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Old 19-05-2008, 12:35 PM
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JohnH
Member # 159

JohnH is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NSW
Posts: 1,226
Hi Steve, I have a VC200L and WO66 on an SXW mount. I have the Vixen FR and a Canon20D that I use at prime on either scope with a QHY5 (mono) guidecam on the other. This setup works pretty well and is portable, the SXW mount is very good mechanically and the Starbook has evolved into a good unit with support for autoguiding and PEC. Imaging at F9 is in fact doable with this mount but in my case the 0.7" per pixel image scale is wasted effort due to the seeing - so I run with the FR in most of the time.

The main issue I face with the SXW mount is DEC backlash which is large but mostly can be avoided with careful balance and guide software configuaration. I agree with the previous posterd about the newer SXD - I think that mount would be significantly better than the SXW for the load however there seem to be a few issues with the relevant Starbook firmware atm. The SXD seems to need v40 (as does the new Atlux) and this in turn has a few issues, mostly users complain about noise. Vixen also seem to send out these mounts very tight so it may be best to ask your supplier to assemble and adjust and demonstrate the mount before you accept delivery if you go the SXD route.

PM me if you have any questions and have a look at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Vixen_...?yguid=7983213
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