RE: [APML] Opinions: GP-DX or GM-8

[Alen Koebel <alen_koebel@yahoo.ca>]

Tim Hart wrote: 
> If you pick up the SN6 you will have a LXD55....the
> motors from the LXD55 will bolt on (using a shorter
> bolt!) onto the GP-DX....making it an 
> Autostar/Vixen.  Something to consider.

Thanks for replying! I can't believe there aren't
more opinions about this from the group. Oh well.
I didn't know that bolting LXD55 motors onto a GP or
GP-DX was possible. 

> The GM8 has an Autoguider port....very handy if 
> you intend to go that route in the future.

Yes, and I do intend to go that route. I won't
get that if I bolt LXD55 motors onto the Vixen 
(AFAIK - has anyone managed to find a way?). OTOH,
the SS2K-PC does have an autoguider port already
(requiring an adapter cable because of its non-
standard pinout). On the gripping hand, I don't get
an autoguider port on the Vixen with all-Vixen
hardware unless I do buy the SS2K-PC, which costs 
more by itself than a whole 6" LXD55 telescope!
(But, I hear that Vixen's DD1 dual-axis controller 
can be modified to add an autoguider port. I 
still won't get backlash correction or anything 
else going this route.)

One thing I don't like about the GM-8 (applies to the
G11 too) is that its PEC feature is not permanently
programmed. Now, I realise that PEC may not be much
of an issue for long exposure film photography with
an autoguider, especially with relatively short 
focal lengths, but then something else might kick 
in with the GM-8: Depending on the luck of the draw,
I could get one with a badly behaved PE curve, which
some people have reported give their autoguiders 
the heebie jeebies. OTOH, downsides of the GP-DX 
might be (a) somewhat lesser *rated* weight capacity
(although I'll bet the Japanese have been
characteristicly conservative on this spec) and 
more fumbling with the clutches, since they're
not the slip kind the GM-8 has (although when
you're taking a photo you probably don't want to 
leave slip clutches loose enough to move anyway 
in the event you accidently brush up against the
mount!).

Not an easy choice, IMO. 


______________________________________________________________________ 
Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca
_______________________________________________
Astro-Photo mailing list
Astro-Photo@seds.org
http://seds.org/mailman/listinfo/astro-photo