody

Jack, Interesting. I’ve found the opposite. I too got tired of dealing with Daylight Savings and set all my EQ mounts to UTC as I found that easier. And that includes my AP Mach-1. I haven’t used any

Jim, I’m not an Apple guy and am not familiar with iPads. HOWEVER – unless Apple has recently changed their packaging and marketing, you only get built-in GPS if you get an iPad with a modem. So if yo

Yes, that’s my understanding also after communicating directly with Wayne at Starlight Instruments. Woody

Peter, Actually not quite. I had a conversation with Wayne Schroeder from Starlight Instruments several months ago where he explained that each company makes their own motors now. It was originally su

Peter, I believe Optec’s system is called Focuslynx and Starlight Instruments’ system is called Focus Boss. Woody

Mike, I don’t have a definitive answer to that question, but my very heavy (12 lbs. I think) Losmandy side-by-side saddle seems quite solid and rigid for the small but heavy refractors I put on it. I’

George, Thank you. That looks like a very helpful document. It’s not the same procedure I’ve used in the past, but I’ll give it a try the next time I setup my side-by-side solar scopes. Woody