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jerryC
super member
Reged: 12/22/08
Posts: 110
Loc: UK
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Quote:
I just got an NEQ6 for Christmas.
No chance to try it out yet.
It does not accept the Losmandy rail but Skywatcher tells me they will have a mod for that in January
RB
A number of Losmandy-compatible upgrades are available in the UK:
www.altairastro.com/mounting_hardware.htm this one is an Italian version that takes Vixen and Losmandy dovetails, and
www.modernastronomy.co.uk/mounts.htm#maLosmandyEQ6 is a losmandy-only version.
If you're considering something like this, be aware that that the design of the top section of the mount has changed recently - the grub screws that hold the saddle plate onto the mount have moved and the internal profile has changed - there's a description of how to tell which version you have linked to from the EQ6 puck section of the first website above - so you need to make sure the upgrade is designed for the type you have.
-Jerry
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-Jerry
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 343
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Quote:
Quote:
I dunno; still sounds like catching up to me. Celestron GEMs have had Pulseguide for years, along with free PecTools software and bulletproof goto. There's mosaic software out there, too. One major feature difference in Celestron's favor is PPEC.
Well, let's just say IMHO it's a great piece of software, whether it is "catching up" or not (it features PPEC, too). I think it's--the HC as an ASCOM driver--a new paradigm of sorts. I, for example, love doing a go-to alignment by pointing at stars on the planetarium screen and clicking on 'em rather than choosing 'em from a list on a dadgummed HC. I don't think this is possible with anything else but the Vixen Sphinx HC. And there is the ability to use a wireless gamepad as the EQMOD "HC" as well (like NexRemote).
Anyhoo, naw, I ain't a-gonna try and convert you to the EQMOD way. But if you get a mite curious, have a look h'yar:
http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/
I'm in the market for an Atlas or CGEM. I was originally going to get a CGEM but I'm kind of impatient and don't want to wait plus reading all of the EQMOD stuff is really getting me interested in using that piece of software so now I'm leaning back to the Atlas. After all, it's a proven winner and it was my dream mount just a few months ago before the CGEM was announced. Is there really any reason to expect significantly better tracking and lower PE with the CGEM? At the end of the day, that is the most important thing. The stated CGEM improvements (all star, tracking through meridian, ergonomic design) sound nice but seem like relatively small things. Another question, is there anything that Nexremote can't do that EQMOD can?
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Tim
Pictures of Space: http://tcardin.zenfolio.com/f749202565
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
Of course since it's open source, there's really nothing preventing someone (or a group of someones) from taking EQMOD and adapting it to drive the Celestron mounts too. Who knows? If I get really REALLY bored some day (or night) I might give it a shot. But since most things like this come about out of some level of necessity, it just shows that the necessity isn't really there for the Celestron mounts. Or, more likely, that those lazy newbies like myself gravitate towards something commercial that will do the work for them, rather than getting something more basic and then looking for ways to soup it up (which is essentially how something like EQMOD would come into being to begin with)!
Beo
I'm not entirely clear about the source code vis-a-vis open source for EQMOD. At any rate, yeah, it could be done, but it would be almost as hard as starting from the ground up, I reckon, since it is designed for the Synta motor control boards and stepper motors (rather than the servos used on Celestrons). Whether it is commerical or not, EQMOD is easily the equal of any commerical system, and does way more than just "soup up" the original SynScan.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
At the end of the day, that is the most important thing. The stated CGEM improvements (all star, tracking through meridian, ergonomic design) sound nice but seem like relatively small things. Another question, is there anything that Nexremote can't do that EQMOD can?
It's very hard for me to choose. They are BOTH great systems (EQMOD and NexRemote), and I'd be hard put to say one is ahead of the other.
NO, to me the most important difference in the mounts is that the CGEM brings some important mechanical improvements to the table, including the Losmandy "D" dovetail system, that are not available on stock Atlas mounts at this time.
Much as I love EQMOD and the Atlas, if I were buying at the moment I would for sure buy CGEM. No doubt about it.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 343
Loc: Marietta, GA
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It ain't gonna be an easy decision. May come down to how long I'm willing to wait. Is the Losmandy dovetail system a big deal for someone like myself who is using an 8SE OTA since it has the vixen bar? I'd have to buy an adapter.
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Tim
Pictures of Space: http://tcardin.zenfolio.com/f749202565
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lawrie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/31/06
Posts: 1810
Loc: Okanagan Valley
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Quote:
Much as I love EQMOD and the Atlas, if I were buying at the moment I would for sure buy CGEM. No doubt about it.
I agree, but lets remember we are comparing a mount that has been on the market for a few years to one that is just coming out, using the gains and lowering cost of technology
The people that made EQMOD are what make this hobby, they made an incredible program for public consummation without compensation whether it's leading or catch-up.
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Clear Skies
Lawrie
Ultima 8
Atlas EQ-G
ZenithStar 80 FD
DSI Pro - Pro II
Canon 350D
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25877
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
I think it's--the HC as an ASCOM driver--a new paradigm of sorts.
Not really new. It was a logical progression; the Atlas is inspired by the Takahashi EM-200. The EQMod system is inspired by the Tak Temma controller (no handbox required, just an external PC or PDA). That's been around for years.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
Meade 80mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Meade 152ED, 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade 12" SCT
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
NJP, LXD700, CGE, GPDX/SS2KPC
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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Chris Rowland
sage
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 341
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The Celestron mount has commands such as get axis position, set axis position and set drive rate and at some level the EQMOD software must have something similar which is converted into things such as step position and step rate.
So, assuming there's a sensible way to get into the EQMOD system at that lever it wouldn't be a huge job to hook the NexStar scopes to EQMOD.
As you can probably tell, I've not looked a this in any sort of detail and I've no interest at all in doing it.
Chris
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
I agree, but lets remember we are comparing a mount that has been on the market for a few years to one that is just coming out, using the gains and lowering cost of technology
The people that made EQMOD are what make this hobby, they made an incredible program for public consummation without compensation whether it's leading or catch-up.
Right on.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
Edited by Charlie Hein (01/04/09 06:53 PM)
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
Not really new. It was a logical progression; the Atlas is inspired by the Takahashi EM-200. The EQMod system is inspired by the Tak Temma controller (no handbox required, just an external PC or PDA). That's been around for years.
Not like this it ain't, and not as an ASCOM driver.
The Temma troops _wish_ they had EQMOD... 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Tim C
sage
Reged: 11/11/07
Posts: 343
Loc: Marietta, GA
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Well, I settled on the CGEM. Looks like dealers are getting them in stock now. I ordered one today from Hands On Optics. I wound up getting the 8 inch OTA with it and I'm just going to sell my current 8SE rig with it's smaller vixen dovetail. Can't wait to get it next week.
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Tim
Pictures of Space: http://tcardin.zenfolio.com/f749202565
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Quote:
The Celestron mount has commands such as get axis position, set axis position and set drive rate and at some level the EQMOD software must have something similar which is converted into things such as step position and step rate.
So, assuming there's a sensible way to get into the EQMOD system at that lever it wouldn't be a huge job to hook the NexStar scopes to EQMOD.
As you can probably tell, I've not looked a this in any sort of detail and I've no interest at all in doing it.
Chris
Yeah, Chris, that was essentially where I was coming from on that concept.
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Well, I just bit the bullet and placed the order for my CGEM as well. Unfortunately it won't get here until the end of next month unless Celestron get's moving. I had debated getting it with an OTA as well, but would probably have gone for the 11" if so. However, it looks like the only thing that's readily available at the moment is the CGEM-800. I just couldn't justify that. Granted I'll still have to get a Losmandy adapter, but at the moment my plan is to get a dual dovetail mount that will let me put my 8" OTA and ST-80 in a side-by-side configuration.
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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Craig
Vendor (Stark Labs)
Reged: 09/16/03
Posts: 632
Loc: Irvine, CA
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Quote:
The Temma troops _wish_ they had EQMOD...
Boy do we! My EM-10 Temma 2 Jr is a wonderful piece of machining tied to the most bass-ackward GOTO system known to man. I'd take any Synta / Celestron / Meade hand controller over it any day. With each of these, you can hook to your PC but you don't need to. You can use a PDA but you don't need to. Good thing the polar scope on these mounts is so good (it's really, really good) because all you do is a Polaris + one-star alignment on them.
Fantastic machining, wonderfully smooth, and incredibly arcane computerized setup. I love mine for AP work (one or two targets per night - who cares if the slew is slow and the GOTO is awkward?), but were this a visual setup, I'd have ditched it long ago for something easier to work with. Oh, and yes, I do have TheSky PE and yes that helps a lot, but I'd still take any of the others over the Temma in this regard.
Craig
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Stark Labs Astrophotography software
Borg 101 ED f/4, C8, and too many cameras to mention
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
Boy do we! My EM-10 Temma 2 Jr is a wonderful piece of machining tied to the most bass-ackward GOTO system known to man. I'd take any Synta / Celestron / Meade hand controller over it any day. With each of these, you can hook to your PC but you don't need to. You can use a PDA but you don't need to. Good thing the polar scope on these mounts is so good (it's really, really good) because all you do is a Polaris + one-star alignment on them.
Fantastic machining, wonderfully smooth, and incredibly arcane computerized setup. I love mine for AP work (one or two targets per night - who cares if the slew is slow and the GOTO is awkward?), but were this a visual setup, I'd have ditched it long ago for something easier to work with. Oh, and yes, I do have TheSky PE and yes that helps a lot, but I'd still take any of the others over the Temma in this regard.
Craig
You know...every once in a while I decide "this is the year I get a Tak mount." But it's the firmware/software that always stops me. I was told by those who should know that Tak was gettin' ready to update the Temma system, but that was...two years ago now. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Well, if someone has a Tak they want to give me, I'll see what I can do to develop some good software to go with it! 
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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donsinger1
sage
Reged: 10/28/07
Posts: 307
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Craig:
Agreed on the Temma system...I was actually quite shocked at how simplistic it is compared to the Celestron/Meade goto computers. I did not want to use TheSkyPE as Windows Handhelds are slow and unstable, so I tried Astromist....it is somewhat confusing but when you get the hang of it, it is terrific...kinda like having Astroplanner on a Palm or Pocket PC device (Astromist works on the Palm which is considerably more stable and faster than the Win handheld platform). You can do two-star alignment, N-Stars alignment (ala T-Point), etc...has a great planetarium database that rivals most that work on a laptop...give it a go!
Don
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Fun Stuff:)
Portland, OR
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
Well, if someone has a Tak they want to give me, I'll see what I can do to develop some good software to go with it!
Beo
That's OK...the way things are, it's savin' your stingy ol' Uncle Rod a barrel o' cash. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Alejandro
member
Reged: 08/28/08
Posts: 16
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Quote:
Granted I'll still have to get a Losmandy adapter, but at the moment my plan is to get a dual dovetail mount that will let me put my 8" OTA and ST-80 in a side-by-side configuration.
Beo
Take into consideration the weight of a side-by-side bar (about 8 pounds), that together with the 2 pounds of the ST80 and the rings, and the adapter add something like 12 pounds to a mount that handles 40, so you have just 28 for the OTA/CCD/Camera/Finder/Reducer/Diagonal etc, etc.
Surely this configuration will not support an 11" OTA.
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Dear Alejandro,
I've already put plans for an 11" on hold. While the 11" combo seems like a pretty good deal, if I want to switch over to the 8" for imaging, then I'd have the 11' just sitting there useless for viewing. I'm also not convinced I'd be happy with the 11" vs. a larger OTA such as one of the Meade LX200's. Thus, my plan is to get the CGEM now and buy a CGE or better at a later date.
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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