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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

The ultimate CGEM topic ...
#2971716 - 03/08/09 02:22 PM

As I'm hesitating of buying a Celestron CGEM mount, I would like to hear what are the pro's and contra's about this mount.
So far I know:

Pro CGEM:
40,000 elements in NexStar database against 13,400 in Synscan EQ-6
Easier setup for GoTo enabled observation (e.g. daylight solar system)
Better servo motors
Two years warranty

Contra CGEM
Overall plastic look & feel of outside?
Handset cord way too short?
Saddle knobs too smooth?

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mclewis1
Thread Killer

Reged: 02/25/06

Loc: New Brunswick, Canada

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2971832 - 03/08/09 03:19 PM

Assuming you're comparing a CGEM to an EQ-6 and not an NEQ-6 add a Losmandy D type saddle to the CGEM pro column.

Other CGEM pros ... Larger Alt and Az ajustment knobs, more mature software.

Other cons ... hardware not as well proven.

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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: mclewis1]
#2971855 - 03/08/09 03:33 PM

Don't know about the NEQ-6 but would a CGEM also require this overhaul/maintenance:
http://avex.org.free.fr/dossiers-pratiques/eq6/index-eng.html

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divers
professor emeritus

Reged: 01/21/08

Loc: Apopka, FL

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2971949 - 03/08/09 04:07 PM

Out of the box...mine has NO issue's at all with the exception of my pickyness over the saddle...not a con, just a note. I love the mount. Tracking is great, goto is great. Seems that someone made improvements to the Atlas and called it a CGEM.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2971960 - 03/08/09 04:10 PM

I got a handset cord extender from Scopestuff and that eliminates the short hand controller cord issue. IMO that was the only real con for the CGEM and easily corrected. I don't know why you think it looks plastic because it is completely metal as far as I can tell. Only those big knobs are plastic and I also replaced them with star shaped knobs, but mainly so it would fit in my Hardigg storage case with the knobs still attached.

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Skylook123
Postmaster

Reged: 04/30/05

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Lane]
#2972250 - 03/08/09 06:32 PM

My Atlas is over three years old and has been bulletproof for about 50 or more nights a year of visual use. I did replace the HC to mount cable that shorted about a year and a half ago.

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AntarcticDave
sage

Reged: 02/03/09

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Skylook123]
#2972261 - 03/08/09 06:39 PM

I'm very happy with mine so far. It handles my 6" achromat easily, and I really like the new polar alignment algorithm - no more bending down to peer through a polar alignment scope.

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Olivier Biot
Amused

Reged: 04/25/05

Loc: 51°N (Belgium)

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: AntarcticDave]
#2972437 - 03/08/09 08:01 PM

I have seen the CGEM for the very first time this weekend on an astronomy event in northern France. It has a nice design, feels quite solid without being overly heavy. It's definitely a step up with respect to the proven EQ6/Atlas. This mount features some nice enhancements like more ergonomic polar height adjustment.

The counterweight shaft must be unscrewed from the mount head, as it does not retract into the mount (as with the HEQ5/Sirius and EQ6/Atlas).

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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Olivier Biot]
#2973991 - 03/09/09 03:30 PM

Glad to see lots of great comments, ordered mine but there's a six weeks waiting period...

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Skylook123
Postmaster

Reged: 04/30/05

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2974172 - 03/09/09 04:46 PM

Let me add a topic from beyond the fringe of normal use. The EQ6/Atlas/HEQ5/Sirius, using EQMOD, will allow satellite tracking. Now THAT's a capability not many folks talk about!

Just trying to throw another consideration into the mix.

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rmollise
Postmaster

Reged: 07/06/07

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2974223 - 03/09/09 05:07 PM

Quote:

Don't know about the NEQ-6 but would a CGEM also require this overhaul/maintenance:
http://avex.org.free.fr/dossiers-pratiques/eq6/index-eng.html

No...and neither does the EQ6/Atlas. Most of the overhauls were done on the early (non-go-to) EQ6, and the mount has come a long, long way since then. Sure, some people take their mounts apart, but some people immediately take their Porches apart to "make them better" too. The Atlas almost always works just find right outa the box.

Frankly, the CGEM and Atlas are sisters and are more alike than different.

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Victory5
newbie

Reged: 02/11/09

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: PhilCo126]
#2974535 - 03/09/09 07:25 PM

I just purchased one last week. It is a solid mount. It does look plastic like, but it's solid metal.

Still getting used to it 1st GEM I have owned so I haven't determined the positive/ negatives. Does seem a tad noisy when slewing. However, it holds my TMB 130, 2 inch star Diag. a 31mm Nagler, and a heavy Williams optics view finder with no problem

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Victory5
newbie

Reged: 02/11/09

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: divers]
#2974545 - 03/09/09 07:29 PM

Does your CGEM slew with minimal noise?

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R Nitzel
member

Reged: 01/14/09

Loc: Owasso, OK

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... new

[Re: Victory5]
#2974703 - 03/09/09 08:58 PM

My CGEM's a little noisy - more so when fully loaded. The other night, I had my C8 with a DSI III attached, a short-80 with a ssag attached, and a 40D with a 100-400L. It seems to move about fine with that load (plus 1-17# and 2-11# CW's), but it did seem a little louder - or maybe I was listening more closely.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: R Nitzel]
#2975213 - 03/10/09 04:33 AM

The CGEM definitely makes more noise when slewing, but it also slews faster. When slewing at the same speed they are pretty close to same noise level. The problem is that when you do a goto it always slews at the maximum speed. You can only control slewing speed for manual slewing. This is one thing I wish they would add to a future hand controller update, I know my old Meade lx200 allowed the max goto speed to be selected.

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t.r.
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/14/08

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]
#2977531 - 03/11/09 11:24 AM

Would the CG-5 pier extension fit the CGEM to get some height? The tripods are the same...

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: t.r.]
#2977620 - 03/11/09 12:12 PM

I don't think they are, Tim.

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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/14/05

Loc: coastline of Belgium

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: LLEEGE]
#2977798 - 03/11/09 01:39 PM

Although tripods look the same, the bolts might be slightly bigger on the CGEM tripod...

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: PhilCo126]
#2977878 - 03/11/09 02:15 PM

CGEM tripod leg diameter is all that is the same (both are 2"). Everything else is different.

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t.r.
Post Laureate

Reged: 02/14/08

Loc: Upstate NY

Re: The ultimate CGEM topic ... [Re: Lane]
#2977886 - 03/11/09 02:19 PM

Is there a pier extension available for the CGEM then(I should say half-pillar)?

Edited by t.r. (03/11/09 02:20 PM)

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