Deric,
Wooden tripods have a history in the film industry for their stable vibration deadening properties.
I have an old Wooden Legged Tripod dating from the 1940's that is supposed to have been for holding a movie camera.
It's a Craig - Thalhammer Model. Made by the Craig Movie Supply Company, Los Angeles, California.

I'm surprised I found it online:

Just like this:?

Same-o, Same-o for wooden Surveyor's tripods. ;^)

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Deric

You are preaching to the choir. I have the G11G for imaging and GM8G for portable visual work. My GM8G has 311K tic Astro Devices encoders with a Nexus DSC WiFi. It is fantastic to use on PUSH-TO mode.?
--

Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware

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Derick

I have an avx I use with a c9.25 for show and tell. It's ok for visual and tracks well but the mount electronics have a flaw.? Many users have had it fail including myself (component failure).? Some use it for astrophotography as well (hyperstar short exposures, dslr).? But for heavier loads the g11 handles my C11 with hyperstar easily. The avx is much easier to set up (light) and much clearer manuals. Having said that, when you look at construction of the g11 (much beefier) and the avx (cheap plastic, more wobbly) and it doesn't have as nice a web interface the g11 is a better deal.? However, it was a big learning curve to set up the g11 wifi, use the hand held to get all the settings correct (time, location, etc). An avx is for a beginner the g11 for more serious users but the avx is ok if you accept its limitations.?? So, my one complaint as I get older is how heavy the g11 is to move (I don't have room for a permanent setup).?

Chuck

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Thank you Natalie, that is all very helpful.? I just need a little time to digest it.? Ha...As I stated, I'm 72, and things, including my mind have slowed down somewhat...LOL.

I'll get back with you soon.? Thanks again.? Gary

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Hi Gary,

I am a newbie with a recent G11G (Nov '19) and have been working to get a decent remote AP setup going. Some things I had to do:
I started with a 16' USB3 Extender cable to with a local 12vdc powered USB hub on the leg of the tripod running into the house.
(It also had a Ethernet to USB3 adapter with the G11 plugged into it.)
Although that worked to get the basic signals into the PC in the house, I found that with everything open at once,? (A couple instances of Sharpcap, PHD2, and Stellarium (latest version with ASCOM telescope support),?
the PC was running at 100% CPU the entire time, and Stellarium was practically unusable from the lag.
I also found that the USB bandwidth was an issue, where I had to slow down the USB speed on all three ZWO USB3 cameras?
(ASI071 main camera, ASI224 finder scope camera, ASI120 guide scope camera)
By placing the laptop out at the scope, and splitting the camera USB load across 2 PC USB ports, I am able to increase the USB speed without issues.
Also I configured a little TPLink Travel router in 'Client' mode to connect the G11G directly to the home WIFI. This allowed me to:

1. Connect to the scope using RDP from a desktop (more powerful) computer in the house,
2. Allow the inside desktop computer to not only connect to the outside 'telescope' computer, but also directly run Stellarium (with ASCOM and the Gemini.Net ASCOM driver installed) and also run the Gemini web client
to provide scope control.
3. a modern RDP connection has the ability to display the remote PC on multiple monitors as well, allowing flexible display configurations,
(on a 2 screen desktop PC, 1 screen is the remote RDP screen, and the other is a full screen Stellarium display, sometimes even a third screen is useful to dedicate to the remote Gemini web client.
The software and the G11G doesn't seem to care that there are 2 Gemini ASCOM and web client instances running and never have generated conflicts yet.

This reduces the burden on the 'telescope' computer to the point that Stellarium runs very fast while still reliably connected to the scope. (the outside computer only runs at 65% CPU now with cameras and guiding active.)
We have tried other various configurations, and found limitations, such as the maximum number of USB3 hubs that can be connected in series for instance in a Windows 10 environment, that so far has made this the ideal configuration for us.
I also have found that a 'telescope/observatory' camera (I am using an old StellaCamEx) on a tripod, pointing at the mount using the wide angle lens that came with the ZWO ASI224/120? cameras to give us a view of not only the telescope position and movement, but also a decent 'partial-sky' view as well. This is also routed inside (is has a composite video output, so it is plugged into a TV for convenience) to provide comfort of knowing what is really happening to the scope during remote sessions.

I am still refining, but this seems to be a solution that is working for me...
Natalie

Hi Deric,

Mostly because it is dead stable and very well dampened. If you haven't had the pleasure of using a Berlebach Planet it has much better damping traits than any of the metal tube tripods (Losmandy HD, Folding, MA on LX200 tripod, Losmandy LWT), you can see this at the eyepiece which settles immediately when the scope is touched or the Berlebach is bumped. The Berlebach doesn't ring leaving little evidence of being bumped, it is warmer to the touch in the cold, a little lighter, folds more compactly for transport.?

It really is a better tripod from a performance POV but you do need to be aware of moisture and? the check the leg clamps as it gets colder during the session. Other than these traits it is an outstanding tripod for any GM8G or G11G mount particularly used visually.
--

Chip Louie - Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware

I wouldn't point to Celestron, or Synta Corp, for anything.
And I'm glad to finally be getting a Losmandy for my mount.
My post was in rebuttal to Alexanders post, George. ;^)

Wow, so it wasn't a mistake to pay $300 for three 22# and one 7# weights??

?sell an 11" SCT with a 30 pound rated AVX"

Sure and they sold The C11 on the CG-5, too. Folks forget than when Celestron decided to sell the C11 on something other than a fork mount they went to Scott and together modified a heavy GM100 Losmandy mount to produce the model Celestron G11. Scott then developed the GM-8 with 8" SCTs in mind.

Your average 8" SCT of the day weighed about 15# with the usual accessory's. When Celestron sold the C9.25 on the GM-8 (Celestron G9) with a D saddle and a substandard tripod (aluminum CG-5 unit) it was malpractice. The C9.25 is a only about 3#s lighter than the C11. So I wouldn't point to Celestron as a standard for sound judgement on matching payloads to mounts.

Tropod - TBD

The G11 pier pod has 3/8"-16 clamping bolt threads.

I like to use USA equipment when possible.? I've had Meade, Celestron, now Losmandy G-11, which is 5 Years old.? It is a work of art, meticulously machined, and ethernet compatible.? Handles my 40 lbs with ease.? Best support out there.

Gary? "Semper Fi"