
Equipment Check
- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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Equipment Check was created by lunartic_old
The seeing tonight is pretty c**p, still, I set up the scope for a couple of reasons, I recently purchased a Telrad and upgraded the hand controller on my CG-5 mount, so both had to be tested.
Aligning the Telrad took a couple of minutes and works perfectly.
With the HC I aligned the scope with the two star alignment, I also added two calibration stars and it was time to test the upgrade. I selected M57, and with my 6.7mm eyepiece in, giving a magnification of 351X, M57 was just off to the left in the field of view, no doubt due to my imperfect centering in the eyepiece. As a further test I went off, made a cup of tea and had a chat with the wife, well, you have to.

I hope to have a few quid soon, I was going to invest in a new mount, Celestron's Advanced VX or the EQ-6, possibly the Celestron C-GEM, if I save a little longer, now I'm not so sure, the CG-5 appears to be functioning fine. Perhaps I should use the money to improve the OTA, get a rack and pinion focuser perhaps, I'm not a fan of the focuser on the SCT, a few premium eyepieces and an illuminated reticle eyepiece for better aignment perhaps.
Three things I've learned tonight. The Telrad is a great piece of kit, the upgrade to the HC is a definite improvement, and if anyone with a CG-5 who has not upgraded should do so, and I need a bloody observatory.

Despite the c**p seeing, a good night.
Paul
Rich Cook
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- astroman145
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Replied by astroman145 on topic Equipment Check
i was out tonight myself it was,nt to bad it was the first clearish night in along time and i headed out the back for a quick look and to try and work out my cg5 mount as well.
i got a cg5gt mount secondhand of course and was trying my best to align it and after a few hair pulling and a few choice words i had to give in don,t know what i,m doing wrong but hopefully a few more clear nights and a bit of patience it,ll come to me .
i,m going up to sugarloaf on saturday if the skies are clear and hopefully i,ll get a bit of advice and bob,s your uncle .
clear skies val
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- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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Replied by lunartic_old on topic Equipment Check
I hope to be there myself, exactly what was the problem you were having?
Paul
Rich Cook
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- astroman145
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Replied by astroman145 on topic Equipment Check
i set the tripod as per instructions north found polaris thru the polar finder then date time the usual and tried a two star alignment +two calibrate stars but when i thought it was aligned it was way off it must be something i,m missing or else the mount is off as i said i bought the mount which is about five years old before school holidays and hav,nt had much time or clear skies to practice with .val
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- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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Paul
Rich Cook
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- astroman145
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clear skies for saturday paul chat to you then thanks val
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- astroman145
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- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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Replied by lunartic_old on topic Equipment Check
Paul
Rich Cook
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- astroman145
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val
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- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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Replied by lunartic_old on topic Equipment Check
The upgrade is free and simple, connect your hand controller to the computer and download the upgrade from the Celestron site, here:
www.celestron.com/c3/support3/index.php?...aditemid=586&nav=0,7
You will need a RS 232 cable to connect from your computer to the hand controller, I have one if you would like to borrow, this website explains how to complete the process, it's very simple and only takes a couple of minutes.
leiron.be/infodocs/celestron-flash.html
Paul
Rich Cook
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- astroman145
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- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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Rich Cook
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- lunartic_old
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- Super Giant
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- Posts: 1954
- Thank you received: 976
Replied by lunartic_old on topic Equipment Check
Paul
Rich Cook
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