Hi Luca,

I have a GM811G, but I think I can help answer a couple questions about the cables and power and the answer is no. It doesn't have a DC socket or any type of cable management. All the cables will be hanging out. The CEM70 might be a better choice if both of those are important to you. I purchased a Losmandy because I liked the way it looked, the build is very, very solid and well made, it's upgradable, they have fantastic customer service, and most of all, it's made in the United States, Burbank to be exact. I'll pay and have paid the extra cost for well made tools made in the U.S.

The HD tripod accepts a 1/2” bolt down into the top. You need one 6” long. The ZWO 200 pier extension black base center hole is a bit under 1/2” so it needs drilled out to 1/2”. ?Can’t remember if the MA to MAL top center hole is already 1/2” or needs drilled out to 1/2” also. ?Bolt these to the tripod but do not tighten yet.
Then one of the two elongated slots on the 200 base near the edge will align with only one threaded hole in the MA to MAL top. ?I think it is a 1/4 inch bolt. ?Between the two bolts, this is very securely attached with no rotation. ?A perfect setup.

I’ve found these reusable zip ties to be handy at times, to temporarily bundle cables together. They hold like a regular zip tie, but have a built-in lever to unlock them when you need to un-bundle the cables. And they can be reused many dozens of times.

On Wed, Sep 18, 2024 at 05:59 AM, Luca Fumagalli wrote:

Chip, Ryan, thank you very much for the very detailed feedback! I do appreciate that.

Tracking numbers look very good -

About cable management, Dave, I like your idea to stiffen the cables using sleeves. I might try that one.

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Thank you again - I'm working on getting a decision soon.

Luca

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Many folks, myself included use a lightweight woven split nylon type cable sleeving like this:

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It provides just enough stiffness to work well if you have a limited number of cable going to and from the mount.? I have also used flexible plastic wands and tubes, they all work fine but being an ASIAIR user all I have to worry about is a couple of light gauge power cords for the ASIAIR and the camera cooling system as well as a CAT6 Ethernet patch cable which is connected to a small travel router which is also connected to via CAT6 cable to the Gemini 2 for command and control.? ? ??

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I don't know where you are located but I'm in L.A. and would be happy to help you get your rig setup. Let me know.?

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LOL, the Astro Hutech folks are very nice people but not wasting their time on the website which is from the stone ages.? AFAIK the Losmandy reticles are rarely seen on the website, you need to call them to order the reticles and sometimes there is a wait for them. I have purchased three or four of them over the years from Astro Hutech and I have always had to call them to order a reticle.? I have also sent others to Astro Hutech who ended up purchasing the updated Losmandy / Kenko reticles over the phone.? ? ??

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Thanks. The picture you showed is what I want to do. One question, and I am unsure if you answered originally. How did you bolt the MAL to MA adapter to the pier extension? Doesn’t the pier extension take a 3/8” bolt?

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Sent from my iDork

None needed. ?The black base plate of the ZWO 200 pier extension sits directly on the MAL to MA adapter. Stable as can be.

Chip, Ryan, thank you very much for the very detailed feedback! I do appreciate that.

Tracking numbers look very good -

About cable management, Dave, I like your idea to stiffen the cables using sleeves. I might try that one.

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Thank you again - I'm working on getting a decision soon.

Luca

Hey Luca,

I have never used an iOptron mount. I was thinking about a CEM70 at one point and opted for the G11 and I haven't looked back. I agree with all of Chip's points.

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As far as cable management goes, I use a mount-side NUC computer to run all mount control software with a Pegasus Powerbox to control mount and USB. I have a single power cable and a single USB cable to the Powerboat. These cables are routed through sleeves to give them some shape/stiffness. They float outside the motion of the mount and do not catch on the mount at any position in the range of motion. For me, this is as effective as any through-the-mount cabling could be.

as for guiding accuracy, this is what is possible (see below) after learning how to adjust your mount appropriately ?and utilizing PEC. Chip's guiding figures are realistic but consider that he is an expert operator who has finely tuned his craft. I would wager that you could at least match a CEM70 performance with guiding and then add that a G11 is meant to be user serviceable, as compared to a CEM70 or other iOptron mount which would be meant to be sent back to the manufacturer for any service.

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The Losmandy mount is a lifetime mount. It is a user-serviceable workhorse with the associated learning curve. In my humble opinion, owning a Losmandy mount requires a modicum of confidence and desire to learn how to care-for and feed it. If you have those traits, I would imagine you will do just fine.

On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 04:50 PM, Luca Fumagalli wrote:

Hello everybody,

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I'm starting again astrophotography after 3 years of stop (kid was born - I needed to sleep) and I'm looking now for a new mount with adequate capacity.

I was originally considering the iOptron CEM70, until I ended up in the Losmandy's page where I "found" the new G11. I have to confess, my heart has been stolen. But I still have to sort out a couple of questions before pulling the trigger.

1) Does anybody had the chance to use both mounts (CEM70 and G11) and can please provide a comparison to me? Specifically I'm looking into tracking performances.

2) Does the G11 have any sort of cable management feature? Like a through the mount cabling? In the Losmandy's page I see only few pictures and I can't tell too much from them.

3) Is the DEC axis equipped with at least 1x DC socket?

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Thank you in advance - Luca

Hi Luca,

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#1??I have used the iOptron CEM60 which is the predecessor to the CEM70, they are basically the same mount but for some reason rated for a fictional higher payload weight.? It should tell you something that I currently own 3 Losmandy mounts and until recently owned 4, all with a purpose.? Based on my experience and others with iOptron I would never buy another iOptron mount.??

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#2? No, wisely Losmandy lacks any cable management that you don't implement on your own.? I have no idea why people think cable management is a must have feature for mounts. There is no cable managed mount or saddle with integral USB ports or hub sold that will remain clean if it is going to be used for imaging.? They lack adequate ports for modern imaging rigs and are not managed.? You should also know that the iOptron mounts with USB ports have a long and unpleasant history of their USB hubs and ports crippling their mounts due to the way iOptron maximized USB chip pins and routed the unprotected cables to their integrated ports. IME it much more flexible and forward looking to buy a managed and powered USB hub and hang it under your OTA. These can also be replaced and upgraded when you outgrow them or comm standards change. With an integrated cable managed mount you are just out of luck and god help you if the hub or cable goes down and you need parts because many use the same USB chips to talk to their mount controller and hand set.?

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#3? No. Losmandy mounts have zero cable integrated management and the same issues apply to DC power ports. See #2.? ? ? ??

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Something you might want to consider is that unlike any other mounts being sold today Losmandy is still selling, supporting and developing their mounts based on the original design first released over 32 years ago. Every Losmandy G11 and GM8 sold can be updated to the current production specs and are capable of guided tracking well below 0.5" PE. My own Losmandy G11G is over 20 years old and was updated by Scott Losmandy at the shop in Burbank several years ago. On a good night the total guided PE is in the range of 0.40"- 0.32" seconds. This is likely better than most people need unless you are imaging beyond 1,600mm fl under perfectly still skies.?

Losmandy mounts are the only mounts that are fully supported even purchased used! I don't know where you are located but find a group of serious imagers and you will find many using Losmandy mounts with great success. Sure there are some bad Losmandy mounts out there, I have fixed them for other people, but they have been poorly maintained and not well understood by the owners and are usually old, used and abused. BUT, they can be brought back to life and up to spec and no other mounts can make that claim.? ? ?

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On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 03:52 AM, <ernie.mastroianni@...> wrote:

Does anyone know where I can buy the updated reticle for the G-11 polar scope? My G-11 mount is 30 years old and works fine, but I've outlived the reticle, which has no alignment marks after 2010.

- Ernie

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Sometimes Losmandy has them but if not you can order them from ?

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Hello everybody,

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I'm starting again astrophotography after 3 years of stop (kid was born - I needed to sleep) and I'm looking now for a new mount with adequate capacity.

I was originally considering the iOptron CEM70, until I ended up in the Losmandy's page where I "found" the new G11. I have to confess, my heart has been stolen. But I still have to sort out a couple of questions before pulling the trigger.

1) Does anybody had the chance to use both mounts (CEM70 and G11) and can please provide a comparison to me? Specifically I'm looking into tracking performances.

2) Does the G11 have any sort of cable management feature? Like a through the mount cabling? In the Losmandy's page I see only few pictures and I can't tell too much from them.

3) Is the DEC axis equipped with at least 1x DC socket?

?

Thank you in advance - Luca

On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 09:30 AM, <sctom1@...> wrote:

I needed the extra height of the Losmandy head plus the ZWO 200 pier extension to get my Stellarvue SVX140 from hitting the tripod legs when near vertical. if I put an EFW and OAG on I may need to add risers between the scope and the bottom plate to get it out even further. So in this respect the extra weight of the Losmandy HD tripod is needed to keep the whole thing from flipping. The ZWO tripod could flip with the 140, even with weights added. ?
The tripod also accepts a 3/8 inch bolt on the underside of the head, which I used to bolt it down with hooks and turnbuckles to a homemade scope buggy made from leftover 2x6’s and casters. Roll the fully det up scope out of and back into the garage. ?Next best thing to an observatory.

That's interesting. What adapter plate did you use between the Losmandy head and the ZWO extension?

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John

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Losmandy G11G2 on pier; refurbed Losmandy G11 with OnStep controller; SkyShed design roll-off observatory; ZWO ASI2600MM-P; ZWO ASI071MC; Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED with field flattener; Celestron C925 Edge HD with 0.7XFR, William Optics Zenithstar 61 APO; PHD2, NINA, Sequence Generator Pro and PixInsight user

I needed the extra height of the Losmandy head plus the ZWO 200 pier extension to get my Stellarvue SVX140 from hitting the tripod legs when near vertical. if I put an EFW and OAG on I may need to add risers between the scope and the bottom plate to get it out even further. So in this respect the extra weight of the Losmandy HD tripod is needed to keep the whole thing from flipping. The ZWO tripod could flip with the 140, even with weights added. ?
The tripod also accepts a 3/8 inch bolt on the underside of the head, which I used to bolt it down with hooks and turnbuckles to a homemade scope buggy made from leftover 2x6’s and casters. Roll the fully det up scope out of and back into the garage. ?Next best thing to an observatory.

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I will also add that my recommendation is that while you should attempt to refine your polar alignment error, I'm not personally convinced that you should trust it to the Nth degree; that is, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it as the software will tell you your "error" with the utmost confidence, yet if you run it immediately again afterwards without changing anything you will most likely get a slightly different result. We are talking about fractions of a hair's width in accuracy combined with hand-adjustable parts and mechanical flex which can not totally be eliminated. By doing the best you can, within reason, and being consistent, you will reduce the effect of polar alignment error below the noise floor of your imaging session. Some slight polar alignment error can actually help offset declination backlash. PHD2 is pretty incredible.

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I like to say "measure with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax."

That seems like a great plan to me.

I also use the Polemaster most consistently. I also have used the NINA 3-point PA (TPA) and the PHD2 Drift Align. To me the Polemaster is the most consistent and the fastest. I have found that If I use any of those methods and I require a large initial adjustment to dial in the alignment, I will use the first iteration of the alignment to get it pretty close and then restart the alignment again from scratch. This tends to give me more accurate and more repeatable results. If you use the NINA TPA I would read through the documentation for recommendations. Personally I find the pointing declination about 35-50 degrees from Polaris works most consistently for me but your mileage may vary.

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If I leave my mount set up on the back porch, I find I generally do not have to re-align each night, but rather, I will cold start the mount at CWD, open PHD2 through NINA, use calibration assistant (Tools > Calibration Assistant) to slew to the meridian at 0 declination, and then I cancel the calibration (I reuse mine) and run guiding assistant instead (Tools > Guiding Assistant) for 2-5 minutes.

I find this functions as a "check" of my unguided performance for the night, it gives me a easily understandable reading of my polar alignment error, and gives recommendations for my PHD2 sensitivity based on the seeing. I like to see "less than an arc second" but I accept anything up to about 6 arc seconds with my 1300mm focal length. If it is more than that I reattempt polar alignment.

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Jim,

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Not sure why you want to attach the ZWO parts to the MAL head. Just take that head off and put it aside, then bolt your ZWO extension to the flat tripod head base. The Losmandy tripod is way overkill for the AM5; their carbon fiber tripod would be better for weight and convenience and works just fine. The Losmandy is intended for much heavier rigs. The pic I showed earlier was of my pier inside my shed, where I removed the MAL head and then attached the ZWO extension as a temporary situation. Normally my G11 sits atop there.?

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John

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Losmandy G11G2 on pier; refurbed Losmandy G11 with OnStep controller; SkyShed design roll-off observatory; ZWO ASI2600MM-P; ZWO ASI071MC; Sky-Watcher Esprit 100 ED with field flattener; Celestron C925 Edge HD with 0.7XFR, William Optics Zenithstar 61 APO; PHD2, NINA, Sequence Generator Pro and PixInsight user

Does anyone know where I can buy the updated reticle for the G-11 polar scope? My G-11 mount is 30 years old and works fine, but I've outlived the reticle, which has no alignment marks after 2010.

- Ernie

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