16 May
2012
16 May
'12
7:33 a.m.
>The install is fairly easy, the kit comes with a lot of washers without a lot of info on how they all fit. The RA on mine is kind of hard to loosen so I also bought the RA and Dec knobs with handles on them for a better grip. Hi all, > > I have an older Losmandy G11, but it has the pre-Gemini Digital Setting > Circles package. Was your G11 purchased with the Gemini package, or did > the owner add it. I'm going to buy the Gemini upgrade someday and wonder > how difficult the installation is. > > The G11 mount is a machining masterpiece and it is rock solid, even with > my C11 at high magnification. I agree that it does take some effort to > set up. To me, it's the absolute largest equatorial mount that I would > consider as portable. > > Fred > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Don J. > Colton > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 2:10 PM > To: 'Utah Astronomy' > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] ...Losmandy G11 > > > Dan, > > It was supposed to have the higher precision gearing when I bought it. > They later advertised high precision gears as an upgrade so I don't if > my high precision is the same as the upgrade or the upgrade was even > better. > > Clear Skies, > > Don > > -----Original Message----- > From: utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com > [mailto:utah-astronomy-bounces@mailman.xmission.com] On Behalf Of Daniel > Holmes > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:38 PM > To: Utah Astronomy > Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] ...Losmandy G11 > > I'm the new owner of the below mentioned G11. > > A few thoughts: > > Don is right, it takes some planning to setup. Plan on at least a half > hour to an hour minimum before you are able to look through an eyepiece. > It's not difficult, but there's a lot to it, lots of cables, plenty of > individual parts, etc. Double that time if you are attaching a > guidescope and computer. > One thing--it's easy to setup in the dark without light. There are only > two cables that aren't keyed, and you'll know right away if you get them > backwards. > The polar scope has to be updated, there are new reticules for better > pointing--don't know if the new mounts have the updated reticules, but > they are around $100. I have to guess a bit and then drift align. > Once setup, it's a very stable mount. I've got an 8" f4.7 Newtonian > mounted on mine, and there's hardly any vibration. I've mounted a 3" > refractor piggy back as a guidescope, and it's completely stable. > The pointing model is quite good, but like Don said, it does take time > to align, but that is rewarded with solid accuracy. I've updated the > firmware from what Don had, and if I put the mount back in the chalk > lines I have in my driveway, it's pretty repeatable. It does a good job > of learning PEC. > I've run into a few issues with meridian flips, but I think that's more > due to leveling and pointing than any issues with it. Each star you add > helps the pointing model. > Online support is pretty good--there's a good mailing list. However, > parts are starting to dry up for the Gemini 1 computer--several of the > chips are no longer manufactured. The Gemini 2 has been out for a while, > adds quite a few features, but I don't have that one (and probably won't > for a while, at least until the G1 dies). From what I hear, Losmandy is > a little slow to get stuff shipped, so buy from a dealer instead. > It's heavy. I have it in my basement, and hauling all the parts out to > my driveway and setting it up is a bit of a workout. I need to get a > case or something to put some of the parts in so I can carry it easier. > It does break down into plenty of component parts, so if you break it > down completely it's not too bad, but that's more trips up and down the > stairs for me, so I leave a few things together. > The hand controls can get confusing, but once you know what the system > is telling you, it's very usable. It's developed by a guy in Germany, > he's very responsive to questions, but sometimes his syntax for menus is > a little strange. Nothing I didn't get used to after a few times with it > though. As an example--you have a single line display that tells you > what mode the mount is in--it doesn't display the mode, you have to go > into the menus and query the system to find out what mode it's using > (visual, photographic, etc), and the menus change depending on the mode. > One nice thing--the menu display is on the hand control, as well as the > mount itself. Frankly, I've started just controlling it with my laptop > and not worrying about it. Next step is to try and control it with my > iPad. > There is a second hand control (don't know if this was something Don > bought as an extra, or if it comes with it) that controls the motors > only. Handy if you are just doing visual stuff, you don't need to fire > up and align the computer. > Balancing and leveling the tripod is really easy, but time consuming. > Although the legs are not keyed to go in one direction, and the legs are > only flat if they go in a specific way (they are tubes, not points at > the end), so I have to adjust the legs after I get the tripod built. Not > difficult, just another step you have to do. > I've broken it down and regreased it completely. Not a process for the > faint of heart, but I documented and took pictures of what I was doing > each step of the way so I was able to get it back together. I try to > clean and regrease my mounts every couple of years, and this was easier > to do than my Orion Skyview Pro. More involved of course, but easier to > get to things. > (that reminds me, been meaning to ask Don if this has the high precision > worm gear in it) > > Am I happy with it? Ecstatic. I love it. I'll admit I haven't been out > many times with it lately, but that's more because I have a newborn in > the house than anything else. With the way this mount is built, I > wouldn't hesitate to buy one used, assuming the G1 works (or if it comes > with a G2). > > Good luck, > Dan > > > On May 15, 2012, at 10:29 AM, Don J. Colton wrote: > >> Hi Steve, >> >> I had one and sold it. If you plan to do imaging it is a better >> platform than the Celestron CGEM. However, for visual work only, I >> would get the CGEM since it is much less expensive, easier to use and >> has better pointing accuracy without the need for precise polar >> alignment > - good for quick >> viewing or public star parties. Unless you do a very careful polar >> alignment with the G-11, its pointing accuracy is not that good. The >> Hand control interface on the G-11 is more difficult to master than >> the Celestron hand control. >> >> Clear Skies, >> >> Don Colton > > -- > Daniel Holmes, danielh@holmesonics.com > "Laugh while you can, monkey boy!" -- Lord John Whorfin > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > Send messages to the list to > Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com > > The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy > club. > > To unsubscribe go to: > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on > "Unsubscribe or edit options". > > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > Send messages to the list to > Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com > > The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy > club. > > To unsubscribe go to: > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on > "Unsubscribe or edit options". > > _______________________________________________ > Utah-Astronomy mailing list > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > > Send messages to the list to > Utah-Astronomy@mailman.xmission.com > > The Utah-Astronomy mailing list is not affiliated with any astronomy club. > > To unsubscribe go to: > http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/utah-astronomy > Then enter your email address in the space provided and click on > "Unsubscribe or edit options". >