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Main
Date: 29 May 2007 12:41:29
From: Jim
Subject: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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Any thoughts on the Celestron CG-5A 'Advanced Series' go-to mount? I'm
an occasional & very amateur astronomer, don't plan to be any more than
that, and have no inclination toward astrophotography. I have older C-5
and C-8 OTA's.
Is there a 'better' or newer design go-to mount under about $1k?
Thanks for any useful comments.
Jim, "Entropy never sleeps; do y'all?"
The above address is invalid; send email to fesser at same domain name.
http://community.webtv.net/IronDuff/SpringBreak
http://community.webtv.net/a968/ContinentalDivide
http://community.webtv.net/a968/TennentMountain
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Date: 29 May 2007 14:56:18
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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On May 29, 4:06 pm, "Roger Hamlett"
<rogerspamigno...@ttelmah.demon.co.uk > wrote:
> "Jim" <IronD...@webtv.net> wrote in message
>
> This mount is very good 'value', and most now are good 'out of the box'.
> There is some tweaking (fairly essential on the older versions of the
> mechanism), which can also help, but this has now become generally
> unecessary for new units. For the money, it is good, provided it is not
> loaded up to silly levels (it has better bearings, than the original mount
> it was loosely 'based' on). It is comfortable for scopes like the C5, C6,
> C8, even being quite capable of astrophotography with care on this sort of
> scope, which shows quite good stability is possible.
> I have one, with a C6, as a very useful 'holiday' scope/mount, and it
> really does work very well.
> As a comparison, I also have a Vixen Sphinx, and while the this is
> mechanically nicer (retractable counterweight shaft, better enclosed
> motors, etc.), the CG5A 'combination', gives better GoTo, larger database,
> and much more useable controller, that the latter, making it the 'better'
> product at present...
> The HEQ5 Pro 'Skyscan', has a less upgradeable controller, but is another
> mount in a similar price range (in the UK), so might be worth looking at.
>
> Best Wishes
Hi Roger:
I agree on all counts.
I've often thought about the Sirius/HEQ5 or the Atlas/EQ6/Synscan as
they are both better payload wise...but the problem there is I don't
think I could bear to give up Nexremote (although the EQMOD program
for the Atlas/Sirius is coming on strong).
Let me also say I guess "ridiculous" is in the eye of the beholder. I
used to be very doubtful about the C11 version, the C11-SGT. While I
would still not recommend one for imaging, of course, I've used a
buddy's 11 for visual work and it does surprisingly well--especially
with the addition of a set of the vibration supression pads. It's
certainly an amazing value...you're essentially getting the mount for
free.
Yes, after a year or so of teething pains, Celestron got the bugs out
of the CG5, and it now is and has been quite reliable. It IS more
difficult for a beginner to get going than a fork, however.
;-)
Unk Rod
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Date: 30 May 2007 04:43:32
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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On May 29, 9:33 pm, IronD...@webtv.net (Jim) wrote:
> Roger 'n' Rod... much thanks. Looks like a call to Astronomics is in
> order tomorrow AM, unless y'all can suggest a better source. I applaud
> your polite, informative, and sane responses, and other postings. Pity
> that more of usenet ain't like that.
> No problems with the... errr... 'odd' nature of a GEM's movements...
> I'm quite familiar with them, thru a friend's manual version, decades
> back.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Jim, "We've got enough fat-free foods; what we need is some stupid-free
> ones."
>
> The above address is invalid; send email to fesser at same domain name.
>
> http://community.webtv.net/IronDuff/SpringBreakhttp://community.webtv.net/a968/ContinentalDividehttp://community.webtv.net/a968/TennentMountain
In that case, I say, "go for it." There's a bit of a learning curve
with the computer, but nothing that can't be mastered.
Two things:
--Join the Yahoo Celestron ASGT group...it's indispensable for the CG5
owner.
--When you buy the mount, get the DC cable and buy a jumpstart or
similar 12vdc battery to run the mount on. One thing about the CG5: it
is power hungry and needs a good source of DC to work properly.
Unk Rod
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Date: 30 May 2007 09:34:41
From: Jim
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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>--When you buy the mount, get the DC cable
> and buy a jumpstart or similar 12vdc battery
>to run the mount on. One thing about the CG5:
> it is power hungry and needs a good source >of DC to work properly.
>Unk Rod
Thanks again, Rod.
12V won't be a problem. I've got a small 4x4 RV
(www.tigermotorhomes.com) that I'll be using for a telescope transporter
and 'base'. It's got a pair of 12 volt house batteries, but will soon
have a pair of 6V golf cart batteries... and a generator... and a
bathroom, furnace, kitchen, etc.... ;-) If I get more into it than is
likely, I'll put a 12V outlet on the outside.
I have to leave home to do anything more than the moon, since I live a
block off a main street, 1/2 mile from a new car lot, and a block from a
big 24-hour grocery. But I can 'get rural' fairly quickly.
Jim, "If bigger is really better, how come we don't have macrowave
ovens?"
The above address is invalid; send email to fesser at same domain name.
http://community.webtv.net/IronDuff/SpringBreak
http://community.webtv.net/a968/ContinentalDivide
http://community.webtv.net/a968/TennentMountain
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Date: 30 May 2007 14:36:02
From: Roger Hamlett
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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"Jim" <IronDuff@webtv.net > wrote in message
news:3538-465D7D71-1160@storefull-3337.bay.webtv.net...
>
>>--When you buy the mount, get the DC cable
>> and buy a jumpstart or similar 12vdc battery
>>to run the mount on. One thing about the CG5:
>> it is power hungry and needs a good source >of DC to work properly.
>
>>Unk Rod
>
> Thanks again, Rod.
>
> 12V won't be a problem. I've got a small 4x4 RV
> (www.tigermotorhomes.com) that I'll be using for a telescope transporter
> and 'base'. It's got a pair of 12 volt house batteries, but will soon
> have a pair of 6V golf cart batteries... and a generator... and a
> bathroom, furnace, kitchen, etc.... ;-) If I get more into it than is
> likely, I'll put a 12V outlet on the outside.
>
> I have to leave home to do anything more than the moon, since I live a
> block off a main street, 1/2 mile from a new car lot, and a block from a
> big 24-hour grocery. But I can 'get rural' fairly quickly.
>
> Jim, "If bigger is really better, how come we don't have macrowave
> ovens?"
Actually we do!...
Get a look at one of the 'glue setting' systems used in some timber
companies. Usually something like 10 to 50KW, on 27MHz (10m wavelength).
Definately 'macrowave'. :)
You may be suprised how 'much' you can manage to see of the brighter
objects like Orion, 'from home', but darker sites, will make a huge
difference with anything dimmer.
Good Luck
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Date: 29 May 2007 22:33:26
From: Jim
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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Roger 'n' Rod... much thanks. Looks like a call to Astronomics is in
order tomorrow AM, unless y'all can suggest a better source. I applaud
your polite, informative, and sane responses, and other postings. Pity
that more of usenet ain't like that.
No problems with the... errr... 'odd' nature of a GEM's movements...
I'm quite familiar with them, thru a friend's manual version, decades
back.
Thanks again!
Jim, "We've got enough fat-free foods; what we need is some stupid-free
ones."
The above address is invalid; send email to fesser at same domain name.
http://community.webtv.net/IronDuff/SpringBreak
http://community.webtv.net/a968/ContinentalDivide
http://community.webtv.net/a968/TennentMountain
|
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Date: 29 May 2007 21:06:20
From: Roger Hamlett
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
|
"Jim" <IronDuff@webtv.net > wrote in message
news:23143-465C57B9-1279@storefull-3338.bay.webtv.net...
>
> Any thoughts on the Celestron CG-5A 'Advanced Series' go-to mount? I'm
> an occasional & very amateur astronomer, don't plan to be any more than
> that, and have no inclination toward astrophotography. I have older C-5
> and C-8 OTA's.
>
> Is there a 'better' or newer design go-to mount under about $1k?
>
> Thanks for any useful comments.
This mount is very good 'value', and most now are good 'out of the box'.
There is some tweaking (fairly essential on the older versions of the
mechanism), which can also help, but this has now become generally
unecessary for new units. For the money, it is good, provided it is not
loaded up to silly levels (it has better bearings, than the original mount
it was loosely 'based' on). It is comfortable for scopes like the C5, C6,
C8, even being quite capable of astrophotography with care on this sort of
scope, which shows quite good stability is possible.
I have one, with a C6, as a very useful 'holiday' scope/mount, and it
really does work very well.
As a comparison, I also have a Vixen Sphinx, and while the this is
mechanically nicer (retractable counterweight shaft, better enclosed
motors, etc.), the CG5A 'combination', gives better GoTo, larger database,
and much more useable controller, that the latter, making it the 'better'
product at present...
The HEQ5 Pro 'Skyscan', has a less upgradeable controller, but is another
mount in a similar price range (in the UK), so might be worth looking at.
Best Wishes
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Date: 29 May 2007 13:11:51
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?
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On May 29, 11:41 am, IronD...@webtv.net (Jim) wrote:
> Any thoughts on the Celestron CG-5A 'Advanced Series' go-to mount? I'm
> an occasional & very amateur astronomer, don't plan to be any more than
> that, and have no inclination toward astrophotography. I have older C-5
> and C-8 OTA's.
>
> Is there a 'better' or newer design go-to mount under about $1k?
>
> Thanks for any useful comments.
Hi:
I've had the CG5 for a couple of years and have been very pleased with
it. Its go-to is outstanding, and I've been able to use it for imaging
with a variety of OTAs. Coupled with Nexremote, it's really a nice,
portable, reasonably priced mount.
That's said, if you're not interested in imaging, there's little
reason to choose a GEM. You might look at Celestron's SE series for a
scope with a similar computer, but which can be used in the more user-
friendly and comfortable alt-az mode. With the addition of a dovetail,
you could use any scopes you want (within reasonable weight limits)
with the SE mount.
If you have any specific questions about the CG5, I'd be happy to try
to answer them for you, of course.
Unk Rod
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