New subject: ...Losmandy G11

11 May 2012

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

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oh boy! okay, i need a little help here...

Chrismo

Steve Fisher

Chrismo

erikhansen＠thebluezone.net

Chrismo

gazebo4sale＠comcast.net

Don J. Colton

Joe Bauman

Daniel Holmes

Don J. Colton

Fred Orrell

Daniel Holmes

Daniel Holmes

erikhansen＠thebluezone.net

erikhansen＠thebluezone.net

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