mckinnell

Thanks to all but, tri pod MUST!!!, have wheels, if i did use a pier out the front of our property i am wondering how long it would grow legs and walk off, as, from many passed experiences, i trust people as far as i could throw them, and it would not be far enough for me, personnel bad history, so, actually speaking, less the packaging the telescope and many other bits, power pack etc etc, it is showroom new and never been used, computer never fired up, it just lies their, very very very upsetting, and at my age and health, i can not afford to waste both time and monies, so, that`s the problem in a nut shell.......... Very best regards and thanks to all, McKinnell . aka Tom...

Hi proto Star, 12 inch sky on NEQ6 mirror, and , no, alas t i can not have a pier or any form of observatory; the idea is to move in and out of the garage as and when i need to use, could put things more acrid as to my plight, but, do not want to be bared from the forum lol lol lol. Many thanks and regards for response McKinnell.

Hello to all, Long time no chat as they say, well, after very long ( 4 years ) deliberations with myself as to where i could get my scope placed for viewing, my final conclusions are that i can only utilise my old brick built garage, alas, it has much in their for gardening and as such, the roof will not be altered, neither is their much room for making observatory type additions, so, here is the FINAL way this must play out or !!!!!!!!!. My intention is to make a tee type tri pod wheeled trolley arrangement, wheels to have brakes to hold fast the telescope in its placement and also using the Amici Prism 90 Deg polar scope attachment so to stop the need to bend as my spine will not allow, and, reading up on said Amici Prism, it is the best way and no need for expensive cameras, which could fail, most electronic will do in the end, nature of the beast!!, i would like to get my fellow members to give suggestions to the best way to build this all together for a successful outcome. One problem that cannot be sorted out is that alas my field of operations will be very limited as, we have many trees years old and many fruit types in the mix and am not in anyway proposed to chopping out as that is the mark of a philistine in our book, S. W. M. B. O. aka the wife, god bless her!!, BUT, it is South facing to South East so some cancelation there, one MUST work with that which they have and, this is my lot so that is that. I hope you lot out there can advise and help to make sure the construction/project ends up a usable and safe way to get going and start so looking forwards to your collective responses... Many grateful thanks and best regards to all, McKinnell aka Tom....................

Nice, my thanks also James; I STILL haven't worked out where I can locate my Obs ?????, still, that's another problem, are me!!!!!!!!!!!. Regards to all, Tom

Gina, i have very very bad BP problems, a very good food is PORRIDGE, a great gift from us Scots, ha ha ha, you need a lot of salt to sugar and it DOES help with BP, if you can as we say, ! Tak the porridge ye ken!, give it a go. All my very best, Tom.

Adeking, how much per hollow concrete block did you pay as, on ebay uk the prices seem so ridiculously high !!!!!. Regards, Tom.

What a lovely SBT, what is the loves name and how old mate?, Regards, Tom.

I hope it is nothing serious !, get feeling well soon Gina. xxxx Very best regards, Tom.

Francis, I have just had an idea to embellish your advice which will be taken up my friend, and that is, if i mark out and drill either side of where the tripod end go into the drilled holes actual, then, would it not be a problem to form three metal bands, say S/Steel type, and then as a loop screw them in place to render the tripod end 100% unable to move, thus, as they say a "bib and braces" approach with a positive end, what do you think mate?. My very best regards, Tom.

Francis, Thanks for the reply, I really like the moulded foot blocks, very neat indeed; yes, i shall cast the slab and then position for the legs and drill accordingly. Thanks and very best regards, Tom.

Thanks mate, what as a pointer, would be a very good ZWO colour, i would like to go that way, have read up on the pros and cons of colour V mono, but still would like to go colour; if any one else has a preference as to which model is good, feel free!. Grateful thanks and regards, Tom.

Johnindeby, I see the camera, a ZWO?, it is that type and make i am leaning towards, how do you find yours?, pro&cons with said model; my menu of things needed is all most complete, its then to sorting out the ground. My very best regards and thanks to all, Tom.

Hi Guys, Grierson, i have not yet decided on which camera, and, Johninderby, yes mate, the RVO is the older of the models so, FLO and seeing they also stock the SkyWatcher focus motor, i will go to this outlet when i purchase the required items. Thanks for all the help and best regards to all, Tom.

Hi guys, This is great!!, i am so grateful for all of this advice and help, I had a look see on the Rother V web site, seeing that it is the people i purchased my equipment from, and, yes, they do indeed offer the above items discussed, and, yes, it is recommended for all SkyWatcher Explorer scopes including the 300PDS that I have; the Hitecastro unit is fitted with a cigarette type power plug as i have noted so called, would it be easy to remove said plug, add an ordinary that would facilitate a power block reducer as are easy to purchase, just a thought?? Regards to all, Tom.

Optional - Motorised focus er control like JMI pc focus control. Thanks guys for the advice, re above, what and where do i get the motor unit that would facilitate remote focus control; have looked at the site for the item you suggest, but, cannot see any motor or how it would be fixed to said focus control on the scope proper!!???, can you explain a little more and possible to give products or the like. Many grateful thanks to all, Tom.

Francis, I know that you are using your tri/pier, but, i have the large heavy mount that comes with the 300PDS and NEQ6 PRO set up, you can see it on Rother Valleys site, and am wondering that if when i pour my 8 ft Sq slab, and, as it is going off, i placed the tripod ends which have distinct point to the ends, into said concrete, after setting up, removing the tripod would leave three distinct impressions that, hard set as they would now be, i am thinking this would hold very fast the tripod thus rendering the need for me to spend out on a pier, the cost of which i find so expensive, and as to making a pier, if this method seems ok, would enable me to not have to build, hope this makes some scence, your comments would be gratefully received. Regards and thanks, Tom...

I am not able to change the set up because, it is the size i went out to get and the other point is that i really do not think my dear wife would appreciate me changing and also what she most probably would do TO ME!!!!, i hate pain he he he....... Regards, Tom.....

Hope this is in the correct slot; as some know, i have a SkyWatcher 300 PDS on an NEQ6 PRO mount, that said, it is my intentions to place this scope in an obs out side in my garden, BUT!, space is at a premium as with most of us, so, that is what has made me decide to go remote being that the building for said obs won`t have to have me clambering around all night long. With the above in mind, my quest is for information/advice on what i must acquire to get my viewing up and running; astrophotography is not a immediate requirement, but, that is an area i would like to look at in the long run, my immediate needs are for information on lists of items that i will need to purchase to do the above, i do have wi-fi so connection to my main PC hub is no problem. I look forwards to some helpful advice, and i also understand that one size does NOT fit all, in this region, so thanks for up coming help etc etc. My very best regards and thanks to any and all, Tom.

I am very grateful for these replies, i had a prior post that i finished off with the prospects of not being able to carry on , but, things have progressed a late, the back garden is not re done so as to help due to my wife and i health problems, this in mined has given me a better aspect as to what and where the Obs should be placed, i am also thinking now that i should invest in a good astro camera colour, and Wi-Fi it to my bed room and thus my main PC, any thing to make life that more easy, lol. Thanks and very best regards to all, Tom.

Thanks chaps; i am wanting to get an idea of internal minimum's so as to gauge what would be the best size of shed to get for conversion to an observatory, space is at a push in the back garden as it is the best place for not getting certain road lights shining over, just two tall ones but they are there all the same !; i would like to know what i would need to remote view from my PC inside my house?!. Many grateful thanks and regards, Tom.

Can any one please give me some direction as to what would be the best internal size as such, for a scope that has an over all length of 4 ft 8 inches; as some of you out there will know that i have a Skywatcher 300 12 " reflector, but limited to the space for an observatory, so, if i can get some thoughts on this i would be very grateful. Best regards to all, Tom...

Very nice mount, as the name implies, two in one, but then I checked out the price, OUCH!!!, that's a rather big price my friend, still, yes, it sure does look like it could handle quite a heavy work load. Very best regards my friend, Tom.

Francis, this is a dumb question but, I could not see any reference as such as to what make of mount/tripod is that in the picture my friend, looks very substantial indeed !!!!. Best regards, Tom.

Francis, thanks for the imperial conversion . Regards, Tom.

Hi mate, could you tell me what the dimensions are of the main structure, i had a look at your notes but, alas, I could not find them, can you give them in UK not Metric, of the OLD! school and relate most thing measurement wise thus, many thanks. Best regards, Tom.