Posts Made By: Don Soria

Hi Dave,

I'm using my C8 with a LXD55 mount on a portable pier. My C8 w/diagonal, eyepiece, finder and all weights in about 16lbs. I’m also using a dovetail bar to mount to the LXD55, no rings. I would have to say that the LXD55 mount does handle my C8 favorably for viewing use. No problems with the goto’s. One or two tricks to be aware of are: Balancing the ota, I found that the balancing point sits farther back on the ota. That being said, the balancing the ota for both the DEC and RA is very critical for “goto” and tracking. The RA requires you to use the counterweights for balancing, you may want to use two smaller weights for fine tuning. The DEC will require you to slide the ota back and forth in the mount to find the perfect placement of the ota. Care spent in balancing the ota, pays big dividends when viewing. When setting up your LXD55 mount, be sure to Calibrate the Motors with your ota fully balanced in the mount. If you’re new the LXD55, join the Yahoo Group: LXD55telescope, access the Files section and download the Tips & Tricks.pdf file in the file section, it has some very good recommendations on how to setup the mount. Just one short note: I was viewing last weekend and after an hour or so, I added on my flexible dew shield to the front of the C8. Boy did that mess up the tracking and goto’s, I had to re-balance everything.

I have pictures of my setup if you’re interested. Don

I also have a C8-gray ota and am getting started in imaging. My ota has noticable mirror flop. My solution was to pick up a motofocuser that attaches to the ota at the v-back. It's an older NGF-S w/moto by JMI, got it in an auction. At a great price. I didn't like the motofocusers that attach themselves to the normal focuser knob and there by moving the mirror.

I can coarse focus with the normal knob. Then fine tune with the motofocuser. The added plus is no mirror movement and little or no vibration. I know there are non-motor focusers out there that attach to the v-back and provide the same type of results, by fine focusing at the v-back and not moving the mirror.

Don 8)

So which mount did you end up buying? I'll looking at the HEQ5 and EQ6 both with the SkyScan ability. I understand the HQE5 is a lighter head weight than the EQ6. Both have the rugged ability. What did you like and or dislike about these mounts.

Thanks, Don