Celestron Nexstar 11" GPS

Hi,

Does anyone have any info on the Celestron Nexstar 11" GPS as pertains to users who had problems and users who did NOT have problems? Which versions of the HC and MC are the best? Thanks in advance.

Michael

I have seen problems with the 8 and the 11 GPS. Both had problems with GPS Linking. Both happened without warning and then began working again after a time(1/2 hour-3 hours)
and the 8 was mine. I had to exchange my telescope 2 x before I got one that worked properly. That is to say I am on my 3rd new telescope from Celestron. My scope would not GPS link at all or would display incorrect time and date and location upon linking. I sent it in for repairs and when it was returned to me it failed again on the very 1st use! The same problem persisted. I returned it for exchange from Woodland Hills Photo, they stood behind it 100%! That was the second scope. The 1st scope would not find north at all and would just go round and round for minutes at a time. It did this out of the box new. I never did get it to level and find north. I returned it for exchange a week after purchase.
The 11" had the problem a week ago on Mt. Pinos. We were observing side by side comparing views, when suddenly his scope slewed out of control. He attemted to align it and get it to work for 30 minutes. Then he reset it to factory defaults and when it rebooted it seemed to work fine, This was his 1st problem in over 1 1/2 years. He was not happy, but I don't know what he did about it as I have not seen him since then.
I must say that I have also seen a problem with Nexstar 8i as well. It would not go 360' in a circle, it seemed to be hitting something inside the base.
To be fair I have also seen a brand new LX200 12" GPS dead, new out of the box at Mt. Pinos! it would not move as if the motor was disconnected or inop.

I am not trying to say anything bad about the Nexstar. My 3rd scope works very well and I have had no problems with it. I am just answering a question concerning problems with them.
Floyd