68 replies to this topic

[FLO]

We have updated our Skywatcher AZ EQ6-GT product page to show the new mount's specification and price. Our first delivery is expected this November but it will initially be in short supply. We are genuinely excited and fully expect the AZ EQ6-GT to set a new standard at it's price, much the same as the Skywatcher NEQ6 PRO has.

The price is currently set at £1,495 but we will monitor the competition to ensure our price is competitive when it arrives.

If you would like to be one of the first to use this new mount we have a facility where you can pay a 10% deposit, the balance will then be due when your mount is ready for dispatch. Guess who is already first in the queue

Steve

[daz]

Looks the business!
Can I swap Andrew for one???

[E621Keith]

The RRP sounds a bit expensive for what is essentially an NEQ6 with a different altitude mechanism, but for 1.5x the price of the latter. However, it's about the same as the IEQ45.
Does the £1.5k price tag include the Starbook-like Synscan Tour controller, or does it use the standard Synscan hand controller?

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Does it have a higher load capacity than the NEQ6 (the site list 25 kg for the AZ-EQ6 but no data on the NEQ6 (20kg according to most listings I have found))

[Black Knight]

Can I PX my NEQ6 for one?

[FLO]

daz, on 02 October 2012 - 03:03 PM, said:

Looks the business!
Can I swap Andrew for one???

Eeer...

E621Keith, on 02 October 2012 - 03:16 PM, said:

The RRP sounds a bit expensive for what is essentially an NEQ6 with a different altitude mechanism, but for 1.5x the price of the latter.

Whilst Skywatcher have clearly styled it to look similar to the NEQ6 it is a completely redesigned mount with less weight and more load-bearing capacity, not to mention the ability to be used in Alt-Az and GEQ modes and the patented dual-encoder technology.

Quote

However, it's about the same as the IEQ45.

I am not familiar with the IEQ45. You'll need to speak with Altair or Olly, we don't stock Ioptron.

Quote

Does the £1.5k price tag include the Starbook-like Synscan Tour controller, or does it use the standard Synscan hand controller?

Good question. I expect it includes the more traditional Synscan handset and the other will be available separately, but I'll check

michael.h.f.wilkinson, on 02 October 2012 - 03:21 PM, said:

Does it have a higher load capacity than the NEQ6 (the site list 25 kg for the AZ-EQ6 but no data on the NEQ6 (20kg according to most listings I have found))

It does but we take manufacturer's payload figures with a pinch of salt. We'll know soon after the mounts arrive.

HTH

[E621Keith]

FLO, on 02 October 2012 - 04:04 PM, said:

Whilst Skywatcher have clearly styled it to look similar to the NEQ6 it is a completely redesigned mount with less weight and more load-bearing capacity, not to mention the ability to be used in Alt-Az and GEQ modes and the patented dual-encoder technology.
...
Good question. I expect it includes the more traditional Synscan handset and the other will be available separately, but I'll check

Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't realise the capacity increased. Do you have any more information about this dual encoders? Are the encoders attached directly onto the RA and Dec shafts or are they located on the motors before the worms and gears. Do you know the resolution of these encoder? Are they low resolution types for GOTO/Push-TO (degree/arcminutes accuracy) or high resolution types capable of correcting periodic errors like the ones used in Telescope Drive Masters (arcsecond accuracy)?

Some pictures of the AZ EQ6 are shown with the Starbook-like controller while others show it with the standard controller. This includes the ones in the FLO site (AZ mode with the Synscan Tour, GEM mode with the Standard Synscan).

[FLO]

Keith, I doubt even Skywatcher's UK importers know the mechanical layout of the encoders. The first delivery is scheduled for November and I hope it is a long time after then before we have reason to strip one down

PEC control in GEQ mode is included.

I have removed the photo showing the Synscan Tour handset from our website, to prevent confusion.

Here is the specification from our website:

Specification

Payload Capacity: 18kg for imaging and 25kg for visual
Driving resolution: 0.1436 arc second
Go-To Capability: EQ and AZ modes
Synscan Handset Database: over 42,900 celestial objects
Tracking Speed: sidereal, solar & lunar rates
Tracking Mode: EQ or AZ, dual or single axis
PEC control in EQ mode
Autoguider Port : Yes
DSLR Electronic Shutter Release Port: Yes
Motor Type: DC12V stepper motors
Patented Dual-Encoder design allows manual movement without losing positional information
Polar alignment: via software control or supplied polar scope
Alignment methods: 1, 2 or 3 star alignment (EQ) / brightest star or 2 star alignment (AZ)
Telescope Connection: 2 x dual-fit saddle plates supplied accepting 45mm & 75mm dovetail bars
RA/DEC Worm Gears: D=92.5mm, 180 teeth, brass
RA/DEC Axes: D=40mm, steel
Tripod: 2” Stainless Steel
Counterweights supplied: 2 x 5kg
Counterweight Bar: 25mm Diameter
Mount Body Weight: 15.4kg, Tripod Weight: 7.5kg
Power requirement: 12V DC 3A (Sky-Watcher 17Ah Power Tank recommended)

[Tinker1947]

Well you have had this years and next Astro budget last week, so all the bugs will be sorted before i have to consider it as a upgrade or not........

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

FLO, on 02 October 2012 - 04:04 PM, said:

....................


It does but we take manufacturer's payload figures with a pinch of salt. We'll know soon after the mounts arrive.

HTH

True, but at least you can get some relative idea of how much more it can handle than an NEQ6

[E621Keith]

FLO, on 02 October 2012 - 05:00 PM, said:

Keith, I doubt even Skywatcher's UK importers know the mechanical layout of the encoders. The first delivery is scheduled for November and I hope it is a long time after then before we have reason to strip one down

PEC control in GEQ mode is included.

I have removed the photo showing the Synscan Tour handset from our website, to prevent confusion.

Here is the specification from our website:

Specification

Payload Capacity: 25kg (EQ and AZ modes)
Driving Resolution: 0.1436 arc second
Go-To Capability: EQ and AZ modes
Synscan Handset Database: over 42,900 celestial objects
Tracking Speed: sidereal, solar & lunar rates
Tracking Mode: EQ or AZ, dual or single axis
PEC control in EQ mode
Autoguider Port : Yes
DSLR Electronic Shutter Release Port: Yes
Motor Type: DC12V stepper motors
Patented Dual-Encoder design allows manual movement without losing positional information
Polar alignment: via software control or supplied polar scope
Alignment methods: 1, 2 or 3 star alignment (EQ) / brightest star or 2 star alignment (AZ)
Telescope Connection: 2 x dual-fit saddle plates supplied accepting 45mm & 75mm dovetail bars
RA/DEC Worm Gears: D=92.5mm, 180 teeth, brass
RA/DEC Axes: D=40mm, steel
Tripod: 2” Stainless Steel
Counterweights supplied: 2 x 5kg
Counterweight Bar: 25mm Diameter
Mount Body Weight: 15.4kg, Tripod Weight: 7.5kg
Power requirement: 12V DC 3A (Sky-Watcher 17Ah Power Tank recommended)

Is the tracking accuracy really 0.1436 arcseconds? Even if the error is 0.1436 arcminutes p-p (8.6 arcseconds), it will be much better than most mounts. I'm going to wait for some users review first, but if they really achieve that level of accuracy then I will be very interested in getting one.

[FLO]

michael.h.f.wilkinson, on 02 October 2012 - 06:45 PM, said:

True, but at least you can get some relative idea of how much more it can handle than an NEQ6

The maximum paylod quoted seems to depend on which country you live. I have found quotes from 20-25 kg compared to the NEQ6 which is generally quoted at around 16-18 kg. If we accept these figures then the new Skywatcher AZ EQ6-GT can carry 11-56% more than the Skywatcher NEQ6 PRO.

Keep in mind that whilst payload capacity matters it doesn't tell us much about the design and quality of manufacture.

E621Keith, on 02 October 2012 - 07:48 PM, said:

Is the tracking accuracy really 0.1436 arcseconds? Even if the error is 0.1436 arcminutes p-p (8.6 arcseconds), it will be much better than most mounts. I'm going to wait for some users review first, but if they really achieve that level of accuracy then I will be very interested in getting one.

Skywatcher are moving upmarket so we should expect performance enhancements and improvements but we are discussing a mount that has not yet arrived in the UK and we need to hear feedback from owners to really know what it can do. Personally I am confident it will perform well, but I am a retailer...

Fortunately, if you are reading this you have already found the best source of real-world information because the Skywatcher AZ EQ6-GT's strengths and weaknesses will soon be discussed at length by real astronomers here at SGL

[FLO]

Tinker1947, on 02 October 2012 - 05:16 PM, said:

Well you have had this years and next Astro budget last week, so all the bugs will be sorted before i have to consider it as a upgrade or not........

Okay, we'll leave you a while to lick your wounds

[Sp@ce_d]

Hmmm wasn't this supposed to be 26% lighter than the neq6?

NEQ6 Pro - Mount Weight: 16Kgs
AZ - EQ6-GT Mount Weight:15.4kg
Both tripods are the same at 7.5kg

[FLO]

That's what was said back in February...

I hope they have managed to make it lighter. We'll put one on the scales when they arrive.

[Sp@ce_d]

FLO, on 02 October 2012 - 10:19 PM, said:

That's what was said back in February...

I hope they have managed to make it lighter. We'll put one on the scales when they arrive.

Hope it's less than the 15.4kgs quoted.. It isn't much less than the neq6 and my backs convinced me to put that on a permanent pier now. For heading out to a dark site a 4kg lighter eq6 would be very tempting!

Great the edits back...
Mind you I suppose for imaging the weight helps to stabilize it... ho hum..

Edited by Sp@ce_d, 02 October 2012 - 10:47 PM.

[dark knight]

Hi, any idea if the mounting for a second scope when in AZ mode is included or is this going to be an expensive addition later?

[FLO]

I am sure that will be included

[pete_gamby]

E621Keith, on 02 October 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't realise the capacity increased. Do you have any more information about this dual encoders? Are the encoders attached directly onto the RA and Dec shafts or are they located on the motors before the worms and gears. Do you know the resolution of these encoder? Are they low resolution types for GOTO/Push-TO (degree/arcminutes accuracy) or high resolution types capable of correcting periodic errors like the ones used in Telescope Drive Masters (arcsecond accuracy)?

If your Chinese is any good Keith, the patent that relates to the encoder design is CM201974167U:

http://www.qpat.com/...=FAMPAT&lang=en

Happy reading!

Cheers, Pete

[FLO]

Nice one Pete

I had a similar thought last night so this morning tracked down a hi-res photo showing the various patent numbers. But your link is much better

Steve

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