RE: ATM Unit power finder info

[Curt Thompson <curt.thompson@attws.com>]

I have been using one of these Daisy sites for a while.  I added a small
potentiometer (100 Kohm I think) to control the brightness.  I've found
that I leave it in the wide-open (100K ohm) position all of the time.
It is difficult to see much of anything but the brightest objects
through it.  I think the lens (mirror) is tinted or partially silvered.
I use it in the "two-eyed" mode where I look through the site with one
eye and the open sky with the other.  It appears that the site is
designed to point at objects at about 100 meters.  There is a slight
movement in the dot against objects at infinity as the observer moves
his head.  Also, there are reflections off each side the lens (mirror).
I've used the wrong reflection at times.  I don't know how the Orion
device behaves but would be interested in any comparisons.

I was thinking that a better method would be to mount two small LEDs on
posts and just align the two illuminated dots.  This would probably
obscure less of the sky view.  I'll probably just buy a Telerad.

Curt Thompson

>----------
>From:  Rob Castle[SMTP:rcastle@erols.com]
>Subject:       ATM Unit power finder info
>
>
>...Part of my design
>included an extra stalk which extends above the mounting bolt hole and
to which I have adapted a Daisy "Red Dot" air rifle sight. 
>...Has anyone out there tried
>one of these for rough pointing? With the exception of the brightness
>and a slight reflection inside the sight tube, it really neat. How bout
>some ideas on how to reduce the light and reflections.
>