b1gred
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 15711
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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I finally remembered to look at my GPS 9.25's serial number, but can't find the post where someone asked for it.
Anyway, my S/N is: 946089 (no "S") it was purchased early Summer of '03.
I'm fairly confident the S/Ns with an "S" in them indicate they were made by "Synta"...
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / W0RDR
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Thanks Randy. That was me.
I had hoped to get some more serial numbers at either the AHSP or our upcoming annual major public event. Rain. Rain. Rain.
I'm still working on this. And hope to have some results before the heat death of the universe.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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astrovienna
super member
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Vienna, VA
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So is it safe to assume that the CPC1100 that I picked up today from my dealer with serial number 968596 (no S) is new? When did Synta take over manufacturing?
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The Hole in the Trees Skybox
CPC1100 on a Milburn wedge
C8 Phoenix (1985 Super C8+ remounted on a Nexstar GPS fork)
Meade DSI II Pro
DMK 21AU04.AS
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Synta owns Celestron and has for some years. Randy was referring to the fact that, in the research thus far completed, it seems that 8" SCTs might have an "s" on the front of their serial numbers, and speculation is that this identifies another plant than the Celestron one in California.
You can figure that all Celestron OTAs in the SCT category, except perhaps the C14, are manufactured in China and have been for many years. No worries.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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astrovienna
super member
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Vienna, VA
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Thanks. I'm not so much concerned about the China thing - I bet I buy lots of stuff from there! - as the age, particularly since upon checking my new scope's MC firmware is 5.07. I think that's pretty old, isn't it?
Kevin
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The Hole in the Trees Skybox
CPC1100 on a Milburn wedge
C8 Phoenix (1985 Super C8+ remounted on a Nexstar GPS fork)
Meade DSI II Pro
DMK 21AU04.AS
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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No, you have the most recent update.
For what it's worth, you also have the highest serial number I've yet seen for a CPC. The next highest was a CPC purchased in August.
Not to worry, you have a nice new scope with the latest hand control update.
If you wanna bring your new toy (uh, sorry, precision astronomical instrument) out to play, the Northern Virginia Astronomy Club has a public night out at Great Meadow, near The Plains off I-66 west of Manassas Saturday. I'll have mine with me, and if you want to try a few EPs or such you'd be welcome.
Oops, I see you've got an obs. Good for you. You're still welcome, of course, if you want to take the night off and let somebody else do the aligning.
Edited by letimotif (11/02/09 09:06 PM)
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astrovienna
super member
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Vienna, VA
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Uh oh - I just dredged up an old post from Mike Swanson. MC 5.14 replaced 5.07 in Feb 08. Now I'm stumped. Why would it have an old MC if the serial number indicates it's recent? Another CPC1100 I looked at had MC 5.14, but I didn't check the serial number on that one.
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The Hole in the Trees Skybox
CPC1100 on a Milburn wedge
C8 Phoenix (1985 Super C8+ remounted on a Nexstar GPS fork)
Meade DSI II Pro
DMK 21AU04.AS
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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I'm cornfused, too. I hadn't realized the 5.14 was from then. My bad. After looking at the NexStar site and here:
02/08 Upgrade
I see why I'd forgotten. The update just corrected a problem with the cordwrap function, and I never bothered to make the change.
Now, I can explain how you might have one of each, the H/Cs are manufactured in one place and the scopes in another. They're interchangeable between various model lines, and I think it's likely that box "A" with the H/C got put in box "B" with the scope. I know for a fact that one vendor switched out a hand control for a newer version for a NexStar product I bought from him.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
Edited by letimotif (11/02/09 09:42 PM)
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astrovienna
super member
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Vienna, VA
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Yeah, the HC is updated, but that in fact came from another scope (an accidental shuffle in the store, looking back on it). But the MC, of course, is in the scope. I suspect this means the scope is no newer than Feb 08. Dang.
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The Hole in the Trees Skybox
CPC1100 on a Milburn wedge
C8 Phoenix (1985 Super C8+ remounted on a Nexstar GPS fork)
Meade DSI II Pro
DMK 21AU04.AS
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Quote:
Yeah, the HC is updated, but that in fact came from another scope (an accidental shuffle in the store, looking back on it). But the MC, of course, is in the scope. I suspect this means the scope is no newer than Feb 08. Dang.
OK, I see what you're saying regarding the Motor Control software. Still, unquestionably, unless somebody moved your serial number off the OTA from another one, your OTA is new. Now, the question remains why the motor control software was not updated.
I have a series of serial numbers from late '07 and early '08 that run in the 961xxx. In later '08 to early '09 they run 965xxx. Yours and the other in 08/09 are in the 968xxx seris. So, unless somebody is switching OTA serial numbers, you have a new OTA.
Let me power up my CPC and see which is which on mine. I purchased it in 02/08, so it's right on the cusp.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
Edited by letimotif (11/02/09 10:05 PM)
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astrovienna
super member
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Vienna, VA
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Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better. And I am in NOVAC, although I haven't been in the field in ages. Lately all my astro time has been getting sucked into getting my obs and new scope up and running properly. I can't imagine taking it OUT of the obs at this point!
Kevin
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The Hole in the Trees Skybox
CPC1100 on a Milburn wedge
C8 Phoenix (1985 Super C8+ remounted on a Nexstar GPS fork)
Meade DSI II Pro
DMK 21AU04.AS
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mclewis1
Thread Killer
Reged: 02/25/06
Posts: 3946
Loc: New Brunswick, Canada
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Kevin,
While it is a bit of a mystery about the age of your scope I wouldn't worry in the least. It appears that virtually all the changes to the CPCs were basically HC firmware based ... with that one MC firmware update. I don't know anyone who can point to any production hardware changes in the scope during that period (early 08 to early 09).
Since you're exclusively imaging with the CPC have you replaced the synthetic ball bearings with metal ones?
I really miss Observ-a-dolly.
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Mark
C11, C6, APM/TMB115, and AT80ED - Tandem mount CGE and CG-5A, WO EZ-Touch and AT Voyager
25x100s and 8x56s, T-Mount Light, Mark 1 eyeballs - Modded 350D, DSI-P, SPC900, Mallincam
Just because you can doesn't necessarily mean that you should
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astrovienna
super member
Reged: 12/04/06
Posts: 131
Loc: Vienna, VA
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I haven't replaced the ball bearings (and wouldn't until it's out of warranty), but that is part of my concern about the age of the scope. If it has been sitting on a wedge in somebody else's obs for two years, those nylon bearings might be nice and squished. I haven't had enough time to test out the smoothness of the RA bearings at this point.
And Observ-a-dolly says that it's nice to be missed. 
Kevin
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The Hole in the Trees Skybox
CPC1100 on a Milburn wedge
C8 Phoenix (1985 Super C8+ remounted on a Nexstar GPS fork)
Meade DSI II Pro
DMK 21AU04.AS
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Newfie Ninja
member
Reged: 06/27/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Newfoundland, Canada
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Hey Guys,
Maybe a stupid question but where do I find the serial number on my scope. I can't see it anywhere. 
Thanks
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CPC 11 Starbright XLT
WO FLT 98 Aluminum Tube
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro Synscan
WO EZ Touch Mount
Ethoi,Uwans,Swans,a Nagler, & a 2x Powermate
A couple of cases of other stuff
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Chris Johnson
member
Reged: 09/08/04
Posts: 87
Loc: Stockholm, NJ
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My NS11GPS S/N is 937260 and was purchased new from the dealer on February 3, 2003.
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Chris
NX11,Orion ED80, AT-111, DSH-10,
Celestron SC-8
AGST Mount, AT Voyager mount
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Quote:
Hey Guys,
Maybe a stupid question but where do I find the serial number on my scope. I can't see it anywhere.
Thanks
It's under the cap covering your collimation screws on the corrector plate of your OTA.
Around here always ask the question, whatever it may be. I've yet to find someone replying with anything other than honest help.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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b1gred
Enginerd
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 15711
Loc: Castle Rock, CO 6677' MSL
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actually the S/N on mine is on the body near the rear, just below the side rail.
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"Dark Skies & Great Viewing"
RandyR / W0RDR
GPS 9.25 XLT/Sky Align /FeatherTouch
TV85 w/FeatherTouch
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2012
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Quote:
actually the S/N on mine is on the body near the rear, just below the side rail.
Yeah, they changed up the location. I was referring to the CPC XLT series' location only since that was the scope he had.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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Newfie Ninja
member
Reged: 06/27/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Newfoundland, Canada
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Thanks Guys,
I am @ work now but will check under the cap on the corrector when I get off.
Cheers
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CPC 11 Starbright XLT
WO FLT 98 Aluminum Tube
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro Synscan
WO EZ Touch Mount
Ethoi,Uwans,Swans,a Nagler, & a 2x Powermate
A couple of cases of other stuff
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MrJim
member
Reged: 08/24/09
Posts: 55
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Randy,
the OP is titled "How Many CPCs Are There?" The first post was made 08/25/09 and the most recent post was made 09/08/09. Plenty of good info there; hope this helps!
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Jim W.
CPC 1100
SV90TBV
PST
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