Opinions on CGE Pro 1400 FASTAR Telescope?

Now that I have been(pretty much) scope-less for the last year,
that's if you exclude the ETX-125 OTA and 70mm Skylux,
I've been weighing up the pros and cons of investing in a
set up whereby I will be able to do the kind of work I'm thinking about.

I'm in the process of selling my house and regardless of 'when' and 'if' it sells, the next location for me will be final and dark.
So, I'm looking at a scope and mount that ticks a few boxes:

Can be used in a home observatory but yet be dismantled and
packed for transport if so required.
Has an easiy polar alignment setup and Permanent programmable periodic error correction.
Can track past the meridian,
and above all has superior optics.

Asking a lot yes but I think this actually fits the bill
(and for a lot less than I thought it would)
www.celestron.com/c3/product.php?CatID=75&ProdID=554

Hi Frank

The CGE Pro is a big mount. The smaller CGE takes some lugging around. Cost wise, is it getting close to a top quality mount like an AP 900, or even a Titan or Tak mount? My biggest fear with CGE's is if the electronics goes in a few years will there be any back up service from Celestron. I have already had a board replaced under warranty. Mind you the price is not too bad.

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_inf...o-45-kg-payload.html



Good luck with the house sale (I've been there..)

johnomahony wrote:

Cost wise, is it getting close to a top quality mount like an AP 900, or even a Titan or Tak mount?

No. The AP900 is 10K alone.
You can get the CGEpro & a C14 for that.

My biggest fear with CGE's is if the electronics goes in a few years will there be any back up service from Celestron.

Same go's for other companys I suppose.
I've seen (in my line of work) companys tout 'lifetime guarentee'
(lifetime in this sense = thier idea of what the lifetime of the product is not your lifetime! )
and full back up service etc. but if theu company go's bust then...
goodbye service.

Aside from this,
I'm also planning the cost of an observatory so the cost of the Celestron is attractive.

Also:
Innovative alignment without pole star
Essential for mobile use - you only need a few brigther stars. Polaris is not necessary. Nevertheless, optimal polar alignment is no problem with the new software routines.

Also out of the box it has +/- 9 arc sec tracking error
and with PEC they say can be reduced to 4.5

What do you large scope owners think of this?

From seing it briefly at NEAF, the CGE Pro looked lightweight when compared to the other mounts at the show which surprisd me. I was expecting to see a mount which ws much bigger than the CGE.

Personally, if I had a house + observatory in a dark site location, the number of times I would move the gear in and out of the observatory would be very very few.

As for which mount to get:
First tip, buy secondhand and either get
a) better spec gear for the same money or
b) get the same spec gear for less.

In terms of mounts, get the biggest & best spec mount you can possibly afford.
Options would include:
* Paramount $$$$
* Ap1200 $$$$
* Ap900 $$$
* Losmandy Titan $$
* Gemini G41 $$

Personally, I have a G41 and would consider upgrading to the AP1200 at some stage so as to try and carry both my 16" SCT and 5.5" Apo. But, like you said, them AP1200s are not cheap.

For you, a secondhand AP900 can be picked up now & then and should be there or there abouts for your budget.

Michael.

michaeloconnell wrote:

From seing it briefly at NEAF, the CGE Pro looked lightweight when compared to the other mounts at the show which surprisd me. I was expecting to see a mount which ws much bigger than the CGE.

I was thinking the same thing when I watched the NEAF video reviews of it but you were there, were the other mounts of similar cost?

the number of times I would move the gear in and out of the observatory would be very very few.

Agreed. I would plan to take one (max 2) trips a year with the set up to Tiede or the like for a weeks imaging / astronomy only.

As for which mount to get:
First tip, buy secondhand and either get
a) better spec gear for the same money or
b) get the same spec gear for less.

Always good advice!

In terms of mounts, get the biggest & best spec mount you can possibly afford.
Options would include:
* Paramount $$$$
* Ap1200 $$$$
* Ap900 $$$
* Losmandy Titan $$
* Gemini G41 $$

If I could get an Ap900 for the price of a new CGEpro
I'd jump at it.

Personally, I have a G41 and would consider upgrading to the AP1200 at some stage so as to try and carry both my 16" SCT and 5.5" Apo. But, like you said, them AP1200s are not cheap.

No they are not and I also have to budget for the construction
of the observatory. I have a design in mind that should not be to
expensive.

All this hinges of course on selling the house!
*gulp!*