Product Details

• Description
• Specifications
• Included Items
• Reviews

• This strong German equatorial mount with GoTo capabilities, has two body parts which you can split for easy carrying and assembly. It uses exclusive 10Micron HPS technology in the absolute axis-encoders and high performances motor drives. The mount has an amazing payload capacity of up to a huge 50 kg (110-pounds).

  Evolving perfection.

  The GM2000 HPS II Combi mount, is built for the demanding imager using photographic instruments weighing up to 50 kg (110-pounds), before the counterweights.

  Two servo motors

  Movements are driven by two servo brushless motor with timing belt reduction and having zero backlash. Both axes feature a classic worm to wormwheel pairing. The wormwheels are made of bronze (B14), with a diameter of 172 mm and 215 teeth, while the worms are made of alloy steel with a diameter of 24 mm. The axes themselves are made of 50 mm diameter alloy steel, for maximum rigidity. This mount is basically a GM2000 HPS II Ultraport (splittable into two parts) with an additional locking system. 

  Beside the quick locking system, which is very useful carrying and assembling the mount in the field, the designers added a further locking system. This second set of locks are for customers who have the mount permanently installed in an observatory. This will ensure great, long-term stability, comparable to a GM2000 HPS II Monolith. You can easily revert the mount in a portable/ splittable version simply by  removing the locking screws. In this way, you can have both the advantages of the previous models in a single mount.

  New combined mount

  The new GM2000 HPSII Combi replaces both the Monolit and Ultraport models. The technical specifications, size, and weight of the new GM2000 HPSII Combi are exactly the same as those of the GM2000 HPS II.

  Electronics and control

  

  The electronics is housed in an independent control box, easily removable. The connections of the mount and the keypad feature security lock screws. The mount can be controlled using the included keypad, without connecting an external PC. The keypad was designed to maintain the maximum readability in all lighting conditions. Both the display and the ergonomic keys allow for the use of gloves and feature a red back-light. A heater keeps the display warm, for usage in below freezing temperatures.

  The mount can be controlled using the most common software packages: by connecting it to a PC with the RS-232 serial port or the Ethernet connection; via the 10Micron ASCOM driver; or the Meade compatible command protocol. Furthermore, dedicated software (also included with the mount) can be used to create a virtual keypad, replicating exactly the functions of the physical keypad. The RS-232 port can also be used to control an external dome. This flexibility makes the GM2000HPS an ideal mount for local observatories and remote observing sites.

  Database and pointing accuracy

  

  The object database contains many star catalogs and deep-sky objects up to the 16th magnitude. Solar system objects can be tracked so that their motion is compensated with respect to the stars. You may load orbital elements of comets, asteroids and artificial satellites into the mount, so that these objects can be tracked directly using the keypad (without any external PC).

  Pointing is made accurate through the usage of a model containing up to 100 stars, which allows for the correction of the classical polar alignment and conic errors, and also of the most important flexure terms of the optical tube. In this way, it is possible to obtain pointing accuracies of the order of 20 arcseconds RMS. The same model can be used to obtain the maximum tracking accuracy, compensating also for the atmospheric refraction (depending on the local atmospheric pressure and temperature).

  A series of auxiliary functions is provided to help the user for quick mount alignment to the celestial pole. You may also save and recover the alignment data of different observing sessions. This function is very useful if you have many instruments in different setups, each one requiring different flexure corrections. Tracking through the meridian, a typical problem with German mounts, is solved allowing for tracking for up to 30° past the meridian (configurable), in both directions. In this way, any object can be tracked for at least four hours. The tracking accuracy makes autoguiding unnecessary for many uses. The absolute encoders on both axes allow you to obtain a typical tracking error of less than 1 arcsecond. 

  Autoguiding and other functions

  It is also possible to autoguide if you choose. This is easily done using the ST4-compatible port or through the serial/Ethernet connection, with a guide rate configurable from 0.1x to 1x. The guide rate can be automatically corrected for the declination of the target, so that there is no need to recalibrate the autoguide when observing at different declinations.
  

  Among the other functions, you will find the Electronically-assisted Balance and the ability of Parking the mount in different user-defined positions.

  Ultra-portable

  Designed for field use, the ultra-portable version is easily divided into two parts. All electrical connections are made automatically when assembling the mount. The biggest piece has a weight of only 15 kg (33-pounds), and in combination with the Centaurus II at 21 kg (46-pounds) you will obtain a winning combination for the mobile observer.

  

   

  The GM2000 can be supplied also in a special version for very low temperature operations: ask our team if interested. 

   

  Specifications Chart:

  Weight	RA 40-pounds (18 kg) without accessories DEC 33-pounds (15 kg) without accessories
  Instrument Payload Capacity	110-pounds (50 kg)
  Latitude Range	20° – 70°
  Azimuth Fine Adjustment Range	+/− 10°
  Counterweight Shaft	40 mm diameter, stainless steel, weight 9-pounds (4 kg)
  Axes	50 mm diameter, alloy steel
  Bearings	Pre-loaded tapered roller bearings
  Worm Wheels	215 teeth, 172 mm diameter, B14 bronze
  Worms	24 mm diameter, tempered alloy steel, ground and lapped
  Transmission System	Backlash-free system with timing belt and automatic backlash recovery
  Motors	2 axes servo brushless
  Power Supply	24 V DC
  Power Consumption	~ 0,7 A while tracking ~ 3 A at maximum speed ~ 5 A peak
  GoTo Speed	Adjustable from 2°/s to 20°/s
  Pointing Accuracy	< 20” with internal multiple-stars software mapping
  Average Tracking Accuracy	< +/− 1" typical for 15 minutes (< 0.7" RMS) with internal multiple-stars software mapping and compensation of flexure and polar alignment errors
  Safety Stop	+/− 30° past meridian in r.a. (software) +/− 45° past meridian in r.a. (mechanical)
  Communications Ports	RS–232 port; GPS port; autoguide ST-4 protocol port; Ethernet port
  Database	Stars: by name, Bayer designation, Flamsteed designation, Bright Star Catalog, SAO, HIP, HD, PPM, ADS, GCVS. Deep-sky: M, NGC, IC, PGC ,UGC limited up to mV = 16. Solar system: Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, comets, artificial satellites. Equatorial and alt-azimuth coordinates. User-defined objects, fast slewing positions.
  PC Control	Remote control via RS-232 or Ethernet; proprietary ASCOM driver or Meade compatible protocol; update of firmware and orbital elements of comets, asteroids, and artificial satellites via RS-232 or Ethernet; virtual control panel via RS-232 or Ethernet; optional WiFi.
  Firmware Features	User-defined mount parking position, 2‑star and 3‑star alignment function, up to 100 alignment stars for modeling, correction of polar alignment and orthogonality errors, estimate of average pointing error, storage of multiple pointing models, sidereal, solar and lunar tracking speed adjustable on both axes, declination-based autoguide speed correction, adjustable horizon height limit, pointing and tracking past meridian, assisted balance adjustment, manual or GPS based time and coordinates setting, dome control via RS-232, configurable atmospheric refraction, network settings, comets and asteroids filter, multi-language interface. Remote Assist via an internet connection.

   

  Please call OPT for assistance with this item. We also have full accessory packages with tripod, weights, dovetail plate, and professional PLB transport resin cases available. 

  • English: 800-483-6287
  • PHONE & CHAT M-F 7AM-7PM PST

   

• specifications

  Computerized	Computerized
  Database	To 16th mag. Objects
  Drive Type	Worm Gear
  Encoder Resolution	<1 arcsecond
  Head Design	Equatorial
  Instrument Capacity	110 lbs
  Latitude Range	20 to 70 Degrees
  Mount Head Weight	73lbs
  PEC	Yes
  Pointing Accuracy	0.2 Arcminutes
  Ports	Aux.
  Ports	Ext. Switch
  Ports	Fuse
  Ports	GPS
  Ports	Guider
  Ports	Hand Pad
  Ports	LAN
  Ports	Mount
  Ports	Power Supply
  Ports	RS232
  Telescope Connection	Dual Vixen & Losmandy
  Tracking Accuracy	0.7 Arcseconds
  Tracking Rates	2 deg/second to 20 deg/second
  Tracking Rates	Adjustable

• included items

  • GM 2000 HPS II Mount – Combi version
  • Includes:
  • GM2000 HPS II Mount with built-in precision absolute axis-encoders.
  • Control box with onboard-intelligence (Linux-processor).
  • V. 2 – HPS version firmware.
  • Stand alone system (no PC required) professional hand control unit with graphic display and temperature control.
  • 10M5030 cables.
  • Counterweight bar.
  • Strong transport carton-box with shaped foam.
  • 10M2066 WiFi option.