All gear-driven Paramounts are equipped with incremental encoders. For the Paramount ME II and the Paramount Taurus 400 models, we offer optional on-axis absolute encoders.
We’re often asked about whether on-axis absolute encoders are required for superior pointing and tracking performance. The short answer is “no.”
Those who purchase our ME II or Taurus 400 mounts for their observatory are usually advanced amateur or professional astronomers — and the vast majority of them opt out of ordering the on-axis absolute encoders.
While on-axis encoders are expensive, that’s not why over 85% of ME II and Taurus 400 buyers decline to use them.
Paramounts have exceptionally small and consistent periodic error. After applying a one-time software-based periodic error correction procedure, the corrected periodic error becomes negligible.
And, while on-axis absolute encoders permit the mount to always know where it is at all times, Paramounts’ with incremental encoders offer a process called homing that allows them to always know where they are, until they are turned off. The next night, power on, issue the find home command, and your incremental encoder-based mount is ready to start observing.
Over the years we’ve found that many who ask us about on-axis encoders have basic misunderstandings about what they can and cannot do.
For example, many believe that a mount with on-axis encoders is all that’s needed to have exceptional pointing and tracking when nothing could be further from the truth. All telescopes have inherent errors —for example, mechanical and optical misalignments, and telescope flexure. (For details about that, please visit our TPoint™ page.)
Paramounts use TheSky and TPoint to calibrate the mount + telescope + equipment to create a pointing model. The pointing model automatically corrects these both pointing and tracking errors (we call that ProTrack™). TPoint is the essential ingredient of TheSky™ that makes the Paramount’s outstanding pointing and tracking possible.
If we were to one day offer on-axis encoders for our smaller gear-driven Paramounts, we’ll be sure to keep them optional so that you will not be forced to pay for capabilities you may not need or want.
With that said, the on-axis absolute encoders offered for the Paramount ME II or Taurus 400 are the highest quality available and provide exceptional performance.