Pentax TELEPORT User Manual

THE TELEPORT

is designed and hand-crafted by

Tom Noe

972-442-5456

tomnoe@wtd.net

4030 N. Hwy 78, Wylie, TX 75098

Owners Manual 2.1 © Teleport, 2001

Manual Design: Linda Silas, The Annex Studios

972-429-1636, www.annexstudios.com

TELEPORT 10”

The Telescoping Telescope

Owners Manual 2.1

PG CONTENTS

4 Overview 5 Handling & Safety 6 Unpacking 7 Getting Started

8 Opening 10 Closing 11 Collimation 12 The Finder 14 Eyepieces 16 Observing 18 Electrical 20 Cleaning 22 Service 23 Specifications

As you read through this manual, watch for the following symbols:

Caution!

➤ Tip

Note: Observation

Enclosed with your telescope you will also find a user’s manual for the Protostar Diagonal Mount Assembly used in the Teleport.

finder

baseplate

shroud

finder

Fig1: The 10” Teleport closed

Overview

top plate

carrying strap

altitude ring strut clamps serial# plate

accessories drawer

finder

eyepiece

focuser

spider

secondary

mirror

friction damper

alititude ring

altitude bearing

primary

mirror cell

accessories

drawer

strut

shroud

upper clamp

lower clamp

cover power supply ground board

Fig 2: The 10” Teleport open

Handling & Safety

The Teleport is a precise, lightweight, very portable 10” reflecting telescope. It has a “Newtonian” optical system and an altazimuth or “Dobsonian” type mounting. Many aspects of it are more advanced than other telescopes of this type, and some special techniques are needed for proper operation. Be sure to read and follow the instructions in this manual to insure best results and avoid damage.

Never aim a telescope toward the sun!

dangerous. A 10” mirror gathers about 1,000 times as much light as your eye, and a split-second look can cause permanent blindness. Never attempt to view the sun unless you understand the procedures and have fitted the Teleport aperture with a telescope so sunlight can strike the mirror, now or as the earth turns. This can focus the sun’s heat in the scope causing serious damage and possibly fire.

Watch your back!

telescope. Still, it should be handled with appropriate care, especially if you have any physical limitations, such as a back problem. Use proper lifting techniques: lift with your legs, not your back, and avoid bending or twisting in an awkward way.

Handle with care!

instrument. Always keep it upright unless following instructions in this manual requiring otherwise. When open the Teleport may be carried with one hand (Fig 3). For greater control, open or closed, it should be carried with both hands by the altitude rings (Fig 4). The strap on the top plate (Fig

5) is only for carrying the closed scope when walking.

swing the scope by this strap or pull sideways on it! This could pull the plate loose, causing the telescope to fall.

When handling it in a manner that requires sideways movement, such as climbing steps or placing it onto a car seat, grasp the scope securely with both hands, one in each altitude ring. side tabs. Always lower it gently onto hard surfaces.

Openings in the cover are provided under the

proper solar filter

The Teleport is lightweight for a 10”

The Teleport is a precision optical

This is extremely

. Never place any

Never

Fig 3: Carrying the open

Teleport one-handed

Fig 4: Carrying the

Teleport by the altitude

bearings for control

Fig 5: Carrying the closed

Teleport while walking

Unpacking

Unpacking your scope

1. With the box flaps open and the top foam pad removed, orient the box so the Teleport logo on the top of the cover is right-reading.

2. Slide a hand down each side about two inches and insert your fingers below the cover flaps and into the altitude rings (see Fig 4, page 5)

3. Grasp both rings firmly, lift the Teleport straight up out of the box and set it down gently.

Removing and Storing the Slip Cover

The Teleport cover is designed to protect your telescope from sun, airborne particulates and dew or brief, light rain. It is not intended to withstand prolonged or heavy rain. If such conditions occur, move your telescope to shelter.

1. Pull the flaps around the top loose from their velcro tabs and fold the top back.

2. Grasp the cover by the side openings and lift it off.

3. Fold the body of the cover flat (Fig 6), Fold in half along the corner seams (Fig 7).

5. Fold horizontally (Fig 8) up into the lid

6. Pull the top flaps around the folded body and press the velcro tabs in place.

7. Align the folded cover on the lower front of the scope and press it onto the velcro strip provided.

Fig 6

Replacing the Slip Cover

Pull the cover away from the velcro, unfold it and orient it over the scope.

2. With the lid up, slide it onto the scope until the straps rest on the top plate. lid and press the velcro tabs in place on front and sides

The top may be lifted to access the handle

2. for straight level carrying. The side tabs allow access to the altitude rings for more controlled movement such as in and out of a vehicle, through doorways, on stairs, etc.

Close the

Fig 7

Fig 8

Getting Started

Unlocking from “Shipping Mode”

The Teleport is simply closed for routine transport and opened again for use. When it was packed for shipping, the primary mirror was “locked” and must be “unlocked” before first use.This will take some time, but will also familiarize you with many details of your new scope

You will need a philips screwdriver and 3/8” wrench.

1. Open the scope per the instructions on pages 8 & 9, then unlock the mirror as follows.

2. Turn each of the three white collimation knobs (see Fig 9) two full turns CCW.

Remove the mirror cell following steps 1-

3. 4 on page 20, then return to step 4 below.

4. Place the cell carefully on a table, mirror up. It will be covered by a solid plate with three tabs (Fig 10).

5. Remove the screws holding the tabs to the cell posts, and remove the plate.

6. Slide the cell so the top-post screw just overhangs the table edge for access.

7. Hold the top center post screw with a philips screwdriver and loosen its nut about a turn with the wrench (Fig 11).

Turn the screw CCW almost 1/2 turn so its small edge notch is at the top. Hold it there with the screwdriver while retightening the nut with the wrench. This orients the eccentric post so it no longer presses against the mirror.

Fig 11: The

Opening

Opening the Teleport takes less than a minute, once you are familiar with the procedure. It’s very easy, but improperly performing some steps can cause collimation error, reducing the image quality. It can also cause poor stability, and exactly exactly

exactly to form good habits right from the start.

exactly exactly

Remove the Top Plate

1. Orient the scope to read the caution label on the top plate.

2. Grasp inside the left altitude ring opening with your left hand, and the left end of the carrying strap with your right.

3. Keep the top plate two hands apart to clear the slot in the left side of the rocker box( Fig 12) when you push it to the right.

4. Tilt the left side of the top plate up

enoughenough

enough

enoughenough

move the plate to the left until it is out of the right slot (Fig 13).

Never tilt the left side of the top plate up more than an inch (Fig 14). The tremendous leverage you have on the slot could split the top edge of the rocker box!

5. Place the top plate on the right side of the scope about an inch above the ground, align the velcro, and press it in place.

to clear the top of the rocker box and

just enough

even damageeven damage

even damage. Practice the steps

even damageeven damage

horizontal

, and pull your

for the top plate

justjust

just

justjust

Fig 12 - Yes

Fig 13 - Yes

Fig 14 - NO!

Extend and Clamp the Struts

When opening or closing the Teleport, never release it completely unless at least one strut has be damaged!

1. Stand in front of the scope, facing the power supply.

2. Insert the fingertips of both hands into the top opening of the secondary cage and grasp it at about 3 and 9 o’clock (Fig 15).

3. Lift up smoothly and evenly with both hands, stretching the shroud and extending the scope to its full height.

4. Still holding the secondary cage up firmly with your right hand fingertips, move your left hand to grasp the left strut upper section and hold up on it.

both

clamps locked, or it may fall and

Fig 15: Grasp the

secondary cage

+ 16 hidden pages