> -----Original Message-----
> Alan Voetsch
> Sent: Sunday, May 27, 2001 4:39 AM
> To: MAPUG
> Subject: [M]: ST-4, 201XT, NGF-S, & Taurus Tracker III
>
>
> Hello all,
>
> A brief report on my opinions of the above units.
>
> 1. Good news for Meade. I retired the ST-4 I'd been
> working with. The 201 is out of the closet in more
> ways than one. The ST WILL guide on fainter stars, but
> at the expense of more set up time, more components to
> deal with in the dark. The input data has to be
> re-entered at each power up. This is NOT the case with
> the 201. I now believe that, price difference in mind,
> the 201 is the equal of the ballyhooed ST-4. It's
> easier to set-up, retains its settings night to night,
> it's lighter where we need less weight, and only has
> one button to push. IMHO, these are tremendous
> advantages, having used both.

Interesting. I voiced the same opinion a couple of months ago about the
201XT. It's really easy to use as long as the guide star is bright. I have
to admit thought that the STV is pretty easy to use, too, though not as easy
as the 201XT. (Both seem to be much easier than the ST-4, which is
nonetheless by all accounts a *great* autoguider.) The advantage of course
is that the STV can guide on much fainter stars. Then again, it also cost
$2000. I think the 201XT is a steal as an autoguider. In retrospect, I wish
I had originally bought the 208XT. With the advantage of a cooled chip
giving the ability to guide on fainter stars than the 201XT, it should work
just dandy for those on a budget. While Alan finds it works great with his
TT III, my direct experience is that the 201XT also works fine with the GEG.
I imagine it's much easier to use with the TT III, actually. I had to buy
and modify some extra extension tubes and the like to make it easy to use
with the GEG.

Hey, Alan, your NGF-S must be a lot heavier than my NGF-SE. I'd kill to be
able to use my NGF-SE with a good OAG. I'm still thinking I might try one of
those TT III after your excellent experience with them.

I agree with Richard Shell 100% that most of the bad comments about the
210XT come from the inability of newbies to focus the unit. I've repeated
'til I'm blue in the face that it's parfocal with the Meade 9 mm IREP but
not everyone has heard these comments as subscribers come and go. Now
Richard has come along with a much less expensive focusing alternative for
this autoguider. Nice idea!

Greg Hartke
Sykesville, MD

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