The EQ-6 is allot of mount for the money, but standard leaves allot to be
desired for anything other than visual. The new Sky Scan and Pro models are
allot better, but still need some work. I had to make your decision 2
years ago, I wanted the GM-11 but had a very limited budget, so after doing
research and seeing all the different upgrade kits available for the EQ-6 I
brought one. Yes it was a bit of mucking around installing a upgraded motor
kit, but once I finished I have never been disappointed. My EQ-6 now
carries Dual mounted telescopes for astrophotography. I also was not alone,
three others in my club also went the same way at that time, two modified
theirs one left his stock as he was only going to use it for visual.

Here is what I did
First I pulled the mount to bits, then replace the glue, I mean grease with
a decent grease (an afternoon of my time) and installed a DA-1 upgrade kit
from Astromeccanica (took 15 mins to install.) The mount tracks with an
acceptable PEC and can carry 16 - 20 kilograms of equipment for
astrophotography and 20 -25 kilograms for visual. I also added a extension
pier from Telescopes and Astronomy and a dual head from Telescope Service to
carry scopes side by side as well. With the extension pier it lifts the
head up high enough that when using a SCT or short refractor like my 150mm
f/5 there is no need to extend the legs which increase stability. If you
use a Newt on it an extension pier wil not be nessary.

I choose the DA-1 kit because it allows a computer to connect which allows
me to auto guide via Iris or K3CDD tools or directly auto guide with no
computer with ST-4 protocols. Also the DA-1 allow ASCOM or LX200 protocols
with a computer so go-to is achieved. The DA-2 kit is full go-to.

Also I liked the idea of belt drive which almost eliminates backlash, so
minor now unless I am really looking hard for it I do not notice it at all.
The DA-1 and DA-2 kits are the only ones I know off that offer belt drive.

There are quite a few upgrade kits for the EQ-6, you can find links to them
on the yahoo EQ-6 users group, when I did mine two friends also went down
this route, one put a DA-2 unit and the other Bartelled his, he also added a
belt drive after seeing ours in action. We are all very happy with what we
achieved. The Bartelled mount now carries a 10 inch (250mm) SCT with a 3.1
inch F/11 refractor guide scope (this is at the mounts limit for a good
astrophotography set up), the other carries a TV102 and a Vixen 80SS and
they are all used for astrophotography.

Even with the cost of modifying, its still $2000.00 cheaper than a GM-11 and
is almost as good, note I said almost

Mine now carries my 200mm Vixen Cassegrain and a 100mm f/5 refractor (about
13 - 14 kilogram's + 2 to 3 kilograms of accessories) mounted side by side
with no difficulty at all. For visual work it could carry a load like a
12~14 inch SCT or a 6 inch refractor.



Phillip Smith

Adelaide Australia



"plasmodium" wrote in message
...
Good morning......
I am looking to pick up a first scope soon, and had settled on a 8 or
10 inch Skywatcher Newtonian, with the EQ6 mount. Actually the
telescope brand is up for grabs still..... but the mount was definite.

Now - some reading has deflated me some - are things indeed too good to
be true??? I have read the EQ6 is vibratory and fairly useless for
astrophotography, which I definitely want to get to at some point
fairly shortly.....
What do people think of the EQ6 ??? for normal viewing???? for
photography????
I was intending to bein with widefield, then head towards prime
focus/eyepiece projection.... will this mount be a waste of cash????

I am now thinking maybe a dob with good qual optics, and then a good EQ
mount later on???? Any advice for a newbie???

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thank you very much

Lee Drury
Newcastle, Australia

--
"...... four years of premed, four years of med school and tons of unpaid
loans had made me realise one thing - I don't know jack!"