Your most capable GEM

[Ian Robinson]

If you have more than one , just say what your flagship GEM is .

Mine is a Vixen New Atlux.

[Bassnut (Fred)]

Hehe, no brainer. PME. Does what its told to, always . Mind you, with some TLC, the G11 kicks butt when it feels like it .

[Tandum (Robin)]

paramount ME

[Irish stargazer (John)]

CGE mount is pretty portable and can take a bit of weight

[Tandum (Robin)]

Who mentioned portable?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Looked at a bunch, including the Atlux and EM200, but the G11 came out on top for my needs. The availability of the Ovision replacement worm did it for me - I know of three installations of this unit and each mounts has a measured PE of less than 5, and typically 3 arc seconds peak to peak. That's top-end performance for reasonable money - about the same as the Atlux but without the inappropriate price tag. I much prefer the clutch system on this mount to the others too - but that's just personal preference. Tripod is second to none in stiffness in this size range.

[Lester]

Goliath is old, but with 14" Thomas Matthis RA drive can take 2 minute unguided images with 14"SCT at f6.3 . Has 2" solid steel shaft on both axis.

Will be replaced soon with Titan mount.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

G11 for me. Chris where did you get the new worm from?

[g__day (Matthew)]

Atlux for me on a SkySensor2000-PC V2.10 - carries 3 OTAs, points within a arc minute, PEC gives about +/- 2 arc secs and I've taken up to 10 minute shots unguided at 2.3 metre focal length - round stars (at best).

Its not in the class of a PME or AP900 or above - but I love it!

For those with PMEs a question - have you tried ProTrack and is it any good? Secondly have you tried it on a non PME mount - or is it coded not to improve other mounts?

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

G11 for me. Chris where did you get the new worm from?

I haven't bought one yet Paul - but will be doing so soon. Here's the site:

http://www.ovision.com/Losmandy_Pres...S_english.html

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Ta Chris

[AlexN]

currently in deep saving for either a Losmandy Titan or AP900GTO... the EQ6 in the meantime is my flagship (a little kiddy toy in comparison) It will be kept as the portable setup, however I dont think I'll ever punish it with the weight of the C11 + imaging accessories once the new mount is purchased.

[Doomsayer]

Very happy with my Paramount ME. Close to perfection for an observatory system. No experience with protrack - nor any need for it at this stage.

[Ian Robinson]

Wow - some serious GEMs out there , it's an expensive hobby but beats the g-g's , the pokeys , bad women , booze and drugs so worth it if you have a supportive spouse and some money or can save it up.

Can be portable or fixed .... mine is on a tripod at present , but will soon have a permanent pier in the backyard for it go onto (but only when I am using it .... too many thieves about for it live in the backyard until I build an observing shed with a roll-off roof or removeable roof to go around it).

Now if only "nutz" doesn't start with the backlight on all night thing again.