Bintel drops the price of the HEQ5 Pro to $1095

[Starkler (Geoff)]

Sorry I noticed that upon taking another look... doh!
In anycase the polar scope is somewhat useless given its field is flooded by the red led and i cant see any stars in it.

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by Starkler

Sorry I noticed that upon taking another look... doh!
In anycase the polar scope is somewhat useless given its field is flooded by the red led and i cant see any stars in it.

Just turn the led off and illuminate it from the front with a low level red torch held to the side of the mount. Scattered light should be enough to illuminate it.

Paul

[Stephen65]

Paul's suggestion is spot on, you illuminate the polar scope to get the Octans reticule pattern rotated into the correct orientation, then no illumination while you find the pattern of stars in the scope and then illuminate on and off as needed as you lock the reticule pattern over the stars.

It's quite straightforward after a bit of practice, key thing is to know what orientation the Octans pattern will be in remembering its going to show upside down in the polar scope so you know what to look for.

[madtuna (Steve)]

any west aussies contemplating the HEQ5, someone is flogging one off on Ebay at the mo complete with a Skywatcher 200mm newt.
Opening bid is $1000 and it's only got a couple of days to go with not a bid yet

[h0ughy (David)]

ordered mine from Bintel yesterday - it arrived this afternoon. So there is service for you

[KG8]

I'll grab one too, but I'll support andrews. If it wasn't for andrews breaking from the cartel and slashing the price they would still be selling for $1700. Scuttlebutt is all the other dealers are trying to drive them out of the business. Good luck

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by KG8

I'll grab one too, but I'll support andrews. If it wasn't for andrews breaking from the cartel and slashing the price they would still be selling for $1700. Scuttlebutt is all the other dealers are trying to drive them out of the business. Good luck

I rang and asked them, but they could not confirm if they had stock, so I bought the bintel one.

[tnbk00 (Daniel)]

I just ordered mine from bintel....so fingers crossed they still have stock

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by KG8

I'll grab one too, but I'll support andrews. If it wasn't for andrews breaking from the cartel and slashing the price they would still be selling for $1700. Scuttlebutt is all the other dealers are trying to drive them out of the business. Good luck

Lol,

Like the other dealers have the buying power and capital to drive them out of business. These are all small family owned businesses.

Paul

[PCH (Paul)]

Hi Madtuna,

thanks for the heads up on this I was about to place an order for pretty much just this pair from Bintel I've sent the guy/gal a couple of questions and if all goes well with the replies I should save myself a few bob.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by madtuna

any west aussies contemplating the HEQ5, someone is flogging one off on Ebay at the mo complete with a Skywatcher 200mm newt.
Opening bid is $1000 and it's only got a couple of days to go with not a bid yet

[Zuts]

Originally Posted by PCH

Hi Madtuna,

thanks for the heads up on this I was about to place an order for pretty much just this pair from Bintel I've sent the guy/gal a couple of questions and if all goes well with the replies I should save myself a few bob.

Cheers,

Why would you bid $1000 plus freight on eBay for an item you can get brand new with warranty for $1095 from a reputeable dealer

If the current price is $1095 new with warranty, then an eBay price for a SECOND HAND unknown quality item should be around $750 if that.

Paul

[GTB_an_Owl (Geoff)]

Mmmm - go back and read the post Paul

"thanks for the heads up on this http://www.iceinspace.com.au/vbiis/i...s/thumbsup.gif I was about to place an order for pretty much just this PAIR from Bintel "


geoff

[PCH (Paul)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

Why would you bid $1000 plus freight on eBay for an item you can get brand new with warranty for $1095 from a reputeable dealer

If the current price is $1095 new with warranty, then an eBay price for a SECOND HAND unknown quality item should be around $750 if that.

Paul

Hi Zuts and Geoff,

thanks for replying. Firstly it's 'pick up' only and we're both in Perth, so no freight. And as Geoff points out, this price s for the scope plus heq5. But it's a valid point and I imagine the selling price has been based on a cost for the mount of around $1800, so there may well be room for movement

Question:-

I asked the seller what software version was in the hand controller. He tells me Nexstar5. I thought these controllers used Synscan or Skyscan. The mount is two years old. Can anybody tell me if a mount this old is upgradeable to the current level of s/w, or if Nexstar5 is current/good/bad etc

Many thanks,

[madtuna (Steve)]

Originally Posted by Zuts

Why would you bid $1000 plus freight on eBay for an item you can get brand new with warranty for $1095 from a reputeable dealer

If the current price is $1095 new with warranty, then an eBay price for a SECOND HAND unknown quality item should be around $750 if that.

Paul

From what I understand the $1095 is mount only. the Ebay one I cited has a 200mm newt aswell.
Possibly a good buy for someone in the same area who can go check it out in person. Also no bits had been placed so he may be open to haggle

[White Rabbit]

Picking mine up today, no more rubber banding from the ****ty meade gears yeeehhaawwww.

[Rob]

Star Optics have the heq5-pro for $999 on their website:
http://www.staroptics.com.au/catalog...roducts_id=268
It doesn't say which version of the hand control.

The shop is at the Gold Coast - has anyone had any experience with them?

Rob

[Matty P (Matt)]

Originally Posted by Rob

Star Optics have the heq5-pro for $999 on their website:
http://www.staroptics.com.au/catalog...roducts_id=268
It doesn't say which version of the hand control.

The shop is at the Gold Coast - has anyone had any experience with them?

Rob

Hi Rob,

I haven't had any experience with Star Optics in Queensland but I am pretty sure that the Pro series mounts have version 3 of the hand controller.

Hope this helps.

[Starman73]

I bought my EQ6 Pro through York Optical, they gave it to me at Andrews price, then gave me a store voucher for a futher 10% of the purchase price, which paid for the tube rings to mount my scope. At that time York was advertising to beat any registered Skywatcher dealers price in Australia.

Don't know if they do the same now, but it might be worth a try.

Paul

[csb (Craig)]

York Optical aren't advertising the HEQ5 Pro on their website - only as a package with a Pro scope.

So I got one from Andrews $1050. Postage is cheap $40.

[sejanus (Gavin)]

I've posted about this a few months ago but buggered if I can find the thread

is a heq5 pro strong enough (with room to spare!) to mount about 4.5kg of camera gear on? (a 1 series canon dslr and a big tele lens)