My new G11 arrived today, I have few questions...

[White Rabbit]

First off can I just get this off my chest?

YYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAA A!!!!!!!

I've been wanting one of these for freaking years. It's a bit bitter sweet for me as its arrived on the first anniversary of my mums passing. So today has been a bit of a roller coaster emotionally speaking.

Anyway, I get home and take it out of the box, no manual, nothing,zip. Just a few boxes, a mount, a few bags of assorted nuts and bolts and one set of Allen keys.

Ok this shouldn't be that hard I've doing this astronomy thing for quite a few years now, I know what all the bits on a telescope mount are, I can figure this out. Ha, I'll be buggered if I can figure out how to secure the motors to the mount. Do they get screws in? There is a bag with four screws and an Allen key but they don't want to screw into the holes. Well not with out screwing them in pretty hard.

Should I remove the housing on the mount where the motors go then slip the housing over the motor, screw the motor in place then re attach the housing to the mount?

I'm sure ill have a few more questions before the end of the night.

Thanks

[White Rabbit]

I should point out that I downloaded the manual from the web but it makes no mention of attaching the motors.

Cheers

[White Rabbit]

Never mind, got it. I was correct except you don't need to take the housing off. It's just really awkward.

[LewisM]

Where did you purchase, and how much? It is my dream too...

[Poita (Peter)]

Which model G11 did you get?

The quality can vary quite a bit, after you have been imaging a while you will find you will want to upgrade the worm if you haven't already, the stock G11 is basically useless for long FL. Also check the flatness of the clutch plate, mine needed to be machined.

Good luck with the new toy, it can be made into a decent mount with some work, and that tripod could hold hubble

[Octane (Humayun)]

Congratulations, Sandy.

They're well-built beasties.

H

[White Rabbit]

Thanks guys.

I set it up in the dining room and compared to my HEQ5 the tripod is freaking huge. Its quite an imposing figure.

Looking forward to getting it out under clear skies.

Cheers.

[scagman (John)]

Congrates on your new toy.
Yes the lack of a manual is a bit annoying but I have found this site http://www.gemini-2.com/ to be very usefull. Also the gemini Yahoo group.

Cheers

[icytailmark (Mark)]

its all about getting out there and learning by yourself. I had no idea what to do. I went from a 12 inch dob to a c14 on a G11 and it was a huge learning curve and im still learning after 2 years. Keep getting your scope out as much as you can. Try new things read up on http://www.gemini-2.com/

You have to be Patient with astronomy. Its a long road.