What to buy? - Page 3

asimov (John) · #41 28-07-2005, 09:48 PM

Normally, most here would say goto Andrews communications for the GS dobsonians.

GrampianStars (Rob) · #42 28-07-2005, 09:49 PM

Janos --- aka Steve H
FRONTIER OPTICS has a good site for $498.00
Frontier Optics
P.O. Box 6397
Kincumber NSW 2251
Australia
0402 672 989
fax 02 43 690 552

Lacey · #43 30-07-2005, 02:24 PM

Thanks heaps Guys...!

I think I will go with your 8" Dobsonian, however I did have my eye on this one only Andrews Communications didn't have any in stock, well I couldn't find it in their web site!http://www.ll.mit.edu/LINEAR/images/gts2_218.jpg
Tell me does someone work for Andrews? or are they just a really good place to purchase scopes etc?

asimov (John) · #44 30-07-2005, 02:31 PM

Yep! Had my eye on that 1 for 30 yrs or so lol..

As far as I know (or so the guys tell me on here) Andrews is the best to go to for GS dobs. I dont know anyone in the forum that works there, but there could be? Good choice Re the 8" dob Lacey!

janoskiss (Steve H) · #45 30-07-2005, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lacey

Tell me does someone work for Andrews? or are they just a really good place to purchase scopes etc?

It sure would seem so, but no! To the best of my knowledge, none of us are affiliated with Andrews. It is just the cheapest place to buy GS Dobs at the moment. The downside of buying from Andrews is that I don't think Lee Andrews an amateur astronomer, so any advice you get from him is just 2nd or 3rd hand info from his suppliers. In email communications I found AOE the most helpful, with Bintel a close second. Lee tends to be very terse; I think he works 12-14 hours a day...

Starkler (Geoff) · #46 30-07-2005, 03:07 PM

It certainly seems that Andrews just sell boxes, and sell them cheaply. The risk is in asking for specialist advice if you dont know exactly what you want.

RAJAH235 · #47 30-07-2005, 05:11 PM

PTN, BTW, FWIW, etc etc, Has anyone not noticed the name, "ANDREWS COMMUNICATIONS!" Definitely not 'Andrews Astronomy'. It's strictly a 'side line' AFAIK. Better off with Bintel for info.... FWIW.

L.

asimov (John) · #48 30-07-2005, 05:37 PM

What 'info'? All the info needed..specialised or otherwise is right here in this forum..

Andrews just happens to be the cheapest.

slice of heaven · #49 30-07-2005, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

What 'info'? All the info needed..specialised or otherwise is right here in this forum..

Andrews just happens to be the cheapest.

If you know of this site.

Need an IIS sticker on each box

xstream (John) · #50 30-07-2005, 05:47 PM

And Mike should be getting commission for the amount of business Lee is gaining from this forum.

slice of heaven · #51 30-07-2005, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xstream

And Mike should be getting commission for the amount of business Lee is gaining from this forum.

I agree, or at least some form of recognition

janoskiss (Steve H) · #52 30-07-2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

What 'info'? All the info needed..specialised or otherwise is right here in this forum..

Here is a recent example:
Which of Andrews' many types of 7x50 binos are best suited to astronomy? What are the FOVs of the different models? Are any of them fully multicoated? If not, what level of coating? BTW I'm not interested in ruby coated binos. Andrews' first response was "All our binoculars are very good quality". After several days of emails (and a phonecall) I didn't get much further and gave up on Andrews and got the 7x50s from AOE.

asimov (John) · #53 30-07-2005, 06:05 PM

Right. Thank-you Janos for that example. Raff (aoe) sells the Saxon dobs, plus as much info as one wants! (as you & I know Janos) If I knew SAXON was as good as GS optically. I would suggest going with a SAXON. So at Andrews you get bugger all service & info....Interesting..

Starkler (Geoff) · #54 30-07-2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

If I knew SAXON was as good as GS optically. I would suggest going with a SAXON.

They are not sadly and happen to be more expensive than GS due to the Tasco middleman effect.

janoskiss (Steve H) · #55 31-07-2005, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Right. Thank-you Janos for that example. Raff (aoe) sells the Saxon dobs, plus as much info as one wants! (as you & I know Janos) If I knew SAXON was as good as GS optically. I would suggest going with a SAXON. So at Andrews you get bugger all service & info....Interesting..

I guess you could have misunderstood my previous post. To say you get bugger all service from Andrews is very unfair. Lee did respond to every email I sent and tried to answer all my questions, but sometimes he just does not know the answer.

The Saxon dobs are quite a bit more expensive than the GS ones, because they have pyrex mirrors (at least the bigger ones do), which you don't need unless you're a Kiwi, or very impatient. The 8-inch are also shorter focal length (f5), so more hassle with collimation & coma.

Lacey · #56 31-07-2005, 10:55 AM

Hey guys!

I have just been looking back at a chat you had with Blitz in January. To jog your memory a couple of you had ordered your dobs (one of you were waiting for pizza)......

Ok to those of you who purchased the 8" Dob from Andrews tell me please can you see something better than this: http://astronomy.customer.netspace.net.au/Pics/P25.jpg pic taken with a Meade ETX70 looking at the moon through 25mm or this on a 9mm http://astronomy.customer.netspace.net.au/Pics/P9mm.jpg

The pic owner does state he used a poor camera and I assume that the ETX70 was tracking at the time.

Also what is with the 2lt milk bottles that you need to keep?

And, finally could someone explain about the filters? whats needed and why? as I guess that will be my next purchase.

PS I will tell Lee you sent me

iceman (Mike) · #57 31-07-2005, 11:16 AM

You will see much better with your eyes with an 8" dob than what you see on those images, no question about it. You'll be blown away.

asimov (John) · #58 31-07-2005, 11:49 AM

Hi Lacey. I requested Some info late last night, & it was here when I logged on just now.

The 8" dob your thinking of getting Has a BK7 primary, a 2" rack & pinion focuser (with 1.25 adapter) 2 1.25" eyepieces (no info as to what type) If you wanted a crayford style focuser, rather than a rack & pinion it'll cost you approx an extra $100. In my opinion well worth it but Rack&pinions work ok too.

Hope this helps.. PS price on Saxon arriving shortly.

Lacey · #59 31-07-2005, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asimov

Hi Lacey. I requested Some info late last night, & it was here when I logged on just now.

The 8" dob your thinking of getting Has a BK7 primary, a 2" rack & pinion focuser (with 1.25 adapter) 2 1.25" eyepieces (no info as to what type) If you wanted a crayford style focuser, rather than a rack & pinion it'll cost you approx an extra $100. In my opinion well worth it but Rack&pinions work ok too.

Hope this helps.. PS price on Saxon arriving shortly.

This is what I found in your previous chat thingie http://www.gs-telescope.com/dob.htm says here that they are plossl eyepieces...I will have to ask the other half what R&P is v's crayford....sorry you got me here....

I realise I am being a bit of a scab with my money at present, but I feel this will be the first and want to be well in the know before I spend my $2500+ on exactly what I want later, you know when I figure out what the heck the filters are for?

PS I gotta say I am enjoying this site, I have had a few good cackles...keep it up guys!

janoskiss (Steve H) · #60 31-07-2005, 12:39 PM

Lacey, I got the 8" GSO Dob from Andrews in January. It's not without its flaws, but it is unbelievable how much telescope you get for such a modest investment. Way better than anything else in this pricerange. Yes you will see much much more than in those overexposed photos.

Other things you may want to consider:

Filters
Don't know much about filters, but everyone agrees that the cheap colour filters are useless. Apparently, the only remotely useful ones are over $100 a pop (some a lot more) and Andrews does not stock them.

Collimation
What you will need is a collimating tool for aligning the mirrors when you get the scope and occasionally thereafter. When I got my scope I also got the return-beam laser collimator, which is easiest to use, but error prone. A Cheshire is a simpler and cheaper tool ($29) which I've ordered since. I found alignment problems with the both the tools themselves, but these are easiest to work around with the Cheshire.

Eyepieces
Now if the adverts in current AS&T are correct, you'll only get two eyepieces (EPs) with your scope; probably a 25mm and a 9mm. You should get one more, the 15mm GSO Plossl (don't go for the Andrews Ser. 500s; Lee will tell you they're basically the same, but they're not as good.). It's been rumoured on this site that these are down to $39. If you do get four EPs with the scope, then great. Go with 9,15,20,25mm.

Barlows
You could also get a barlow for more flexibility with magnification, and for the extra power when seeing is good. I don't know how good the 1.25" GSO achromatic barlows are, but they are quite cheap (<$50), and will probably stop you from spending more on eyepieces for a while. Don't know if long or short barlow is better, but I'm sure some fellow iceinspacer will know.

and finally...
Milk jug washers
Though they are highly recommended by other Dob owners, they didn't seem to do much for my scope. My azimuth motion is still too stiff but I can live with it. I'm still looking for the ideal solution (formica laminate, magic sliders, mosaic tiles, lubes, bearings ...)