Thanks for the responses to my earlier questions. I agree that it
seems like there'd be a small market for G11 tripod to AP mount adapters.

One reason I'm interested in using my G11 tripod with my as yet
unpurchased 900GTO is that sometimes I set up on bare ground and the
G11 tripod seems to handle that well.

How do the AP portable piers handle "ground" setup?

TIA,

-Dick Locke

I've owned a G11 w/ the tripod, an AP900 w/ the 46/42/32 inch piers and an
AP1200 w/ the 56 inch pier.

"Bare ground" and the AP Pier? No problem, imo. Maybe even better than
the G11... the feet are closed (about an inch wide metal "foot")... the G11
feet are open and can sink in soft ground.

The G11 does have the advantage of being able to setup on faily non-level
ground. E.g. just adjust the legs to get it level.
(still, I found it a bit of hassle to level with the cut-your-hands tripod
leg knobs (I didnt upgrade).)

The AP portable piers have some amount of "adjustable tilt", but I'd have to
admit the G11 was (obviously) more flexible with leveling.
So, I just bring a couple strips of hardwood and slip these under the AP
feet when to get the pier level.

The AP portable pier "feet" are steel (not aluminum) and I think this is a
plus -- tough as steel. the G11 had soft aluminum.
(For me, I setup frequently on asphault.)

Here's the big big plus of the AP pier over the G11 tripod: The AP pier
takes up less space in the car!
Yes... since the AP legs and rods can go ~inside~ the tube, it takes up very
little space in the car. With the G11, I pretty much loaded the tripod
"setup" in the back the explorer (no head of course).... then jockeyed the
boxes around the pier.

It would be nice if the AP legs had leveling screws on them. That's
probably the only addition. Maybe a differnt way of doing the tension rods
so as to nearly eliminate them.

And everyone I'm sure is going to tell me that the EQ mount ~doesnt~ need to
be level. Yeah.. I suppose so, but I prefer it that way when drift
aligning.




_____

From: ap-gto@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ap-gto@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
dtlnew
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 7:39 PM
To: ap-gto@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [ap-gto] G11 to 900GTO adapter and question about AP portable piers




Thanks for the responses to my earlier questions. I agree that it
seems like there'd be a small market for G11 tripod to AP mount adapters.

One reason I'm interested in using my G11 tripod with my as yet
unpurchased 900GTO is that sometimes I set up on bare ground and the
G11 tripod seems to handle that well.

How do the AP portable piers handle "ground" setup?

TIA,

-Dick Locke





__________ NOD32 2161 (20070401) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset.com

You are right it doesn't need to be level but if it isn't you have cross
coupling in your adjustments that can make alignment harder.



_____

From: ap-gto@yahoogroups.com [mailto:ap-gto@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 1:49 AM
To: ap-gto@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [ap-gto] G11 to 900GTO adapter and question about AP portable
piers



I've owned a G11 w/ the tripod, an AP900 w/ the 46/42/32 inch piers and an
AP1200 w/ the 56 inch pier.

"Bare ground" and the AP Pier? No problem, imo. Maybe even better than
the G11... the feet are closed (about an inch wide metal "foot")... the G11
feet are open and can sink in soft ground.

The G11 does have the advantage of being able to setup on faily non-level
ground. E.g. just adjust the legs to get it level.
(still, I found it a bit of hassle to level with the cut-your-hands tripod
leg knobs (I didnt upgrade).)

The AP portable piers have some amount of "adjustable tilt", but I'd have to
admit the G11 was (obviously) more flexible with leveling.
So, I just bring a couple strips of hardwood and slip these under the AP
feet when to get the pier level.

The AP portable pier "feet" are steel (not aluminum) and I think this is a
plus -- tough as steel. the G11 had soft aluminum.
(For me, I setup frequently on asphault.)

Here's the big big plus of the AP pier over the G11 tripod: The AP pier
takes up less space in the car!
Yes... since the AP legs and rods can go ~inside~ the tube, it takes up very
little space in the car. With the G11, I pretty much loaded the tripod
"setup" in the back the explorer (no head of course).... then jockeyed the
boxes around the pier.

It would be nice if the AP legs had leveling screws on them. That's
probably the only addition. Maybe a differnt way of doing the tension rods
so as to nearly eliminate them.

And everyone I'm sure is going to tell me that the EQ mount ~doesnt~ need to
be level. Yeah.. I suppose so, but I prefer it that way when drift
aligning.


_____

From: ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com> com
[mailto:ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com> com] On Behalf
Of
dtlnew
Sent: Sunday, April 01, 2007 7:39 PM
To: ap-gto@yahoogroups. <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com> com
Subject: [ap-gto] G11 to 900GTO adapter and question about AP portable piers

Thanks for the responses to my earlier questions. I agree that it
seems like there'd be a small market for G11 tripod to AP mount adapters.

One reason I'm interested in using my G11 tripod with my as yet
unpurchased 900GTO is that sometimes I set up on bare ground and the
G11 tripod seems to handle that well.

How do the AP portable piers handle "ground" setup?

TIA,

-Dick Locke

__________ NOD32 2161 (20070401) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.
http://www.eset. <http://www.eset.com> com

In a message dated 4/2/2007 9:58:01 AM Central Daylight Time,
J.Zeglinski@rogers.com writes:

I recently purchased a set of the optional Losmandy glow in the dark
rubber feet for the G11 tripod.

I am not a fan of flexible vibration dampers under tripod feet. Rubber
underneath a mount tripod will cause variable polar alignment as the scope moves
around the sky. Although it might kill vibration, it does flex with the changing
moment arm of the various mount and scope componenets. Not a good idea for
imaging.

Rolando


**************************************
See what's free at
http://www.aol.com.

Hi Jeff,

I recently purchased a set of the optional Losmandy glow in the dark
rubber feet for the G11 tripod. That should help them keep from sinking into
the ground, and kill vibration on pavement.

However, about levelling, I wish the AP900 and other models would have
levelling bubbles on the base of the fork, like the Losmandy G11 and some
others do.
Something I will have to add, to make it right.

Joe

Hi Chris,

Good point, but I don't quite see your analysis. If the mount is
completely balanced, the entire weight of the telescope system should pass
straight down through the centre of the mount, and thus, the centre of the
tripod. The weight at the tripod feet should then result in an even
distribution, among all three. Under complete counterbalance, there should be
no resultant moment forces remaining at the centre of the pier - except for a
"marginal, intended overbalance" to the east side of the mount, for smoother
tracking purposes.

You state a concern, that I can't quite grasp. Could you explain just a
bit further, please - I may have missed something obvious?

Joe