Telescope Reviews: CGEM pedestal

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Equipment Discussions >> Mounts

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SchrödingersCat
sage

Reged: 11/02/08

CGEM pedestal
#3557675 - 01/13/10 07:02 AM

I am looking for a pedestal for a CGEM (not portable or fixed pier). Any ideas?

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SchrödingersCat
sage

Reged: 11/02/08

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3558784 - 01/13/10 05:16 PM

bump

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3559199 - 01/13/10 08:36 PM

Not portable and not fixed - what else is there

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: Lane]
#3559210 - 01/13/10 08:41 PM Attachment (140 downloads)

I use THIS on top of my CGEM Tripod and it works great.

I did replace the upper hex bolts with hand screws to make it easier to remove the mount from the pier.

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John J
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/05/07

Loc: Beresford SD

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3559626 - 01/14/10 12:57 AM

I use this on my EQ 6 and it should work on the CGEM.

http://www.telescope.com/control/accessories/mount-and-tripod-accessories/orion-atlas-telescope-mount-extension

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SchrödingersCat
sage

Reged: 11/02/08

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: John J]
#3559825 - 01/14/10 05:27 AM

I guess I wasn't very clear. I am looking for something like this that will fit the CGEM.

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bdawg6381
sage

Reged: 12/04/08

Loc: Blacksburg, VA

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3560513 - 01/14/10 01:15 PM

Based on their pictures on the bottom the connection looks very similar to the CGEM connection on its standard mount. I would look at the link of the CG5 head dimensions and see how similar the footprint is compared to the CGEM head. Just at a quick glance it appears that it would work to me - only thing I would be worried about is the threads on the center bottom of the CGEM head matching with the threads they use for the CG5.

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SchrödingersCat
sage

Reged: 11/02/08

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: bdawg6381]
#3560680 - 01/14/10 02:35 PM

I know there is a thread for CGEM dimensions . Is there one for the CG5?

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jrbarnett
Eyepiece Hooligan

Reged: 02/28/06

Loc: Petaluma, CA

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3561119 - 01/14/10 07:07 PM

The CGEM and HEQ-6/Atlas share the same "bottom". I wonder if the HEQ-5 (pictured) also has the same "bottom" as the HEQ-6? If so, there's your solution.

Regards,

Jim

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SchrödingersCat
sage

Reged: 11/02/08

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: jrbarnett]
#3561173 - 01/14/10 07:39 PM

This page says the antares is not compatible.

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SchrödingersCat
sage

Reged: 11/02/08

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3561280 - 01/14/10 08:29 PM

Are there really no pedestal options?

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JadeSmith
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/15/08

Loc: SE Michigan

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: SchrödingersCat]
#3567377 - 01/17/10 10:22 PM

Maybe a custom plate on top?
Custom Plate

There are other portable pier makers besides Antares, but they will cost more than a CCGEM!!!

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achronut
member

Reged: 01/23/09

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: Lane]
#3567739 - 01/18/10 03:52 AM

Quote:

I use THIS on top of my CGEM Tripod and it works great.

I did replace the upper hex bolts with hand screws to make it easier to remove the mount from the pier.

Your post confirms my intention of using an Atlas extension for use on a CGEM. I emailed an Orion rep and he said that the Atlas extension would not work with a CGEM.

Anyway, it seems that the Atlas extension works pretty well on a CGEM mount and tripod. I'm planning of getting one. Thanks.

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shwright50
super member

Reged: 12/05/07

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: achronut]
#3568533 - 01/18/10 02:05 PM

I just picked this thread up. I have a new CGEM and would be interested in raising the height of the mount without increasing the length of the tripod legs (for reasons of stability and room in what is otherwise rather cramped space). The Orion solution shown in Lane’s post is interesting, but I seem to be missing something. How do the azimuth adjustment screws of the CGEM work when placed on this pedestal? Based on the image shown on the Orion link, there is no place for the alignment peg against which the azimuth adjustment screws push….?

Steve W

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: shwright50]
#3568817 - 01/18/10 04:28 PM

1. The CGEM and ATLAS tripod tops are identical, so this entension works the same on both.

2. Pictures on the vendor sites always show the tripod extension upside down for some strange reason, so don't let that confuse you.

3. You will unscrew the alignment peg from the CGEM mount and screw it on the top of the extension instead. Which means there is nothing to keep the bottom of the extension from turning on the mount except friction. Some people on this site have complained about that happening when they accidentally bumped into the OTA. I put a strip of duct tape around the inside hole on the top of my CGEM mount to make the fit much tighter and increase the friction to the point where mine does not turn, no matter what I do to it.

4. It is a good idea to replace the 3 silver hex screws with longer bolts which you should be able to obtain from ACE harware. This is a good idea because to separate the telescope mount from the extension you will be removing these bolts every time you setup and takedown the mount. They are small and easy to drop in the dark. I would not even own this extension without the replacement bolts. I will include some pictures of the bolts in my next posting.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: Lane]
#3568828 - 01/18/10 04:34 PM Attachment (190 downloads)

Here is a picture showing the top part of the extension, which will attach to the bottom of the mount. Notice the bolts I bought. The 3 bolts will go through the outside of the extension tube and then into this device, which is what holds the mount in place on top of the extension tube. Notice also that I added a long "tube-like" washer to the bolts, I think these may be called collars. This is necessary to move the bolts out to where you can turn them and so they don't hit the top of the extension.

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Lane
Post Laureate

Reged: 11/19/07

Loc: Frisco, Texas

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: Lane]
#3568833 - 01/18/10 04:37 PM Attachment (154 downloads)

And here is another pic:

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shwright50
super member

Reged: 12/05/07

Loc: Tucson, AZ

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: Lane]
#3568852 - 01/18/10 04:51 PM

Thanks Lane. Very clear. And it looks like it might fit my needs perfectly!

Cheers,

Steve W

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JS999R
member

Reged: 12/07/11

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: shwright50]
#5599125 - 01/01/13 05:28 AM

I know this thread is old, but new to me. This is exactly what I'm looking for. I just bought a CGEM and already had conflict between the tripod legs and 45" refractor slewing around zenith. I had the longer Orion pier on my CG5 and it worked great with extra benefits like easier viewing, no need to extend the tripod legs and actually the pier made it easier for me to carry the set up around in one piece because I could rest the pier on my hip in a balanced position. I did have to collapse the legs to allow passage through a couple doorways, no bigge though.

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oo_void
sage

Reged: 11/13/09

Loc: San Francisco, CA

Re: CGEM pedestal new

new

[Re: JS999R]
#5703471 - 02/27/13 12:51 PM

Sorry for bumping this one, but does anyone know the size of the allen screws. I'm guessing 1/4 20 (but I've made that mistake before). Thinking about using something like these ... http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_lscr1.htm

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