I ordered the G-11 and them had to wait for about three months to receive the unit just after xmas 1999. Several accessories were back ordered and trickled in and the polar alignment scope has still not arrived! So far, not such a big deal since the weather has been unkindly towards astro activities.

I have a double saddle plate the carries both the 10" Newtonian reflector and the 90 mm ETX. I have been using the ETX as a finder scope and might put an autoguider there as well but there might be too much magnification for that purpose. I've removed the counter weighting mods to the 10" OTA as simply ( not really simple ) sliding the scope in the dovetail works for fine tuning the balance.

I have not had a chance to put he mount through the paces to measure the tracking and PEC correction potentials of the mount due to the weather but soon I'll take off for two weeks into the mountains and become one with the scope and sky.

I have acquired another deep cycle battery ( thanks Maggie & Megan ! ) so now have two 80 amp hour power sources. I can run the mount, ATX computer ( 667MHz PIII coppermine, 300W power supply overclocked to 750MHz ), camera, STV autoguider/finder, and assorted accessories for a full night. I also have a Honda 1000W generator that recharges BOTH batteries in eight hours, or so. Now I can do fully remote imaging for extended periods without worry!

Future plans:

1)
I have placed an order with SBIG for an STV autoguider/finder! Man, I can hardly wait, but I have to wait until August before SBIG can deliver! I placed my order in April, four months seems excessive, but what can you do? My aspirations to use a quickcam to autoguide fall by the wayside based on sensitivity considerations. The other downside to the quickcam autoguider is the need for a computer to run the process and that could interfere with camera operations and does have difficulty working with the acquisition package I'm using.

2)
I'm spoiled by my experience with the Meade Magellan II digital setting circles so I've got to get something for the G-11. I have some 8000 count encoders and I'm considering building something myself. I figure with 8000 counts and a 3:1 reducing gear will give me resolution less than 1 arc minute ( 54 arc seconds ) which would be just dandy. The tough part is putting together a black box to interface with The Sky, which would be pretty cool.

3)
Counter weight system. The problem is the center of gravity is not aligned with the geometric center of the OTA with all the finder scopes and stuff so thing get out of balance with the scope in different positions, especially with the rotating rings thrown into the mix. I've seen the vast array of weights used on professional scopes so I know this can work but can get cumbersome.

After these mods are in place I don't know what is left! I can then work on the PAT!