newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
#5617526 - 01/11/13 04:12 PM
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Well my new XLT 102 arrived this afternoon in two large boxes....and OMG. I first have to say that the service from Adorama was fantastic. After ordering the scope two days ago and the CC card clearing yesterday afternoon, the scope was shipping yesterday evening. Less than 24 hrs later it was at my door. That is fast shipping in tho it was going from NJ to Ma. All arrived safe and sound.
I was very surprised to see two large boxes on the porch and thought ok lots of packaging, which is good. Here the two boxes the scope arrived in.
I first opened the long box containing the OTA. WOW that is one gorgeous OTA. It was a bit longer than I expected and the diameter as well. Mind you, I have never owned a refractor so this is all new to me.
Next came the BIG box. This was, same with the OTA box, double sturdy boxes with several smaller boxes inside. I opened the larger box containing the tripod......arghhh shock. That tripod is darn big, and heavy. It looks smaller in pics and in real life this is one massive and sturdy tripod. Now I understand why people recommend better and sturdier tripods/mounts than the EQ1 and 2.
Only took about ten careful minutes to assemble the tripod and EQ mount. The I took out the instructions to make sure I did it right.. 
A few minutes later everything was balanced and the drooling still continued.. I know when I have larger ep's and the 9x40 RACI I will need to re balance the rig again.
My verdict on the purchase so far, fantastic. The service from Adorama was the best I have had and pleasure to deal with.
It is cloudy and suppose to rain tonight, and the weekend, so first light report will have to wait until clear skies....the dreaded curse. Once I do a first light with the 102 I will change the thread title to first light.
A huge thank you to all who put up with all my questions and for helping decide and ultimately buying this scope.
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Mr Onions
Two Time International Photographical Competition Winner
Reged: 04/14/07
Loc: Newcastle upon Tyne.
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: newtoskies]
#5617699 - 01/11/13 06:12 PM
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Looks fantastic.
It will be cloudy for the next 3 weeks now.
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Loc: South Louisiana
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Mr Onions]
#5617789 - 01/11/13 06:54 PM
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Great rig. I love that blue OTA. Hope that you get to use it real soon.
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Grandpa Jim
old fogey
Reged: 08/04/12
Loc: GREAT AMERICAN DESERT
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: coopman]
#5617802 - 01/11/13 07:04 PM
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Have fun with it  ..........I will be following closely, as I have wanted one of these. Probably won't happen now, due to income cuts, but look forward to hearing your experience with it anyway.
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Gary Riley
super member
Reged: 12/01/11
Loc: White Bluff, TN
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Grandpa Jim]
#5617820 - 01/11/13 07:17 PM
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Congratulations Rob on the "new addition" to the family!  . Pictures look very familiar too. Mine is setting assembled in my living room next to my Z12 dob. Unfortunately it has been cloudy and or raining for the past several days and looks to continue for several more days! 
Look forward to reading your first light report.
Happy stargazing!
Gary
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NeilMac
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/25/10
Loc: MedHat, AB, Canada
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Gary Riley]
#5617841 - 01/11/13 07:28 PM
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Congratulations !!
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Mike4242
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/02/11
Loc: Memphis, TN
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Gary Riley]
#5617846 - 01/11/13 07:31 PM
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They certainly are good looking scopes. Looking forward to your first light report! 
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GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/05/05
Loc: St. Louis area
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: newtoskies]
#5617941 - 01/11/13 08:19 PM
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Looks AWESOME!
If you find the mount is too heavy to move by itself, just unscrew the counterweight bar (and weights). Make sure your OTA is already off the mount before that.
For my EQ mount I move the tripod/mount outside first. Then I put on the eyepiece tray. I then try to get it to a good height. Remember the tube is long, so the tripod will need to be extended for us taller folks. Then I put on the bar/counterweights. After that I put the OTA on and balance it.
You'll want to setup your EQ for your latitude and point it toward Polaris. That will help with tracking objects.
Be careful as you move the scope that your eyepieces don't fall out. Your OTA will get into weird positions and you will need to adjust your diagonal. Make sure all that stuff is nice and tight.
EQ mounts can be a bit more work, but they do have their advantages. Mainly being easy to track objects.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: GOLGO13]
#5617952 - 01/11/13 08:29 PM
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awesome. you will have fun with this for sure
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GOLGO13
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/05/05
Loc: St. Louis area
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: GOLGO13]
#5617957 - 01/11/13 08:31 PM
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I found a few old pictures of my since sold 4 inch F10...similar to yours. I do like the newer look with the blue and white. I still have the mount though.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: GOLGO13]
#5618002 - 01/11/13 08:52 PM
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string for not losing the caps? thats a good idea, wonder why you dont see that on scopes more often!
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dennilfloss
member
Reged: 01/06/13
Loc: Ottawa, Canada
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: lamplight]
#5618015 - 01/11/13 09:02 PM
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Looking very nice!
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Julio
sage
Reged: 01/18/07
Loc: Pembroke Pines ,FL
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: dennilfloss]
#5618053 - 01/11/13 09:28 PM
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Thats a gorgeous scope!
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Paco_Grande
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/14/12
Loc: Napa Whine Country
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Julio]
#5618112 - 01/11/13 10:15 PM
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Gert K A
super member
Reged: 07/16/12
Loc: Copenhagen, Denmark
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: newtoskies]
#5618208 - 01/11/13 11:22 PM
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There is nothing like the smell of fresh cardboard to repel a clear sky lol
Nice scope, that’s a good choice congrats
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CJK
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/05/12
Loc: Scenic SE TN
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Gert K A]
#5618227 - 01/11/13 11:38 PM
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Congrats on the new arrival!! Hope your skies clear up ASAP!
-- Chris
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Mike4242
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/02/11
Loc: Memphis, TN
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: CJK]
#5618642 - 01/12/13 09:15 AM
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Quote:
Be careful as you move the scope that your eyepieces don't fall out. Your OTA will get into weird positions and you will need to adjust your diagonal. Make sure all that stuff is nice and tight.
This is very sage advice. I've almost had a nice 2" EP hit the ground because I didn't have the thumb screws that hold the diagonal tight enough. I swung the scope to an area of sky and the weight of the EP caused the diagonal to rotate and almost fall out. I do wish the scope had compression rings to hold the diagonal in place instead of the thumb screws.
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newtoskies
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/15/12
Loc: SE Ma.
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Mike4242]
#5618748 - 01/12/13 10:28 AM
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Thanks all. She is a beauty eh. I'll have to do a test move of the scope this weekend. First with the OTA on, then off and if need be the weights too. I'm thinking I aonly have to carry it a few feet, out the door and then abut ten feet to my viewing corner. Well it sounds easy, but now that I HAVE the scope I can understand what every one was talking about, and why dob's are suggested.
yeah....first light might be a few days from now. Had clear skies all week...and now rain.
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lamplight
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/18/12
Loc: west central MA, U.S.
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: newtoskies]
#5618770 - 01/12/13 10:40 AM
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How are those clouds looking through the scope? Lol .. Sorry couldn't resist
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CJK
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/05/12
Loc: Scenic SE TN
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Re: New Omni XLT 102 - arrived and wow
[Re: Mike4242]
#5618804 - 01/12/13 10:59 AM
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Quote:
Quote:
Be careful as you move the scope that your eyepieces don't fall out. Your OTA will get into weird positions and you will need to adjust your diagonal. Make sure all that stuff is nice and tight.
This is very sage advice. I've almost had a nice 2" EP hit the ground because I didn't have the thumb screws that hold the diagonal tight enough. I swung the scope to an area of sky and the weight of the EP caused the diagonal to rotate and almost fall out. I do wish the scope had compression rings to hold the diagonal in place instead of the thumb screws.
I noticed this immediately on my daughter's ED80. Although I changed to a MoonLite focuser, which does have a compression ring (with 3 thumbscrews!), if I'd kept the original focuser, I'd for sure be using one of these:
Baader Click-Lock
-- Chris
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