waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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CGEMs are shipping!!
#3004643 - 03/25/09 07:37 PM
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I just got home from work and had an email with my tracking #'s!!  Now if only the weather holds through the weekend... 
Edited by waassaabee (03/25/09 07:44 PM)
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Blixx
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/02/07
Loc: CO. Aurora, USA
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3004655 - 03/25/09 07:46 PM
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That's great to hear! How long have you been waiting? I got on the list at the begining of the month, so I wonder how long before I get mine  Is this what expecting Fathers feel like? You will have to post pics when you get it.
Dan
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Blixx]
#3004668 - 03/25/09 07:54 PM
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I ordered mine through OPT on the 12th. They originally told me April 1st so this is a bit unexpected!! I would expect they should be in Colorado in the next day or so.
And there will be pics!!
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Blixx
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/02/07
Loc: CO. Aurora, USA
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3004676 - 03/25/09 07:58 PM
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Right on, I can't wait.
Dan
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Blixx]
#3004729 - 03/25/09 08:27 PM
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I guess I'd better start planning my weekend targets, and sleep periods.
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TLytton
member
Reged: 02/23/09
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3004793 - 03/25/09 09:10 PM
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I have a similar email! I ordered the CGEM with a 9.25 OTA on March 9th and it is due for delivery on 3-28. Does Astronomics provide Saturday delivery standard? Im excited to get my first GEM and the 9.25!
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: TLytton]
#3004800 - 03/25/09 09:14 PM
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High Five TLytton!! I'm envious of the 9.25, but I was pushing my luck with just the mount. 
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TLytton
member
Reged: 02/23/09
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3004812 - 03/25/09 09:22 PM
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Thanks for the kudos! I have not been involved in Astronomy for years and I look forward to getting back with a great group of people and learning from everyone. This will be my only scope for a while so I hope it all works out well.
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: TLytton]
#3004914 - 03/25/09 10:42 PM
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You know that 9.25 is a fantastic imaging scope...
You've got a scorching hot setup!! Enjoy 
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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/13/08
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3004947 - 03/25/09 11:00 PM
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Last week Lisa, the wonderful Telescopes.com service rep, forwarded me an e-mail from their purchasing department indicating that they were expecting to ship a few by the first part of this week. Since I've been at the top of their list for a couple of months now, the first one will be coming to me when it does ship. Of course I've been on the road since last Friday and away from my home e-mail, so I don't know if it has or hasn't. I decided it'll just be a nice surprise to come home to if indeed it shipped this week. Of course, if so, I'll only have Saturday evening and Sunday to play with it before heading back out of town for another week on Monday!  At least the weather forcast for the weekend shows two great days, if I'm awake enough after the trip to use 'em!
Beo
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3005035 - 03/26/09 12:02 AM
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You know I have a feeling you'll get the adrenalin surge and be posting some fabulous images Sunday! I've got clouds tonight, partly cloudy tomorrow night, then clear for Friday & Saturday (I bought Lotto tickets tonight...).
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3005735 - 03/26/09 12:47 PM
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There's just something about the phrase 'Out For Delivery' that warms my heart!!
    
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Dr Benway
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/27/08
Loc: Abilene, TX
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3005788 - 03/26/09 01:20 PM
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I ordered on Feb 3 and no word from Telescopes.com other than email saying it would be back in stock on 4/6/09. I checked the website yesterday and it is listed as in stock right now.
John
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Dr Benway]
#3005805 - 03/26/09 01:28 PM
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John... Make the call.... it could be on the way!!
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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/14/05
Loc: coastline of Belgium
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3005882 - 03/26/09 02:05 PM
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Well well ... that's too early to be an April 1st joke 
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: PhilCo126]
#3006643 - 03/26/09 08:13 PM
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It's here...
Very impressive.
FYI - WO rings don't line up with D plate holes.. 
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OpalescentNebula
sage
Reged: 01/11/07
Loc: Calgary, Alberta, Observing so...
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3007140 - 03/27/09 02:06 AM
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Gary congradulations, I'd like to get one for my WO 110 Megrez. 
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divers
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/21/08
Loc: Apopka, FL
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: OpalescentNebula]
#3007319 - 03/27/09 07:53 AM
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Glad you finally got yours....I have had mine for a bit and love it. Only real problems is the powder coating on the saddle is cheap. The paint is already coming off. I will be switching to an ADM saddle whenever Anthony finishes....so I am just ignoring the ugly chips. I have found goto's and tracking to be very good. Stability is ok with the C11. Probably 4-5 seconds dampening time. I do not use supression pads. Once I get a motorized focuser, I think I will have a winning combo.
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: divers]
#3007346 - 03/27/09 08:11 AM
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Thanks Bill, here's a shot with the M90FD!!
Divers, I think I'm going to like this mount a lot! Very solid and tight. What I mean by tight is that there's no slop like with the CG5.
Now if I can just get everything working together... Q-Guider is giving me heartache again...
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OpalescentNebula
sage
Reged: 01/11/07
Loc: Calgary, Alberta, Observing so...
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3008703 - 03/27/09 08:11 PM
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Love that setup, can’t decide if I should go to Phoenix to golf & look at some dark skies or order the CGEM, decisions, decisions. 
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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/13/08
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: OpalescentNebula]
#3008838 - 03/27/09 09:30 PM
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Well, I'm still waiting to see mine shipped. I looked back at the e-mail I'd received and it was actually a quote of an e-mail from Celestron to Telescopes.com's purchasing stating that Celestron "should start shipping a few" this week. Not that they were shipping any to Telescopes.com, etc. So still I wait!
Beo
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Dr Benway
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/27/08
Loc: Abilene, TX
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3009115 - 03/28/09 12:25 AM
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Beo,
My order status is still "pending", but my credit limit on my VISA card has been reduced by the amount of the CGEM. This is like reading tea leaves!
John
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: OpalescentNebula]
#3009661 - 03/28/09 11:30 AM
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Wooo Hooo !!!! I love this mount!!!
I took the opportunity last night to give the CGEM a test run. I'm still working with William to get my QGuider operational, so I was going to blast a bunch of unguided subs while exercising the mount.
AllStar alignment is pretty groovy, but having never done it I stepped slowly. I had selected Procyon to do the 'Polar Alignment' on, and didn't have much adjustment to put it in the crosshairs, then the mount will slew to where it thinks it should be.... Wacky mount did a meridian flip and BAM, there was Procyon! The mount alt/az adjusters are a dream in comparison to the CG5. Recalibrated the alignment and calibration stars to complete the alignment, then just started cruising the sky. Every target was in the center of the chip! No matter where in the sky.. Once I was doing the high speed slew across the sky and a CHP pulled up and told me to slow it down... Go figure..
I'm sorting through some subs I got while racing around the sky last night, if there's anything worthwhile you'll see it!
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LLEEGE
True Blue
Reged: 03/03/05
Loc: Cloud-chester,NY
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3009688 - 03/28/09 11:43 AM
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Quote:
Wooo Hooo !!!! I love this mount!!!
I took the opportunity last night to give the CGEM a test run. I'm still working with William to get my QGuider operational, so I was going to blast a bunch of unguided subs while exercising the mount.
AllStar alignment is pretty groovy, but having never done it I stepped slowly. I had selected Procyon to do the 'Polar Alignment' on, and didn't have much adjustment to put it in the crosshairs, then the mount will slew to where it thinks it should be.... Wacky mount did a meridian flip and BAM, there was Procyon! The mount alt/az adjusters are a dream in comparison to the CG5. Recalibrated the alignment and calibration stars to complete the alignment, then just started cruising the sky. Every target was in the center of the chip! No matter where in the sky.. Once I was doing the high speed slew across the sky and a CHP pulled up and told me to slow it down... Go figure..
I'm sorting through some subs I got while racing around the sky last night, if there's anything worthwhile you'll see it!
I see you got the "Cordless" model! 
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: LLEEGE]
#3009732 - 03/28/09 11:59 AM
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Cordless and Solar Powered!!
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J_D_Metzger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/13/04
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3009796 - 03/28/09 12:30 PM
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If you don't mind, would someone with one of the just-shipped CGEMs check to see if the altitude lock bolt (the "T" knob on the front) actually locks the mount at low altitudes? The intitial CGEM's "T" bolt was too short. At a setting of about 32°, you could screw it all the way in and it still didn't touch anything...
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Loc: Missouri
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: J_D_Metzger]
#3009821 - 03/28/09 12:44 PM
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post those pics! post those pics! post those pics!
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: tboss70]
#3009845 - 03/28/09 12:53 PM
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J.D. - It's the same short bolt. I'm at 34.6 and it has no effect. But it appears to me that the weight of the mount (especially loaded) at that low of an angle keeps it pretty darn solid on the adjuster. 
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PhilCo126
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/14/05
Loc: coastline of Belgium
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3009867 - 03/28/09 01:06 PM
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Thanks for sharing the photos...
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J_D_Metzger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/13/04
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3009918 - 03/28/09 01:41 PM
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Quote:
J.D. - It's the same short bolt. I'm at 34.6 and it has no effect. But it appears to me that the weight of the mount (especially loaded) at that low of an angle keeps it pretty darn solid on the adjuster.
Thanks. I agree that the weight does hold it, but when I'm taking the mount on and off the tripod, I don't like it moving...
I guess I'm just anal about these things, but an altitude lock should actually lock something, dang it... 
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: J_D_Metzger]
#3009959 - 03/28/09 02:08 PM
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As easy as the adjustments are, you can just spin it up and lock it when you are done. I moved mine on the tripod, it's a little tricky but saves a trip.
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J_D_Metzger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/13/04
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3010095 - 03/28/09 03:18 PM
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Quote:
As easy as the adjustments are, you can just spin it up and lock it when you are done. I moved mine on the tripod, it's a little tricky but saves a trip.
I don't have anywhere to store mine on the tripod. I keep the OTA and the mount in separate hard cases, and the tripod in a soft case. Leaving it set up is not an option, and I don't foresee ever having an observatory. So the fewer things I have to re-adjust every time I set it up, the better...
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t.r.
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/08
Loc: Upstate NY
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: J_D_Metzger]
#3010426 - 03/28/09 06:24 PM
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Waassaabee, are the motors louder or quieter than the CG-5GT?
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: t.r.]
#3011340 - 03/29/09 09:16 AM
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t.r. - Much, much quieter than my CG5. Slew speeds up to about 6 or 7 are quiet, then they start to take on a turbine whine. But the decibels are way lower than the CG5.
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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/13/08
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: J_D_Metzger]
#3011531 - 03/29/09 11:04 AM
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Quote:
I guess I'm just anal about these things, but an altitude lock should actually lock something, dang it...
Celestron posted this knowledgebase article last month in apparent response to this question. Of course to me this strikes me as the "It's not a bug, it's a feature!" response typical from software developers when the find a screw up they don't really want to take the time to fix.
Beo
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Lord Beowulf
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 10/13/08
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Dr Benway]
#3011551 - 03/29/09 11:14 AM
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Quote:
Beo,
My order status is still "pending", but my credit limit on my VISA card has been reduced by the amount of the CGEM. This is like reading tea leaves!
John
Forsooth! Thou may hast cracked the code! (Or) "I say Holmes, well done!" I checked my credit card statement online and didn't see any evidence that they charged me yet, which they shouldn't as long as it's at pending status. Did you actually see the charge listed or did they possibly just put a pre-hold on it to ensure they could ship next week? The latter's probably not a bad idea as it would let them contact you early if something had changed that would have put your card over the limit now.
Beo
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J_D_Metzger
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/13/04
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: Lord Beowulf]
#3011645 - 03/29/09 11:59 AM
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Quote:
Quote:
I guess I'm just anal about these things, but an altitude lock should actually lock something, dang it...
Celestron posted this knowledgebase article last month in apparent response to this question. Of course to me this strikes me as the "It's not a bug, it's a feature!" response typical from software developers when the find a screw up they don't really want to take the time to fix.
Beo
I agree. I have already replaced mine with a DIY bolt, and will be getting a custom one from ADM soon. The stock ADM bolts will be the same length as the Celestron bolts, but Anthony will make you a longer one if you ask...
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hersey0308
super member
Reged: 12/04/08
Loc: Ontario Canada
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3011743 - 03/29/09 12:38 PM
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hey gary - not only is this set up a beauty but it seems like you have plenty of sky to work with too. looking really good!
david
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: hersey0308]
#3011819 - 03/29/09 01:08 PM
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hey gary - not only is this set up a beauty but it seems like you have plenty of sky to work with too. looking really good!
david
Thanks David, I am very spoiled here in my backyard as I have 360 clear and only a couple of light domes from small towns 7-10 miles away. Being only 20 miles from the coast has drawbacks, as we deal with marine layer from time to time. But the good nights are GOOD!
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: tboss70]
#3011856 - 03/29/09 01:26 PM
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Quote:
post those pics! post those pics! post those pics!
OK Todd... Here's the only one I really got. I was testing out how far past the meridian I could go. My QGuider is also giving me a headache (again) so these are just 90 second frames. [Click the image for a larger center crop]
BTW - according to Starry Nights the CGEM tracked to around 20 degrees past the meridian.
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vegasMike
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/24/04
Loc: Las Vegas
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Re: POST A VIDEO
[Re: waassaabee]
#3012692 - 03/29/09 08:07 PM
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How about posting a Video on YouTube showing off the slewing, maybe get an idea of the noise level and slewing speed?
Edited by vegasMike (03/29/09 08:08 PM)
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Loc: Missouri
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: waassaabee]
#3012826 - 03/29/09 09:11 PM
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Thank you Gary! Hey that pic looks great! Will you try any autoguiding with it? Has anyone used Pempro on one of these yet?
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waassaabee
Post Laureate
Reged: 11/26/07
Loc: Central California Coast
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Re: CGEMs are shipping!!
[Re: tboss70]
#3013035 - 03/29/09 10:56 PM
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Todd, I think I can claim victory today with getting the autoguider cooperating, so yes and very soon!
I'm going to try to get some frames of NGC5128 and NGC5139 while I can. Then who knows where ...
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