Cjg

It's always a pain when you gear fails. My Nextstar 5 Mount has had a lot of use over the past four years. It's been awash with dew more times than I can remember, and occasionally gets rattled and bumped in the back of my Mini (Cooper) so wasn't a total surprise when the altitude motor started to sound strained and move at a very slow speed.

FLO have made the process of getting it repaired / serviced and back to me painless. 

• They got a quote for the work within a few hours of my asking,
• arranged for the collection by Fed EX (at less cost than I could arrange or post)
• sorted out the repair and arranged delivery back to me promptly

The icing on the cake I guess is that as FLO have been charged less than quoted by the importer, they have passed that reduction onto me.

Anyone can be good pre-sales, but the level of aftercare once the sale is made shows just what a great company they are, so "thank you".

Chris

After three years the battery in my Skywatcher powertank would not hold a charge - am a little surprised; I've never left it overnight in a cold boot or garage floor, have regularly charged it up after each use or each month in the Summer and winter...researching the web, it seems that the supplied charger delivers a full charge, irrespective of the state of the battery; I've probably cooked the supplied SLA batttery by overcharging it!

Anyway, two questions answered the same day via FLO's website regarding the Tracer battery, one order placed and delivery via Fed Ex today. The price for the Tracer is excellent too.

Thanks all.

Chris

Big thanks to Martin at FLO.

The power board on my 5SE mount died; possibly due to the damp, (some nights it's ended up with so much water on the top) possibly due to being bounced around on the back seat / boot of my car between home and Seething where I observe, maybe even when the duracell batteries went and leaked.

Anyway, so far about a week from being sent (including FLO sending to David Hinds) and am told it's fixed for the sum of £38 including delivery back to me.

Think I've been charged just what FLO have had to pay, could not be happier with the prospect of getting back out there with my 5SE again.

Thanks

Chris

I have the Skywatcher 102 GoTo, and a Celestron 5SE so can speak about both the Skywatcher and Celestron sky software.

Both come from the same conglomerate in China, Synta. The main differences are:

Skywatcher comes with a 6 x30 finderscope and the Celestron a Red Dot sight.

Skywatcher GoTo software requires a little more knowledge to correctly align, you need to know the names / locations of some alignment stars, whereas the Celestron has a "point at three bright objects - alignment" where you do not need to know the names of the objects.

The Celestron handset / software has a tour feature that allows you to specify a Constellation to tour; handy for learning as much as you can about a particular area of the sky and not slewing around all over different areas...I cannot find the same feature on the Skywatcher.

Optically the same scope, you will get some Chromatic Aberration around bright objects.

The Celestron mount houses 8 batteries, the Skywatcher does not; you have to use a little battery box that sits on the spreader of the mount (if you use batteries, chances are you will not as they will not last long in cold weather).

The Skywatcher comes with a 1 year guarantee, the Celestron a 2 year guarantee.

Personally, I would save the extra cash and go with the Skywatcher....

If you buy from a reputable retailer you'll be fine...

*Disclaimer* having received superb, above and beyond service from them, I am a little biased towards First Light Optics. But think that you will normally find them very competitve price wise.

Here's my Skywatcher at -7.5 degrees this February at Seething the home of Norwich Astronomy Society

Chris

Many thanks to all at First Light Optics for getting a speedy response from David Hinds as to the costs for repairing damage done to my mount by a leaking Duracell Battery.

Although FLO supplied the scope, the problem isn't their responsibility, but they are happy, willing and able to deal with David Hinds on my behalf, so from me, CHEERS!

Chris

That'd be this one then?

http://stargazerslou...__hl__+accuracy

Spot on, well done - hope it's useful to the OP?

There was a very detailed series of posts on this forum by someone; a Dr. if I recall. Think the title was "improving the go to accuracy" of his Skywatcher dob...might be worth a search to see if that thread (was quite lengthy and detailed) has any pointers for you?

Chris

My new 5SE is a dew magnet - dewed up on Tuesday evening so ordered a dew shield from FLO's site Tuesday night.

Email received Wednesday to say "dispatched". Today, Thursday it arrives in the post.

Same level of excellent service when you spend a small amount for a dew shield as a you receive when you spend a larger amount on a scope.

Thanks FLO.

Chris

Purchased a Celestron Nexstar 5 SE from FLO's clearance thread.

Was discounted by 10% from their already "cheaper than most others I looked at" price, because the outer box was tatty and the instructions were missing.

Ordered on a Friday afternoon, delivered the following Tuesday (Monday was a Bank Holiday).

The tatty outer box has gone in the recycling bin and the instructions downloaded via the link on FlO's site.

Scope, mount, tripod and included bits were in perfect / new unused condition.

I have a great telescope that I will enjoy using, at a bargain'ous price and the could not be happier.

Cheers to all at FLO - am delighted!

Chris

That FLO are absolute stars!

Ordered Monday late afternoon, emailed me yesterday to say dispatched - couldn't get the tracking number from FedEx to work when which van should pull up with my new shiny?

Cheers,

Chris

Thanks downloaded and saved!

Chris