John,
Initially, our goal was to allow upgrades for older 400, 600E, 900 or 1200
stepper motor mounts. However, the accuracy demanded of a go-to mount is
much higher than a conventional mount. As the GTO model of each mount was
developed, we redesigned various mechanical components to achieve optimal
performance. These changes cannot be made to existing mounts. The cost of
updating the electronics of an existing mount would probably be at least
$2,000 (the entire drive system and controller would have to be replaced),
yet an older mount would not be as accurate as the newer mounts. As a
result, we determined that upgrading would not be cost effective for the
customer. We have decided that upgrades will not be made available. I'm
sorry that it didn't work out.
Marjorie Christen
Astro-Physics

Thanks Marj,

That's why I just got on the list yesteday for a 1200 goto. Now what to do
with that QMD?

Hey, does AP have white touch-up paint for the mounts?

John Gleason, dvj@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~dvj/


----------

From: Marj <astrophy@...>
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: [ap-gto] Re:Retrofits for QMD mounts
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 7:37 AM

John,
Initially, our goal was to allow upgrades for older 400, 600E, 900 or

1200

stepper motor mounts. However, the accuracy demanded of a go-to mount is
much higher than a conventional mount. As the GTO model of each mount was
developed, we redesigned various mechanical components to achieve optimal
performance. These changes cannot be made to existing mounts. The cost of
updating the electronics of an existing mount would probably be at least
$2,000 (the entire drive system and controller would have to be

replaced),

yet an older mount would not be as accurate as the newer mounts. As a
result, we determined that upgrading would not be cost effective for the
customer. We have decided that upgrades will not be made available. I'm
sorry that it didn't work out.
Marjorie Christen
Astro-Physics

I'm sure there are plenty of people who would but a
used QMD 1200.

Rich

They would also *buy* a QMD 1200.

It looked great before I pushed send. ;-)

Rich

I'm sure there are plenty of people who would but a
used QMD 1200.

Rich

Thanks Marj,

That's why I just got on the list yesteday for a 1200 goto. Now what to

do

with that QMD?

Hey, does AP have white touch-up paint for the mounts?

John Gleason, dvj@...
http://home.earthlink.net/~dvj/


----------

From: Marj <astrophy@...>
To: ap-gto@...
Subject: [ap-gto] Re:Retrofits for QMD mounts
Date: Wednesday, October 13, 1999 7:37 AM

John,
Initially, our goal was to allow upgrades for older 400, 600E, 900 or

1200

stepper motor mounts. However, the accuracy demanded of a go-to mount is
much higher than a conventional mount. As the GTO model of each mount

was

developed, we redesigned various mechanical components to achieve

optimal

performance. These changes cannot be made to existing mounts. The cost

of

updating the electronics of an existing mount would probably be at least
$2,000 (the entire drive system and controller would have to be

replaced),

yet an older mount would not be as accurate as the newer mounts. As a
result, we determined that upgrading would not be cost effective for the
customer. We have decided that upgrades will not be made available. I'm
sorry that it didn't work out.
Marjorie Christen
Astro-Physics

------------------------------------------------------------------------

eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/ap-gto
http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications

------------------------------------------------------------------------

eGroups.com home: http://www.egroups.com/group/ap-gto
http://www.egroups.com - Simplifying group communications

John,
I am sure that the used market for the 1200QMD is good. Many people don't
want a go-to, but DO want a high-qaulity mount. We can send touch-up paint.
Please call Alice to confirm your shipping address.
Marjorie Christen
Astro-Physics

Hi Marj,

No problem at all. I'm happy with the QMD400 mount. If an upgrade were
feasible and relatively inexpensive, that'd be an interesting possibility.
I'll be happy wait in line for a 1200 GTO. I'll most likely keep and use
both mounts.

Best,
John Kasianowicz


[snip]