Musical Mounts 🤪

[Stu]

I do my own head in sometimes, changing things around and selling things I then regret selling. I have lost count of how many Vixen EQ mounts I’ve had. I think two GPs, a GP2, two GP-DXs, two Sphinx’,  an SP and an Atlux! Craziness!

I think the one I enjoyed most was a GP which was beautifully fettled, with simple dual axis drives and I had it setup permanently in the garden. I used it alot for lunar and solar observing.

I do really enjoy the Skysensor 2000PC controllers; I re bought a DX with SS2k quite a while back but really haven’t used it much. Now that I have the AZ100 with motor kit, if I want Goto, I use that, so I’m now playing musical mounts again!

Current EQ mounts:

GP2 with single axis drive

GP-DX with SS2K

I guess I’m trying to get back to a simple dual axis driven Vixen GP, so this is the crazy process I’m going through…..

I have just bought and received a lovely GP in excellent condition. 

I’ve sold and delivered my GP-DX with SS2k.

I have bought a black SP with green Vixen MT1 motors and DD-1 controller.

I have now put the motors from the SP on my GP and also fitted the ADM saddle upgrade, with a 1.25” saddle to avoid marring my dovetails, and so I get back to a dual axis driven, lightweight EQ for the FC100/FL102S.

I will then sell the SP without motors and the GP2 and be back to one EQ mount which will hopefully get a decent amount of use.

Someone please make the madness stop now!! 🤪🤪

[dweller25]

Great collection, they are such good mounts.

I have the GP and GP-DX for a very long time now, both still going strong 👍

[John]

There are several mounts that I have owned in the past, let go, and now wish that I still had. The Vixen GP is one of those 😬

I had a black one, as made for Celestron by Vixen. I'm not a huge fan of EQ mounts but the GP just does it "right" for a 4 inch frac:

[JeremyS]

@Stu the whole point of musical chairs is that when the music stops, you remove a chair. Not add one!

[Stu]

1 hour ago, JeremyS said:

@Stu the whole point of musical chairs is that when the music stops, you remove a chair. Not add one!

Ah well young Jeremy, if you read the story correctly that’s exactly what happens!

Starting point:

GP-DX

GP2

Middle bit:

GP-DX

GP2

GP

SP

Now:

GP2

GP

SP

End goal:

GP

I’ll get there! 🤪🤪

[AL1]

Hi,

Has anyone had experience with the original vixen encoders for the GP.  I am curious what count they are?  Could they be interfaced to a Nexus DSC?  "Push to"  GPD project ...

[Stu]

On 29/03/2024 at 08:21, AL1 said:

Hi,

Has anyone had experience with the original vixen encoders for the GP.  I am curious what count they are?  Could they be interfaced to a Nexus DSC?  "Push to"  GPD project ...

I hadn’t heard of those before, interesting to hear if anyone has used them. A quick google shows a few Cloudy Night threads on them.

[tomato]

When I read the title I assumed you had got bored with the clouds and programmed a slewing sequence into your mount so it played a tune.

I was so looking forward to watching and listening to the video…

[Stu]

56 minutes ago, tomato said:

When I read the title I assumed you had got bored with the clouds and programmed a slewing sequence into your mount so it played a tune.

I was so looking forward to watching and listening to the video…

It’s about all they are good for at the moment!