TDM Adapter for EQ-6
Adapterset for attaching a TDM unit on a EQ-6 mount.
Telescope Drive Master" provides a revolutionary technology for demanding amateur astronomers and advanced semi-pro observers. This device does not just reduce but does completely eliminate* all of the periodic and non-periodic tracking error of your equatorial mount. You do not need to have conventional autoguider system, you don't need to spend your valuable observing time with unproductive guide-star hunting; just expose, expose and expose all the night...
* The rest of the tracking errors will be covered by air-mass scintillation in normal cases (except more than 2-3000 meters above the sea...).
What is the Telescope Drive Master?
Designed to attach to popularly available equatorial mounts, the Telescope Drive Master™ (TDM) uses a mount-specific adapter, an ultra-high resolution encoder, and an electronics package that transforms your drive system into a super-performance, research-grade drive. This device does not require tedious PEC training, just turning on the TDM almost eliminates all of the periodic and non-periodic tracking error of your equatorial mount.
How does the TDM work?
The electronic controller unit compares the signals incoming from the high precision rotary encoder mounted onto the RA shaft with the time signal of its quartz oscillator. Any deviations of the angular velocity of the RA shaft from the prescribed drive rate, are compensated by feedback regulation in real time by accelerating or slowing down the drive.
If further correction is needed because of errors other than periodic drive error, the TDM allows auto-guider input as well.
How much better can the Drive perform?
A typical drive on an moderately-priced equatorial mount can easily have 20-30 arc seconds (or more) periodic error. The Telescope Drive Master can easily improve it down to 2-to-2.5 arc-seconds peak-to-valley or less, which is what you would expect from equatorial mounts that cost many thousands of dollars.
