From: "pdk" 
To: "atm" 
Reply-To: "pdk" 


For what its worth there are many alternatives to pc based motorization,
that deserve noting within this discussion.

Like plain old fashion home made GEMs, split rings, english yokes, and
poncet/cylindrical bearings.

I love being able to grab my telescope throw it on the ground and start pointing.
I can observe several items before most any pc based system will be initialised.
I can swing to the next item and if I know how to read a map and the sky, probably
find it before the pc can.

DONT get me wrong, I praise Mel and all the others in there efforts! I was using a
Bartelised Robo Focault just a few minutes ago. AND LOVE IT.

But,  take the joy of a pure Dob, set it on an equitorial platform point it
at something
let go and observe it for a while, then point at something else.( and in 45
minutes rewind
for 1 minute )
No laptop whir, glow, battery drain, or crash. Just the sweet joy of
starhopping and stopping to enjoy w/o constantly bumping the
tube.

Sorry for the rant, but there is a case for NOT computerizing everything everytime.
I am an IT guy too, and sometimes its nice to not have to reboot.  :-)

See my motorized cylindrical platform at....
http://www.telescopelab.com/index.php?page=dobequi

... and dont use soft rubber roller blade wheels or your scope will float like a boat
in the urethane and wave in the sea of wind :-(

PK

PS where is Warren Peters his website / email are offline?

--- BBBS/NT v4.00 MP