Post by Dragon Man on Dec 12, 2015 5:24:44 GMT
I have had my Skywatcher EQ6 (Atlas) mount in my backyard for several years now and I don't pack it away. I leave it out there polar aligned.
BUT, every time I use it I have to run all my cables from the house out to the mount, and then wind them all up at the end of a session. That can be very annoying at times, especially on a freezing cold night when the cables are wet and a bit stiff, and it's cold while out there winding them up.
Also, on cold damp frosty nights because the cables get wet the signal degrades causing poor views.
To solve this problem I decided to permanently run my cables underground
My son came around for a visit and I said "how would you like to help poor old Dad dig a bit of a trench?"
So, now my cables are underground, making them permanently laid out, dry, warmer, and it's a whole lot tidier too. Me and the dog won't trip over them any more
Even though this is a permanent type of connection, it is only temporary until I move all my gear to the Observatory up in my back paddock 160 metres away from the house (525 feet). The cables pipes are already laid under the concrete up there. I'm just waiting to get internet connection up there so I can broadcast. Should be about late January. But for now, down here near the house, my cables will be dry and won't need winding up each night.
Here's a couple of pics of the trench as it is getting dug by my son
and this fellow was watching over us to make sure we did it right
BUT, every time I use it I have to run all my cables from the house out to the mount, and then wind them all up at the end of a session. That can be very annoying at times, especially on a freezing cold night when the cables are wet and a bit stiff, and it's cold while out there winding them up.
Also, on cold damp frosty nights because the cables get wet the signal degrades causing poor views.
To solve this problem I decided to permanently run my cables underground
My son came around for a visit and I said "how would you like to help poor old Dad dig a bit of a trench?"
So, now my cables are underground, making them permanently laid out, dry, warmer, and it's a whole lot tidier too. Me and the dog won't trip over them any more
Even though this is a permanent type of connection, it is only temporary until I move all my gear to the Observatory up in my back paddock 160 metres away from the house (525 feet). The cables pipes are already laid under the concrete up there. I'm just waiting to get internet connection up there so I can broadcast. Should be about late January. But for now, down here near the house, my cables will be dry and won't need winding up each night.
Here's a couple of pics of the trench as it is getting dug by my son
and this fellow was watching over us to make sure we did it right