M-Tre with encoders

Hello folks

Anyone has the Avalon M-Tre with encoders can report on any issues, successes, failures..?

Thanks

The encoders work only for pointing accuracy, bit expensive… There is CN thread on the subject.

thanks Andrea. I did see the thread but was not sure if there were any updates since. How about overall quality of imaging ? are you satisfied if you have one ?

No, just read few threads and tests here and there. Guiding isn't on par with high end mounts and in fact not different from my 20-year old G41. To be honest they appear overpriced to me as general mounts go but if you are into fork-mounted scopes it is an interesting option. Me, I'll go for the JWT Trident any day or night but boy if it is heavy…

I have never even heard of the Trident, that is one impressive looking mount. Reminds me of the Mesu design. Heavy is not a concern for me as it will be housed in my remote observatory.

That's a really sweet mount with a PE as smooth as any I have seen. The are are quite a few around in remote observatories around the world. I wish I could justify it but I can't. When I retire and move to a better climate than this, then maybe.

Not particularly in regards to the M-Tre, but avalon mounts as a whole - I've had a couple now, and honestly, whilst I LOVED them and they are beautiful, they are RIDICULOUSLY priced for what they are.

Mine two (M-Zero and M-Uno) would happily guide along at 0.3~0.45" RMS most of the time, but so does my EM31 Pro harmonic mount, so did my G11 Gemini, so did my belt modded and hypertuned EQ6-R… all for significantly less money, and having significantly higher weight capacities…

And if I'm honest, software wise… Losmandy wins… Skywatcher isn't bad, the OnStep setup in the EM31 Pro is good too actually once you get used to it… StarGo is… well.. its annoying to say the least, painful at times and inoperable others…

I certainly don't want disuade anyone from buying one if your heart is set on it, but having done it, I can tell you two things:
1 - Apart from being able to forget about the meridian which is amazing, they don't do anything better than other mounts that are half the price.
2 - Just wait until you see what level of depreciation there is in the used market!! When you lose 30% on a skywatcher mount, it sucks, but its $400… when you lose ~65% on an avalon mount, its upwards of $4~5k… If you want one, make damn sure - because you will NEVER get the resale value you might expect!

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