NavList:
A Community Devoted to the Preservation and Practice of Celestial Navigation and Other Methods of Traditional Wayfinding
Theodolites
From: Paul Hirose
Date: 2008 Jan 07, 10:45 -0800
From: Paul Hirose
Date: 2008 Jan 07, 10:45 -0800
A couple months ago there was some discussion about theodolites for sextant calibration. I see that Chinese companies are now producing amazingly inexpensive electronic theodolites. How about a new 2-second theodolite for $1100? http://cgi.ebay.com/South-ET-02-Electronic-Theodolite-2-Transit-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ300186229955QQihZ020QQcategoryZ55807QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem This auction ends in a few hours, but the seller seems to keep one of these listed all the time. (The last auction I watched, there was no sale.) The company web site has more details: http://www.southsurveying.net/SouthET.html Accessories include a right angle eyepiece and sun filter. Even cheaper is this theodolite, which claims the same accuracy: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-LQET-102-2-Digital-Theodolite_W0QQitemZ290195865283QQihZ019QQcategoryZ55807QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem However, it's not as professionally marketed as the other theodolite. The eBay page is riddled with spelling errors, and unlike the other company, there's no U.S. distributor. You have to buy direct from China. But the $440 price is incredible. Even $1100 is very cheap for a new instrument. You can get a used 1" theodolite like a DKM2A or T2 on eBay, but not for $1100, at least if you want one in good condition from a seller who knows about these things. And if you're interested in celestial, right angle eyepieces are hard to find. In addition, their optical micrometers need careful manipulation and a practiced eye to get good results. For the hobbyist who wants to set up a sextant calibration range, investigate the effects of refraction, or shoot the stars with a theodolite, these new Chinese instruments may be worth a look. -- I block messages that contain attachments or HTML. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to NavList@fer3.com To , send email to NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---