Digital Setting Circles

What happened to digital setting circles? I haven't gotten my scope out
in a long time (like four of five years and haven't read an astronomy
magazine in that time too) but a couple of days ago I decided to get it out
because of Mars. Well, tonight while looking thru Orion's site and
astronomics site I don't see digital setting circles listed. Were did they
go? Do they still make them or have they been surpassed? Also, why doesn't
Orion have Celestron listed on their web site anymore? Did they stop
carrying them? Not that I care much, I bought my Celestron from
Astronomics. Just wondering.

"Von Fourche" wrote in
news


What happened to digital setting circles? I haven't gotten my
scope out
in a long time (like four of five years and haven't read an astronomy
magazine in that time too) but a couple of days ago I decided to get
it out because of Mars. Well, tonight while looking thru Orion's site
and astronomics site I don't see digital setting circles listed. Were
did they go? Do they still make them or have they been surpassed?
Also, why doesn't Orion have Celestron listed on their web site
anymore? Did they stop carrying them? Not that I care much, I bought
my Celestron from Astronomics. Just wondering.




DSC's are still around AFAIK. I guess it is mainly the DOB makers that
supply these as optional add ons to their scopes. Meade and Celestron
have gone GOTO. Have a look at the Argo Navis DSC system that I think
rxdesign sell in the states.

http://www.rxdesignonline.com/ArgoNavis.html

As far as Orion goes I heard they got rid of everything except Chinese
stuff. I think even the Vixen products are now distributed by Televue in
the US.

Try sci.astro.amateur for more information.

Llanzlan.

"Von Fourche" wrote in message
news


What happened to digital setting circles? I haven't gotten my scope
out
in a long time (like four of five years and haven't read an astronomy
magazine in that time too) but a couple of days ago I decided to get it
out
because of Mars. Well, tonight while looking thru Orion's site and
astronomics site I don't see digital setting circles listed. Were did
they
go? Do they still make them or have they been surpassed? Also, why
doesn't
Orion have Celestron listed on their web site anymore? Did they stop
carrying them? Not that I care much, I bought my Celestron from
Astronomics. Just wondering.
They still exist, but have become relatively 'specialist'.
The problem is that to get good resolution with a DSC, requires a fairly
expensive encoder. With a motor drive operating a worm gear, it is a lot
cheaper to put a really basic 'mouse' encoder, closer to the motor, and then
with the reduction gearing, you can get finer resolution for much less cost.
This is the basis for all the cheap 'GoTo' telescopes.
The GoTo systems, are seen as having more appeal, and since they can be
built for less money, have tended to surplant the DSC's.

Best Wishes