I am starting this thread for the reviews and testing results of the new Celestron CGX mount. Looking for input from Australian or other southern hemisphere CGX buyers concerning assembly and setup, alignments, operations, imaging experiences; along with any things to watch out for, and problems/solutions. This will include reviews of the anticipated PWI software due for release early February.
My CGX is currently set up on its tripod in my observatory awaiting a clear night to fire it up and get stuck into polar alignment.
More to come.
Thanks - I will contribute what I can. I am not up to the skill level of most here, but I have a nice selection of scopes to use - 90mm refractor, 7inch MAK Newt, and a 12 inch SCT, which should be getting near the payload limit.
Spent most of the night with the CGX and my 190mm Mak-Newt. Enjoyed the mount - had no issues with the home switches (and I used it a lot) balancing, gotos where very accurate with starsense.
My horror show with PHD guiding continues though even though I was well polar aligned (used the Celestron ASPA, and then sharpcap) and was shooting 80 second unguided images of M42, guiding was a waste of time.
In truth I have NEVER been able to get PHD to work on any of my other mounts (HEQ5,CGEM) either with my Orion short tube 80, or various finder guiders, so this result was not unexpected.
Next step will be to replace the finder guider, cables, and perhaps switch to an OAG.
Was very disappointed and frustrated with guiding, but was happy with the mount.
Tim, try Metaguide first. I had all sorts of problems with PHD2 but when i switched to Metaguide it worked first time on default settings. Metaguide is free.
Tim,
Posting your PHD data on the PHD forum may give some answers.
I'm no expert, but when you do have the mount connected there are lots of Dec (south) corrections - this usually indicates a PA issue.
Ok Dunk, I have a few for you. I have disassembled my old NEQ6 pier cage and installed the CGX on it's tripod in the observatory for preliminary testing. A few of my observations on the setup:
- It's heavy, but a bit easier to manage than the NEQ6 thanks to the two handles.
- The tripod is ok, the tops section is really good but the lower leg extensions seem like they could be made stronger. The graduations on the lower leg are useful for setup on level surfaces, or as a reference.
- Like most mounts the provided bubble level is useless, it did not agree at all with my caravan bubble x/y level.
- Adjustment of Alt and Az is a breeze compared to the NEQ6. Good elevation control.
- Love the screw on locking nut for the power cable, something less to worry about.
- I checked the play in both RA and DEC and there is no slop and move very smoothly.
- What I don't like - there are no setting circles on either axis. Perhaps this is just that I am used to them on the NEQ6, and used them alot. I like having a visual reference for home positon, and it is useful when balancing.
I have attached a few pics.
First light might be tonight, and I will start out with my 115mm refractor, and do a PA using Sharpcap, then star alignment with Nextstar. Probably won't do any serious imaging until I have the new top plate and adaptor for my pier, the observatory floor is strong and I can do some test images but I would need to stay out and run everything from the house via Teamviewer. Besides that tripod takes up alot of room.
Please so far.
Tim,
Posting your PHD data on the PHD forum may give some answers.
I'm no expert, but when you do have the mount connected there are lots of Dec (south) corrections - this usually indicates a PA issue.
Ok, here is the strange thing - I polar aligned with the All star routine, and then used Sharpcap 2.9's polar alignment routine. When I run PHD2's guiding assistant, it told me my polar alignment was WAY off. Given I was able to do 1 minute unguided exposures tells me it was wrong.
Tim, try Metaguide first. I had all sorts of problems with PHD2 but when i switched to Metaguide it worked first time on default settings. Metaguide is free.
I am looking at it now. Looks like a busy interface, but if it works, then I dont care Clouds are starting to come in now, but fingers crossed I can be victorious tonight
Hi y'all - I took the plastic covers off the drives in the CGX, and I can see that in the DEC axis there is a slight wobble in the gear on the motor - it doesn't seem to translate into any wobbling on the gear on the worm because of the belt I guess. My feeling is that this is really just cosmetic. I don't really see how this could cause issues, but do you think it is worth maybe taking the belt off and fixing it? RA is not perfect either, but much less obvious.
Hi y'all - I took the plastic covers off the drives in the CGX, and I can see that in the DEC axis there is a slight wobble in the gear on the motor - it doesn't seem to translate into any wobbling on the gear on the worm because of the belt I guess. My feeling is that this is really just cosmetic. I don't really see how this could cause issues, but do you think it is worth maybe taking the belt off and fixing it? RA is not perfect either, but much less obvious.
Kind of nickpicking I guess.
Tim if you watch the Celestron video posted online on the website and on CN, you may see the same apparent wobble on the drive sprocket. At the time i first saw it i assumed it was the flat spot on the shaft that is used to lock the sprocket on the shaft with a grub screw, and as it rotates under power it gives the illusion of a wobble.
I would not touch the belt drive if i were you, as you could potentially create warranty issues, if in doubt ring Bintel and report it, or raise a ticket with Celestron Support. I have not taken the plastic cover off the belt drive area so i have not seen it, not sure i want to as my mount is working fine.
Tim if you watch the Celestron video posted online on the website and on CN, you may see the same apparent wobble on the drive sprocket. At the time i first saw it i assumed it was the flat spot on the shaft that is used to lock the sprocket on the shaft with a grub screw, and as it rotates under power it gives the illusion of a wobble.
I would not touch the belt drive if i were you, as you could potentially create warranty issues, if in doubt ring Bintel and report it, or raise a ticket with Celestron Support. I have not taken the plastic cover off the belt drive area so i have not seen it, not sure i want to as my mount is working fine.
Mine is working fine as well - Another clearish night in Melbourne, so hopefully I can sort my guiding. I will use the short tube 80, and I will give metaguide a go.
Had much much better results tonight with the short tube 80 Only thing that mucked be up a bit was that I couldn't get the sharpcap polar alignment routine working with the shorttube 80 - presumably there is too much focal length. I am finding the ASPA combined with the freakishly good goto's of starsense is getting me about 4-5 arc minutes close to PA, which seemed good enough. Had a try of metaguide - not bad. I dont like the fact that you have to center the star to do calibration. That was pretty annoying.
With Sharpcap PA you need a 2 degree field of view. I have no problem running it using my imaging camera on my 115mm f5.5 refractor. It does need about 15 stars to solve.
I have got mine pretty close tonight (PA that is), at a little less than 1' off the SCP, before the cloud stopped me again. The benefits of having an observatory, its all sitting there when i get back to it
Re Metaguide, geez if centering a guide star annoys you use PHD.
IMHO the guide port and PC port really should be on the other side (the east side), or the rear. The rear mounted controller and power connections are ok location wise but too close together and the hand controller cable has no stress relief on that little RJ (and the locking plastic tab is on the bottom - it should be on the top in that placement to stop rotation away from the contacts) and requires an immeadiate 90 degree bend to get down to the controller holder and the coiled cable exerts a pull, and the power cable falls over it. That RJ seems like an eventual failure point and the cable itself cannot be changed separately (as it can on the NEQ6) as it goes inside the controller.
even though I was well polar aligned (used the Celestron ASPA, and then sharpcap) and was shooting 80 second unguided images of M42, guiding was a waste of time. 
Clouds are starting to come in now, but fingers crossed I can be victorious tonight 
