Telescope Reviews: NEAF goodies

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Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

NEAF goodies - new CGEM
#3053904 - 04/20/09 12:50 AM Attachment (155 downloads)

I'm upgrading my capabilities in the EQ mount world. Here's what I picked up at NEAF from Astronomics - a new CGEM!

Edited by Greg K. (04/20/09 01:58 AM)

Post Extras:

Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Greg K.]
#3053907 - 04/20/09 12:51 AM Attachment (139 downloads)

This thing is a monster! Here it is in comparison to my old SkyView Pro.

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Strgazr27

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Greg K.]
#3054241 - 04/20/09 08:30 AM

And poor Greg had to wait while I loaded the truck with the Pro. The CGEM is an incredibly impressive looking mount in person. The fit and finish over the Atlas is huge. Good luck with it Greg, As usual it was a great weekend! See ya next year!

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antilles72
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/06/07

Loc: Rhode Island

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Strgazr27]
#3054246 - 04/20/09 08:33 AM

Awesome Greg! Looking forward to your first light report.

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antilles72
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/06/07

Loc: Rhode Island

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: antilles72]
#3054251 - 04/20/09 08:34 AM

OOH! I see the AT111 is new also? Wow! Did you get Mike's special?

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LLEEGE
True Blue

Reged: 03/03/05

Loc: Cloud-chester,NY

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: antilles72]
#3054313 - 04/20/09 09:19 AM

Great score, Greg! And it was good meeting you.

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Doug6952
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/24/08

Loc: West Milford, NJ

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: antilles72]
#3054315 - 04/20/09 09:21 AM

Congrats on the new mount!

I picked up a CGEM from Astronomics at NEAF as well. Unfortunately the DEC axis is having some problems.

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Strgazr27

Reged: 10/04/04

Loc: StonyHill Observatory

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Doug6952]
#3054376 - 04/20/09 09:40 AM

Doug,

What's the exact issue?

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Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: antilles72]
#3054439 - 04/20/09 10:08 AM

Quote:

OOH! I see the AT111 is new also? Wow! Did you get Mike's special?

He had two of 'em, My 111 stayed hidden away since I actually snagged it on Friday. My mount is the one the AT130 was riding on for most of the show. I did mount the 111 to get a picture first though:

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EricCCD
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 04/14/04

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Greg K.]
#3054490 - 04/20/09 10:30 AM

Nice! Congrats, Greg!

Eric

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David Pavlich
Transmographied

Reged: 05/18/05

Loc: Mandeville, LA USA

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: EricCCD]
#3054502 - 04/20/09 10:32 AM

Way to go, Greg! Terrific upgrade.

David

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AntarcticDave
sage

Reged: 02/03/09

Loc: Denver, CO

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: David Pavlich]
#3054722 - 04/20/09 12:11 PM

Greg, I have had mine since early January, and have been very happy with it. I think you'll be happy with your purchase.

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Doug6952
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/24/08

Loc: West Milford, NJ

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: AntarcticDave]
#3054754 - 04/20/09 12:24 PM

Bob,
I'll send you a PM about the problem. I don't want to hijack the thread.

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Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Doug6952]
#3055026 - 04/20/09 02:06 PM

I'm curious too, Doug - feel free to post about it here.

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Doug6952
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 07/24/08

Loc: West Milford, NJ

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Greg K.]
#3055148 - 04/20/09 03:01 PM

Greg,
I just got finished running the mount in DEC again to try and determine what the problem is. It seems like the worm shaft is bent, as far as I can tell, or maybe a high spot on the shaft. There is a wobbling sound when running the motor. At slower slew speeds you can hear the motor running normal until it gets to that spot.

There also seems to be a spot on the worm gear where the motors sound as though it gets tight and makes a grinding noise. Just like if you had the gear mesh set too tight, but it's only on one spot thats maybe 3/8 to 1/2 inch. There may be some dirt or metal flash in there or maybe an out of round gear.

I would crack it open and have a look inside, but I don't want to void the warranty. I did shine a flashlight in the front polar scope port and saw the motor gears turning and didn't see any wobble there.

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Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Doug6952]
#3055172 - 04/20/09 03:10 PM

Bummer, Doug. I haven't powered mine up yet but hopefully I won't run into anything like that. In any case I'm sure Mike will take care of you.

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Pasquale
Encrypted

Reged: 10/12/05

Loc: Arifjan, Kuwait

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Greg K.]
#3055354 - 04/20/09 04:33 PM

Congrat's Greg! Does the CGEM use a new polar alignment routine, negating the need for a polar scope?

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waassaabee
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/26/07

Loc: Central California Coast

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: Pasquale]
#3055441 - 04/20/09 05:18 PM

I've had mine out a couple of nights and it is indeed a pleasure! Smooth and spot on every time!

And yes Pasquale, the CGEM does use the AllStar alignment. And let me say I have tossed the idea of a polar scope.

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Greg K.

Reged: 12/11/03

Loc: Clifton Park, NY

Re: NEAF goodies - new CGEM new

[Re: waassaabee]
#3055552 - 04/20/09 06:06 PM

Quote:

I've had mine out a couple of nights and it is indeed a pleasure! Smooth and spot on every time!

And yes Pasquale, the CGEM does use the AllStar alignment. And let me say I have tossed the idea of a polar scope.

Can't wait to try this feature.