LX200GPS Pickup

[Odlaw]

Hi guys

7 Days untill pick up...

Yes the Kettle is being watched, but it is starting to boil......:D

[Ric]

LOL, wait until the last couple of days thats when time really slows down.
I still go through just waiting for a eyepiece or a book.

cheers

[Omaroo]

LOL!!! I know exactly where you're coming from. I couldn't sleep for the whole week before I picked up mine. I kept looking up LX200GPS reviews, manuals, software, comments, spare parts cattledogs, etc,etc - you name it - just to keep my mind off it.

What size are you going with?

Cheers
Chris

Ric - I know what you mean too. I just lost a night of decent sleep dreaming about the Telrad I picked up this morning. Now I can't wait to leave work so that I can go home and fit it! :)

[Odlaw]

I'm doing that again right now LOL

[Odlaw]

10" from Rodstar

[Omaroo]

You'll love it. Mine is my first real scope, so I have to grow in to it yet.... but even now I'm having a ball :)

Have a few coffees while the kettle's hot! :P

[Ric]

Heres a great story to keep you amused,
the day my scope was due to arrive, it didnt, after a few calls to the telescope shop who were as perplexed as I was worked out that the couriers had stuffed up with there scanning of the boxes. In short the telescope never left Sydney, the box of accessories arrived in Canberra but they didnt deliver because they didnt have the other two boxes and the tripod went to Melbourne.
It was sorted out and put onto priority air express so I got it all the next day. I can laugh now but it was worrying at the time.

cheers

[beren]

:) I waited 14 weeks for my LX200 , drove me banana's. Congrats on the new scope I'm sure you'll love it. BTW something that's not covered in the manual but when your the owner of a "Blue" CAT you tend to get scope groupies hanging around >>>:D

[Omaroo]

Don't you just hate when that happens. They have their own lives.... you reckon they'd leave you alone.

[[1ponders]]

In the words of my wife, Stuart

"you boy, you"
:lol:

[davidpretorius]

I believe we are all little boys!!!

buying scope stuff is like the days before xmas when we were young.

[Ric]

Groupies! what groupies?
no one told me about groupies :confuse2:

[Odlaw]

I can only hopr that they show up here...
Then I hope the wife understands....LOL

Have I got any hope on that?

[iceman]

If they came with Rod's scope, you can be sure he'll be keeping them at home :)

[Rodstar]

Oh, I don't know about that, Mike. For the right price........:evil:

[Ziggy Stardust]

lol mate, enjoy the wait, cause the weight will kill you once you got it..:P

when mine arrived, wife said " don't lift that on your own..." :confuse3:

so I ignored her and :scared: them dam blue-toys are heavy!!!!

Anyways enjoy the toy...

Tony

[Odlaw]

Thanks Ziggy, 5 more sleeps!!!

[Omaroo]

LOL! Same here. I did get it all outside one night by myself. I really thought better of it after that. It's not so much the weight, but the balance.....

Play it safe - make it a 2-person job or put it on a tripod trundle if you have flat access.

[Rodstar]

There is a huge difference between the 10 and the 12 inch Meade LX200 in terms of weight. I cannot find separate figures for just the top half for the 12 inch (ie without the tripod), but the total weight for the 12 inch is 150lbs, whereas the 10 inch is 122lbs, with the heaviest part of the 10 inch weighing only 62lbs.

I have never had a problem setting up the 10 inch LX200 by myself, indeed I have never had or needed anyone to help me, and it can comfortably be carried 50m or so to a suitable observing location.

I have seen some 12" owners really struggling with the weight of theirs, though. One of my considerations in buying the 10" over the 12" was this very issue of portability. You have made a great choice, Odlaw! :thumbsup:

[Odlaw]

I was in the Defence forces for 12 yrs . I have had to carry alot of weight before and use balance at the same time.

The first thing I did when I was looking at your scope was to carry a friends which is a 11" Celestron... I did OK for a first timer...LOL

I should be alright. ( Fingers crossed just in case )

[AstroJunk]

And don't forget to get involved with one of the many Brisbane clubs too - we all get out once or twice a month to do some social observing

[Ric]

One of the best things I ever did was join a club.
The people are great and the knowledge and asistance are invaluable as well as great fun on observing nights

[Omaroo]

Another vote for that! We've just joined the Macarthur Society - a great bunch of people! Lots of knowledge and keen to part with it :)

[Ric]

Chris,
I was passing through your "dark sky area" at Cooma yesterday, had to measure up some new flyscreen for the beach house. I'm not sure which hill as yours LOL but the skys were clear and dark. Some of those hills would be great to stick an observatory on top of. Your going to get some top views and images when you set up.

cheers

[Ziggy Stardust]

I took some time designing a nice scope box on wheels, using the original packing foam.

Works like a charm and I just strap the field tripod on top. This allows me to move it from the vehicle to my viewing spot or from house to garden easer.


heres a few pics


Tony

[Omaroo]

That's the ticket Tony! I'm using the soft Meade bag with the original foam, but the zippers tend to stuff up from time to time. I'd like a solid box like yours with wheels - either small, or large detachable ones. Can I ask where you scored the aluminium box from? It looks great.

Cheers
Chris

[Ziggy Stardust]

I had it built for me.
The chap that did it for me, made custom gun cases, so he was pretty good.

It's allie all the way around, with a re-inforced frame, it's strong... I mean real strong, you can stand two big men on it and it will hold the weight.

I'm actualy considering selling the LX200GPS 12inch, with the giant feild tripod and the carry case, as I have other plans for a new scope at present, so maybe some one want to make an offer,,,;)

Tony

[Omaroo]

Cool Ric! What road were you on? We're on Dry Plains road - 12km out from the Highway towards Adaminaby. The skies are dark aren't they? I can't wait to get a scope up the hill. :thumbsup:

[Odlaw]

What club are you with Astro?

[Ric]

Sorry Chris,
I actually went the other way way down to Bega then Merimbula, but I know the Adaminaby road, been for many a bike ride through the mountains. Kerren's parents used to have a holiday house at Adaminaby as well, she probably knows the area even beter than me. Still the sky was awesome last night when we stopped for a break at Cooma on the way back.

cheers

[AstroJunk]

There are 3 north of the river:

I'm with AAQ who meet at the planetarium on a Saturday www.aaq.org.au (http://www.aaq.org.au)

SEQAS meet at Chermside on a Tues http://www.seqas.org/

BAS meet at Kelvin Grove on a Friday http://www.bas.asn.au

So there is always a group convenient!!!!

(I find it rather bizare and equally stupid that so many exist - what a waste of resources having 5 clubs in Brisbane)

[Odlaw]

I will probably come out and see you guys at the planetarium.

Is Mark and Peter in that group? ( they work at the planetarium )

[AstroJunk]

They pop in with news and special offers from time to time - but they are giving shows whilst the meeting is on (we live in the media room on the left as you enter - which is getting a bit cramped as it only seats about 35!)

[Odlaw]

Just wanted to pass on. 3 days to go....

Getting very excited......

Ready to burst

[[1ponders]]

And don't forget there is the official/unofficial IIS site at Astroron's up near Kenilworth if Brisvegas get too much for you on the weekends ;)

[Omaroo]

Don't you pick this up tomorrow? :D

[Odlaw]

:D :thumbsup: Today is the day....

The kettle has boiled and I'm pouring the water.....

[Omaroo]

When do you pick it up?

[Odlaw]

Meeting RODSTAR AT 6pm

[Odlaw]

I have to drive from Brissy to Port Macquarie.

With Wife and kids in toe...

[Odlaw]

Leaving in 13 Minutes....

[Rodstar]

Successful handover last night in beautiful Port Macquarie.

Hope you get as much pleasure out of her as I have, Peter.

It was great to meet you. Hope the girls did not give you too much grief on the return journey.

Now I have an empty nest.....only 2 months to wait now for my new baby...

[AstroJunk]

Did you have a look at the observatory there? It looks a little run-down now, but it's where I first saw Jupiter and Saturn through a telescope 31 years ago when I was a lad, so I have fond memories!

[Rodstar]

Not this time, Jonathan, but I did in 2003 at the time of Earth's close encounter with Mars. They put on a great talk....lasts about 1 hour. The crowds are too big (there would have been 50+ the night I went) for too much time at the EP, though. Well worth a visit for anyone holidaying up there. I think the talks are on Thursday nights.

[leon]

Hi All

That flash looking scope in that great case that ziggy built should be in my lounge room by Thursday, it leaves WA tomorrow at 11am, as i just bought it from him last friday. ;)

Hope it dosn't attract to much bad weather though :shrug:

Cheers leon

[Odlaw]

Hi Guys

Sorry I did'nt get back to you earlier. We got home at 9:30 last night. My wife kept stopping to look at things...

I will set up tonight, For the first offical Look.

Thanks for the great hand over and transaction Rod.

[1ponders] When is the next night at cambaroon...

[[1ponders]]

Good to hear you got back safely. Sounds like your wife has caught the bug too if she had to keep stopping to look at the scope and tripod.........well what other things are there to look at when you've got a new LX200 :D

Oh! she wanted to look through it. Understand now ;) That's right they don't count as official looks :lol:

Next Cambroon is this coming weekend, so your timing is perfect.

[Ric]

Your going to love your scope, you'll probably be up all night LOL.

cheers