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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts
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Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
*****

Reged: 11/19/03

Loc: Brescia-Italy, and Iowa-US
GPD2 and GPDX? new
      #3177447 - 06/23/09 12:00 AM
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Hello all,

quick question : what is the difference between the GPD2 and GPDX?
Also, which one would you choose? GPD2 with Starbook or GPDX with SkySensor 2000?

Thanks!
Emanuele

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karlpenney
super member


Reged: 01/04/07

Loc: Halifax, NS
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: Emanuele]
      #3177489 - 06/23/09 12:38 AM
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As far as I know, the GPD2 is the same as the GPDX except for the color. I'm not sure if the Starbook has this feature, but for visual use with the SS2K, you can just plunk it down and do a 3-star alignment without polar aligning. In unaligned mode it can track in RA and DEC. Kind of handy for grab and go sessions.

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comets4tom
professor emeritus


Reged: 02/08/05

Loc: Texas
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: karlpenney]
      #3177497 - 06/23/09 12:48 AM
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Actually, you can just do a two star alignment. The three star alignment increases the finding accuracy. With the Sky Sensor you can enter information for finding comets and satellites. I'm not sure if you can do that with the Starbook.

Tom H.

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Anand Rajiva
Member


Reged: 05/11/04

Loc: Bavaria, Germany
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: karlpenney]
      #3177633 - 06/23/09 03:40 AM
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Quote:

As far as I know, the GPD2 is the same as the GPDX except for the color.



yes, the mechanical data is the same, just the color changed.

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jrcrillyAdministrator
Refractor wienie no more
*****

Reged: 04/30/03

Loc: NE Ohio
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: Emanuele]
      #3177795 - 06/23/09 08:18 AM
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Quote:

Also, which one would you choose? GPD2 with Starbook or GPDX with SkySensor 2000?

Thanks!
Emanuele



GPDX/SS2K for me. I've owned several of both and although I like the feature set of the StarBook I just never learned to love the GUI.

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Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
*****

Reged: 11/19/03

Loc: Brescia-Italy, and Iowa-US
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: jrcrilly]
      #3177997 - 06/23/09 10:38 AM
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Thank you guys,
I should have probably mentioned that I will be using this 90% for Astrophotography, as my portable mount!
I'm interested in a very low PE mount that is very portable and can be autoguided. I was looking at the Kenko SkyMemo but for a couple of hundreds dollar more I can pick up the GPD2 or GPDX and have a higher payload for beefier lenses/scopes.

As far as the precision of the gears, are they the same in both mounts?

E.

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karlpenney
super member


Reged: 01/04/07

Loc: Halifax, NS
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: Emanuele]
      #3178136 - 06/23/09 12:41 PM
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The internals of both mounts are the same. I have not been into imaging that long, and up to this point have been using my GPDX for 2-3 minute unguided exposures. I have a KWIQ guider setup now, but have not had a chance to do any PE measurement yet.

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GShaffer
Carpal Tunnel
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Reged: 02/28/09

Loc: Bogart, Ga USA
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? new [Re: karlpenney]
      #3178226 - 06/23/09 01:25 PM
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Highly suggest the SS2K over the starbook......Starbook does not save its alignment setup between powerups.....SS2K does.

Note: Even Vixen puts the SS2k on their observatory only class mount still. Definately wouldnt go over well to use a goto system that doesnt save its alignment settings between sessions lol

As far as the mechanicals the only difference is the color.

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Emanuele
Lord of the Ring
*****

Reged: 11/19/03

Loc: Brescia-Italy, and Iowa-US
Re: GPD2 and GPDX? [Re: GShaffer]
      #3179957 - 06/24/09 11:31 AM
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Thank you so much to all of you !

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