very informative review.

I have just purchase the CGEM dx 11 inch HD Edge which, if looks are anything to go by, appears to be well worth the cash although since I purchased it last week, I’m suffering from ‘New’ scope curse and not had a clear night sky since.

Any way I have the same problem as you with the dec index marks being out by 180 degrees if the dove-tail mount is orientated as the picture on the front cover of the instructions ie with the OTA locking bolts facing towards you on the same side as the HC aux ports. Also you can’t point a tripod leg towards north as then the trpiod head lug will not position over the leg. From you review way back in 2009 it seems that Celestron still haven’t addressed this.

What did you do leave as is and continue to work arond the problem?

Regards

Dave

In the specs of this mount, one can read:

“Latitude Range : 15° to 70°”

This means, I suppose, that I couldn’t use this mount here in Venezuela (Lat. ~10º N).

Any suggestion?

Thanks for the feedback. So far my CGEM is working well for me. Last night I did a goto alignment and it put the objects almost perfectly in the center. And then I did a couple of 4 minute expsoures on M31 (using the Orion Autoguider) and it worked perfect. Now if I could just get my computer to work ok. It kept locking up on me so I didn’t get to capture a full set of frames . Hopefully all will go well tonight. Thanks, Ray Shore

Thanks for your input. I realized that the index marks were wrong by comparing my CGEM to the manual in the same orientation (OTA and DEC locks on the left side in the photo). I actually think that the picture is showing the original location of the index marks but they decided to move them to the back of the scope so that they are on the same side as the RA index marks. The DEC marks should line up but they don’t. Fortunately you can line up the index mark with the screw hole on the front. Not sure what the guy from OPT meant when he said that it doesn’t matter which way you turn the OTA platform. I assume that you need to have the index marks lined up prior to alignment so the scope can automatically slew close to your first alignment star based on the original position (lined up with the marks). Like you say though, it seems to be ok because our methods are working.

The short hand controller cable was a surprise too. We have made extension cables available here on AstroPhotography Tonight: http://www.astrophotography-tonight.com/hand-controller-extension-cable-cgem. I’ve been using the 7′ version for quite some time and it works great.

Thanks again for your input and let us know how things go with your CGEM! Ray Shore

No problem…I thought you might have meant another mount. Yeah, the CGE did get discontinued since it was replaced by the CGE Pro. I probably would have gotten a CGE when the prices came down if it didn’t have that early limit for the meridian flip.

Thanks,
Ray Shore