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Don Trinko
super member
Reged: 07/05/09
Posts: 130
Loc: Ohio
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Anyone else have problems? I bought 3 so far and all had to go back for replacment. The first got dim after 6 to 8 seconds, I called the Importer (Mead) the said send it back.
The second came with a binocular and red led light(Celestron). It worked when I go it but a week later the battery was dead. When I put a new battery in it go VERY hot and no light output.
The 3rd was today, A Celestron GLP with bracket for my 8SE, Non functional.
These 3 GLP's had one thing in common; They were all made in China. Comforting to know that's where my scope was made also. Don T.
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Nexstar 8SE
Meade DS2130at-lnt
Astro-Tech 66mm
Coranado PST 40mm
Celestron 10x50 binoculars
Nikon 7x35 Binoculars
EP's 8 to 24 Zuhmell, 8 to 24 Hyperion, 12.5 Astro-Tech Paradime, Celestron 40,26,9.7 plossel,
Zuhmell 32,12.5,6,4 plossel , TMB 5,3.2, planitary II.
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6548
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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JASPER....jasper....jasper....
Write one check...and forget about at least until you have to replace the battery...and then do not go to Radio Shack because they are 20 something bucks..
Seriously I also own a Celestron ...it works just fine.. (beam is wider then I'd like which I can live with..BUT I HATE the on/off switch...takes 20 pounds of pressure to turn it on or off...
Bob G.
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40147
Loc: montana
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I've had a Meade 5mW laser for about six months now; works exceptionally well. Still on the original set of batteries.
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2736
Loc: Brockport, NY
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Hi Don:
I've got two Jasper lasers, one for general pointing and one for use as a finder. They are well made, beam is strong, and they work better than other lasers in the cold. I've seen lots of posts about GLPs and lots of complaints, but never about a Jasper. Like Bob says, buy it once and forget about it.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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Don Trinko
super member
Reged: 07/05/09
Posts: 130
Loc: Ohio
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I can't complain abought the service. Celestron sent me a prepaid UPS label. I just wish quality of modern products was better. I bought a shop light 2 weeks ago that didn't work, Ever try to put modern nails into the wood in an old house?
I'm sure they will send me one that works but I was hoping to play with it this weekend. Oh Well; I'm 67 and retired so I've been disapaointed before.
Thanks for the Jasper suggestions, I will check out their website. Don T.
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Nexstar 8SE
Meade DS2130at-lnt
Astro-Tech 66mm
Coranado PST 40mm
Celestron 10x50 binoculars
Nikon 7x35 Binoculars
EP's 8 to 24 Zuhmell, 8 to 24 Hyperion, 12.5 Astro-Tech Paradime, Celestron 40,26,9.7 plossel,
Zuhmell 32,12.5,6,4 plossel , TMB 5,3.2, planitary II.
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Peter9
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/30/08
Posts: 800
Loc: Yorkshire - Born & Bred
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I have a Revelation Astro 5mW G.L.P which has worked perfectly for over 9 months. Has to be kept warm between usage in cold weather. I use it as both a finder and a pointer.
Peter.
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------------------------------------------------
Some of the pleasure I get from life I owe to Astronomy.
Astronomy does not owe me a thing.
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Nexstar 8se
150mm Helios Newton Reflector EQ 3 G.E.M.
6.3mm 10mm Plossls. Celestron 25mm & 40mm E.Ps. 8mm x 24mm Baader Hyperion Zoom. 2x Barlow. 9x50 R.A.C.I Finderscope. G.L.P and Bracket. Dew Shield. Home made Solar filter. Home made H.C Holder.(Great Asset). Maplin's 12V 17ah Auto Start Unit.
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sailor70623
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/12/08
Posts: 939
Loc: Ok.
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I've bought 3 off of E-Bay, never paid over $19, inc shipping for any of them. They all work great.
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Corornado PST
LB 16" & 12"
Z 10"
LX50 8"
8" CPC
ETX127
102&90mm MAKs
80mm Richfield APO
70mm refractor
ETX60
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ggarrison
super member
Reged: 07/22/09
Posts: 158
Loc: Austin, TX USA
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Quote:
Hi Don:
I've got two Jasper lasers, one for general pointing and one for use as a finder. They are well made, beam is strong, and they work better than other lasers in the cold. I've seen lots of posts about GLPs and lots of complaints, but never about a Jasper. Like Bob says, buy it once and forget about it.
-Dan
Hey Dan,
I've got one of the Jaspers mounted on my 8SE and used it all summer with no problems, but just recently it seems to be getting dimmer. I changed the battery, but that does not seem to have made any difference. Then I thought that the switch might be the problem, but I'm starting to think it's the cold affecting it. It's hard for me to believe given the mild nights in Texas especially compared to Bob in Maryland and you in New York. Tonight was probably only mid-60s. I have read Bob's recommendations (I think that's what led me to buy the Jasper in the first place) and had heard that they don't have the usual problems with the cold. So, questions for you (Bob too!), do you see any diminishing of the brightness in cold weather? Do you leave it mounted and exposed, or does it live in your pocket (or other warm place) until you use it? Do either of you think that using heater strips is an option? And lastly, do you think I need to contact Jasper about the performance?
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Gordon
Celestron Nexstar 8SE with XLT coating - Baader Planetarium Hyperion 8mm-24mm Clickstop Zoom eyepiece
Celestron Skymaster 20x80 Binoculars
Smart Seat II Observing Chair
all in the hands of a total neophite 
----------------------------
Register at ScopeBuddies.com to find local astronomy buddies! 
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Bob Griffiths
Postmaster
Reged: 10/10/05
Posts: 6548
Loc: Frederick Maryland
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Gordon:
I do not think I ever said My Jasper has not become dimmer in the winter...BUT it has never failed (well until the battery died) to function well enough so that I could easily use it...It handles the cold 100 times better then the Cheap Celestron GLP I have mounted on another scope ..
Both of mine are mounted on telescopes..24/7 the Jasper is on my scope that I have mounted n my observatory...The Celestron is mounted on a scope I keep mounted on its tripod in the garage
My limit is 9 degrees F...any colder then 10 degrees and this old boy stays inside...even with the heated clothing I draw the line.
BTW I replaced the battery at Radio Shack and spend over 20 bucks for the battery...what kind of Battery did you replace yours with...I need to find a source of a cheaper battery that is for sure...
Bob G
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CPC1100
Nexstar 8i + GPS & Rays Brackets
Denk S1 power switch
Orion 100 mm Refractor
Meade LXD 55 ...AR-5 127 mm Refractor
Exploradome Observatory S.I.E. (Smiling Irish Eyes)
Gerbring Heated Motorcycle clothing in the winter
39*21'03" N
77*28'12" W
The sky over my head....
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dyslexic nam
member
Reged: 01/28/08
Posts: 66
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Sailor: thank you.
I have 3 GLP's from ebay. Managed to get all of them for less than $7 a pop, including shipping. Thats about $20 for all 3. I have only used one (the other two are still unopened), but it has worked perfectly for me so far. Nice bright laser, no sign of dimming.
Most people advocate buying quality, which I am sure the jaspers and co are, but I have to say that for $6 my GLP has more than met my expectations. I suspect that it is the same as some of the mid-priced, rebranded GLP's that others sell, but at a fraction of the cost.
For those who want to own a GLP for less than the cost of a premium ep, there are options.
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davidpitre
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/10/05
Posts: 1824
Loc: Central Texas
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I bought a Jasper, got 5 minutes use out of it, and it stopped working. It was past the 180 day warranty, so I'm just out of luck.
Wish I'd bought the E-bay cheapy special.
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David
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Midnight Dan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 2736
Loc: Brockport, NY
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Quote:
I bought a Jasper, got 5 minutes use out of it, and it stopped working.
 Wow! First time I've heard of a problem with Jasper Lasers. Good to know.
-Dan
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Scopes: Celestron NexStar 8SE, Orion EON 72mm ED/APO, Orion ShortTube 80
Mounts: NexStar Alt/Az GoTo, Orion Astroview (EQ3) w/single axis drive
Eyepieces: Baader Hyperion 36mm (Aspheric), 21mm 13mm, 8mm, 5mm;
Other: 2x & 3x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Dew-not strips, DewBuster controller, SQM Meter
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Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2698
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Someone else was asking about GLPs on a different post just yesterday.
The GLP design uses an infrared laser diode to pump the green laser.
If these diodes get too hot, they cook very easily, and if the infrared diode laser dies or looses efficency, the green will be dim or fail accordingly.
If the design is well done it will have heat sinks (not common in a pocket laser) or it will have current limiters so the diode does not fry.
Even if it has current limiters, if the duty cycle (on vs off time) is long, it could damage the diode.
If the designer does his/her job right, the duty cycle can apparently be at least a minute or two, because I know the Glatter laser I bought many years ago can go a minute on and a minute off with no problem. Maybe it can go longer, but after burning up some other lasers, I decided not to test my luck.
Good luck.
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Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
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ggarrison
super member
Reged: 07/22/09
Posts: 158
Loc: Austin, TX USA
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Quote:
Gordon:
I do not think I ever said My Jasper has not become dimmer in the winter...BUT it has never failed (well until the battery died) to function well enough so that I could easily use it...It handles the cold 100 times better then the Cheap Celestron GLP I have mounted on another scope ..
Both of mine are mounted on telescopes..24/7 the Jasper is on my scope that I have mounted n my observatory...The Celestron is mounted on a scope I keep mounted on its tripod in the garage
My limit is 9 degrees F...any colder then 10 degrees and this old boy stays inside...even with the heated clothing I draw the line.
BTW I replaced the battery at Radio Shack and spend over 20 bucks for the battery...what kind of Battery did you replace yours with...I need to find a source of a cheaper battery that is for sure...
Bob G
Bob,
Sorry to misquote you! 
The batteries I got were from Home Depot or Lowe's, (there are both pretty close to me). If memory serves, it was about 10.00 for a 2 pack, and the brand is "Surefire". I also seem to remember marketing info on the package indicating they were good in the cold, but I could be mistaken.
I guess I was just wondering if it would make sense, or make any difference to put a dew heater strip on the laser to keep it warm? I'm really surprised to see it dim to pretty much invisible at 65 degrees.
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Gordon
Celestron Nexstar 8SE with XLT coating - Baader Planetarium Hyperion 8mm-24mm Clickstop Zoom eyepiece
Celestron Skymaster 20x80 Binoculars
Smart Seat II Observing Chair
all in the hands of a total neophite
----------------------------
Register at ScopeBuddies.com to find local astronomy buddies!
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richsvt
member
Reged: 01/09/09
Posts: 65
Loc: Boston
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I have one from Orion (very similar to the Celestron) and had for over a year w/o a single problem. It does need warming in winter when it gets down to 5 above or so. I got the set-up for the holder which has a nifty little cuff with a thumb screw to let you twist to turn it in and leave it as such. It was pricey but seeing that I have not had any problems, well worth it...
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