Arctic_Eddie
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 597
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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I would like to get some opinions on the two mounts in terms of their GoTo controller. I already have a Nexstar 6SE so am familiar with that controller. How does the SW compare?
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The shortest distance between one point is an infinitely small circle.
73's de KF4JU
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BKBrown
member
Reged: 08/23/09
Posts: 53
Loc: Ashburn, VA USA
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I have the EQ5-P GoTo w/ Synscan and am very satisfied. With a good polar the drive consistently drops my target in the center third of the FOV (w/24Pan), it's also pretty quiet. From what I have seen the Synscan is not as...elegant...as the Celestron system, but it is robust, accurate, and fairly simple to use. Synscan is one of the several reasons I just bought a new Atlas. Clear Skies, BB.
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Skywatcher 100ED-5QP 100mm f/9 APO, Synscan & GPS
C8N f/5 Newt, WO 66SD ZenithStar APO
Atlas EQ-G w/ Synscan & GPS
Baader Hyperion 8-24 zoom; 31mm, 36mm ASP
TV 19, 24 Pan; Nag 9T6,13T6
Siebert 1.5/2.0/2.5/3.0/3.5 Barlow,
Celestron 2x Ultima Barlow, TV 3x Barlow
Celestron 15x70 Skymaster
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Doug76
Postmaster
Reged: 12/05/07
Posts: 5541
Loc: SE Louisiana, future Texan
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I haven't used the SW, but I do own the CG-5ASGT, and for my money, it's worth every penny. I also like Celestron's software.
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Doug
Truckstop Astronomer
The Universe, the light of God, in all it's majesty
6 achro refractors 50mm-150mm
1 apo refractor 90mm
1 SCT 8inch
UO Abbe Volcano Tops
Faworski Ortho's
Panoptic 24mm
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Arctic_Eddie
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 597
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Thanks for the comments. I too like the Celestron software on my 6SE and was hoping the SW was similar. I'm trying to keep the mount somewhat portable but the CG is pushing the limit with it's 2" legs and weight. The SW is better in those respects but maybe not by a useful amount. Perhaps someone on the forum with both mounts will stop by and make a comment.
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The shortest distance between one point is an infinitely small circle.
73's de KF4JU
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4564
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Quote:
I would like to get some opinions on the two mounts in terms of their GoTo controller. I already have a Nexstar 6SE so am familiar with that controller. How does the SW compare?
Get the CG5. You won't be happy with the SynScan if you are used to the Nexstar controller/software. I myself own an Atlas, and rarely--if ever--use it with the HC (EQMOD is the way I go). While the Synscan controller continues to be updated/upgraded, it still doesn't offer the features or the go-to accuracy of the Nexstar HC.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Arctic_Eddie
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 597
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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Will the CG5 mount attach to the flat surface of a surveyor tripod? I already have a Berger and if I could eliminate the Celestron tripod it would help for travel usage. At home the big one would be ok.
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The shortest distance between one point is an infinitely small circle.
73's de KF4JU
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neptun2
sage
Reged: 03/04/07
Posts: 277
Loc: Bulgaria
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Also the all-star polar alignment is good feature of CG5 which synscan do not offer. I have heq5 pro and synscan does its job fine but i have also seen the celestron HC software and it is more mature. So for me cg5 looks better choice.
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Skywatcher Explorer 200P 8" f5 newtonian reflector
HEQ5 Pro Synscan Equatorial mount
Nikon Action 12x50 , Nikon D5000
Nagler type 6 11mm , Pentax XW 7mm , Televue 2x barlow 1.25"
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watcher
sage
Reged: 11/21/07
Posts: 406
Loc: NJ
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If you got the Celestron, I'm positive you can find someone who would be willing to swap your 2" legs for their 1.75" legs. Could be a win-win deal if portability is that critical to you.
Joe
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(quote)"That does it! Next Big Bang, someone has got to rethink this gettin' old business!" Joe Daugert
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1986 Celestron c-8 (retired)
Celestron Omni XLT 120
Celestron Astromaster 70 AZ
Vixen GP2 mount on Omni XLT tripod (soon to be driven by iOptron GOTO Nova)
Meade 16x50 binoculars
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Arctic_Eddie
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/30/07
Posts: 597
Loc: St. Petersburg, FL
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That's true with the legs. I'm sure there are many CG5 owners that would like to upgrade just for the shipping cost. For the time being I'll put my new AT80EDTA on a Nexstar 6SE mount.
Thanks for the suggestion.
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The shortest distance between one point is an infinitely small circle.
73's de KF4JU
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pollux
artiste
Reged: 04/01/04
Posts: 6853
Loc: Vancouver Canada
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one thing need to mention about the eq5 and the 1.75" steel tripod
this system has the main control unit mounted externally. it sits on the bracket that is clamped on one of the legs and it is only for 1.75" not 2"
the main unit has to be sitting on the bracket (there is a metal piece on that bracket that is touching the tripod leg) for grounding
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Pentax 105SDP
Vixen VMC200L
Vixen VMC260L
Pentax XW eyepiece (complete set)
Personal Web Site
Telescope Comics
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letimotif
No Complaints
Reged: 05/20/07
Posts: 2007
Loc: Far Flung Isles of Langerhans
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Having used both the EQ5 Pro helping a friend learn how to use it, and having owned and used a CG5-GT for several years, I can only add a couple of things not thus far mentioned:
1. The CG5-GT I found to be quite a bit noisier than the EQ5 Pro. This may or may not be a big deal, but I did have occasion for a complaint from a neighbor in a detached housing development when I was demonstrating the mount to a friend at night. YMMV
2. The EQ5 Pro comes with a polar alignment scope, the Celestron does not. With more sophisticated alignment software in the CG5 this may be less of a deal.
3. Depending upon what you're mounting the 1.75" vs. 2" legs just aren't a big deal. An 8" SCT and a 120mm f/8.3 ride quite sturdily on either, for example.
4. The hand controller is quite different each from the other. If you're going to be switching back and forth regularly, you're going to have to learn each's peculiarities accordingly.
Overall, my impression of the build quality on the EQ5 Pro was that it was a little bit better than the CG5-GT. But I was perfectly happy with the Celestron's tracking and go to functions, and the upgraded hand control software is a big plus.
My friend picked up one of the Astronomics' SkyWatcher deals that included a C8 w/EQ5 Pro mount for $999. That was an excellent deal, so I don't dispute his choice.
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Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a Heaven for?
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Astrolabe
super member
Reged: 07/08/07
Posts: 116
Loc: sydney Australia
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Thanks to Eddie and all other contributors to this post. I am in the same position as Eddie. I have two more questions,the answers of which will help me making a decision.
The first question relates to any reduction in the noise associated with the current CG5 models compared to older models. The second is, how does the noise of the CG5 compares to an 2004 model 8" STC Meade LX90? I haven't heard any CG5 in operation and for this reason I cannot judge how noisy it is. I mostly observe from my back yard and I don't want to disturb my good neighbours.
Thanks in advance and best regards
George (astrolabe)
Sydney Australia
Edited by Astrolabe (10/27/09 09:26 PM)
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ibase
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/20/08
Posts: 1537
Loc: Manila, Philippines 121*E 14*N
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Quote:
I haven't heard any CG5 in operation and for this reason I cannot judge how noisy it is.
Here's a YouTube video by an owner complaining about the "funny noise" from his CG-5; mine has slightly less "noise" (I guess the videocam microphone in this instance might be a bit too close to the mount thus the "noise" appears louder) but it's in the ballpark. BTW, I don't consider it "noise," it's music to my ears. 
Best,
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Hernando
Nexstar 8/CG-5 ASGT; WO Megrez 102ED SV; Antares 6" 1529; WO ZS66SD; Orion ST80
TV Naglers 5T6, 9T1, 12T2; Panoptic27; Hyperion 8-24mm Zoom,21mm; WO 7.5-22.5mm
BO/TMB 2.5/3.2/4/6mm;UO HD 5;BGO 6;Meade-RGO 7;UO-V 9/12.5;Brandon 16mm;Ultima18
TV 2x,3x barlow&8/11/15/20/32plossl; Aspheric31;Siebert36-OB;Paragon40;Meade56Smoothie
C-f/6.3FR;OIII,UHC,SkyGlow,U-block,8"S-flter;GLP/Telrad/MRF/9x50RACI; NexImge;Canon RebelXS
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4564
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Quote:
Thanks to Eddie and all other contributors to this post. I am in the same position as Eddie. I have two more questions,the answers of which will help me making a decision.
The first question relates to any reduction in the noise associated with the current CG5 models compared to older models. The second is, how does the noise of the CG5 compares to an 2004 model 8" STC Meade LX90? I haven't heard any CG5 in operation and for this reason I cannot judge how noisy it is. I mostly observe from my back yard and I don't want to disturb my good neighbours.
Thanks in advance and best regards
George (astrolabe)
Sydney Australia
1. No change.
2. About the same.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Astrolabe
super member
Reged: 07/08/07
Posts: 116
Loc: sydney Australia
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Uncle Rod,
Your contribution and opinion is always respected and appreciated, many thanks.
George (astrolabe)
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Astrolabe
super member
Reged: 07/08/07
Posts: 116
Loc: sydney Australia
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Thanks Hernando,
Clear skies
George (astrolabe)
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John Noble
super member
Reged: 05/07/08
Posts: 179
Loc: Sandy Eggo, California
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I just went through this very decision process. I finally threw up my hands and got a 10" Sky-Watcher truss dob instead  , but almost every discussion of these two mounts included the following points:
- SynScan works fine but isn't as sophisticated as Celestron's HC. I question how true this is in light of ongoing software upgrades, but that's the consensus. I read the SynScan and NexStar manuals and didn't see any huge differences in capability other than Celestron's all star alignment.
- The EQ5 Pro is much quieter.
- Both mounts are on a par mechanically.
- Unk Rod really likes his AS-GT.
At current pricing, I'd take the EQ5 Pro. The SynScan system costs that much ($499, which is the current EQ5 Pro price at OPT) all by itself from Orion, and it could (AFAIK) be transplanted to a Vixen GP/GP2/etc. in the future if you wanted a really, really nice and lightweight GEM with GOTO.
That was my line of thinking, anyway, but I caught a small dose of aperture fever and veered off into the Dobsonian Wilderness. 
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"We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened."
--Huckleberry Finn
Edited by John Noble (10/28/09 11:40 AM)
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skyguy88
member
Reged: 11/13/06
Posts: 95
Loc: Prescott, AZ
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Hi,
I have had a C8/ASGT for 5 years almost exclusively with a video camera. It is accurate and reliable and portable. I have used it for many dozens of outreach projects.
I bought an Atlas mount and a 10R about a year ago. After struggling for months with the go-to performance, I discovered that the problem was mirror flop in the OT during alignment. With the mirror locked, it now works very well.
The Atlas is more sturdily built, MUCH quieter, and appears to track more smoothly, making it a better choice for extended exposure photography. It is, however, significantly behind the ASGT in functional convenience, unless you are prepared to run it via EQMOD and a laptop, and much less portable.
If I was planning to use the mount for AP and willing to control it by computer and not planning to travel with the system, I would choose the Atlas.
Both are really nice tools. Both give me hours of go-to's within 5-10 arcmin.
Bill
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Meade 10R on Atlas GT mount
C8 on ASGT mount
Meade Starfinder 8N in on pedestal
Mallincam Hyper Color, .5/.3 FR
Meade DSI, Piggyback mount
SAC Mintron
EPs collecting dust
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