Dean Hale

More items from FLO. Arrived 2 days early too which is nice especially when the wife is out shopping. ADM dovetail, yet more adapters. Should now get the correct back focus and a Beelink mini PC. So far quietly impressed. Software installed, up and running using RDP from a mac book in around 30 minutes.

ADM saddle for the CEM26 mount and a Buckeyestargazer bracket to hold the hand controller both from FLO. No more velcro. I really must sand and varnish the attic floor. I can never find the time.

Hi Chris I had a similar issue, however in my case it was the hinge being slightly off as alluded to by Gary, pushing the top of the hinge with my thumb slightly when closing seemed to sort the issue - for me anyway. Lovely scope by the way.

Maybe, just maybe if i could find one in white i may switch. Whats not to like. 🙂

Takahashi Multi Flattener, CA ring and more blue finder base from FLO. The flattener was from the offers section and a bargain thanks for that. Diagonal from RVO and an as new finder from @HollyHound. May get a crick in the next but ooh it's nice.

I have the 485. Very nice. Hope you are impressed too.

Mine arrived today and yes was a bit of a faff putting them on. Hopefully they will stretch after some use. Luckily the size seems ok for me. For £15 I can't be too picky.

It certainly is. Someone wrote on here, maybe you? That when the box arrived they thought it was empty. I actually had the same thought when picking up the box. Just spent the last 30 mins playing with the adaptors to get focus, which was a worry when reading about these . Concern was unfounded all fine.

Nice yellow box from FLO. Within a little Tak. I had my head set on something completely different and last weekend read a thread here about the Takahashi FS-60CB which knocked that on the head. It's lovely. Maybe a bit showy but it fits in the home office bookshelf too. Too nice to be locked away in a bag.

£15 boots ordered. I like a bargain. Thanks @callisto

I've been waiting an age for these to come in stock. Skies the limit on ebay to the rescue. I've only used barlows before so will be interesting to see the difference.

Thanks for this Gary. I will drop FLO an email and swap for the other dovetail.

I did look and to be honest it nearly put me off purchasing, still a little confused.com but over time it'll sink in. I ordered the cradle with the foot which seems to be the right choice. Thank you. However it seems i may have fallen foul already for the dovetail. I ordered the more blue version https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dovetails-saddles-clamps/more-blue-vixen-style-220mm-dovetail-bar.html however looking at the diagram is specifies 35mm so think it maybe ok?

We are a marketeers dream. They X items in stock whilst extremely useful - it is the hook needed to push us into the purchase. Thanks for raising this as a subject. I'm sure we'll both be delighted.

Just succumbed and bought the FS-60CB went for the cradle too rather than the more blue rings. I think i've just had a little wee with excitement! Think i may drop FLO an email to not post until Wednesday when my lovely is back in the office. 🙂

Reading this thread whilst bored is very dangerous to my bank balance. Likely to be one less in stock shortly.

Our neighbour yesterday put up two of these at the side her house. So far they have been permanently switched on. The photo was taken at 4pm. It's bright. Luckily it doesn't affect me as the view here is quite restricted. What i don't understand is that she only lives in the house 2 days a week and disappears elsewhere. Why does she think it is a deterrent? No one is in the house. It's actually quite helpful for any would be chancer - light the way, come on in. The saying 'thick as mince' comes to mind.

Cheers for that @HollyHound. Finally managed to give it a go and unfortunately those settings didn't work. Managed to connect though. Would really help i actually connected to the WiFi on the mount first! I really need to start making a list to remind me of steps needed when setting up. Lately i just about remember to take the scope cap off. Settings screenshot attached for anyone else if needed.

Thanks. Yes much easier than i expected. It's even kept me out of the pub this weekend. Thank you

Finally moved from a manual alt-az mount to an EQ GoTo. Quite pleased with this. Image is around 25% of the original size.

Hi @SteveNickolls. Please do add comments around the GEM28. More than happy to change the title. Both use the same software and hand controller (i think) and no doubt additional comments will be appreciated by owners. I nearly purchased the GEM28. Read the reviews, watched the videos. However, i wanted the 1.75 tripod and this was only in stock with the CEM26. My patience is non existent which i now have what i have. Luckily i've used to use the mount the past 2 nights and very pleased, in fact delighted. Finally managed to image the moon using a barlow and to my eyes starting to see some improvements over my previous efforts. Probably being extra careful during setting up and take down, but repetition will soon set in to the speed this up. I think i've overcome the communications failure. I swapped the cable and so far the issue has not reoccured. I can live without SkySafari if needs be thanks for the comments around this.

Hi @geeklee It does seem that some slight tweaks have been made to the saddle and counterweight. I read some comments around these on CN and good to see that iOptron seem to listen and adapt. Just checked the manuals and the quick start guide shows the amends while the manual still shows the version with the saddle knob. Happy to hear you seem to be getting on with the mount. Thanks for the comments around the the cable issue and the polar alignment. i agree with the controller. I think i'll add some padding somehow to it to make it a little more substantial and just in case i drop it.

May as well create a thread for the CEM26. No doubt i'll have many more questions to ask in addition to the two below. Hopefully other owners chip in with any tips, thoughts, opinions. I used to have an AZ-GTI which was fantastic however needed something that would hold around 6KG so so opted for the CEM26 (up to 11.8KG) my first EQ mount. Some users (not on SGL) have commented on the CEM26 and backlash issues. Reading further it's seems to be a simple fix of tightening a couple of grub screws. The Facebook group has a slightly different perspective and seems to have quite a few positive reviews and tips. So added to the basket and purchased. To the mount itself. Looks solid. Good quality materials used, nice look and feel. Very quiet in operation. Nice touch on the tripod to have vibration pads included. I will upgrade the saddle to the ADM version just for the added security and it would have been nice to have a holder included for the hand controller. At the moment using some hook and loop velcro. Luckily FLO sell a bracket. My inexperience so not a criticism of the hand controller. It took a little getting used to owing to the 80s Casio screen - but finding my way around. Humped it up three flights of stairs to the attic where my computer is to update the firmware and do some rough testing. The mount head may be classed as light at 4.5kg but after then bringing up the mount, the accessories and tripod i needed a breather. I think next time i'll bring the computer downstairs. Setup was pretty painless. The most time taken was re-learning how to use a PC to update the software (shudder) owing to me being a mac user. Upgraded the firmware 1st attempt Installed the iPolar software (it works but never polar aligned, shall try when a clear night arrives) Connected to the ASIAIR Plus 1st attempt. Just plug in the cable from the handset to a ASIAIR USB port. Works great no more pointing to the ground when selecting send to home etc. Balancing a 460mm scope was a cinch, the StellaMira a little more tricky - RA fine just the DEC, maybe a couple of minutes but think that's due to my inexperience. So far very pleased with the mount and initial worries using an EQ are unfounded. Let's see if its still the case when used in the wild. And onto my questions - I cannot connect to SkySafari pro. Has anyone done this? I've tried both iOptron CEM/iEQ and CEM120 as suggested on the SkySafari forum however no luck. Twice when switching on the mount the Hand Controller has shown the error 'communication failure'. If i unplug and plug back in all ok. Just wondering if this has happened to others? Obligatory photos. Looking a little dark. I may have to add some colour. Cheers

@callisto That's good to know. Read quite a few reviews mostly (from another forum but by Jove it's hard work). Sure it be be fine and the amateur in me will get by.

Thanks @HollyHound I didn't know that. I have the app so shall give it a go. 1 question ticked off. Several dozen more upcoming in the other channels soon for you helpful lot to answer. 🙂