Vixen SXP mount

[radinsky41 (Rado)]

Hi everyone.

Is there anyone using new Vixen SXP mount with Starbook Ten?

If yes, do you mind give your feedback?

They are not many reviews about this mount on internet.

Thanks

Rado

[Profiler (Profiler)]

Hi Rado

Unfortunately I can't give you any firsthand experience with the SXP although I have studied them for some time. My general impression of the limited literature and price has been great mount but very expensive. Consequently, for a relatively small light weight mount at this high price folks start to think about a AP Mach 1. When it comes to such a comparison the AP wins.

I think this might be why the SXD2 came along to give performance almost as good as the SXP but hack the price down so it isn't getting to close to the Mach 1

[issdaol (Phil)]

Originally Posted by Profiler

Hi Rado

Unfortunately I can't give you any firsthand experience with the SXP although I have studied them for some time. My general impression of the limited literature and price has been great mount but very expensive. Consequently, for a relatively small light weight mount at this high price folks start to think about a AP Mach 1. When it comes to such a comparison the AP wins.

I think this might be why the SXD2 came along to give performance almost as good as the SXP but hack the price down so it isn't getting to close to the Mach 1

I am in the same boat with no direct experience however -

I have been looking at both for a long time now to purchase myself for a another mount.

The AP Mach1 looks like a fantastic mount and everything I have read suggests it is great but it is actually twice the price of the Vixen mount.

Vixen owners I have spoken too also say good things about the Vixen mount.

The Mach1 is rated for 20kg payload and the Vixen is rated for 16kg payload so that could be a deciding factor if your payload is close to 16kg or a bit over.

One unique thing about the Vixen and starbook is that it can be used in a Alt-Az Goto mode which I don't think the Mach1 can do.

So from a usability perspective if I want to setup quickly for visual without needing to polar align the Vixen looks good especially for a reliable Japanese manufactured mount at half the price.

[Profiler (Profiler)]

What I was trying to convey is that, in a nutshell, the SXP can be viewed as a 'small' (relatively speaking) high quality mount.

If you happen to be in this quite small market niche of being prepared to spend roughly $5k on what is in the smallish range of mounts (ie size) my impression of the market is that many folks will think if they are prepared to spend $5k on a Vixen then they might as well go the whole hog and spend a bit extra and get a small Tak mount or ideally the Mach 1.

You need to keep in mind that the SXP came out roughly 3 years ago and was meant to supercede the original SXD. Unfortunately, due to the reasons I have previously mentioned it didn't look like it was working out for Vixen and hence they downscaled the innovations in the SXP into the SXD2 about a year ago. With these nips and tucks in the build they have improved/lowered the price substantially from the SXP and to my understanding a lot more people have now bought SXD2s and it has received a few very favourable reviews. Thus, they solved the main problem of producing a quality Vixen mount which has shifted it out of the price bracket where it has to compete with Tak and AP.

Finally, I don't want discourage anyone from Vixen mounts as I am actually a happy Sphinx owner for many years and hence why I have followed their mounts closely in the context of upgrading to one of these for myself

[Strawb (Dave)]

And so far I am impressed. A software polar align function a la syntax would be a bonus ( at least if it is in the Starbook I cant find it yet) The mount is pristine and oh so smooth to operate. I'm looking forward to man hours with this carrying either the AX103S or the NA140.

I did try the VMC260L on it and it was fine for visual but I don't think it will cut it imaging wise once loaded up with camera and guiding tools.

[rrussell1962]

Rado, I have an SXP and am very happy indeed with it.

What I like:-

1. Relatively light, can be lifted and easily moved outside in one trip including counterweights attached. Only needs one counterweight to balance my Tak TSA120 because the motors sit below the RA axis.

2. Solid and seems well made. Tracks well.

3. Can do up to 20 alignment points over the whole sky, go to very accurate. Puts almost every object in the middle third of the FOV at around x120.

4. I like using Starbook Ten, although others may not.

5. Set the max slew speed to x800 sidereal and it is whisper quiet.

What I don't like:-

1. The advertising and manual states that Starbook Ten has umpteen SAO stars built in, it certainly has but there is no menu option to search by SAO number, only by Bayer designation within a specific constellation via the object menu.

2. Object menus are a bit limited, i.e. no double star or tour option.

3. Lack of serial port if you want to use it with Sky Safari etc. But very simple to buy a cheap battery powered travel router and connect it to the LAN port, which is what I ended up doing.

4. If you buy it as a stand alone mount (i.e. not as part of a vixen mount and telescope set) it does not come with a dovetail block, you will also need to purchase one. I just got the Vixen one for simplicity and because the paint matches! but one that also accepts Losmandy type rails would be good.

5. To some extent longevity and repairability if needed is still an open question.

Lack of a polar alignment routine in Starbook Ten is not really an issue for me, for visual it's not necessary and in any case I find it just as quick to do a quick drift align when needed. Just on that subject though, the first time I decided to do a drift align with the SXP I changed the mount type from Unaligned Eq to Polar aligned Eq half way through the evening. It took me a few moments to realise that doing this turned off both the Dec and RA tracking, you also need to turn the "Follow Object" option back on after changing the mount type.

The moon map, which the manual devotes several pages to, is a fun toy but not really of much practical use. But fun to mess around with nonetheless.

irrespective of the few points above it will do me for the foreseeable future. If you want to discuss the mount in detail PM me your phone number and I will give you a call.