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Old 08-03-2013, 09:20 AM
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LewisM
Novichok test rabbit

LewisM is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere in the cosmos...
Posts: 10,389
Vixen vs Skywatcher - a redux

OK, I have been offered a Vixen GP-D2, with all the mods (NOT the GOTO mods, just motors and controller etc).

Keep the following in mind in the answers you may offer me:
1. my rig: Vixen FL102S refractor, with Orion finder guider (mounted on a central rail between rings), and an SXVR-M25C CCD - so, my rig is NOT very heavy at all

2. There will be NO additions to the setup - nothing bigger anyway.

3. My SOLE purpose is astro-imaging - visual is irrelevant, as I can do that with either mount.

In the professional opinion of those here, is the GP-D2 GENERALLY more accurate in terms of PEC, backlash etc than a bog-standard SW NEQ6? (load is REALLY not even a REMOTE issue, so that is not a determining factor)

The GPD2 currently has dual motors fitted, and the handcontroller. If I purchase the motherboard/controllerboard add on, can I then ASCOM/EQMOD the mount just like the NEQ6? Seems to have the same interface ports etc. Will the Vixen motherboard accept an ST4 guider, or will I have to guide via the EQMOD pulse guiding? (more accurate anyway). I do NOT want to go the StarBook way

I cannot have both - would mean selling the NEQ6 to pay for the GPD2.
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