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Okay well here is an update that I am very pleased to give to BinTel, cause I called them to ask two questions (how long is the USB cord on a DSI and is the SCP 13 degrees East of West of Magnetic South).
Its East of Magnetic South they stress, and if you wish to check, well tomorrow is the Solstice - so at midday drop a plumline to get a shadow running true North South!
Anyway we go on to chatting and eventually Don said oh its you, the guy that had the bad experience. Well we talked it through and how frustrated I was by it, and how a friend in my office had exactly the same experience and it was very cordial and helpful! Stress that last word, no aminosity, and very, very helpful.
It was what I was waiting for, cause as I said I have bought stuff from them in the past, I want to buy more, I want mutual respect in the dealings. Well I got (and gave it) in spades today and was very pleased by the encounter.
As an added bonus to a few e-mails Don's sent me on stuff I'm interested, he mentioned he'd worked as a tech for Celestron in his 40 years in the field (everyone probably knows my CG5 Goto hassles at the moment). Well Don very kindly confirmed a few suspicions folk had:
1. The internal clock doesn't progress the time you enter at set-up until 3 star alignment is finished! So if it takes you 20 - 40 minutes as a newbie then you'll have that order of magnitude of errors creep in.
2. Yes the clock alone in GPS module somehow corrects this timing error!
3. Its not abnormal for your first star in the alignment to be up to 60 degrees out of position.
4. Suggested using a high power eye piece, so I'll switch from a 22mm very die angle to my 12mm illuminated reticle I use for drift alignment.
Don also went on to say the store does get very busy at times, and being astronomers they like me see quite a spread of late nights! So there are great times and less great times to catch them, but that they always try and judge someones level and address them at a competency level they can absorb and understand. Here I suggested present the journey they are likely to experience in their first 5 years and the investment steps and viewing experiences they are likely to desire, rather than abruptly steer them away from disasters by fear of waster investments or massive outlays that don't integate to achieve their outcomes.
It was a great exchange of ideas, values and experiences as an improving amateur astronomer and a long term expert and supplier; cause we both have common goals and interests.
So I view this as a new and very pleasing restart of my relationship with BinTel and look forward to many more interactions now!
PS
They informed me after their move to new premise (next to fish markets with some of the best and freshest Sashima and Sushi in Sydney) they intend to run evening workshops and learning sessions on the roof of their new premise - digital imaging, drift alignment, basics to advanced session. Something I'll be sure to attend and learn from and one more evidence of the hard work they put into to making Astronomy fun and accessible for us!
So well done Don and BinTel, I'm pleased things turned this way!
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