No Response 17, No Response 16....
Dec 19, 2019 11:59:54 #
stepping beyond wrote:
Bummer Sonny , we're once again in the same boat , don't feel bad I'm tired of the same fix something every time I go capture some photons. My lil' Squirts Vet bills are real high {congested Heart failure} is no joke but, that's what ya do for your best friend.
Mine has a heart murmur. Everybody mentions it if they feel it. He doesn't seem bothered, so I don't tell him he has it. One of the Grandson's has a Fiance` who loves animals. She was holding him and mentioned his heart murmur.
At 16 (be 17 yo Dec 28). But he still has his spurts and plays. Like most old beings, he comes in from the backyard all excited after a good poop. Pure joy. He's only beginning to get light in the face.
We had him professionally groomed and finally found us a keeper of a groomer. He was so proud of his new look. You can tell with your dog is pleased and they are happy. And he didn't smell perfumed, so he didn't try and rub off any smells.
We took him to Sacramento for a Nephew's funeral in our Granny Vanny, and he didn't shed any hair. That's a first!
He was a big hit with all the Family. He's real social.
Yep, pets are a commitment. But the returning dividends are worth it.
Nothing on Earth is as loyal as a dog is.
Dec 19, 2019 12:19:31 #
Albuqshutterbug wrote:
Nikonshooter had an AVX mount that he had repaired if memory serves he had put aside in case yours broke. Or last I heard any way. 
I had a friend in Maine contact me wanting to buy mine so he could fix his. His had galled up the Dec head and he needed the hardware to repair his.
We struck a deal, I had the OEM foam shipping block, and just happened to had a perfect box to pack it in.
It arrived to him on Tuesday morning in Bangor Maine.
He's underway repairing his AVX.
I'm happy, and he's ecstatic.
I'm giving the tripod to Brian in the hopes he can use it for a Skywatcher mount (Camera mount, I think).
And I'm looking at a possible new mount, Losmandy. I'm going to jump clear over the Moon.
It's way more mount than I can justify, until I think in terms of Inherit ability. One of the Grandson's and his girlfriend are interested in Astronomy, and he is in a course in Jr. College and very chatty about how much he likes it. So my thoughts are about after I'm done with the equipment.
If I get all the bugs worked out, somebody could have fun with my leftovers.
I'm always thinking about a 2 for 1 with things I buy.
Dec 19, 2019 14:03:13 #
SonnyE wrote:
I had a friend in Maine contact me wanting to buy ... (show quote)
You decided on a losmandy? Good choice! At least there will always be parts, and repair services for it, even 15 years down the road. Are you thinking new or used?
Dec 19, 2019 15:52:15 #
I've been looking into the Losmandy G11goto with Gemini 2 hbx , It's MADE IN USA "Hollywood" and not china . I epoxied today and tomorrow I'll use the Loctite the Saddle screws in and hopefully that'll be that. "Keep kicking that can down the road" . I like what everyone has to say about the G11 , Sonny, you're looking into the GM8 correct? YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO KICK IT. Like Brian said : it's going to be easy for you all the way around .
Dec 21, 2019 12:05:45 #
stepping beyond wrote:
I've been looking into the Losmandy G11goto with Gemini 2 hbx , It's MADE IN USA "Hollywood" and not china . I epoxied today and tomorrow I'll use the Loctite the Saddle screws in and hopefully that'll be that. "Keep kicking that can down the road" . I like what everyone has to say about the G11 , Sonny, you're looking into the GM8 correct? YOU MAY NOT HAVE TO KICK IT. Like Brian said : it's going to be easy for you all the way around .
I'm looking at this package: http://store.losmandy.com/gm811ghd
I live ~28.4 miles away from Scott's business address in Burbank, CA. Or as we say here, 35 minutes to 2 hours, depending on traffic....
And if I do go this way (not sure I will) I'd like to pick it up personally. That way I'd know exactly when it would arrive, and how it was handled on the way.
It's more than I need with a 50 pound load rating, but all that I want considering...
One of my reasoning's is for inheritance. One of the Grandson's, who has been close to me since his birth, is in college. He is taking an astronomy class and is interested in it. So my thinking is a place for my set-up after I'm gone. We text back and forth.
(For reason's unknown to me, he bonded to me from his infancy. And he's always been close to his Grandma and I. He brings his little projects from his school years to Grandma's because he knows they will be cherished here, and never disposed of. He's said as much, that his Mom would just throw it away eventually. Sad.)
I'm turning 70 in March. (Like fine milk souring
) 
So I'm considering where I put things as I exit.My wood shop equipment has already gone to the Daughters Family in Washington State. My body is too weak to do the work anymore.
As I find interested parties, I'm parting out my life's interests and treasures.
Much to my wife's lament, when I go into something, I usually wind up like this, at the Losmandy end. Or heavily invested anyway.
I think I got about as much as I could from my AVX. It is an entry level mount, and I made it take me places mostly reserved for the Big Boys toys. It was a learning tool, I learned to stay away from Chinese made equipment. Besides, Burbank (35 minutes) is a lot closer than Torrance (1 Hr 45 Min) is to me.
If you Google Celestron, go to satellite view, Ta-Da, where I delivered my AVX the first time it failed. Then Google Sky Watcher at it's address and go to satellite view. Well, looky there Celestron's logo on the building.
I'm a realist, will a new mount take me to new places? Probably not. There are only so many places you can reach, with what you use to get there.
But I think I'd rather invest in something that can take me on trips from my backyard for as long as I can todder out and do an alignment. Then be a working keepsake for others if/when they take an interest.
Or at least have some resale value.
One thing is certain, I'm sure not doing anything with my equipment without a mount. And visual doesn't hold my interest for longer than a few minutes. Ho hum.
My CFO wants me to hold off until February. And she is reconciled to me doing whatever I want anyway. She knows I have researched what I buy thoroughly before I buy it. And can justify it.
So basically, I'm talking myself into it. Or have, I guess. And twiddling my thumbs over the holidays.
Dec 21, 2019 12:36:36 #
‘Like fine milk souring”
😂🤣😂🤣
I hope you get one, that’s a nice piece of equipment, and you’re right, it’ll hold its value.
😂🤣😂🤣
I hope you get one, that’s a nice piece of equipment, and you’re right, it’ll hold its value.
Dec 21, 2019 19:04:04 #
That's just what you need as long as your image train isn't no more than 16.5# 1/3 of total load capacity , I have to push the limits myself . My situation makes me financially deprived , so Chinese {sweat shop} mounts is what I'm allowed , My lil' fella trumps everything . Someday , it'll happen . I count my blessings and that's fine with me. I wouldn't know how to act if I had equipment that didn't give me fits.
Dec 22, 2019 11:43:16 #
stepping beyond wrote:
That's just what you need as long as your image train isn't no more than 16.5# 1/3 of total load capacity , I have to push the limits myself . My situation makes me financially deprived , so Chinese {sweat shop} mounts is what I'm allowed , My lil' fella trumps everything . Someday , it'll happen . I count my blessings and that's fine with me. I wouldn't know how to act if I had equipment that didn't give me fits.
I don't foresee any changes in my imaging train. And no rich uncles around here.
And I fully understand about your little fella. They become attached to their human and would give their lives for us. Nothing I know of is as loyal as a dog is. So what ever it takes, we will give.
I'm in this Astro stuff for the long haul now. It's a trip that never leaves the farm. And given a clear sky, something as limitless as the Universe, or as limited as our efforts. I've tasted of the wine of success.
But now I need a new barrel to set the wine and cheese on.
My first barrel has disintegrated.Way too prematurely, too.
So I need to take the radiator cap off the AVX, push the old ride back, drive a new ride under the radiator cap. And then throw the old radiator cap away.
The guy who bought the old AVX for parts discovered a hot spot of one of the IC (integrated circuit) chips on one of the boards. So it reinforces my thoughts on it being crap components from China. I made a disappointing discovery digging around the Losmandy website as well, although the IC chips on Losmandy control boards as Siemens Brand (trusted), they say Singapore on them. Darn!
So I suppose we can't get away from Chinese parts, just have to decide where to put our trust.
This is going to cost several vacations for the wife...
Dec 22, 2019 12:03:45 #
Once you get your new equipment, I think you should take her on a very nice vacation. Somewhere with really high elevation. 😂🤣😂🤣
Dec 22, 2019 19:11:43 #
Dec 22, 2019 19:50:42 #
Dec 23, 2019 11:40:09 #
Europa wrote:
Once you get your new equipment, I think you should take her on a very nice vacation. Somewhere with really high elevation. 😂🤣😂🤣
Well, there is a desert in Chile I wanted to see....
And the Daughter-in-Law's Father has family in Chile....
Dec 26, 2019 10:59:28 #
I hope yall had a wonderfully blessed Christmas there in Cali , I'm still hoping for that Christmas miracle to happen once again while enjoying 65° sunny weather.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.