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Alt-Azimuth
Accessory Products
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Train-n-Track
Motor Drive
and
pre-drilled
Meade LightBridge Dobsonian 8"
LB8TNT
$869.00*
Buy Now
IMPORTANT NOTE
Due to problems with one of our suppliers, the T-N-T
Product is currently Backordered through July and
possibly through August. |
Train-n-Track
Motor Drive
and
pre-drilled
Meade LightBridge Dobsonian 10"
LB10TNT
$1,090.00*
Buy Now
IMPORTANT NOTE
Due to problems with one of our suppliers, the T-N-T
Product is currently Backordered through July and
possibly through August. |
Train-n-Track
Motor Drive
and pre-drilled
Meade LightBridge Dobsonian 12"
LB12TNT
$1390.00*
Buy Now
IMPORTANT NOTE
Due to problems with one of our suppliers, the T-N-T
Product is currently Backordered through July and
possibly through August. |
Train-n-Track
Motor Drive
and pre-drilled
Meade LightBridge Dobsonian 16"
LB16TNT
$2362.00*
Buy Now
IMPORTANT NOTE
Due to problems with one of our suppliers, the T-N-T
Product is currently Backordered through July and
possibly through August. |
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Train-n-Track Motor Drive
including
Pre-drilled Meade
LightBridge Telescope
Meade LightBridge
Dobsonian 8" / 10" / 12" / 16"
This product is a Meade LightBridge
Telescope outfitted with a TNT system. The Train-n-Track (TNT) system is a basic alt-az
motor drive system with adjustable or trainable tracking. A simple
30-second training procedure allows the scope to track for 10 minutes or more.
Click here for more information on the TNT system.
Mounting holes have been pre-drilled in the LightBridge rocker box at no
charge to you. All you need to do is assemble the product. You will receive three packages from JMI, two boxes holding the LightBridge
telescope and one for the Train-n-Track Motor Drive (part of the TNT system may
be assembled on the LightBridge).
* Telescope prices do NOT include Shipping and
Handling Charges. The on-line
order processing system allows you to request
a shipping quote which you must then approve before the product is
shipped.
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NOTE |
In the picture at left, the
telescopes are (from left to right) the Meade LightBridge 10",
12" and 16". All are equipped with the TNT system.
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Deluxe
Transporter
Kit
Meade
LightBridge 10" / 12" / 16"
TKLBDLX
$159.00
Buy Now |
Nose
Tabs ONLY
Meade
LightBridge 10" / 12" / 16"
BRKTLBNT
$42.00
Buy Now |
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Transporter
Storage Kit for Meade LightBridge Meade LightBridge
10" / 12" / 16"
This kit solves two problems:
1) Adds counterweights for offsetting heaving equipment at the eyepiece
2) Aids in compacting/packaging the scope for transportation to another
location
The Transporter Storage Kit Includes:
1) One Truss-Rod Holder for securing the truss rods to the rocker box
2) Three Nose Tabs for securing the nose assembly directly to the
mirror tub
3) Two Dual-weight Counterweight Clips
for counterbalancing
heavy equipment (total approx. 4 lbs)
Fits the 10", 12" and 16" LightBridge
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Counterweights
Meade
LightBridge 10" / 12" / 16"
CWLB
$74.00
Buy Now |
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Counterweights
for Meade LightBridge Meade LightBridge
10" / 12" / 16"
These counterweights help counterbalance heavy equipment at the
eyepiece or on the nose assembly. The clip-style mounting brackets attach to the bottom of the
mirror tub by sliding the
clip onto the mirror cell support. There are two counterweight clips in a
set with each having two weights (approx. 1 lb ea) for a total of
approximately 4 lbs. With each clip you can use a single weight or stack the two
weights together.
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NOTE
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These counterweights will not work on the
8" LightBridge.
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This picture shows one counterweight clip
with two stacked weights attached to a 12" LightBridge.
There are two clips, with a total of four weights, in
each set (approx. 4 lbs). |
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This picture shows the
two weights, of one clip, separated from each other. |
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Train-n-Track
Motor Drive
Vixen Porta (II) Mount
TNTVPM
$309.00
Buy Now
IMPORTANT NOTE
Due to problems with one of our suppliers, the T-N-T
Product is currently Backordered through July and
possibly through August. |
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Train-n-TrackÔ
Motor Drive for Vixen Porta Mount Vixen
Porta Mount, Porta II Mount
The Train-n-Track (TNT) system is a basic
alt-azimuth motor drive system with adjustable or trainable tracking. A
simple 30-second training procedure allows the scope to track for 10 minutes or
more.
The TNT motor drive system includes adjustable speeds on both axes, high speed
centering. The friction drives also allow you to move the telescope around
by hand without unlocking any clutches. You just let go and the drive
takes over. With a little practice,
objects can be kept in the eyepiece for 10 minutes or more. The unit
includes a rechargeable battery with a 110vAC/60Hz adapter/charger. Using
a 220vAC/50Hz power source will require a converter (not included).
The TNT system does not interface with any other products including our
MAX guiding computers. It does not interfere with the MAX computer
encoders and hardware.
Installation is easy.
You must supply the Vixen Porta Mount.
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Hand Control |
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What is
Train-n-Track?
The Train-n-Track (TNT)
system is a basic alt-az motor drive system with adjustable or trainable
tracking. With alt-azimuth mounts, the motor speeds will vary
greatly depending on what area of the sky you are viewing. In some
situations, the altitude motor will run very fast and the azimuth motor
will run very slowly. In other areas of the sky, the opposite will
be true. Completely computerized alt-az systems will track
automatically in any part of the sky. The TNT, however, requires
that you adjust the motor speeds for your position.
The adjustment, or training, is very simple. Once you become
familiar with the process it can be accomplished in about 30 seconds and tracking will continue for 10 minutes or more without
noticeable drifting. At that point you will need to do another
simple training adjustment. Quick slewing can be accomplished,
without adjusting the tracking speed, by simply pressing one key.
This feature allows for re-centering an object without changing the
carefully adjusted tracking speed. Manual movement is possible at
any time, in both altitude and azimuth, without releasing any clutches.
Train-n-Track (TNT)
for the LightBridge |
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What is an
Alt-Az Mount?
The Meade
LightBridge Dobsonian telescope includes an altitude-azimuth mount.
Altitude-azimuth is sometimes abbreviated as alt-azimuth or just
alt-az. An alt-az mount moves in altitude (up and down) on a
horizontal axis and in azimuth (left and right) on a vertical axis
like a gun turret on a tank. By comparison, an equatorial
mount is essentially an alt-az mount that is tilted to match your
latitude, allowing a telescope to track the stars with the
addition of a simple clock drive. Both types of mounts have
their advantages. Which one is best for a particular
situation depends mostly on how one intends to use the telescope. |
What is a
Transport Storage Kit?
A transport kit supplies
accessories for transporting and using your Alt-Azimuth telescope more easily and
effectively. The kit for the Meade LightBridge includes a bracket for
storing the truss rods and brackets for securing the nose assembly to the
mirror tub, both intended to ease the job of transporting the scope.
Mirror tub counterweights are included for counterbalancing equipment placed
on the nose assembly (on a scope that is already nose heavy without extra
equipment). |
Customer
Comments
"(COMING SOON!)" (A. B.)
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Frequently Asked Questions
(FAQ)
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| Q. |
Can I
use the Train-n-Track for Astrophotography? |
| A. |
The TNT is not
designed for astrophotography or for long-term tracking. Rather, it
is designed for easy viewing without having to constantly move the scope
to keep up with the rotation of the earth.
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| Q. |
Why
can't the Train-n-Track continue to track all night? |
| A. |
With an
altitude-azimuth (alt-az) mount (see definition of Alt-Az
Mount above) the speed of movement in altitude and azimuth varies throughout
the entire movement of an object across the sky. With the TNT, you
are the one who varies the speed. The Train-n-Track system is
designed to be an affordable alternative to more expensive computerized
tracking systems, which calculate the exact speeds needed in all parts of
the sky. TNT continues in the tradition of the Dobsonian telescope
which was designed to be the most affordable way to get a large-aperture
telescope.
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| Q. |
Is the
Train-n-Track compatible with your other products for the LightBridge? |
| A. |
Yes, the TNT is
compatible with our MAX computers, encoders and hardware as well as our
Wheeley Bars. That is, they do not mechanically interfere with one
another. The TNT does not interface with any other products. |
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| Q. |
How easy
is it to separate and reassemble the scope and rocker box with
Train-n-Track installed? |
| A. |
Technically, the
scope can be lifted off of the rocker box without doing anything to the
TNT. However, we recommend that you remove the thumb nut on the
tangent arm and separate the tangent arm from the bearing and lead
screw. This can be accomplished very easily and quickly. Reassembly is just as quick and easy.
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