Losmandy G11?

[buoyant quail]

There are a bunch of people here that own it, it's probably easier if you message them directly. Just type in the discord search bar "losmandy in:deep_space_pics" and it will show who owns it

[quasi tulip]

It is a great and sturdy mount. Mine is 20 years old and still performs well. However, I do not pay much attention to backlash or periodic error, so I can't tell you much there.

[buoyant quail]

can it be connected to a pc or is it usable only with the hand controller?

[quasi tulip]

depends on your variety, the original one does not have goto, so hand controller only.

[buoyant quail]

ok so there are multiple version of it, good to know

[rain vine]

It uses Ascom drivers so you can computerize it with NINA etc etc. You can also use it with the full ASI air setup. I don't own one but a buddy of mine does. It is a bit of a quirky piece of equipment but all the little inconveniences fade away quickly when you see it, feel it and use it. It is a piece of fine machinery that is built like a tank.

[jagged marsh]

Bummer the post was deleted...but feel free to ask me questions.

[rain vine]

What are some things you do NOT like about the Losmandy and what is your fave thing?

[jagged marsh]

my least favorite thing... Coming from asiair controller... Not everything worked right out of the box. Ultimately was resolved, but took a little more configuration than the Sky-Watcher mount I was coming from. What I love... that it's made in USA, I love that if I want more payload capacity, I can upgrade. I love that there is a decent community that is very responsive to questions and whatnot. The build quality (fit and finish) is premium, ample payload capacity (60lb).

[rain vine]

My friend uses his with NINA and a NUC and he is definitely at the advanced skill level. He hates the polar scope, the fact that rotating the axes is very stiff and the super bright hand controller (to me really small things). But everyone I talk to sounds exactly like you. There are a few inconveniences, but all the pluses overwhelmingly make it a positive experience.

I think I will get one in a couple of years, I don't need it until I move up in aperture from my 80 mm refactor and CEM26. I will need a new mount when I move on to 115-140 or so which is my plan. I am really addicted to ZWO and ASIair though. I hope that it isn't too much trouble to make them work smoothly together. I will deal with it though.

[jagged marsh]

Nah, I run with the AA and its fine. Meridian flips are fine, goto is spot on. polar alignment is a breeze on the AA (never used the polar scope). 10, 20 minute subs no problem (but I mostly just run 5m)

Hand controller, no biggie, you dont even need it plugged in with the AA

[rain vine]

Great that sounds just perfect. I think people have to find something to complain about sometimes. All my subs would be less than 20 anyway. I am just like you in that I would never use the polar scope and why do you even need the hand controller? Silly people.

[jagged marsh]

its a solid mount. I was comparing to the ioptron cem60. price wise, g11 came out on top with its included heavy duty tripod, which was an additional 1000$ on the iOptron side

[rain vine]

I had not put a pencil to paper on it, but just casually looking I got the feeling that was the case. Plus the weight capacity. I have no doubts about the G11 it is a chunk of metal.

Thanks for your thoughts

[jagged marsh]

for sure

[buoyant quail]

How good is the guiding performance to allow 20 minute subs? That's pretty amazing

[round pine]

I have a Losmandy G811G with HD tripod it comes with the Gemini 2 system. You can connect it to your PC via USB or Ethernet Cat 5/6 I connect over ethernet. I have owned the mount for 3 years now and if I need to upgrade I will just be trading in my G8 dec axis to Losmandy for a G11 Dec axis. If you need to tune backlash it is easy to do with hex / allen wrenches. I am honestly shocked alot more people do not run these mounts.

[spring tide]

The Gemini G42 can do 30min subs at 1200mm if you guide and use PEC.

Ive seen 20min subs on over 3000mm fl tho.

Mounts that are associated with Gemini telescope design are insane.

[buoyant quail]

Is the difference between the g8 and g11 only the dec axis? Also I think they're not as popular because most people don't need that high payload and are good with "just" an eq6r, which is more recent too

They're made in the US too right? here in europe I've seen maybe 1 for sale used

[spring tide]

Losmandy mounts yes. Gemini mounts are made in Italy

[buoyant quail]

Uh didn't know that. Btw have you had a chance to try yours?

[spring tide]

I guess the question got answered along the way in ask a nerd lol

[buoyant quail]

I think I missed it, I'm gonna look it up

Ok found it

[spring tide]

We were talking about imaging orion and I said I haven't used my new setum in 3 weeks

[buoyant quail]

Which seems to be the mood for a lot of people, I haven't had a good night since october

[spring tide]

im seriously considering getting this as well because I love imaging tiny dim stuff lol.(credit astrobin)

[buoyant quail]

Holy crap that's cool, was it called einsten ring or something like that?

Idk if I would pick the 183 tho, it's getting older

[round pine]

G8 is the small payload. G811G is a G11 RA axis and G8 Dec Axis 55lb / 24 kg Payload and the G11 and G11T are the big dog heavy payload mounts.

@buoyant quail The 4 bolt heads unscrew an the dec axis separates' from the RA. I personally went the the G811G because of my C8 SCT an wanting a Rasa 11, for payload reasons. After I found out I could send my G8 Dec back in at any point and take money off the G11 Dec I was sold it meant I could jump my payload even higher without having to buy a whole new mount. I also want to note their customer service is TOP notch.

[round pine]

I also picked up their 12in pier extension to get more time with the sky in my small yard/garden.

[buoyant quail]

That's actually a really good pro consumer feature. Do they still make these or are they as "old" as they look?

Nvm I just checked, idk if the prices in the US include taxes but in the EU it's so much more expensive. 4k$ vs 5 to 6k€ which isn't event that big of a gap but in that range there's stuff like the cem70 which is also pretty good

[round pine]

They still make them. I think the biggest cost is the import taxes on them. They are made in California "USA' All said an done for the anti-vibration pads. 11 and 21lb counter weights, D plate for the SCT, 12v PSU, and pier extension along with the G811G an HD tripod it ran me $5000 after tax beginning of 2020.

I started with an AVX , once the lockdowns started I wanted to upgrade my mount the 2 choices were Software Bisque MyT or Losmandy G811G.. Couldnt get a MyT because my local telescope shop had just sold their last one to OPT for a customer. So I went with Losmandy an I have to say I am glad I did. Yes there are some things I wish it was capable of but I feel most of us feel like that about our mounts. As far as the mount goes the Gemini controller is a standalone unit you do not need the hand controller to operate it. The hand controller is also its own standalone unit that talks with the Gemini 2 computer that the RA/Dec cables plug into. It does come with the hand controller when purchased. "only time i use the hand controller is for visual or planetary so very rare"

Gemini 2 Controller, My only complaint is I would like the 5v USB power port to be a data port so I can send data over Ethernet instead of a powered hub an future MINI pc

[buoyant quail]

It sure looks like a good mount, but unfortunately not a viable option here. I only saw one on ebay for 1.3k and considering how much everything else costs it wasn't a bad deal after all

[round pine]

For that price its a steal

[buoyant quail]

It was just the head but that's the important part

[round pine]

That is the same thing I hear from UK an EU guys about my refractor "stellarvue" as they made in California as well an the VAT / import taxes kill you guys

[buoyant quail]

I don't think I've ever seen a stellarvue for sale here

At least we do get the redcat for a slight markup

[jagged marsh]

Thats interesting though. Ill often buy from FirstLightOptics, and even with shipping to US, is often less than if I purchased stateside with free shipping.

[buoyant quail]

Could be that us stores are either trying to get some extra for it or the import taxes for them are higher

[round pine]

@buoyant quail you won't find the for sale in shops their they went to order from manufacturer only. Something about a shop or 2 trying to sell people other scopes when they called to buy a stellarvue from those shops.