Observatory installation progress

[Carole]

I saw your other post after I had replied to this one.  So have Altair Astro got one for you?

As I said they will be at Kelling Heath so could collect it for you if it's any help.

Carole

[Mac]

its in the post. Apparently.

[Carole]

Your post prompted me to ask them if they had an update.  This was the reply on the POD Forum:

Hi Carole, we've sent your order to Wayne and we're waiting to hear back on a shipping date imminently. Nick

[Mac]

So, almost a month has passed.
Any updates.

I've looked into the pods, and probably should have ordered one at Astrofest.
It seems that they manufacturers only produce a run when they have a large order to reduce costs.

oh well. I'll order mine when i move.
i'll probably get the 3 bay one.

Mac.

[Carole]

Hi Mac.  This was the post I was replying to when my monitor died on me (see PC section).

No progress, still waiting for Observatory to even be finished/dispatched from Canada.  Looks like every-one is in the same position.  I think they wait until they get a large enough order so the factory can do them all in one batch, then they have to wait for a shipping slot. 

Very frustrating, but it's not really as if I am missing much in the way of imaging at present but it would be nice to get everything set up.  I picked up the Pier at Kelling Heath (as Altair Astro were there).  I think this is being installed soon.  Would do it myself except my son in law has to organise the hole in the decking around it so I'm letting him do it.

Carole

[Carole]

Well I've been told my observatory is on a ship on it's way over to the UK.  

Carole

[Mac]

Its not called the Titanic is it?

[Mike]

Let's hope it doesn't get hijacked by pirates.

   

[Carole]

My goodess this is slow progress.  The POD is in the Warehouse and am just waiting for a delivery date.

In the meantime my son-law installed the pier last week.  I have not yet put the top plates on it, as I thought I'd wait for the POD to arrive. 



He has made a wooden plate around the pier to cover the open space but big enough to put my battery on it (leaving a small gap so there is no vibration). 



C

[mickw]

I wonder how rusty it will get before the "Pod" arrives 

Sorry, the voices made me say it   

[Rocket Pooch]

thats a tube not a pier?  shiny though....

Did you get the Skypod?

[Mike]

Why do you need a battery in an observatory?

[Rocket Pooch]

Mike, I think there is some confusion here, its not yet an observatory.......

[Mike]

Exactly, it's a tube sticking out the ground so far. So why the battery ?

[Carole]

Yup, it's currently a tube the lower part of the pier

I have not yet put the top plates on it, as I thought I'd wait for the POD to arrive

see Post 24# for what it will look like.

So why the battery

My mains adapter doesn't work properly and I've got in the habit of using the battery for everything except the laptop.  The mains adapter works on the ETX, but when I use the CG5, as soon as it starts slewing it cuts out.  
I guess I need to get another one, but haven't got around to it.

Did you get the Skypod?

Yup.