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

[Stuart Heggie <stuart.j.heggie@sympatico.ca>]

Alen, since you live nearby, I have had the CG-5 handcontroller on my SP
mount modified to take an autoguider (you will need a relay adapter to
isolate the electronics). It was done in Owen Sound and if you need the
info I can get it to you. They were very cool and charged me $100 CAD ($68
US) taxes included. I'm sure they could modify the Vixen DD1 controller if
you went with the GP-DX.

I use a 4" Vixen achromat on the SP (note - NOT the DX) mount for
piggyback photos and as long as it is not windy, I have carried up to and
including the 4" f10 ota and 10 lbs of camera gear. It can be done but
balance is totally critical.I have gone as long as 30 minutes guiding by
eye without problems (other than focus, mosquitos, freezing and falling
asleep).

Stuart

Alen Koebel wrote:

> 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.
>
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