20 replies to this topic

[HardCopy]

Has anyone purchased or had any experience with R-Sky Astronomy Instruments products?

 

I'm shopping around for dew prevention straps and such and this company came across my radar.

[FlankerOneTwo]

I have purchased an observing hood and dew heaters / dual channel controller from them. All appear to be of good quality, although admittedly I have not needed to use the dew straps yet (pretty dry around here in Vegas). Had good communication and tracking info from company by email.

Be aware, they are located in Russian Federation, shipping to states does take a while.

[havasman]

I have 3 of their controllers and several of their heater straps including a Telrad heater, large ep heater strap and some others. They all work very well. I recommend their gear a lot and think it top rank at favorable prices. And they are nice folks.

[HardCopy]

Thanks for the replies.  I think I will give them a try.  The finder scope heating pads look very promising.

[amzking]

I have purchased their dew heaters and a controller.  They are nothing fancy but they get the job done.  Roman was responsive and communicated every step of the way.  Expect your package to languish in customs in New York for a few days. And don't get freaked out when your PayPal dollars are converted to rubles, LOL.

[HardCopy]

amzking, on 14 Nov 2018 - 5:32 PM, said:

I have purchased their dew heaters and a controller.  They are nothing fancy but they get the job done.  Roman was responsive and communicated every step of the way.  Expect your package to languish in customs in New York for a few days. And don't get freaked out when your PayPal dollars are converted to rubles, LOL.

Thanks for the heads up.  With 2018 being such a dismal observing year, I'm investing in some dew gear for all of my equipment.  Everything priced out is about $400.  It's cheaper than the competitors.  I just want to make sure the quality is there.

I'll probably hold off to see what holiday specials they offer.  Past offers include 10% off heater straps on Black Friday and past May Birthday specials included 25% off everything.  It's worth the wait.

[csa/montana]

Moved to Equipment Forum for better fit of topic.

[StevenYood]

I, too, have purchased dew heaters and hoods from R-Sky. The gear is first rate and shipping and communications were all that I could ask for. IMO it’s a top quality outfit. Order with confidence.

[Old Rookie]

I purchased their controller, temp probe, 2" & 1.25" heater and secondary heater this past January for my three strut dob.  It has open optics and dew is an issue at my observing area.  I used this stuff all year and wasn't shut down once for dew.  The equipment was flawless - good stuff.

 

If you have specific requirements for cable length, send Roman a note be fore ordering.  I ordered mine while I was building my dob.  After he sent the parts, I found that I could have had the eyepiece cables lengthened.  This would have allowed me to hide the controller in the rocker box.  On another note, shipping to Ohio took about a month but since this was in December/January, it wasn't a deal for me.

[vkhastro1]

Purchased several well made observing hoods. Great products. Excellent communication and fast shipping.

Definitely highly recommended !

[Cfreerksen]

So glad to hear all of the good feedback. My setup is on its way. Roman has been very responsive in email to questions.

 

Chris

[Cleric670]

I have a question about ordering through r-sky. Their website says "after sending the order we send an invoice to your email via paypal".

 

I received the invoice email, I see no prompt to actually PAY through paypal though.

 

What am I missing?

[junomike]

I have a question about ordering through r-sky. Their website says "after sending the order we send an invoice to your email via paypal".

 

I received the invoice email, I see no prompt to actually PAY through paypal though.

 

What am I missing?

My invoice had the price listed with a "Click here and pay" box which took me to Paypal.

Everything about my transaction was excellent and no different then dealing with any other Vendor.

[Mike G.]

Mine was the same - emailed invoice with link to PP.  very easy to deal with these folks and stuff I have purchased from them has been well made.

[kevinbreen]

Hi. I ordered from their website ($158) and got an email from rbakay@gmail.com saying I can't pay via PayPal. I was expecting a @RSKY .COM email address, at the very least. Is this trustworthy??

[skybsd]

Hi. I ordered from their website ($158) and got an email from rbakay@gmail.com saying I can't pay via PayPal. I was expecting a @RSKY .COM email address, at the very least. Is this trustworthy??

rbakay@gmail.com

Is indeed Roman's email address and the same as that which he told me to use for PayPal payment and what he used during comms with me throughout my purchase of two observing vests last year.., 

 

Hope this helps.., 

 

skybsd 

[havasman]

I've dealt with them 5 or 6 times w/o any problems at all. They were all paypal transactions. Perhaps their funds transfer method is changed but I'd still expect them to be doing good business honestly. You should ask Roman how he wants to be paid. If it's comfortable for you, I'd say go for it.

 

They know we all talk to each other about our suppliers. The danger to their business from failing to execute a transaction successfully is drastic. Their motivation is to service the customer. To do otherwise could easily be fatal to their business.

[kevinbreen]

 

Thanks very much folks.
If I could ask another question. My secondary is 88mm across the minor axis and its bracket is 60mm. It looks like there isn't a split heater that will fit it. I'm now looking for a wrap-around heater instead, to wrap around the stalk. Trouble is my stalk has gaps in it, which you can see in the pic. Roman says a wrap around isn't very suitable but some clients have found them effective on these hollowed out stalks, although they're not as efficient. However it seems to be the only option I have. I'm thinking about scrunching up tinfoil (aluminum foil) to cylinder-ize the stalk to conduct the heat to the mirror..  am I overthinking this? Do you think it would work?

 

 

[Linwood]

He's apparently having some issues with paypal.  I just bought some dew strips, and the payment through his bank was a bit frightening looking, but the bank was real, and I've bought from him before, so I went ahead.  We chatted a bit via email about it.  I think he intends to get back on paypal.

 

You can ask for alternatives, but I used a credit card (in the US that offers you a lot of legal protection, vs debit).  They (Mastercard) initially flagged it as fraud, I OK'd, it, they made me jump through an additional validation with a text message and accepted it, and the package is now in transit.

 

He has good stuff -- he's the only one I know of that has "big" strips for larger SCT's (i.e. higher amperage not just longer, since in high dew even at full power standard strips might not keep the center clear). 

 

He's also the only one I know who will customize, e.g. I ordered a set once with 5.5/2.1 connectors instead of RCA, and this last set were with shorter RCA cables.   Shipping does take a bit of time, but you get a tracking number (takes maybe 4-5 days to start getting status). 

 

I think he's got a bad situation with how you pay now, and would not fault someone for waiting for a more conventional technique. But I it's OK, especially with a credit card.  Just be prepared for the CC company to initially reject it and have to do it again.

[kevinbreen]

Thanks very much. I contacted them on FB to verify them actually. Yeah, seems very conscientious alright. I saw those extra thick sct strips, will order one for my c11. Happy days, cheers!

[Linwood]

For reference, I ordered four dew strips on 8/24/2021 ship to SW Florida, USA; it was a custom length cable for each.  He shipped on 8/27, and it arrived on 9/7/2021 about 2 weeks from order delivered by USPS (and a holiday in there). 

 

And of course got exactly what I ordered.

 

So it's not nearly as bad of a wait as you might think coming from Russia to the US.   Though that might vary depending on how the USPS is feeling, I've had stuff sit in customs in Miami for about a month.  Fortunately this came through NYC which seemed much faster, though i wonder if it isn't random.

 

So yes, definitely recommend R-Sky.