Re: CG-5A Go-to mount?

On May 29, 4:06 pm, "Roger Hamlett"
<rogerspamigno...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Jim" <IronD...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message


This mount is very good 'value', and most now are good 'out of the box'.
There is some tweaking (fairly essential on the older versions of the
mechanism), which can also help, but this has now become generally
unecessary for new units. For the money, it is good, provided it is not
loaded up to silly levels (it has better bearings, than the original mount
it was loosely 'based' on). It is comfortable for scopes like the C5, C6,
C8, even being quite capable of astrophotography with care on this sort of
scope, which shows quite good stability is possible.
I have one, with a C6, as a very useful 'holiday' scope/mount, and it
really does work very well.
As a comparison, I also have a Vixen Sphinx, and while the this is
mechanically nicer (retractable counterweight shaft, better enclosed
motors, etc.), the CG5A 'combination', gives better GoTo, larger database,
and much more useable controller, that the latter, making it the 'better'
product at present...
The HEQ5 Pro 'Skyscan', has a less upgradeable controller, but is another
mount in a similar price range (in the UK), so might be worth looking at.

Best Wishes

Hi Roger:

I agree on all counts.

I've often thought about the Sirius/HEQ5 or the Atlas/EQ6/Synscan as
they are both better payload wise...but the problem there is I don't
think I could bear to give up Nexremote (although the EQMOD program
for the Atlas/Sirius is coming on strong).

Let me also say I guess "ridiculous" is in the eye of the beholder. I
used to be very doubtful about the C11 version, the C11-SGT. While I
would still not recommend one for imaging, of course, I've used a
buddy's 11 for visual work and it does surprisingly well--especially
with the addition of a set of the vibration supression pads. It's
certainly an amazing value...you're essentially getting the mount for
free.

Yes, after a year or so of teething pains, Celestron got the bugs out
of the CG5, and it now is and has been quite reliable. It IS more
difficult for a beginner to get going than a fork, however.


;-)

Unk Rod

.