TxOliver

This is a repost from my post in CN I received my AZ100 about a month ago with almost all the bells and whistles and I love it. Before placing the order for the Rowan, after doing some research, I ordered a Berlebach Planet direct from Berlebach in Germany. All the US retailers are drop shipping anyway. Unfortunately I have had a horrible experience with Berlebach customer service. To make a long story short, the package shipped via DHL 2 months ago and arrived almost 8 wks ago in Chicago. From "Inbound into US Customs" on November 24 there has been no further tracking. DHL, US Customs nor USPS has never contacted me and nobody knows where it is. Berlebach blames DHL and DHL blames USPS and US Customs. I have contacts at USPS and Customs who both tell me that their organizations have never received the package. Berlebach refuses to refund or replace the tripod which I paid for. I am obviously very upset with their attitude, and at this point, despite hearing good things about the product, don't think I even want a replacement. I would like a solid wooden tripod. I have been using a fairly solid Chinese carbon camera tripod which is OK but I would rather have a nice wooden one. I am looking at a Geoptic Hercules designed for the 10micron mount. It seems to have an appropriate flat top with a 65mm x 5 mm cutout matching the Rowan AZ100 as well as a central M12 hole. Has anyone out there got a Hercules and an AZ100 or any information on the use of this mount and tripod?

It does include an M12 bolt Make sure you select the M12 female thread for the bottom as there are options, if you have an M12 male on your tripod that is.

While trying to figure out the best wat to power my mount, I came upon this neat cable. Goes from a pd USB C (now found on most usb power packs) to a 5.5 x 2.5 barrel connector. Puts out exactly 12v and should carry up to 3 amps. Very convenient DSD TECH MagicConn SH-CP12A USB Type C PD to DC Power Cable-12V https://a.co/d/iGiEQZB Im loving the mount. While waiting for my Berlebach (now apparently 6 weeks in US Customs but I think it's gone and nobody wants to take responsibility) I ordered a temporary carbon tripod. https://leofotousa.com/products/leofoto-ln-404c-systematic-massive-bowl-compatible-carbon-fiber-tripod-with-100mm-bowl-bag?gclid=Cj0KCQiAhc-sBhCEARIsAOVwHuSrvL4M2vljYx6gL76E5aOUc7d9P1x7m9irG4pwkK7nWuyFPZ5T6YIaAvkOEALw_wcB So far seems very stable despite being very lightweight. I ordered the pier adapter with my AZ100 with a 3/8 base and was able to put a few screws retrograde from the tripod top plate to the pier adapter for extra stability and pull out strength. Im not going to trust it with my C11 and TOA 130 simultaneously mounted but Im confident it's string enough for my smaller scopes. Just some thoughts!

Ok. Another question. Do the motors have thermal overload protection? In my previous post, I was raving about the accuracy of solar tracking. I left it on and went for an afternoon bike ride. When I came back I checked to see if it was still on the sun, but unfortunately it was way off and it looks as though it stopped tracking altogether. Motors were still green in Rowan Planetarium but goto no longer working. Moving scope manually still shows movement of the bullseye. Unpowered it and turned it back on and everything working again. Motor housing was warm, but it's black and has been in direct sun. It's winter here in South Texas but still 30 degrees C today and not a cloud in the sky. Did the motors shut down due to heating?? Can't think of any other reason. There was no obstruction that may have bound up movement of the mount.

I believe I am running 1.2.0. Attached is a screenshot of my config menu. I have been able to jog the scope using SN. Seems to work fine. I did order a game controller since my kid took his to college with him!! I set up 2 scopes to look at the sun todat. Lunt 80 HA and SVX 102 with Baader wedge and binoviewer. I have to say I am extremely impressed with the mount. All I did was turn it on pointing at 0 alt and due south using my phone compass/inclinometer pointed at the sun using SN then aligned on the sun once I had it dialed in. It has tracked perfectly for 2 hrs now!! Very very impressive overall! I had to mount it on a cheap Chinese tripod. Still waiting for my Berlebach Planet which according to DSL is stuck in US Customs for over a month bit in reality, I believe they lost it and evrryone including Berlebach seems to be passing the buck!! 🤨🤨

Hi. I am new to this forum. Just received my AZ100 3 days ago. I got all the bells and whistles. Still figuring it out. I have lots of questions but would like to start with the software/firmware version. Mine shipped with vrs 1.2.0. I notice that my config page is different than what's in the current manual. I am interested in using a Bluetooth controller but in my config, the Bluetooth options seem to have gone away. I tried to do the firmware "Update" to 1.1.2 and it seems to proceed however it leaves me with the same 1.2.0. I guess it won't go back, although 1.2.0 isn't even listed on the firmware update page at Rown Astronomy. Any thoughts. I emailed Derek but it's the holidays and he's likely occupied.