oymd

ouch...yes, that's a bit too much glue... You reckon I can give RVO a call and complain about the focuser? Mine is horribly stiff and clunky? I was even considering putting a drop or 2 of lubricating OIL on the gears?

I would be very interested to hear what the balance is like when you remove the guidescope? Would be great if you could try?

Since we are discussing this scope, can someone please advise me what replacement dovetail I can use? With the 2" diagonal and 2" eyepiece, the scope is VERY back end heavy, and I had to push the OTA all the way forward to the point that the retaining rings are flush with the focuser, and also pushed the dovetail all the way forwards in the saddle, to achieve any sort of balance, but it's still very back heavy? Is there a LONGER compatible dovetail I can use? Thanks

Hi Steve Not from FLO, it was ordered from RVO. But I could see on the outer box the order information, which shows it was shipped from OVL to me directly, who are SW distributors in the UK, so in all likelihood would be the very same scope you stock. And I agree with Davey-T that having no spec on the objective makes it look very cheap. Either way, its the performance what matters, and with the current weather, there is no way to find out! If I were you, I would confirm with SW the specs, to avoid any confusion with future customers.

Afternoon everyone Can you please advise me how to balance the scope in Alt-Az? I am pairing the scope with a C11. The mount's home position is with the counterweight shaft parallel to the ground. Balancing the OTA (DEC axis) is pretty self explanatory, and took some sliding of the dovetail in the saddle to balance it. However, balancing the whole OTA on one side of the mount with the counterweights on the other side is the part I do not get? How should I know that the balance is alright, since there is no movement in that axis? Thanks

Well, its certainly confusing. The manual clearly states that the objective is Ohara FPL-53 and crown is Schott BK-7, and FLO & RVO website's description also confirms that. Beside the good reviews, that was the primary reason I bought the scope.

Can you please advise which Oklop bag takes the Az-EQ6 Pro mount? I have just bought the new model, but i think they are identical in size? The shipping foam measures 50x48x25cm Thanks

Evening everyone... Is this noise normal? At the very start and end of the slewing, there is an unpleasant noise. The videos I checked online sound probably the same, so in all probability its normal? Is it the gears/belts getting engaged/disengaged? Thanks

Evening everyone. I've just received the ED80mm in the post today, and noticed a few things that I hope the experienced and savvy can clarify for me?It's my FIRST ever refractor, and my only experience is with a Nexstar 8SE. The OTA is listed as having FPL-53 in the objective, and Schott BK-7 glass in the crown. The product images on FLO, RVO, SW USA & SW UK (Optical Vision LTD) show the OTA with a graphic of "SCHOTT GLASS INSIDE" on the OTA? The scope I received today has no such graphic, and has no markings at all on the objective, with 2 visible blotches of glue? Is this expected? Also specs list that it has a crayford focuser and 2"99% dielectric diagonal, yet I feel the focuser is very rough, and the diagonal has no specs etched on it or any details written on it, and looks cheap? Is this all normal, and I'm just having a mini panic attack, or is it possible the OTA is an inferior product? Many thanks!!

Thanks for that... So its called a GX12 2 pin screw lockable socket! I did not know that. Can you please point me in the direction of a MAINS outlet power supply that I can use? Would be helpful also if you can direct me to a cable that uses that socket on one end, and normal power connector on the other. Many thanks

Thank you all for your helpful replies. As you can all see from the various and different options suggested, that this is a debatable and confusing issue. I find it bizarre that on buying a sensitive electronic equipment costing almost £1500 that I need to do research into getting a safe and adequate power connector/supply? What would it have cost Sky-Watcher to provide a suitable and safe MAINS OUTLET option with the mount? It's like buying a TV, which would cost considerably less, then needing to go out and find a suitable, fused, safe, correct voltage and amperage PSU to power the TV? I am a little annoyed at this.

I was worried they were poor quality and can do damage? anyways, I’ve just ordered the 10amp option. I read somewhere that’s it’s better to have more juice, and the mount takes what it needs?

Evening everyone... Mount's on the way, hopefully arriving tomorrow. Very excited, and terrified as well. Its my first GEM mount. Just recognised I do not have a power supply to power the mount! Can you please advise what can I go out and buy tomorrow? Or order tonight from Amazon? I do not fancy the Celestron/SW huge battery packs! Is there some sort of FEMALE cigarette adaptor to AC outlet I can use that is safe and no blow up the mount!! I know the mount comes with a power lead that utilises a cigarette adaptor? Many thanks

That is an excellent bit of information... I will be following this thread..

Actually it’s £575 with foam, and weighs 15kgs EMPTY! And that’s the smaller 1660!!

Tried that. Found nothing suitable. this is getting frustrating. my search landed me on the Peli case 1660, which I think would fit, or the 1690 which would be even bigger and take more foam, but £250-£450 is ridiculous!

I've looked at all the hard ware web sites, and there doesn't seem to be a suitable, reasonably priced case? The OTA measures about 62cm x 32cm, so looking for something at least 70cm x 40cm x 40cm INTERNAL dimensions, to accommodate for the foam or will possibly use the shipping white foam the OTA came in. I just need it for safe storage in the house, and possibly transported every once in a while to a dark site of a star party in my car. The Peli and JMI options are overkill for my needs, and obviously extortionately expensive Even the Celestron case at almost £300 is just too expensive. There are some amazing cheap, yet sturdy options on Cloudy Nights, but they only available in the US. Many thanks

Thank you all for your replies. Yes, I agree, future proofing and best possible mount, without specifying a budget or level of use was pretty ambiguous on my part. I am hoping to get a solid mount in the £1000 to £1200 range, that will be good for AP, and also take a C11 in the future. There are NO plans for a fixed location, and i have no problem carrying and setting up the mount etc, so weight is not a concern. I have taken the advice of the folk at CNs, and will initially buy a small short & fastish Apo ED refractor, in the 80mm range. I suppose in my budget the EQ6R-Pro is the best I can get? I wish I could stretch to a AZ EQ6GT Pro, as I like the option of have Alt-Az as well but its above my budget. Does that clarify where i stand with my current plan? Hope you can give me some advice if there are alternate good mounts I am missing? Many thanks

sorry, repeat post

Evening everyone... I've recently purchased a Nexstar 8SE, and absolutely love the thing. I'm researching getting a GEM as well, which I would like to use alongside the 8SE. The 8SE will be for pure visual use, as the kids love it. My plan is to try a bit of astrophotography, and will pair the 8SE OTA for now to the new GEM mount. I am planning to buy a mount that will be future proof, as I plan to get a C11 in the future, so should take the weight. I know it will be a big investment, but I plan to buy a mount ONCE, so have to get it right. I would very much like to stay with Celestron, as I enjoyed using their Nexstar+ interface. I feel the AVX will not be beefy enough, and the CGX would be overkill. On CNs, I was advised to get a CGEMII, which seems to be readily available in the USA, but NOT available at all in the UK. Any idea why? The options that I am researching are the Skywatcher EQ6R-Pro or Ioptron CEM40 (possibly CEM60). I'm leaning more towards the Ioptrons, as they seem to be more modern mounts, lighter, and having newer technology. Many thanks