16" GSO Dob NOT available....yet

[Astroman]

HI Guys,

Just thought I would let you know that the 16" GSO Dobsonian prototype has just been completed, the actual commercial telescope according to Lee Andrews would not be available in Australia for at least 6 months. :scared:

Bad news for those waiting for it's release in March, but good for those that want a little more time to think about the purchase or want to save up for eyepieces aswell.

:(

[mick pinner]

they will not be commercially available ever, copyright and design ownership issues.

[Astroman]

Well I am only going by what Lee Andrews has told me, I havent seen anything about copyrights or design issues anywhere, so thats all I have to go on right now.

[Miaplacidus]

Meade stopped listing the 16 inch Lightbridge less than 24 hours after they first advertized them on their web site, and that was months ago now. NO ONE ought to be surprised that the 16 inch GSO dobs aren't here yet. Nonetheless, I find it hard to believe that any vendor planning to import 100+ units couldn't have figured this out as early as Meade did.

Which raises a fairly obvious question...

[Adrian-H]

was looking at that signature mick. wisdom is to answer why

[gaa_ian]

Oh Bugger :( , I am not waiting another 6 months if I can help it.
I have already started getting quotes else where.
I have started with John Connerly, (Truss tube Dob maker)
Any other ideas for Aussie, large Aperture scope makers ?

[Starkler]

John Connelly didnt answer my email , Id be interested to know how it goes Ian.

[brightstar]

Guan Sheng advise that the 16" Dobs and Truss Tubes should be available May/June however, no pricing is yet available. Lee Andrews jumped the gun and upset Guan Sheng.

[ving]

I spoke to andrews the other day. no confirmed date yet for either the 16" dob or the televue EPs! he couldnt even tell me what TV EPS he was getting :(

[iceman]

Hi brightstar, :welcome: to the forum.

Very interesting news - where did you hear it?

The lightbridge look fantastic but at a max of 12" it's not enough jump in aperture for me. The 16" truss would definitely be my next scope purchase, I reckon.. as long as I can hook servocat up to it, or get an EQ platform under it.

[davidpretorius]

chatting to bintel when i was in melbourne and they reckon it should lend itself for me to transfer my dob driver, so i can only assume the servo cat can be adapted.

[brightstar]

The info on the GS 16" Dobs and Truss tubes is direct from Jim Sheng at Guan Sheng. He does not have cost or a confirmed release date at this stage but he is confident that they will be released May/June.

[gaa_ian]

Released by who, that is the interesting question ?

[janoskiss]

In email today from Lee: "I hope to see the 10", 12" & 16" GSO truss-tube Dobs by the end of the year."

Note the key words: "hope" and "end of year". :confuse3: I'm grabbing a 12" now me thinks.

[gaa_ian]

Good Plan Steve, I am still looking for a suitable 16" Dob.

[cometcatcher]

A 16 will slay a 12. Keep saving for the 16 I reckon.

Wouldn't mind one meself. My present 16 being all solid is too heavy to use.

[gaa_ian]

Hey Kevin
Do you have one of the Meade solid tube 16" dobs ?

[cometcatcher]

No mate it's 100% scratch built f5.4 job with the tube made from colourbond and plywood. Next time I think I'll use balsa wood Lol.

[gaa_ian]

WOW it must weigh a ton :scared:
Have you posted a PIC anywhere on the forum ?

[ving]

this news (for the most part) has been around for a while... when did you hear about it? (just so we know if its an update from what we already know)
oh and welcome aboard :)

mick: any documentation relating to the 16" not happening dues to "copyright issuses"? :)

[janoskiss]

Lee said he got his info directly from Jim Sheng too. So, I would not hold my breath. Maybe Christmas, maybe next year, maybe never... :shrug:

"copyright issues": what a ridiculous excuse! :mad2: What copyright?! It's a bloomin Dob! :P

[cometcatcher]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=65&page=2 post #28.

Yeah it weighs a ton. Was on wheels too. It's in poor shape these days and needs an overhaul. I should scap the old tube and make a truss for it.... one year.

[mick pinner]

l was told as a bit of insider information Ving, l would get in trouble from certain circles re: bagging a certain astro supplier, if l said what l thought was really going on.

[ving]

well if you tell me in a PM then its not out in the public forum ;)

[brightstar]

Hi David,

The information from Jim Sheng is 1 month old.