Synscan Tour

[johninderby]

Came across the instruction manual for SkyWatchers new Synscan Tour and it looks like being a very interesting device. Does more than just control a mount.

Synscan Tour Instruction Manual

http://www.skywatcher.com/swtsupport/Instruction_Manuals/Synscan2english.pdf

See page 39 for telescope control.

John

[Grunthos]

Features include "Feng Shui functions designed to.....calculate your fortunes..."

[E621Keith]

Features include "Feng Shui functions designed to.....calculate your fortunes..."

You can find more details in pg 61. It appears to have absolutely nothing to do with astronomy. It doesn't even pretends to have any celestial connection. All you do is stand in the middle of your room, rotate it 360deg, and enter your date and place of birth.

What an odd thing to put in.

Apart from that, this thing looks much more powerful than the Vixen's Starbook. My SBS has just lost its resale value.

[gooseholla]

Next it will be giving you your horrorscope when you point it at a star sign!!!

[Parus major]

I can't understand why they don't opt for a wireless Android device interface. Certainly would be a lot cheaper to everyone without kicking too much of their profits.

[Stephen]

I can't understand why they don't opt for a wireless Android device interface. Certainly would be a lot cheaper to everyone without kicking too much of their profits.

I suspect by the time they have finished paying everyones copyright fees on the use of Android, it's not so cheap ...

Microsoft are one of the biggest earners for every handset that is released running Android (Strange but true!)

[Parus major]

I dare say but having a bespoke device created for very few manufactures must cost something, a lot more than having an application written for smartphones and getting a contract for the purchase of a mid spec tablet.

[dmahon]

There has to be a reson why it doesn't happen.

I can't understand why car manufacturers don't put an iPad on the dashboard with a TomTom licence, instead of charging £1-2k for a bespoke stanav system.

[Grunthos]

charging £1-2k for a bespoke stanav system.

I think you've answered your own question

[dph1nm]

I note that it will track EQ mounts in both RA and Dec if you have cone error (i.e. do a 3-star align). I don't think the current Synscan controller does this (I always wondered why not, seeing at it seems the sensible thing to do).

NigelM

[gooseholla]

Apple would probably say their ipad was improving the brand image, or selling the cars more, so would probably demand quite a bit of money. Not just a case of putting a simple Ipad in I suspect.