Losmandy G11 with G2

TrevorW · #1 13-02-2011, 10:25 AM

Honest opinions sort

who has a G11 and what do they think of them (please I don't want any non G11 owners putting their 2 bobs worth in and suggesting other mounts)

will the latest mount have improved worm gears or will I need to upgrade those at additional expense

I've got $5000 to spend on a mount and I can't really justify at this point in my life spending $10k on an MX or AP mount

Thanks

icytailmark (Mark) · #2 13-02-2011, 10:45 AM

im in the same boat im thinking about buying the g11 with the new gemini 2 system.

JohnG (John) · #3 13-02-2011, 11:14 AM

As the owner of a G-11 and the previous owner of a G-11 and GM-8, I feel that for the money they are an excellent intermediate mount, now one could argue that they do need a bit of tweaking here and there, they do. The beauty of this is that they are easy to field strip and do any maintenance, the parts simply unscrew and slide apart. One will need to learn how to adjust the worm to get a decent accuracy although to counter that, the G-11 I have worked well straight out of the box (now sold). The mount is already fitted with the high precision worm and, providing the PE is not jumpy, can be guided out quite sucessfully. Alternatives are getting the new Losmandy one piece worm block or the Ovision block.

As far as the Gemini is concerned, I am used to the Gemini Level 4, all new G-11's will come with the new Gemini 2, I am unable to comment on that although the specs look good. If it is anything like the original Gemini it will have a learning curve although once you have mastered that it is easy to use and your actions become automatic and the pointing is very accurate. Interface with a PC or Laptop is simple via an RS232 cable, I sucessfully use a Serial to USB to connect to my Laptop using Win 7. Autoguiding is simply Plug and Play using the On Camera guiding from PHD, interface with an SBIG camera is the same although with the older Gemini you do need the SBIG Relay Box, ASCOM drivers are freely available. Automatic location and time updating can be done using a StarGPS to save you inputting Lat/Long/UTC formats manually.

When ordering the G-11 you can specify if you want the HD tripod or not, just the mount head or just the mount head with the Digital Drive. Up to you.

They are a heavy mount and built like the proverbial, it is next to impossible to destroy one. The one thing that I do find unsatisfactory is the placement of the motors and gearbox, they do stick out a bit and are exposed to a knock which can damage them during transport, this is even more so when fitted with the Maxon heavy duty motors as they are slightly longer than the standard servos. Another thing with the mount is that the cables are all exposed, something that one works around although I do find it a bit of a pain. The HD tripod has got to one of the best in the business.

All that said, I have now moved on to a Takahashi EM-200 for my portable mount.

As I said earlier, IMO, for the money, it is an excellent intermediate mount and will give many years of great service.

Cheers

mithrandir (Andrew) · #4 13-02-2011, 12:44 PM

I'm still in the learning phase of my G11+Gemini (bought 2nd hand and in very good nick), but it leaves my previous mount for dead in just about all aspects.

For a portable mount I don't like that it only allows you to use its BSC subset to do initial aligns. It means you can't do much before sunset.

The old one would let you align on Solar System objects including the Sun and Moon, which was enough to confirm you had the mount pointed in close to the right direction.

As long as my G1 isn't broken, I don't see I'll upgrade to a G2 any time soon.

Johns comment about motors is right. You need a good quality case for the head, and the none of the Caseright ones I've seen would fit it without taking to motors off. The head + a Pelican case is around 30Kg.

Andrew

Exfso (Peter) · #5 13-02-2011, 01:21 PM

I currently own a G11 and am in the process of upgrading to an Ovision worm. I would have to agree with what John says, for the money they are an excellent and very tough mount. If you dont mind doing a bit of tweeking you can almost get them to dance for you....

Waxing_Gibbous (Peter) · #6 13-02-2011, 02:49 PM

There is one with all the trimmings for sale on CN at the moment for $2500ish, Even with transport and tax, you'd save some $$$$.

leinad (Dan) · #7 13-02-2011, 03:23 PM

I have G11 G (with Ovision worm)and the HD tripod and it is a solid monster. Much like the standard tripod the legs detach; however the HD tripod has fold-able legs, is heavier, stronger and supports the Titan also from memory with a different top-plate..

JohnG pretty much covered it all.

The motors can be removed for transport.(very easy 2min job)
I have one of those large Bunnings pelican cases that the mount head fits in perfectly for transport with motors removed.

For high focal length imaging most users upgrade to a high precision RA worm(OPW or Ovision).

Excellent intermediate mount; couldn't be happier.

Octane (Humayun) · #8 13-02-2011, 03:30 PM

I get round stars. : D

H

TrevorW · #9 13-02-2011, 04:04 PM

The folding HD over fixed leg HD is $600 more is their much difference between the two tripods

multiweb (Marc) · #10 13-02-2011, 04:14 PM

Love my G11. Bang for the buck. Sure there's always better but it's simple enough to strip and maintain as John G. said. Can't see myself changing for a long while. It just does the job for what I'm doing. Very happy camper.

allan gould · #11 13-02-2011, 04:58 PM

All been said above. Love mine and had it 8 years with no motor, gear or electric problems except for a crappy cable. I get round stars and it throws my scope around as if it wasn't there-only alteration was to add better RA worm..
Great mount.

Hagar (Doug) · #12 13-02-2011, 04:58 PM

Trevor and Mark,
I can only reiterate and agree with everything that has been said here so far. There has been a lot of discussion on this and other forums about inadequacies of the gemini hand controller. All I can say about this is "Absolute Rot." The hand controller of the old gemini and from what the new controller looks like they appear to be very similar in control buttons so I suspect they operate much the same. The system is very simple, quite intuative and easy to master. It does take a while until it becomes almost an involuntary action to control but once you have mastered it the basics can almost be done with your eyes closed.

The mount itself is as solid as any mount on the market and is probably as easy as any to pull apart, service and return to duty either in the field or in the workshop. There is numerous sites on the net showing how to do a service and even how to improve on a great product.

I for one would love one of the high end mounts but even then see myself hanging on to my G11 as a field mount as in it's class and at it's price there isn't much that comes close.

You could do a lot worse than a G11 with Gemini.

tlgerdes (Trevor) · #13 13-02-2011, 05:19 PM

Ditto to what everyone else has already said, I got mine because of Marc's glowing reports.

As for transport, mine still sits in the original freight box, perfectly moulded. I figure if it come to AUS in it, then it is good for everyday storage as well.

Haven't seen a better more stable tripod on anything that is field portable, and I think this is possibly half of its success.

Coming from a Meade 497 hand controller, I intially thought the Gemini 1 hand controller was like stepping back to the dark ages. After using it for 12 months though, it is simplistic...... but it just simply works!

Dont need anything else in the field.

Octane (Humayun) · #14 13-02-2011, 05:30 PM

Also, most of us run planetarium and imaging software with G-11's, so, you can pretty much remove the hand controller from the equation.

I don't see why people get so worked up about it. It's a joy to use.

If you can operate a mobile phone, you can operate Gemini.

H

spearo (Frank) · #15 13-02-2011, 07:12 PM

You cant go wrong with a G11.

Mine carries a C14, and I get round stars.
frank

avandonk · #16 13-02-2011, 07:21 PM

I want to get a Titan Mount. Is it available yet with the new motors etc?

Bert

mill (Martin) · #17 13-02-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avandonk

I want to get a Titan Mount. Is it available yet with the new motors etc?

Bert

According to the Losmandy site a BIG yes

JohnG (John) · #18 13-02-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avandonk

I want to get a Titan Mount. Is it available yet with the new motors etc?

Bert

Hi Bert

The Titan comes with the new Maxon motors and has for a while now, there may be a bit of a delay ATM as they will be shipping with the new Gemini 2.

Cheers

mill (Martin) · #19 13-02-2011, 08:46 PM

Ah well my mount with gimini2 will come in March as i have been told

Barrykgerdes · #20 14-02-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

If you can operate a mobile phone, you can operate Gemini.

H

Wrong way round I can operate a Gemini , but a mobile phone? The manual with my mobile phone is much harder to read than the Gemini manual and I still haven't discovered all the things it can do that have no relationship to making a phone call!

Barry