With any mounting plate design, it is a very
bad idea to slide the scope across the plate.
The head of your tripod is prone to "wobble",
and must be "squared" prior to mounting the
scope. When developing the Mounting
Assistant we ran dozens of tests. 80% of
the time, sliding the scope across the plate
misaligned the tripod head and made
mounting so difficult that the scope usually
had to be removed and the tripod "resquared".

The detailed instruction sheet provided with
the Mounting Assistant states "...Move the
telescope over the Mounting Assistant.
When the rounded section of the telescope
base is gently pushing against all 3 of the
alignment pegs lower the telescope. It
should sit firmly upon the Mounting
Assistant without wobbling, indicating that
it is centered on the mounting bolt."

This approach is no more difficult than sliding
the scope across the plate, and it avoids
misaligning the tripod head. The bolt only
protrudes 3/16" (5mm) above the plate,
and fits easily in the +3/8" (10mm) deep
unthreaded section of the central mounting
hole. Unlike the original Meade setup, the
scope is not in contact with the mounting
bolt but seated firmly and wobble-free on
the plate.

This approach:
1) keeps weight down (tripods are heavy
enough already)
2) minimizes product cost
3) makes assembly of the plate to the tripod
as simple as possible (no modifications
necessary to tripod or mounting bolt)

With this understanding how the Mounting
Assistant is used, look at:
http://www.peterson-web.com/SkyDiv/Mounting_assistant.htm
and make up your mind for yourself.

Regards,

Pete Peterson

-----Original Message-----
William R Wood
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 9:47 PM
Subject: [M]: RE: (OT ramble) To scope saver or...?

Here is my opinion: The big scopesavers are not necessary since I wouldnt
put expensive EP's in there for 2 seconds let alone all night. The
advantages of a small one (10" X 12") are that you have a stop to push the
base against which aligns the base over the attachment rod automatically,
the wider platform as opposed to just the tripod makes it much easier and
safer to mount the scope and there is room for hanging the hand controler.

Take a look at : http://www.peterson-web.com/SkyDiv/Mounting_assistant.htm
to see a good idea. The only fault of the Mounting Asst is its made of 1/4"
plate which still allows the rod to protrude. I made a similar base from
1/2" Corian which solves this prob and lets you keep the rod in place with
the C-clip.

You couldnt drag my scopesaver away from me. Makes setting up for AltAz
super fast and easy even in total darkness.

Regards
Bill Wood

-----Original Message-----
High Desert
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2001 5:40 PM
Subject: [M]: (OT ramble) To scope saver or...?


I have never really understood the value some users place on the scope
saver. I mean, those holes are neat, but I am not leaving my EPs and
Barlows hanging in them to get dusty over the evening....and the control
panel hangs just fine from the side of the SuperWedge... Until tonight,
that is.

Tonight I tried to set the scope up AltAz for the first time, always before
my 10" LX-200 and my 8" LX-50 were on a wedge. No problem putting the scope
on that, just put the wedge in place, then drop the scope on with one screw
in place, then thread the other two in. But tonight I put the scope up
AltAz to see if my GOTO error is related to my equatorial mount alignment.
Yes I seem to be having the same problem as a couple other recent posters on
this list.

Well, after almost dropping the scope fighting with that threaded rod I
backed off and regrouped. And said to myself "Ah so, that is why people
like the scope saver". And then realized that even if I had one I still
would not hang my EPs in it. So I removed the "C" clip. Everything is
fine, put the scope on the base, insert the threaded rod, and slide the
scope around to start the thread.

So list, what are the other bennies of the scope saver? I would like to
know before I completly talk myself out of what is probably a good thing :)

Darrell
(waiting for the wind to stop in the High Desert)
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