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Doubleglaze
sage
Reged: 11/01/07
Posts: 201
Loc: Pacific NW
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Hi All -
I'd like to ask for feedback from CGE Pro users on their satisfaction with the mount. I've sen bits and pieces of various postings, but its been a while since I really have seen any updated info.
If you have the mount, are you satisfied or not with your purchase? Does it perform to your satisfaction? Would you buy it again? What do you have riding on the mount and what do you use it for (i.e. what scope type and for imaging or visual work)?
Any details about performance would be appreciated - PE curves, images, etc. I'm working through the various mount options in the mid-cost range and wondering how this mount works for you.
Thanks
Mark
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Vixen VMC260L / Sphinx SXD
Pentax 75 SDHF
Canon 40D / 50mm f1.4 / 100mm f2.8 macro / 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 / 200mm f2.8L
http://www.astrophotogallery.org/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/166
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Phil Cowell
sage
Reged: 05/24/07
Posts: 376
Loc: Southern Tier NY
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Hi Mark,
I'm very happy with mine and I'd buy it again with no regrets. I'm visual but with various larger OTA's such as the Meade 14" SCT (lower weight class mounts like the CGE and G11 just don't cut it with that OTA). Also looking at an 8" refractor, so a mount that can handle some mass is a must. I like the Celestron controller and electronics, everything is plug and play without having to mess around getting add-on's like the GPS to work correctly. Low learning curve and for me it just works. The mount can be broken down into managable pieces but it's not what I call a portable field mount. It does a nice job with a Meade SN10 and AT110EDT for nights when you just want to view wide field targets.
It's a keeper. Being visual I'm not the person to ask about PE curves etc. Collecting photons is the back of the eye and not displaying them on a screen is my thing (to me it's like would you rather be looking at pictures of a super model or the model herself?  )
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If it'll fit on a sig you don't have enough
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skybsd
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/01/08
Posts: 599
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Hi Phil,
Congrats on the new mount - glad to hear that you're happy with it.
Is yours being used with the tripod, and not a permanent pier? If it is that you're using the tripod, can you iterate the set up steps required from start (wanting to go out) to finish (ready to begin alignment), please?
Like you, I'm visual only and would appreciate an practical description of the set up run.
Thanks!
Regards,
skybsd
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Doubleglaze
sage
Reged: 11/01/07
Posts: 201
Loc: Pacific NW
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Thanks Phil -
I just used a friends CPC and got a sense of the controller - it was very simple to set up and use.
I'd be rolling the mount around on a scope buggy and maybe going into the field once or twice a year so portability isn't too important, and my SXD is light enough to go anywhere so I'd use that for the dark sky field trips.
I'm around 70% imaging 30% visual, for the reason you mentioned - sometimes when imaging I spend time looking at the PC screen and forget to look at the sky, so a night of visual fun reminds me where the images came from.
Mark
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Vixen VMC260L / Sphinx SXD
Pentax 75 SDHF
Canon 40D / 50mm f1.4 / 100mm f2.8 macro / 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 / 200mm f2.8L
http://www.astrophotogallery.org/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/166
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Phil Cowell
sage
Reged: 05/24/07
Posts: 376
Loc: Southern Tier NY
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I've had mine for a while now but yes I use it currently on a tripod. The tripod and the electronics pier go out as one part. I then drop the fork portion into the electronics pier for want of a better term and attach it with ADM hand knobs (worth their weight in gold, the long one goes in the back under the AZ adjust knobs).
The next part is the motor/saddle head, two knobs and drop it in under the previous lat adjustment setting (with the Celestron polar setup it's about 10 mins to get a reasonable polar alignment). Install the two knobs for the lat lockdown. Install the counterweight shaft and then weights. Slide the scope of choice in place and then align.
I'm 52 and this to me is good exercise. After than I'm knackered, finish up the nights exercise with heavy breathing/coronary control exercises on the Nordic Couch (TM) for 10 mins and then after that back out for the nights observing. To be honest it's reasonably easy, I did a loop over a car that appeared infront of my motorcycle at night when he crossed a main road in my mispent youth and did in a couple verts but can still manage it.
Phil
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If it'll fit on a sig you don't have enough
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Phil Cowell
sage
Reged: 05/24/07
Posts: 376
Loc: Southern Tier NY
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Hi Mark,
A scope buggy would be ideal. My trouble is the door is too small to use one with the mount setup. For the occasional site trip it would be not a huge deal. I have mine broken apart in a big plastic storage chest from Wally World with layers of foam inside it.
Phil
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If it'll fit on a sig you don't have enough
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Doubleglaze
sage
Reged: 11/01/07
Posts: 201
Loc: Pacific NW
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Thanks again Phil - I'm getting ready to pull the trigger I think. The CFO approves even  .
I get lots of exercise due to my astro hobby - when imaging and trying to stay warm I go up and down my driveway walking backwards the whole way. 135 steps each way. One night I did that until 6 am ). I'm sure my neighbors think I'm looney, what with pointing tubes at the sky and walking backwards all night and looking bleary eyed in the morning 
Mark
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Vixen VMC260L / Sphinx SXD
Pentax 75 SDHF
Canon 40D / 50mm f1.4 / 100mm f2.8 macro / 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 / 200mm f2.8L
http://www.astrophotogallery.org/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/166
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2779
Loc: Aston, PA
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Quote:
Thanks again Phil - I'm getting ready to pull the trigger I think. The CFO approves even .
Ever hear of the tv show "wife swap"?
They probably pay out enough money to get the wife something nice as well as some good astro gear...
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