Skywatcher refractors

I contacted Telescope-Service in Germany and enquired about a 152mm refractor on the EQ6 mount, they e-mailed me back saying there was a problem with the EQ6 as it did not have the poroper European certification for the eletronics I was informed that it could take some months.

However, I was onto Markus at APM-telescopes and quoted me a delivery price for a Skywatcher 150mm on the EQ6 mount.

My two questions are these:

Is it the same EQ6 mount that Markus has?
Does anyone know the performance of the Skywatcher 150 refractor?

As always I anticipate your responses.

HI Lunartic,
I believe I have been looking at the same telescope on Telescope Service. I even got a quote for delviery to Ireland and no issue was mentioned regarding a problem with the EQ6 base. Do you know if this is in relation to CE marking?
With regard to the OTAs the following reviews may be useful to you
Skywatcher 150:- Skywatcher
TS 152 (AKA Antares 150 in the states) :- Antares
Also the following very long (but very informative) posting contains a lot of information on the TS 152 F6.5 :- New Antares Refractor
Judging by everything I've read on it the TS scope seems to the superior scope in that is fully multicoated and has less CA than other achromats of the same size and fast focal ratio.

Hi Martin

I was just checking over the e-mail I got from Patrick Woitala, and he says that the EQ6 doesn't have a particular new EU certification that all new alectronic gear nows, he says it could be a couple of months.

I'm confused

I'm a bit disappointed that the EQ6 drive isn't available at present from Telescope services as it would be the ideal mount for the 150 scope. Getting the OTA and the mount seperately is going to be a lot more expensive than getting them together as a package.
I guess I may just wait a while and see what develops in relation to the mount.

Hi Martin

You are saying you were quoted shipping for the EQ6?
What exactly did they say? I'm even more confused than ever

Hi Lunartic
I've been in contact with Michael Paur regarding the EQ6 mount electronic problem, this is his response is

the "problems" are just with the Handcontroller of the SkyScan (Goto)-EQ6 but also they should be soved very soon.
The standard-EQ6 had never such problems...

I was quoted for the delivery of the TSR1529 EQ6 at €1,248.00 plus shipping at €139.00.

As I'm not particularly pushed about having a GoTo I am sorely tempted to place an order. Now just to convince SWMBO. :mrgreen: