Astro Devices SkyWatcher Dobsonian Encoder Kit

Product Overview

The SkyWatcher Dobsonian Encoder Kit installs the two axis encoders your digital setting circles rely on to know where your telescope is pointing. Built specifically for SkyWatcher Classic and Collapsible Dobsonians, it mounts one encoder on the azimuth (AZ) axis and one on the altitude (ALT) axis so a push-to computer such as a Nexus DSC can read both axes and guide you to targets across the sky. Altitude resolution reaches up to 1,308,000 steps, giving fine, repeatable pointing throughout an observing session.

Who It's For

This kit fits SkyWatcher Classic and Collapsible Dobsonians. It suits owners of those scopes who want to add push-to navigation and need the encoder hardware that lets a digital setting circle interface with the mount. The encoders attach to the telescope's axes and send position signals to your DSC; without them the DSC has no way to determine where the telescope is aimed.

Key Features & Design

• Two-axis encoder set: includes one AZ and one ALT encoder, covering both movements a Dobsonian makes.
• High step counts: azimuth from 20,480 up to 311,296 steps and altitude from 20,480 up to 1,308,000 steps, depending on the resolution chosen.
• Model-specific fit: engineered for SkyWatcher Classic and Collapsible Dobsonians rather than a generic bracket.
• Complete install package: ships with the encoders, an installation hardware set, an encoder cable, and a printed instruction booklet.
• Made-to-length cable: the encoder cable is matched to your scope so the run between encoders and DSC fits cleanly.

Encoders and Resolution

Three resolution options are available. The Standard option uses a 20,480-step azimuth encoder; the Mid option adds a high-resolution altitude encoder in the 842,000 to 1,308,000-step range; and the High option raises the azimuth encoder to 311,296 steps alongside that high-resolution altitude encoder. Higher step counts translate to finer angular resolution on each axis, which keeps targets closer to the centre of the eyepiece as you move from object to object.

Recommended Uses

Once installed, the encoders let your DSC provide push-to guidance for visual observing — locating planets, the Moon, double stars, and deep-sky objects, and returning to them through the night. The kit is the hardware bridge between a manual Dobsonian and a computer-assisted one, so any session that benefits from fast, accurate target-finding is a natural fit.

Compatibility and Accessory Notes

The kit is made for SkyWatcher Classic and Collapsible Dobsonians and mounts to their AZ and ALT axes. It supplies the encoders themselves; a compatible digital setting circle unit, such as a Nexus DSC, reads the encoder signals and performs the navigation. Installation instructions specific to these mounts are included in the box.

Good to Know Before You Order

• Cable length is made to order: we will contact you after purchase to confirm the encoder cable length your scope needs.
• Encoders, not a full DSC: this kit provides the axis encoders, while a separate digital setting circle computer performs the push-to navigation.
• Shipping weight: the kit weighs 550 g.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this kit actually do?

It adds the two axis encoders a digital setting circle needs to read your telescope's position, turning a manual SkyWatcher Dobsonian into a push-to instrument.

Which telescopes does it fit?

SkyWatcher Classic and Collapsible Dobsonians.

Is it difficult to set up?

The kit is made for these specific mounts and ships with an installation hardware set and a printed instruction booklet that walk through mounting each encoder on the AZ and ALT axes. The encoder cable is cut to your scope's length, so wiring comes down to connecting the supplied cable between the encoders and your DSC.

Do I still need a digital setting circle unit?

Yes. The encoders supply position data, and a DSC computer such as a Nexus DSC reads that data to provide the on-screen navigation.

What resolution should I choose?

Higher step counts give finer pointing resolution on each axis. The options range from a 20,480-step azimuth encoder up to 311,296 steps on azimuth and as much as 1,308,000 steps on altitude.

Bottom Line

The SkyWatcher Dobsonian Encoder Kit is the direct-fit hardware that turns a SkyWatcher Classic or Collapsible Dobsonian into a push-to telescope, pairing AZ and ALT encoders with the cable, hardware, and instructions needed to connect them to your digital setting circles. Choose the resolution that matches how precisely you want to point, and your DSC handles the rest.