bomberbaz

Major disappointment. I purchased the 8SE

telescope

about a week ago and the motor on the fork arm is faulty. I tried it out the other night when we had clear skies and it would only go up and down but not across. Widescreen Centre thought it the handset might have to be "re-jigged" would would have taken 10 minutes but we tried the handset on another fork arm and it worked fine. So the whole fork arm plus handset will have to be returned to the Widescreen Centre (not their fault). They said that only 5% have faulty motors (it's usually the handset) so I'm unlucky. Fortunately I'm on holiday for 2 weeks so I'm hoping it will be back on my return home.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Yes Pig but it depends how you view it. What that says to me is they have very reliable motors. Now I guess it depends on what the fault ratio is. If it was 5% of equipment total they would as mentioned so be in big trouble, if however it is say 0.5% (thats one in 200) that have a fault, and of those 0.5% only 5% have issues with the motors, (thats one in 4000) then I would say that's acceptable. Sorry for the math but I deal in crappy %'s every day, hah !

darn double posting again

Yes Pig but it depends how you view it. What that says to me is they have very reliable motors. Now I guess it depends on what the fault ratio is. If it was 5% of equipment total they would as mentioned so be in big trouble, if however it is say 0.5% (thats one in 200) that have a fault, and of those 0.5% only 5% have issues with the motors, (thats one in 4000) then I would say that's acceptable. Sorry for the math but I deal in crappy %'s every day, hah !

ps, sorry for being smug, had a **** day and needed cheering up

Hehe, re-read the OP post guys. What the fella is saying is the 5% of all reported faults are linked to the motors, not they have a 5% fault rate on equipment. Its a read between the lines a little but (smuggly) I think you'll find its right

Though if a nice 10mm came up for sale I could be tempted

Here is my collection of Hyperions.

Back row: 17mm 21mm 24mm 31mm Aspheric OIII filter Moon filter

Front row: 13mm 8mm 5mm Aspheric 2" barrel 28mm FTR 14mm FTR

Missing oicture added, no idea what happened but this android pad is to blame haha

Update to last update, hehe. Got my mate to get me a solid block of soft foam for case. Much less abrasive, can cut to own shape and can fit more into case . Here my case holds my 6 ep' s, ravf, telrad, diagonal and 4 filters. Have to afmits to feeling rather pleased with the functionality of it. (Needs a tidy up to make it look bettter but in the case of your glasd, protection is the main thing I think )

My updated and final glass collection here (yeah right). Three 2" EP's and three Baader Hyperions. I really like the flexibility of the Hyperions. When combined with fine tuning rings, filters and also the fact the 17 gives me a 22mm ep with the first set of lens removed, you effectively have over 16 eyepiece options out of the three. Ok so I won't use them all and some overlap but its nice to have the options available. I might add an 8mm but only if a secondhand "quality" ep comes up although i am not actively looking. I do have a 2" Baader UHC-S filter on order. I sent the Skywatcher one back as i wasn't impressed with the quality of it.

The last piece to arrive was the top left WO 25mm SWA EP. Not used it yet but it feels really nice and if its anything like bigger brother, I know it will be very nice indeed.

The case looks a little messy but I have some new foam arriving and I am going to make it all nice and tidy once i have it.

Ok just posting a quick one, well two. I am toying around with a smart camera and thought these were ok to say they were 16 second exposures at 5 times magnification. I altered them using MS standard editing software and was pleased to get what i did. I am hoping to use same camera with a barlow on my Skywatcher 104 to do similar simple images but with better quality next time.

This one is slightly better quality, you can just see M42

So not sure if this qualifies as a proper image as not done with a scope but fun none the less

Great guy Zoltan at 365, really helpful and actually saved me some money.

I had been looking at two plossl EP's for my car scope, two skywatchers at 32 and 40. Zoltan told me he didnt have a 32 but he would do me a GSO one for the same price, great I thought, at about £6 more expensive and a better option, cant be bad.

Before I said deffo yes, we looked at the quoted FOV on the GSO 40mm as I was thinking why not get 2 GSO's instead, but according to the figures from Skywatcher, the Skywatcher EP was superiour in terms of TFOV (GSO 40 degree, Skywatcher 52). Stick with the Skywatcher for 40mm then. I thought nothing of it and was happy to go with the GSO 32 and Skywatcher 40.

Phone call half hour later off zoltan advising me he had done some comparisons between the two EP's and to cut to it, the TFOV between the GSO 32 and Skywatcher 40 was the same. He tells me the FOV quoted appears incorrect on the Skywatcher 40 and the upshot of this is it simply isnt worth buying. I can have the same TFOV and the extra magnification with it by just getting the GSO 32.

He already had my funds and rather than refund (monies spent, well you know how it is ), I had been thinking about a decent planetary filter for a while. So after discussing filters I bought a variable polarising filter and although it took me over what I originally paid, he said it was fine and I could have it for what he already had received of me.

top class service, top class bloke.

I have just bought a new low powered scope and wanted an ep that would suit my overal aim of having a travel outfit. So i got a zoom ep. There are lots out there but i got a celestron 8 - 24. If you are on a budget, then this is a good cost effective alternative.

(Sent from iphone)

Decided to upgrade my EP case, the bag I have (STILL), was getting to cramped what with cables, EP's, etc, so I decided to pay a visit to Maplins having seen this:

http://www.maplin.co...se-large-228650 A little costly yes, but the biggest thing I could find that would fit all my EP's and other bits in one place and it is tough and lightweight. The old bag still has cables, headlamp and other bits in.

Here's how it looks:

Astrobaby is a woman, and a well respected member of this community

I know she is a lady and also a long standing and respected member of this community. I knew the latter part but never knew the first bit.

So the comment made by myself was a tongue in cheek remark to highlight how silly I felt at my presumptions, there was no dis-respect meant.

Baz

second tme of posting but have to say the beeb gave him a fair report ahead of other reports on the night. Sincerely hope they see fit to give the man a obituary programme that surely befits someone that gave so much to Astronomy, to his passon.

A chap mentioned on TV ht he took time to reply to all letters and enquiries, from whoever and wherever they came. From the many wishes and replies I have read on here, I know Sir Patrick had a passion and integrity that was beyond and above anyones expectations.

He will live on with us all in our memories and in the history books forever.

Truly a wonderful and special man.

I think it safe to say every one of us have been inspired in one way or another by this great man. Indeed we will all miss him but his memory will live on by what we do as a group and indeed, as individuals.

RIP Sir Patrick, you will not be forgoten...

Pure class there fella, really nice job. Does the colour match your anorak ?

could do, after all, astrobaby is a lady

tut tut, gender assumptions baz, how non pc lol

I made one earlier this year, cant post pic but theres a page on it here

http://www.astro-bab...ase Project.htm

Scroll down to tha last bit of the page and there are some pics of the finished item.

Pure class there fella, really nice job. Does the colour match your anorak ?

Ok couple picks taken quickly but hopefully it shows enough detail.

Its a rucksack with adjustable interiour pockets designed for camera's. It is really well padded, lightwieght but very strong and well made.

The top flap with the Pocket Atlas showing also has two pockets on the other side which stores my viewing glasses, counterweight bar, filters and other bits not in main pockets.

In the main pocket section the bottom is on the left. In the 2 empty pockets I store the counter weights. Inbetween are the two stock EP's, in the white plastic cases are the 2 Celestron EP's, the black Cases have Baaders in, under the Baader lying down is my cheshire, the small white box has the barlow in, just above that is my headlight and finally the large white box has the telrad in.

Best thing about this its a rucksack and it simply slings over my back and leaves my hands free to carry whatever else.