Telescope Reviews: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . .

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . .
#4410702 - 02/25/11 01:16 PM Attachment (145 downloads)

I have more questions than answers for folks interested in this thing though.

First impressions:
1/Beautifully made . . . the setting circles and verniers are GORGEOUS!!

Ya, I know . . . but I was always a sucker for setting circles ever since my Unitron Model 152 days back in 1960.
2/ Surely a manual is in the offing?

Clutch knobs and an additional 21 lb wt are still on back order at Astronomics.

You guys with Gemini 1 experience know WAY more about this thing than I do!

So, stand by for questions.

Edited by dawziecat (02/25/11 04:01 PM)

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nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4410731 - 02/25/11 01:31 PM

Wow, that's a real beauty Terry!

I hope the mount did not bring clouds as well and you get to try it out for first light soon! No manual huh?

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HunterofPhotons
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 04/26/08

Loc: Rhode Island, USA

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4410774 - 02/25/11 01:49 PM

There is quick start guide available for level 2, and from what I can gather many of the Gemini 1 features are similar if not the same in version 2. The level 1 manual should answer many of your questions until the level 2 manual comes out.

dan

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gnowellsct
Postmaster

Reged: 06/24/09

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: HunterofPhotons]
#4410783 - 02/25/11 01:55 PM

Manual's on the web site...

Greg N

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gdd
sage

Reged: 11/23/05

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4410959 - 02/25/11 03:21 PM

Quote:

Beautifully made . . . the setting circles and verniers are GORGEOUS!! Ya, I know . . . but I was always a sucker for setting circles ever since my Unitron Model 152 days back in 1960.

You can use the setting circles and keep the Gemini 2 for backup in case the batteries in your flashlight go dead

Gale

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: gnowellsct]
#4411060 - 02/25/11 03:56 PM Attachment (80 downloads)

OK, thanks, I found the G-11 manual on-line.
Find nothing about mounting the motors though.
Seems to me the RA motor to controller cable is a bit short?
I have tried mounting the motor in the two possible orientations, with cable port towards the rear and towards the front. Towards the front and it gets in the way of the polar axis. Towards the rear and cable seems a bit tight. Straight down would be about right but the motor mounting holes do not permit that.

Image shows the "towards the rear" orientation.

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4411066 - 02/25/11 03:58 PM Attachment (109 downloads)

The old C11 mounted on its new perch. First time mounted in several months after the drive controller on the fork went kablooie. . .

Edited by dawziecat (02/25/11 04:03 PM)

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nemo129
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 01/03/10

Loc: WMass

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4411070 - 02/25/11 04:01 PM

Hey...two classic cats! Nice. I always loved the orange tubes! The furry guy to the left is cute too!

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MikeCatfin
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/12/04

Loc: NJ, USA

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4411087 - 02/25/11 04:11 PM

Why don't you just turn the mount head around so the polar scope is over the control box.. this way you won't have to wrap the cable around the mount?

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rsbfoto
sage

Reged: 06/10/06

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: MikeCatfin]
#4411140 - 02/25/11 04:40 PM

Hi,

The way you mounted the head is totally wrong.

The head has to be in direction opposite to the control box eg. the control box and the mount have to be in straight line.

If you use it as you have mounted it there is the Danger that your tripod can tip over ...

Correct assembly

This is only a GM8 but in the same way you have to mount the G11.

The image in the Losmandy site is totally wrong and dangerous.

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: MikeCatfin]
#4411159 - 02/25/11 04:49 PM

Quote:

Why don't you just turn the mount head around so the polar scope is over the control box.. this way you won't have to wrap the cable around the mount?

Well, er, ah, ahem!

Thank you, Mike.

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Waxing Gibbous
professor emeritus

Reged: 11/19/10

Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4411567 - 02/25/11 08:21 PM

Lovely mount. Lovely cat!
Am saving my pennies for one of these myself.
You'd think for the money they would include a manual tho'.
That's very poor!

BTW: What model 'Gitzo' is that in the background (if I may ask)?

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: Waxing Gibbous]
#4411639 - 02/25/11 09:08 PM

Quote:

BTW: What model 'Gitzo' is that in the background (if I may ask)?

G410

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bradisback
member

Reged: 01/05/10

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4412211 - 02/26/11 04:24 AM

Yes, the control panel must be under the polar finder
like this:

Good fun!!!
Stef

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: bradisback]
#4412547 - 02/26/11 10:20 AM

Thanks, we have the head oriented correctly now.

Balance Issue: Pretty good on RA axis with 21 lb CW all the way out on the shaft.
Not so good in dec. Even with my lightest EP the OTA is back heavy and I do not have the CWs for the sliding rod atop the C11 with me here in FL. They are back home in NS. Is this a serious issue for the dec motor in casual observing? I don't want to busticate anything before I even get started.

What are Gemini users doing as per a shelf or clip to rest their HCs while at the scope?

Reading through the Quick Start Guide for starting Gemini 2 up:
Long, lat and time zone entries on HC at startup: Are these in decimal or minute notation?

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lightyear44
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 12/29/09

Loc: Ontario

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4412565 - 02/26/11 10:28 AM

To answer your hand-controller question, Terry, I use heavy-duty velcro & attatch it to a tripod leg. Same with my gps, and dew controller. Even my A/C converter for my DSLR camera. That velcro is as handy as ductape, but more attractive. -David.

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dawziecat
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 10/20/10

Loc: Rural Nova Scotia

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: bradisback]
#4412605 - 02/26/11 10:43 AM

Stef:

I see you have two CWs but one of them is smaller than the other. A 21 lb and an 11 lb I presume?
With all the gear you have mounted and that is enough makes me think I am wrong in ordering another 21 lb weight. Maybe I should call Astronomics and cancel my backordered 21 pounder and go with an 11 instead.

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rsbfoto
sage

Reged: 06/10/06

Re: My Losmandy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4412713 - 02/26/11 11:33 AM

Quote:

Stef:

I see you have two CWs but one of them is smaller than the other. A 21 lb and an 11 lb I presume?
With all the gear you have mounted and that is enough makes me think I am wrong in ordering another 21 lb weight. Maybe I should call Astronomics and cancel my backordered 21 pounder and go with an 11 instead.

Hi,

No. Keep your order with the 21lbs counterweight. It is better to have the counterweights nearer to the rotation point of the RA axis as far away. Far away means more possible vibrations while tracking.

In regard to your balance in DEC be careful. The standard motor if too warm tend to fry. They only can stand as maximum an unbalance of less then half a pound. Ask me why I know

. Is there no way that you push your Refelector farther outside ? Go to the really end of the dovetail plate.

Edited by rsbfoto (02/26/11 11:40 AM)

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akua
member

Reged: 03/01/06

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4412714 - 02/26/11 11:33 AM

I use two 7.7lb and one 15lb casady SS counterweights for a total of 30.4lb to balance 1100 Edge with about 10lb of accessories without problem.
I would get smaller counterweigts for more flexibility. Two 21lb counterweights are a lot weight and it is good for 50lb plus of payload.
If I were you I will replace all counterweights with Casady ones. Not only they look better but they are easier to adjust plus they won't scratch the counterweight bar.
I've never use the original 21lb CW so my CW bar still looks like new.

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Daniel Mounsey
Vendor - Vixen Optics

Reged: 06/12/02

Re: My Losmondy G-11 Gemini 2 has arrived. . . new

[Re: dawziecat]
#4412863 - 02/26/11 12:38 PM

That's nice but ironic you took pictures of everything else but one of the most interesting things that seperates the G2 from the G1 and that's the hand box.

Post Extras:

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