· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: fetoma]       #3018603 - 04/01/09 05:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   HA!! PERFECT...it actually looks like the same stuff..just ben siting outside longer... Thats awesome..AND FREE!!! So we should be seeing your pier post soon right?? Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3026487 - 04/05/09 08:17 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   UPDATE: ITS DONE!!!!!! Here it is with about 5 coats of Rust-O-Leum Hammered Texture Light Grey/metallic.With A darker grey metallic for the Top plate(I asked the wife,she said Black,which is what I wanted,would be worse than the Blue that tube came in..so WE comprimised..LOL)Also with Quad outlets with Weatherproof cover..also painted... AND one with the Mount finally installed..I wont have First Light until HOPEFULLY next weekend..which is RIGHT near NEW MOON..and NO,NOT THE BOOK(OR movie..come on,some of you know what I am talking about ) BTW,that is a 70lbs German Shepard Mix(for size comparison)!! Clear Skies!!!!Hopefully for EVERYONE during the New Moon!!!! Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3026503 - 04/05/09 08:29 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looks Great Brent! Can't wait to see first light. Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3026511 - 04/05/09 08:33 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Oh,I almost forgot...Hopefully by next weekend I will have ALL my new toys READY for imaging: Pier(obviously ready) CGE w/Cassidy SS CW's AND tip in saddle.CN16GPS.(Boy,am "I" PRIMED AND READY for this FIRST LIGHT!!!!!!) StarLight Xpress HC916(Ready to go!!!BTW,AMAZINLY LOW DARK current in these cams..) Canon XS w/Baader replacement filter,modded by myself!!(Ready for WF imaging with the 66SD) Orion SS II Mono,mainly guide cam(READY to guide the CGE) Atik Manual FW(Ready) Astronomik FULL set of imaging filters LRGBHOS(in the mail!!) Apogee 106mm F/6.2 Achro for guiding the 66SD AND for a middle F/L scope,because of being an achro(couldnt afford an APO of this size) I am strictly going to image NB and hope for the best..(ALSO,in the mail!!!!) I know 99% of that had NOTHING to do with Mounts,BUT I AM FREAKIN excited!!!!Especially about ths SX HX916!!!SWEEEEEET cam.... And yes,I WILL get some images up of the whole setup WHEN it all arrives or by next weekend with the 10"Newt/66SD/XS or HX916 ready for imaging!! Thanks for looking guys..and for all your support and positive feedback during my process..gotta love CN..I know,I do!! Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3026516 - 04/05/09 08:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Doug!!! How is the NEW gear search/sale going? Have you decided on a new mount?I thought I heard you mention the CGEM before..you stickin with that?its a great mount,FWIHH! Post Extras:       Doug6952 Pooh-Bah Reged: 07/24/08 Loc: West Milford, NJ Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3026579 - 04/05/09 09:06 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yeah I'm pretty sure I'll get the CGEM. Still haven't sold the CG-5 yet though. So a new scope may have to wait for a bit till I sell the mount. Post Extras:       LLEEGE True Blue Reged: 03/03/05 Loc: Cloud-chester,NY Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: Doug6952]       #3026736 - 04/05/09 10:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Looks good! Post Extras:       coopfore1 super member Reged: 11/23/05 Loc: il Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: LLEEGE]       #3026910 - 04/06/09 12:41 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   EXCELLENT Nice job ! Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: coopfore1]       #3046129 - 04/15/09 09:10 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   FIRST LIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! its about dang time!! First off I can say,WOW..this mount IS OBS class...I have NEVER used anything this,powerful,consistant,sounds like a HIGH precision insturment..NOT like a coffee grinder (*BLEEP*-GT,LXD,etc),with ONLY 1 iteration of the PA routine I had a PA inaccuracy of only ~2'x~3'....It would take me an hour to drift align tht close..This only took ten minutes!!!! So,initial setup was interesting as I was used tp the ASGT..it took me only a half hour to feel completely comfortable with the controls..VERY user friendly.. After I finally realized I could just skip over the "switch" position I was up and running... First I did a 2 star alignment,followed by adding 3 cali stars..then the PA routine..which the VERY 1st time went from an inaccuracy of ~1deg x 50' and change,down to 2'x3'..which is MORE than sufficient for narrow FOV imaging.. I decided to try again.. Shut it back off and then on. Ran 2+3 alignment again,then the PA routine.. Centered polaris..but,I forgot to check the inaccuracy when I re-initiazed/calibrated the mount... So,I inserted my SX-HX916 and tried doing some mono imaging.. The SX sw that comes with these old cams,well..it is REALLY archaic... The only thing I know that is compatible with this cam is AstroArt,but at $189..IDK if I will be able to swing that... ANYWAYS,back to my first light, SO,I focused the cam on the last cali star.. and hit GOTO to M66..take a 30sec "framing" shot,DEAD CENTER..DEAD...I couldnt believe it,the *BLEEP*-GT would NEVER be able to do that..not with my gear..which BTW,I was using the 106mm Achro for imaging as this was JUST a test.. Well,needless to say I was not able to actually aquire any images before I had to pack it in...I REALLY need to get new SW for this cam...IT SUCKS... Anyways,that was my first light with the CGE... but what about the Pier you say? Held that sucker in place like it was,well,a SOLID Pier.. I have NEVER used such a solid setup in my life...all I can really say about this experience is: This WILL be with me for QUITE some time,not ONLY because of the "economy" but also because,I am floored at how well it preformed...I have NO DOUBT this will scroll that 10" newt around the sky and grab some photons VERY WELL!!My ol' CI-700 was able to AG the 10" EXTREMELY well..so,the CGE should handle it NO PROBLEM..ESPECIALLY,when I get a new CF tube for it Yay!!!Great first light feeling! So,now,pretty bad skies for the next week or 2.. Edited by Charlie Hein (04/16/09 05:52 AM) Post Extras:       starbob1 Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/11/07 Loc: IN Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3046165 - 04/15/09 09:37 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Great Brent.I am also going to order a CGE for my observatory.Just ordered a adapter plate for my pier.Well keep us posted and some pics.Good luck BOB Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: starbob1]       #3046241 - 04/15/09 10:41 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Thanks Bob!!! Good luck with your "GEM" I CANT WAIT to put an OBS around my Pier and GEM..man,that would be SUUUWWWWEEEEET!!! Brent Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3046291 - 04/15/09 11:14 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Brent I so want a CGE... I've been looking at them for a while now, and even had to pass on a screaming deal on a hypretuned mount a while back. I may have even been tempted by the one you have (AMart?) but I went with the CGEM and I am probably as happy with that upgrade as you are with the CGE. I am planning a pier in the near future but the distance from the house (approx. 50 yds.) and the associated trenching and and wiring keep putting a damper on the idea as my current spot is closer to the house is really easy. Edited by Charlie Hein (04/16/09 05:48 AM) Post Extras:       nofxrx Vendor (HyperCams & Mods) Reged: 07/12/05 Loc: Palm Bay,Florida Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: waassaabee]       #3047922 - 04/16/09 08:54 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Hey Gary, I have heard GREAT things about the CGEM,mainly that it is a big step above the ASGT...I couldnt stand mine after a month or two..for some reason it just started being WAY too picky about wanting to AG... I found mine through my want AD..I dont think the guy actually had an AD up yet..he might have though.. I couldnt pass it up.. $2200 SHIPPED for everything stock PLUS GPS,Cassidy SS CW(15lb),Cassidy tip in saddle,AND a set of ADM tripod knobs..my wife FLIPPED,but,I couldnt pass it up There have been some REALLY nice deals on CGE's lately on Amart..did you see the one with PE of only 6.82 arc*sec PEAK to PEAK!!!???I wish I had the money or I would have picked that one up as well...a man can never have enough CGE's,but thats jjust my About the trenching to your new site.. You can rent a walk behind trencher from an Equipment rental place for ~$150 a day(Maybe cheaper,its been a while..)...OR,just get an irrigation trencher(FWIR,they run ~$40-50 a day..it is basically a BIG round saw blade with teeth sticking out every couple of inches,it just "cuts" right through normal ground materials..)..depending on what kind of cabling you are running..an irrigation trencher will dig a trench about 4-5" deep and about 1-2" wide..MORE than enough for a couple of direct burial cables.. I used 12/2 UF cable and a flat shovel to just "wedge" a hole in the ground by driving it in,and then moving it back and forth creating a sort of "V" cit in the ground..worked like a charm..but I only had ~30' to go,but it wasin some pretty hard clay/dirt.. Again,a pier is WELL worth ALL the effort you put into it..BUT,if you can use POWER tools and save your back..DO IT!!! Good luck BTW,any more questions you have just shoot me a PM,I would be more than glad to help you out..I have worked in construction since I was 16..I am an Electrician,so I could "guide" you through the process... Post Extras:       Project Galileo professor emeritus Reged: 11/14/07 Loc: Jefferson County, Colorado Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: nofxrx]       #3048917 - 04/17/09 11:18 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Well done. Sounds like you will enjoy the new stability and accuracy. Post Extras:       waassaabee Post Laureate Reged: 11/26/07 Loc: Central California Coast Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: Project Galileo]       #3049067 - 04/17/09 12:47 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Brent, Many thanks for the tips and assistance offer!! Probably the one thing that makes me hesitate is the soil (if you can call it that) composition I'll have to traverse to get to the pier site. We sit on white clay sand (precursor to sandstone) and the last 10 yards or so are black adobe. I rented a small walk behind trencher once and trashed it in a matter of 50 feet. They sent out a large articulated steering walk behind that did a good job, but it was a beast to operate. There's also our driveway that will have to be dealt with, and even though it's only DG on top of the clay sand, it has a tendency to make operating the trencher something like a rodeo!! So actually the pier and wiring are the 'easy' phases of the job. Where I set up now I have NNW to NNE obstruction (the house) to about 30 degrees. All other horizons are wide open, max 15 degrees. So it's actually pretty awesome, and close to the house and ammenities as well. The pier will be the beginning of the Dog House, my observatory... Post Extras:       starbob1 Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/11/07 Loc: IN Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: waassaabee]       #3049391 - 04/17/09 03:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   My CGE should be here next thusday.I went ahead and got a new one so I could get a warranty.The new price is quite fair it seems.Anyone need a CGE tripod.My CGE will be pier mounted.Will post pics when mounted.Thanks BOB Post Extras:       Trebor777 Hazy Reged: 01/04/08 Loc: Connecticut - U.S. Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: starbob1]       #3049730 - 04/17/09 07:02 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I got my CGE last Thursday. Finally got it out for it's first light (well 3rd first light, as I'm the 3rd owner) last night. I LOVE IT. Works perfectly. I'm just happy I didn't have to learn the hand controller because I've already owned a Celestron (130SLT) so I kinda knew the set-up already. I LOVE the Polar alignment routine. Don't know why, I just do. I find it more enjoyable then looking through my Atlas's Polar scope. And the altitude is a PITA to adjust on an Atlas. On the CGE, it's easy. And Starbob, don't sell the tripod. You might need it someday - or if you sell the mount eventually, it'll be easier. I would not have purchased my CGE if it didn't have a tripod, and the previous owner had it on a pier and didn't use it. Just put it away somewhere, you'll thank me later... Post Extras:       WadeH237 Pooh-Bah Reged: 02/24/07 Loc: Snohomish, WA Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: Trebor777]       #3050030 - 04/17/09 10:34 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I'll second the suggestion to keep the tripod. The dealer that I do business with is also a public observatory as well as a Celestron dealer. I was going to buy one of their CGE mounts that they were done with, but they didn't have a tripod. I asked them to see about getting me a tripod. It turns out that they are waaaaay expensive to buy by themselves, even at their cost. -Wade Post Extras:       starbob1 Pooh-Bah Reged: 03/11/07 Loc: IN Re: CGE arrives....Digging begins!!!!(for Pier) [Re: WadeH237]       #3050455 - 04/18/09 07:57 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yea Randy Wade your right.I will just put it back.You never know'one day I might get another mount and have to sell the CGE. Post Extras:       Pages: 1 | 2 | (show all) Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 18 registered and 26 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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