Anyone got the new NEXSTAR+ Hand Control?

[billhinge]

Apparently there is a new version of the Nexstar hand control, anyone got one. Is it worth getting for a tinkerer ?

http://celestron.uk.com/productinfo.php/accessories/navigational_accessories/nexstar+_hand_control_eq/3653

[Cornelius Varley]

I don't think it's available just yet. Coming soon.

Peter

[Cath]

When I got my 6SE last feb it came with the + handset. As I haven't seen or used the previous version I can't say how different they are.

[Chris Rowland]

The Nexstar+ HC seems to be appearing on new scopes.

While the case looks the same there are some significant differences:

The keys are contoured so it's easier to tell which ones you are pressing without looking.

The positions of the buttons and what they do is signifacantly different.

The HC update program is totally different.

The basic operation is the same, there's no new functionality (yet).

I hear that the display will cope better with low temperatures.

Personally I wouldn't get a new one if my current HC was working.

It's possible that in the future this will change because new features may only become available on the new HC.

Chris

[billhinge]

Ok thanks, I'm still using old firmware for the mount and handset (ie not latest since I'm on a mac and firmware update seems archaic windows XP based) so I'll keep an eye on how this develops, hopefully I may notice some difference.

I may get one in future when they become available (David Hinds site says coming soon)