I plan to get one of those too. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com

This has been my plan. Use my (buckets of fun) RST-135E and sell it the moment I have my greedy fingers wrapped around a Mach-Mini. "Always take the high road. There's less traffic." -Christopher Eric

I have an RST-135E, a ZWO AM5 and I used to have an RST-135. Of those, the RST-135 would be my suggestion. I haven't done much with my Mach1, 1100GTO and 1600GTO since getting into the small harmonic

NEVER use WD-40 on ANY part of a telescope or mount. It is a PENETRANT, NOT a lubricant. It penetrates into everything. It dissolves and ruins real lubricants, it can ruin optical coatings, it can rui

#Mach2GTO

I say quit removing the Hyperstar and cam. For lots of reasons. Make up a custom draw-string bag to put over the end of the scope, Hyperstar and cam. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikolo

#Mach2GTO

But it is NOT raw aluminum to raw aluminum. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com

*I* will state clearly that USB mini and micro connectors are complete rubbish. And USB A and B aren't far behind. The IEEE USB specs say they should be good to several hundred connects/disconnects. N

I predict that will change. I think it would already be happening, except for COVID. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com

FWIW, one of my priorities in any remote or robotic observatory is to eliminate absolutely as many USB connections as possible. USB connectors, USB cable length issues, USB power issues, USB protocol

But since there isn't an Ethernet cable going through the mount, it can't be counted as a configuration utilizing the Mach2 buily-in features. Personally I wish there was Ethernet and fiber ports goin

I put the computer (NUC) on the OTA. Very short and stable USB cables with just two connections per cable. USB through mount used to connect down to CP4 only. 12V goes up to PowerPole power distributi

Conformal coatings are good for boards that aren't already contaminated. Not so good for already-contaminated boards. There are ways to clean contaminated boards to stabilize them, dry them and then c

Positive air pressure with dried, filtered air. Keep Observatory during the day slightly warmer than outside. -Christopher Erickson Observatory engineer Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com

In my personal experience, the top ten most common sources of AP mount motor stalls (orange LED) are, in order: 1. Battery power voltage drop. 2. AC-DC power adapter failing for some reason. Usually d

I guess I could simply get a short AP portable pier. "Always take the high road. There's less traffic." -Christopher Erickson Observatory Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, Hawaii

One persuasive angle might be focusing on the profound waste of valuable energy every night, blasting billions of watts of energy up and away into the night sky, where it benefits nothing and no one.

LOL! Ironically, I am trying to do the exact same thing. I have a new-from-AP 1600 and a Meade LX200GPS-16. I just need to find another Meade Super Giant Field Tripod for a good deal and get it shippe

Drill it out. LOL "Always take the high road. There's less traffic." -Christopher Erickson Observatory Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, Hawaii

I think "compensate" is a better word, but yes. "Always take the high road. There's less traffic." -Christopher Erickson Observatory Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, Hawaii

Just for general FYI, RCOS OTA's have terrible secondary mirror-based focusers that are notorious for going berserk and slamming into one extreme of the focus range and then jamming. Best fix is addin