Wanted - GOTO mount for 80mm refractor

[Omaroo]

Hey there all :)

I've just bought ezystyle's Meade 80mmf/11 refractor to use as a guide scope for me, but would like to get my wife to use it as her scope when its not piggybacked to mine. I'd like to buy an Autostar-controlled mount on tripod or similar if anyone has one at the right price.....

Cheers
Chris

[ballaratdragons]

Chris, you sound like you are after what I am after.

An EQ mount with GoTo to carry an ED80.

I hope you find one cheap 2nd hand. I've got my eyes open too, but failing that, I am seriously considering the new CG-5GT GoTo mount.

[Omaroo]

Ken - aren't they a couple of grand? I'm hoping to get one for a few hundred if I can. The OTA was only $100! Maybe one of the Andrews Comms Chinese copies for about $300 might be the go, and then get GOTO later..... hmmm....

[ballaratdragons]

Chris,

the $300 ones from Andrews will do for Visual observing. The scope you mention is quite long and a smaller mount will wobble more with long scopes.

I currently use an EQ1 for my ED80 and that is pushing every boundary!! I cannot get good astrophotography results with this set up, that's why I need to upgrade.

If you only want the mount for visual use, not astrophotography, then it should be reasonable.

I notice that Andrews has an EQ5 without motor drive for only $399.
Or same with Steel legs for $499.

That would be plenty heavy enough to take your scope. R.A. Drives for the same mount are $200.
Or R.A. & Dec drive for $279

That makes for a very good mount at low cost.

Through my investigations lately, it appears that there is no GoTo for these mounts unless you customise some other GoTo to fit and work.

The CG-5GT is $1249. Lots of dollars, but for Astrophotography it will be good.

If you aren't too worried about shakes and wobbles then he has an EQ3 with aluminium legs for $299. You can fit the motors to this one too. But probably not wise to go below that size due to the length of your scope.

[Karls48]

If you can find second hand Tasco Starguide or original Celestron Next Star GT, they are cheap and reasonable Go To mounts for small wide field scopes. I got Tasco Starguide 60 from eBay for $125 and I modified it for using it with Celeston 102mm refractor. There is one easy modification to make it work with Celestron’s NextRemote software at http://www.dd1us.de/Downloads/remote%20controlling%20the%20nexsta rs%201_0.pdf (http://www.dd1us.de/Downloads/remote%20controlling%20the%20nexsta rs%201_0.pdf) . It fixes lots of original bugs and improves Go To accuracy.

[joe_smith]

something like this mount?

[Omaroo]

Uhmm... yup! :)

[Omaroo]

Thanks Ken.

It won't ever be used for astrophotography unless it's piggybacked at the time off my 12". It's more for my wife to use just so that she doesn't get bored sitting there with nothing to do on astro nights.

I'll look into your suggestions! Thanks!

[Omaroo]

Thanks Karl. I found one on eBay, but not motorised. I'll keep looking though!

Cheers
Chris

[GrampianStars]

I use a GP-DX with SkySensor 2002
same as here http://www.wodaski.com/wodaski/review_GP_DX.htm

You won't find a better mount IMO

[netwolf]

Ken, as i posted in your EQ5 thread, there is a Goto upgrade being offered by Orion for the SVP mount which i think is the same as a Eq5. The upgrade is basically a Syncan handcontroller like the EQ6 with good stepper motors to add to the mount.

Regards

[Karls48]

Joe_Smith, yes that's the one. First version of this mount. Tasco Starguide and Celestron are same mount. It needs bit of mods but now it will keep star in view for hour or so. I can even do some short exposure imagining( about 10 sec) and stack the images.

[joe_smith]

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Meade-Dual-Axis-Goto-Telescope-Mount-Tripod-494_W0QQitemZ250030704651QQihZ015QQ categoryZ29954QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewI tem

Found this one on ebay I have got stuff from there and he is pretty good :)

only AU $134.45 with buy it now.

[ballaratdragons]

I saw that too Joe!

I emailed him and asked a few questions. $82 freight usps airmail to Oz. The hand paddle is a 494 which is the one which can't be flash upgraded.

But for someone wanting a cheap light GoTo it's excellent.

[Omaroo]

Thanks fellas :) It's just what I'm looking for so that Jenny can join in too.

Ken - was that A$82 or US$82 for freight?

[ballaratdragons]

Chris, they didn't exactly say which! But my guess would be US as that's where the email came from. :shrug: