On Mon, Jan 29, 2024 at 11:42 AM, <mikelleen@...> wrote:
This G11 is probably an older mount that came with the original Losmandy #492 Digital Drive system given the original 2-piece worm blocks and solid elevation knob which was original starting in 1992 and later milled out and knurling added. Another tip off for age could be the wooden tripod, if the tripod is the one I think it is these were used by AP back in the day and often sold as an alternative to the Losmandy fixed HD tripod. It probably received a full Gemini 2 upgrade kit within the last 6 or 7 years? That said this G11 has nice mix of older and newer upgrades, the split RA extension kit, later milled out thinwall tooless knobs for mouting to the tripod and elevation, captain's knobs on the clutches with the older style machining, Polar scope possibly / probably with an out of date reticle as there is not cordless illuminator but the plug is in place.? ??
There is something you need to know about ALL Losmandy GM8 and G11 mounts - unless the mount is physically damaged or modified by an idiot virtually all Losmandy GM8 and G11 mounts can be updated to meet current specs and features. The only caveats are undamaged, unmodified and that it can cost a lot to do a full update. But given the general condition in the photos and parts on this G11 the only thing you are missing are tucked in servo motors with spring loaded 1-piece worm blocks and possibly the later High Precision worms. The rest of the mount with a Gemin 2 mini and HT servos is essentially up to current specs. Just update the Gemini 2 to L6 and if you feel it is worth it the improved cable routing buy a pair of current high torque servos with side mount connectors. For imaging this is an improvement over the bottom cable connectors.?
My nearly 20 year old G11 started life as a G11s with #492 Digital Drive. I updated to a full Gemini 1 upgrade kit, then added High Precision worms and added worm bearing preload using Belleville spring discs and was impressed by the low tracking error. That was followed by a Gemini 2 controller then Scott installed the then brand new tucked in servo motor upgrade and the matching 1-piece worm blocks, shortly after that Scott installed the spring loaded modification which brought my old friend fully up to modern specs. This mount is an excellent mount for imaging and typically delivers very sub 0.5" arcseconds PE when guided using D2. With the ASIAIR Plus the PE is not as good but this is due to the lack of tunability of the autoguiding in the ASIAIR Plus, the mount is fully capable of lower PE after L6 because even with the ASIAIR Plus autoguiding has improved.??
I don't know where you are but if the price is reasonable I would say buy it!?
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?
? ?Astrospheric Weather Forecast - South Pasadena, CA?
Chip Louie