Re: [APML] small AP mount (was: M42 at 300mm on new EQ6 mount)

["Bill Dean" <billdean@home.com>]

Hi Herm-
Nope, the experience is from four G-11 users locally. Paul LeFevre is one of
those and he posts to the Losmandy list- he didn't have the same luck out of
the box as you have and he's using a TV-85 and ST-4. He does seem to have a
handle on the errors though after rework. The other guy with the nasty jumps
in P.E. had to go through a few weeks of trying different worms Scott
provided- lots of work but he got it working well enough that with his AO-7
it's guideable at F.L.s under 1.5m or so but that doesn't seem so hot to me
considering the expense, re-work, and the requirement for the AO-7 to get
acceptable results but they're better than he was getting with his LX-200
and he's continuing to work on it. A third is happy but is taking very short
integrations with a StarlightXpress camera (IIRC less than 30 seconds) and
guiding with an ST-4. Never have seen a single image from any of his setups
though ;-). The fourth is doing film on a TV-101 w/ reducer and seems happy
but has had parts shipped (I think there was a motor replaced) to him and
made some adjustments to get it to work. Pics aren't too bad.

Heck, there's a buddy with a brand-spanking-new MI-250 who's waiting on a
new batch of worms/worm wheels to fix his mount (10" R-C) but is getting
good enough results about half the time with his FSQ-106 and is patient. I'm
sure Larry will take care of that though and I would hope so for the price.

It's not about squeaky wheels Herm. It's about mounts not even remotely
performing to expectations as shipped from the manufacturer. The Losmandy
mounts just don't do it for me with all the problems folks here have had the
last year. I see the same thing on the Losmandy list but the folks around
here I know and observe with and I take their comments and experiences with
a bit more weight than reports on a list. You're absolutely right on though-
I rarely see reports on lists or newsgroups about something performing to or
above expectation regardless of product or manufacturer.

Best wishes for a New Year full of clear, steady nights!

Bill Dean

----- Original Message -----
From: "Herm" <hermperez@worldnet.att.net>
To: <astro-photo@seds.org>
Sent: Monday, December 31, 2001 4:55 PM
Subject: Re: [APML] small AP mount (was: M42 at 300mm on new EQ6 mount)


> I have been around a bunch of G11s and they all work great.. mine was
taking
> great pictures out of the box, with no adjustments whatsoever.. you must
have
> been reading the Losmandy email list and all the tales of woe there (g)..
don't
> forget, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
>
> "Bill Dean" <billdean@home.com>  wrote:
>
> >From what I've seen out at the local dark site you can pretty much flip a
coin to figure out >whether or not you'll get a G-11 that'll work for
imaging or astrophotography so I'll pass on the >Losmandy thanks all the
same. I don't mind reworking a mount that's a relative bargain but I'm not
>wild about the idea on a considerably more expensive mount.
>
> Herm
> Astropics http://home.att.net/~hermperez
>
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