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Date: 08 Sep 2006 17:59:20
From: D_Peglow
Subject: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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It's almost 7 years now that I ordered my last telecope item and within
the last 7 years, my telescopes had a good time being covered with a lot
of dust as I had not the time, right place ... to use them. The only
scope I was using during that time was the NexStart 80-GT which has a
GOTO. I really love this scope because it is easy to set up and with
proper alignment, it points me almost perfectly to the target I entered
in the computer. Now I moved to the country side and have the place and
decent dark sky to use another scope from the Celstron family which is a
C8 on a Vixen GP more often. And now I'm looking for a GOTO for the
Vixen GP but have no idea "what's state of the art". What I have seen is
that the Vixen Skysensor is still on the market. But is it good or
should I search for alternatives?
Brgds,
Didi
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 21:00:09
From: Roger Hamlett
Subject: Re: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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"D_Peglow" <news_peg02@snafu.de > wrote in message
news:4mdi7jF5i6d3U1@uni-berlin.de...
> It's almost 7 years now that I ordered my last telecope item and within
> the last 7 years, my telescopes had a good time being covered with a lot
> of dust as I had not the time, right place ... to use them. The only
> scope I was using during that time was the NexStart 80-GT which has a
> GOTO. I really love this scope because it is easy to set up and with
> proper alignment, it points me almost perfectly to the target I entered
> in the computer. Now I moved to the country side and have the place and
> decent dark sky to use another scope from the Celstron family which is a
> C8 on a Vixen GP more often. And now I'm looking for a GOTO for the
> Vixen GP but have no idea "what's state of the art". What I have seen is
> that the Vixen Skysensor is still on the market. But is it good or
> should I search for alternatives?
The Viken SS2KPC, is one of the best goto controllers around. Given it's
age, that is an amazing statement, but it really does show some other
units 'the way'. It's weaknesses are a tendency for fragility in the main
connector, and the fact that it cannot be easily software updated (but the
software on it runs very well, and you can seperately upload orbital
elements for satellites etc.).
Vixen's replacement (the Sphinx mount and controller), has a nicer actual
mount, but the handcontroller still does not perform as well as the SS2K
(pretty display, but too bright, so you have to add a filter, fewer
objects in the database, no PEC, no keyboard illumination, with it being
rather easy to push the wrong button, and doesn't track quite as well).
The Celestron controller used on their ASGT mounts, now performs very
well, but they don't sell this seperately. It will transfer directly onto
a Vixen mount though with a little 'tweaking', and if you then sell the
bare Celestron mount, this might be worth considering.
There are some third party controllers (such as the AVR, a UK product),
and you used to be able to get a pair of motors from Meade, which would
run with their AutoStar, and these can be fitted to the GP, which was
quite a powerful 'budget' system. These though have become a 'rare' part.
Best Wishes
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 22:54:29
From: Iordani
Subject: Re: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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D_Peglow wrote:
> It's almost 7 years now that I ordered my last telecope item and within
> the last 7 years, my telescopes had a good time being covered with a lot
> of dust as I had not the time, right place ... to use them. The only
> scope I was using during that time was the NexStart 80-GT which has a
> GOTO. I really love this scope because it is easy to set up and with
> proper alignment, it points me almost perfectly to the target I entered
> in the computer. Now I moved to the country side and have the place and
> decent dark sky to use another scope from the Celstron family which is a
> C8 on a Vixen GP more often. And now I'm looking for a GOTO for the
> Vixen GP but have no idea "what's state of the art". What I have seen is
> that the Vixen Skysensor is still on the market. But is it good or
> should I search for alternatives?
I'm looking at this myself for my GP-DX
http://www.boxdoerfer.de/
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 22:58:33
From: Carsten A. Arnholm
Subject: Re: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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Iordani wrote:
> D_Peglow wrote:
>
>> It's almost 7 years now that I ordered my last telecope item and
>> within the last 7 years, my telescopes had a good time being covered
>> with a lot of dust as I had not the time, right place ... to use
>> them. The only scope I was using during that time was the NexStart
>> 80-GT which has a GOTO. I really love this scope because it is easy
>> to set up and with proper alignment, it points me almost perfectly
>> to the target I entered in the computer. Now I moved to the country
>> side and have the place and decent dark sky to use another scope
>> from the Celstron family which is a C8 on a Vixen GP more often. And
>> now I'm looking for a GOTO for the Vixen GP but have no idea "what's
>> state of the art". What I have seen is that the Vixen Skysensor is
>> still on the market. But is it good or should I search for
>> alternatives?
>
> I'm looking at this myself for my GP-DX
> http://www.boxdoerfer.de/
I have one of those, it was one of my best investments. It is very well made
and very accurate.
Clear skies
Carsten A. Arnholm
http://arnholm.org/
N59.776 E10.457
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 13:21:32
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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D_Peglow wrote:
What I have seen is
> that the Vixen Skysensor is still on the market. But is it good or
> should I search for alternatives?
>
Hi:
The Skysensor works pretty well. And I'm not really sure that there are
any plug and play alternatives for the GP...
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
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Date: 08 Sep 2006 22:48:52
From: Carsten A. Arnholm
Subject: Re: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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RMOLLISE wrote:
> D_Peglow wrote:
> What I have seen is
>> that the Vixen Skysensor is still on the market. But is it good or
>> should I search for alternatives?
>>
>
>
> Hi:
>
> The Skysensor works pretty well. And I'm not really sure that there
> are any plug and play alternatives for the GP...
Hi,
Maybe not plug and play, but there are certainly some alternatives around
I have a GPDX and an SP, and use a Boxdoerfer MTS-3SDI
http://www.boxdoerfer.de/ . With the latest firmware you can run it as
LX200, or with the older firmware you can use my software. More on the
MTS-3SDI at http://arnholm.org/astro/mts3/
Then you have http://www.coaa.co.uk/winctc.htm
and http://www.goto4all.de/overview.htm
I believe there are a number of other possibilites too, just search a bit.
The Vixen mounts are great, also because a lot of 3rd party equipment can be
used with them.
Clear skies
Carsten A. Arnholm
http://arnholm.org/
N59.776 E10.457
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Date: 09 Sep 2006 21:44:35
From: D_Peglow
Subject: Re: Which GOTO for Vixen GP?
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Gentlemen, thanks for your comments. Very much appreciated.
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