Best way to sell my Equipment ???

[UK1]

Would it better to sell all my equipment in one go, or in parts, and how much do you think it could be worth,........... most are less than a year old, hardly used and some parts never used.

I Have ……

8” Newtonion
ED80
NEQ6 Pro goto mount
Filters 2" + 1.25"
2’ Barlow
3 eyepieces 25mm, 15mm, 9mm 1.25"
Reticle eyepiece
Diagonal eyepiece 1.25"
Telrad
Phillips webcam converted and filter +software
Hub
EQDIR Interface Module
Interface cable
Planisphere
Astronomy year book 2010 by Ken Wallace


thanks
Rob

[erick]

I'd say separately Rob - more work, but you'll sell more of it quickly. I doubt anyone would buy that entire bundle unless you offered it all at a bargain basement price.

And if as new and little used as you say - pitch at around 75-80% of new price.

[UK1]

thanks I'll keep that in mind..... thought it would be good all at once as you have every thing I think you need

[that_guy]

is there a reason for selling these items??

[UK1]

first could not get an alinement on th SCP trees and hills .....
so tried drift still faild more I read the more confused I got as everyone seems to do it diff.... just got so frustrated at it all.. as I said got all the right stuff but just cant get the alinement right no matt how I try

[erick]

Well, not really - you have beginners equipment and it it not likely that a beginner would buy an ED80 and a 8" reflector at the same time?

How about you pack it all in a car, come to Snake Valley Camp for a few nights - there are folks there that will get you sorted!

(ps it won't be me - I still have to learn how to get accurate alignment with an EQ mount :doh: It's a goal of mine for 2010! :thumbsup:)

[Lismore Bloke]

Rather than rush into selling everything, perhaps it might be best to let this post run for a while. There may be an IIS member near you who could offer advice and/or drop in and help out. I know how frustrating alignment on a GEM can be. Cheers, Paul.

[Octane]

Rob,

You don't need to see the South Celestial Pole, at all, to drift align.

You need a star near zenith and meridian, and horizon and meridian.

Once you're shown how to do it and you practise, it becomes a simple pleasure.

H

[TheDecepticon]

Wow, you've certainly got all the gear you need to get you going, it would be a shame to sell it. Are you a member/do you have an astronomy club nearby? That would be the first place to start. Would be a damn shame....:sadeyes:

[madwayne]

I'm with Humuyan and the other posters here. Get some advice or watch how others do it and it will come to you as second nature once you have it nailed a couple of times. I would add the purchase of a good quality compass as you will want to know where 12 degrees East of South is to find the SCP, don't worry that you can't see it.

Of course if you have mind your mind up that this is not for you then Eric's advice is about spot on and I wish you well.

Good luck with your choice, I know which one I would be making and it includes a trip to Snake Valley :).

Wayne

[casstony]

Another alternative might be to offer some of your gear in a trade for a dob or alt/az Go-to scope to enjoy simple visual observing. The dark art of imaging is a good way to raise your blood pressure IMHO :)

[UK1]

I not want to give it away realy as I saved long and hard over a 3 year period on a disabilty pension to get it all ...been one of my dream hobbies for years and years to Photograph the night sky ..as I just love taking Photos.... Snake Valley is a bit too far for me to drive and have to find a motel for the wife ..I dont think there is a club near me ?

[erick]

There are no clubs, but there are a few astrophotographers not too far from you. Let's see if someone pops up with an offer of help?

[Lismore Bloke]

Have you had a look through the clubs list yet?


http://www.iceinspace.com.au/clublistings.html#VIC

[UK1]

Many thanks for all the replies

Still confused weather to carry on and persevere until I get it right without going mad.
Or give it away ( will make wife mad if I do that, ) the money I spent and not achieve what I set out to try and do

[telecasterguru]

Rob,

Think hard about giving astronomy away. It takes patience and also help from people that have been there done that. I read and read and still did not get it.
Eventually I had people from the Astronomical Society of NSW show me the ropes. They were wonderful.

There are also drift alignment simulators on the web that are very good to practice with. You've got the right gear. Hang in there.

Frank

[barx1963]

Rob, don't think you will be able to sell that lot, pack it all up and send it to me!!:P:P

Seiously though, try to get to a club night. Snake Valley next month would be excellent as there are lots of imagers who use the sort of gear you have and will drift align in their sleep!
If there isn't a club near you, join the ASV (Astro Society of Vic) and get involved that way. They have regular nights and I'm sure you will find someone willing to help.

Malcolm

[UK1]

thanks for the reply Frank
have seen them on the net looks easy but when I set scope up eg.... 37d south...145 deg east set compass 13d east of south mount is level
used moon as a target just to see if all is almost near when i slew, but comes up a foot low or high and about 3-4 foot left or right as looking at where it should be pointing as for getting a star to drift too well ..cant hit moon this is when i get frustrated I try all diff settings date time daylight savings all accounted for but still miss by a long way not matter how much I try same results :shrug:

[UK1]

Would it better to sell all my equipment in one go, or in parts, and how much do you think it could be worth........
most are less than a year old, hardly used and some parts never used.
I will give it 6 months more of trying and after that ???????
I think Value could be around the $3000 mark if sold altogether
Would like some views please on price

I Have ……

8” Newtonion
ED80
NEQ6 Pro goto mount
Filters 2" + 1.25"
2’ Barlow
3 eyepieces 25mm, 15mm, 9mm 1.25"
Reticle eyepiece
Diagonal eyepiece 1.25"
Telrad
Phillips webcam converted and filter +software
Hub
EQDIR Interface Module
Interface cable
Planisphere
Astronomy year book 2010 by Ken Wallace


thanks
Rob

[TheDecepticon]

Mate, that is dissappointing to see you ask again. If you really must persisit with the idea of giving Astronomy away, try selling it as a lot first, then split it after a while if you do not get any takers. Try eBay and the classies here, but watch out for the lowballers that will just mess with your head.

Surely there must be some one who is nearby to give you a few pointers. What is your biggest stumbling block? Can we help you with anything else?:question:

[casstony]

More often than not failed alignments result from overlooking some silly little thing - if you put your hand up and ask for help you'll get it on IIS - you just need to get together with another observer or observers. Other options are: to sell for about 70% to 75% of new price; trade down to a simple dob and go visual; trade for a Nexstar 8SE or LX90 - these alt/az goto scopes are extremely easy to use and someone swapping over to imaging would likely trade for your gear.

Whatever you decide Rob, life's too short for regrets so don't worry about mistakes you may have made (we all make them) and forge ahead.

[dannat]

i don't think people would like to comment on second hand value - very subjective & conflict interest..many have diff views on prices..check old classifieds for a guide, treat as a GUIDE only

[UK1]

The fact is I dont want to give it away but if push comes to shove and I cant get the photos or track as I want or get started, the scope will just stay on the floor getting in the way of the wife ,,,,,,,
thanks again
Rob

[Octane]

Instead of lamenting over the possible sale of your gear, why not ask if someone near you is willing to come show you the ropes? Or, attend an astronomy club night, or a star party?

These things have been suggested a number of times, but, it appears as though you're not interested.

75%-85% of new price is typical.

H

[mill]

This is a lost case people.
I offered to help, and helped him before.
Brendan helped him before i believe but that didn't work out :(
I wont go into why, that is what the OP should tell you himself.

[stephenb]

Like many other members here, I browse the IIS Trade section all the time, and my observation is that most, if not all people list the items in one post, but offer them for sale individually.

Without knowing too much about your knowledge Rob, have you progressed from, say binos or a Dobsonian or is this your first setup? If this is your first telescope setup, and you were expecting to start imaging from day one, there is a massive learning curve with imaging, as many here will attest to. Perhaps once you sell your gear, try some visual observing and enjoy the hobby that way.

[TrevorW]

Don't lose sleep over polar alignment and drift alignment

I can't polar align due to a roof line and like you get confused by drift alignment and programs like Alignmaster allways choose stars that are also blocked by my roofline

Three things you need to do

a) make sure mount is level
b) make sure mount accurately set for your latitude
c) make sure mount head pointing as near as possible to true South (about 178 Degrees Sth) not magnetic which is 180 degrees

Then a guide camera and PHD will do the rest

[leinad]

Learning to polar align and drift aligning is like learning collimation on a Newtonian telescope. It will confuse the @#$% out of you at first and make no sense what you are doing.

But once you practice and see the processes involved unfolding, you'll wonder why it was so hard to understand in the first place.
bit like math..

These are good skills of an amateur astronomers arsenal.

I highly recommend requesting assistance in person; either a callout by fellow amatuer astronomer or a visit to your local astro club meet.
It would be a shame to get rid of all that gear.

These are the small hurdles we all face.