Posts Made By: Matt Brown

Does anyone know the weight and shortest length of the FC76 OTA? I am wondering if it would be an ok airline portable scope that would work well on a telepod mount.

thanks,
matt

I received a phone call today from Coronado telling me (actually my wife) that my Solarmax 40mm was being shipped today. Hopefully, I'll get it in a couple days. I ordered it in late Nov. so 5 1/2 mos. isn't too bad.

I recently purchased a G-11 with polar scope and dovetail which was advertised as being in 'excellent condition'. I paid $1700 which I felt was a fair price for an excellent condition G-11 and polar scope and dovetail. The seller mentioned that the legs' anodizing was purpled and there was a rip on one of the motor covers.

When the mount arrived, it had other problems. The worm covers were missing, the polar scope was so dirty it was unusable, and the clutch washers/thrust bearing were all rusty. The mount itself was very dirty with the dirt/grease residue around the worms and anywhere else there was grease. With this exterior condition I felt the interior components were probably the same condition. I have used the mount once and it did track fine for visual use.

At this point I asked for a refund or $500 discount because this was not 'excellent condition'. It turns out the previous owner hadn't even turned it on and said he knew very little about a G-11.

He refused to give me a refund instead offering $150.

Since that point I have now taken the mount apart because I feel I am stuck with it and of course all 4 needle bearings are seized. One of the DEC bearings has rusted in the DEC housing, so this definitely needs replaced.

My question is what rating should I give this person? Is $150 discount fair for the mount in this condition? Am I out of line to ask for a refund?

thanks for any thoughts,
matt

What prompted the return of the 100/800? I thought that was one that always seemed to be in demand unless it was in stock?

I had one and it was great, kept wnating another but never could convince myself to buy another.

matt

Hi All,

I received a new 130 GT yesterday and noted the warnings on the packaging to 'please keep horizontal'.

Is this only for shipping, or should it only be stored in a horizontal position too (possibility of damage from a fall or vibration from truck shipment causing alignment issues)? Obviously, they are used in a vertical orientation so it isn't that.

I just don't want to take a chance storing vertically if there is a chance of damage (other than clutziness).

thanks,
matt

Hi,

Yes, I had one back in the early 90's. The picture looked just like it.

matt

Parallax makes Newtonian OTAs and rings. They are pricey though.

I have thought about just getting one of the inexpensive Orion or Discovery Dobs and getting some tube rings and mounting it that way.

matt

nice picture.

what type of snake? Is it actually a rattlesnake? It looks alot like a common watersnake around the midwest and will make me double check any I see if it is a rattlesnake.

Hi Steve,
I have an 8" f/7 DHQ. I upgraded to the JMI focuser.

It is very good optically but the rocker box needs work. I have added three braces to mine. Not really a big deal but still . . .

I also rigged up a counterbalance with velcro and a weight because switching from a typical Plossl size to a 12mm Nagler requires some rebalancing at 60 degree elevation or lower.

When I first purchased it I also had an XT8 and compared them optically. I could barely tell the difference.

Mechanically, I would say that out of the box the XT8 was definitely better.

The longer tube on the f/7 also is something to consider. It is quite a bit longer than I expected.

If I didn't have more money invested in the Discovery I would have kept the XT8.

matt

John Kerry walks into a bar and the bartender says, "why the long face?"

they took shots at both sides.