Celestron Nexstar or Advanced Series?

I'm about to purchase my first telescope. I've narrowed my search for a new
telescope down to two. Both from Celestron. The 9.25" Nexstar or the 9.25"
Advanced Series. Both have the Starlight XLT coatings. The Nexstar has GPS
but I have a GPS receiver that I can connect to a laptop, so GPS is not
needed. My question is: Is there a vast difference in quality between the
two telescopes? There is a $1000 difference in price so I don't want to
just buy cheap if I'm going to sacrifice quality. But if GPS is all I'm
paying for with the Nexstar then I don't need it anyway. Any advice and
information describing the pros and cons of both would be GREATLY
appreciated.

Thanks!
Tom

"Sox-n-Eagles Fan" wrote in message
...
I'm about to purchase my first telescope. I've narrowed my search for a
new telescope down to two. Both from Celestron. The 9.25" Nexstar or
the 9.25" Advanced Series. Both have the Starlight XLT coatings. The
Nexstar has GPS but I have a GPS receiver that I can connect to a
laptop, so GPS is not needed. My question is: Is there a vast
difference in quality between the two telescopes? There is a $1000
difference in price so I don't want to just buy cheap if I'm going to
sacrifice quality. But if GPS is all I'm paying for with the Nexstar
then I don't need it anyway. Any advice and information describing the
pros and cons of both would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!
Tom
What do you want to do with the scope?.
The Nexstar, is on a fork mount. This means that if you want to image, you
will have to buy a wedge (or only take very short exposures). The drives
on the Nexstar, are both smoother, and quieter than those on the AS
scopes.
The AS, is using a 'clone' GEM, which is of reasonable quality, and on the
examples I have tried seems to work fairly well. However I'd say it is
much better suited to the lighter scopes. The C9.25, weighs basically as
much as the C11, and for both these models, I'd say that the mount is
uncomfortably loaded.
The GPS, basically does almost nothing in a scope (assuming you are
working from a known location)!. However two other systems come as part of
the GPS installation, a compass, and a level. This allows the scope to
pretty nearly 'self align'. Provided you have accurate time (this is the
most important input from the 'GPS'), set the scope level, and aim it
accurately north, you can setup with either model in about the same time,
and I'd expect to be closer to aligned (using a polar scope), with the AS,
than the GPS manages with it's sensors.
You talk about a laptop, and this perhaps suggests you are considering
imaging?. If so, then the 'best' choice of the two, would be to get the
heavier CGE tripod (available as an option on the Nexstar), a good wedge,
and the Nexstar. However an even better option, would be to consider
buying the OTA alone, and getting a higher quality GEM (or of course, buy
the CGE). Unfortunately, with this, the price shoots up again...
Both scopes are optically the same, and for visual use, both will work
fine. The Nexstar will be slghtly quicker to setup, but you are only
talking a few seconds.

Best Wishes

"Sox-n-Eagles Fan" wrote in message
...
I'm about to purchase my first telescope. I've narrowed my search for a
new telescope down to two. Both from Celestron. The 9.25" Nexstar or the
9.25" Advanced Series. Both have the Starlight XLT coatings. The Nexstar
has GPS but I have a GPS receiver that I can connect to a laptop, so GPS
is not needed. My question is: Is there a vast difference in quality
between the two telescopes? There is a $1000 difference in price so I
don't want to just buy cheap if I'm going to sacrifice quality. But if
GPS is all I'm paying for with the Nexstar then I don't need it anyway.
Any advice and information describing the pros and cons of both would be
GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!
Tom


Now thers's more choice

"dylan" wrote in message
...

"Sox-n-Eagles Fan" wrote in message
...
I'm about to purchase my first telescope. I've narrowed my search for a
new telescope down to two. Both from Celestron. The 9.25" Nexstar or
the 9.25" Advanced Series. Both have the Starlight XLT coatings. The
Nexstar has GPS but I have a GPS receiver that I can connect to a laptop,
so GPS is not needed. My question is: Is there a vast difference in
quality between the two telescopes? There is a $1000 difference in price
so I don't want to just buy cheap if I'm going to sacrifice quality. But
if GPS is all I'm paying for with the Nexstar then I don't need it
anyway. Any advice and information describing the pros and cons of both
would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!
Tom


Now thers's more choice



As a Celestron user I would say don't buy Celestron.. Their ASGT mount is a
pile of pants and Customer service is very poor, but that's based on my
experience only.
Steve

"Steve - www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk" wrote in message
...
"dylan" wrote in message
...

"Sox-n-Eagles Fan" wrote in message
...
I'm about to purchase my first telescope. I've narrowed my search for
a new telescope down to two. Both from Celestron. The 9.25" Nexstar
or the 9.25" Advanced Series. Both have the Starlight XLT coatings.
The Nexstar has GPS but I have a GPS receiver that I can connect to a
laptop, so GPS is not needed. My question is: Is there a vast
difference in quality between the two telescopes? There is a $1000
difference in price so I don't want to just buy cheap if I'm going to
sacrifice quality. But if GPS is all I'm paying for with the Nexstar
then I don't need it anyway. Any advice and information describing the
pros and cons of both would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks!
Tom


Now thers's more choice



As a Celestron user I would say don't buy Celestron.. Their ASGT mount
is a pile of pants and Customer service is very poor, but that's based
on my experience only.
Steve
May I ask what was wrong with your ASGT?.
Did you deal with your distributor first (even in the US, it is the
distributor who should fix problems that arise when the mount is initially
delivered)?.
I have used the LX200 'classic', the LX200GPS, the Celestron ASGT, the
Vixen Skysensor 2000, the Vixen Sphinx, the Losmandy G11, the older
Celestron G5, the Meade LX90, the AP900, The LXD55, the LXD75, ETX-90, and
ETX-125, and found the ASGT, perfectly OK. With a little tweaking, it can
actually be pretty excellent for the money. It is certainly better than
the LXD55, and pretty comparable with the LXD75 (supports heavier loads
slightly better). It needs to have the mount zero point calibrated after
the first setup (initially, mine pointed about ten degrees right of the
target), but once this is done puts the target pretty much 'spot on',
within the limits of how accurately you align the marker arrows, and the
pole star. Though I think Celestron are trying to put too much weight on
the mount with their larger scopes, otherwise it performs pretty well.

Best Wishes

As a Celestron user I would say don't buy Celestron.. Their ASGT mount is
a pile of pants and Customer service is very poor, but that's based on my
experience only.
Steve
May I ask what was wrong with your ASGT?.
Did you deal with your distributor first (even in the US, it is the
distributor who should fix problems that arise when the mount is initially
delivered)?.

Best Wishes


As I said this decision is based on my experience.
Some problems are...

The software that is in the handset and on the motor controllers cause
runaway slews and other odd problems. (I have now updated the motor firmware
and that has improved it a bit)
The cable connectors on the leads have often failed me because of poor
crimps. Sometimes I can set it all up and I then get stuttering of the
motors. Sometimes removing the cables and starting over will cure it and
sometimes it won't cure it straight away without pushing down on the crimps
with a fine screwdriver.

I have had it repaired once already. I was not impressed with the way I was
dealt with. (main dealer) Celestron don't answer any emails, nor does the
main dealer. No point giving out an email address if you don't answer it,
maybe they are just being selective.

The power connector is a very poor fitting and the solution is to use a
screwdriver to open up the pin so its a better fit. (main dealer suggestion)
My solution was to replace both the connector on the mount and make a new
cable with a proper fitting connector. . Supplied power cable is to long and
you get a volts drop under load. If you have a ASGT mount make your own good
0.75 dia power cable and keep it below 2m. Use a good 5 amp power supply, I
know it can be powered by less but I notice slew and tracking problems if
the power supply is no good.

Quite a few of these problems and more have been reported on the Yahoo
Celestron user group.

On the other hand, now that I have given up on any support for the product,
and I am really not expecting the service to suddenly get any better. I have
decided I have nothing to loose by improving the mount myself. I will
investing in a new mount later this year anyway. (still undecided what
though)

I have stripped it down, polished the inner touching surfaces, re-greased
it, taken out any play with shims etc. mounted it on a pier. Updated the
software on the motors and generally fine tuned what I can. It is now not
that bad.
I am in the process of removing all the electronics mounted on the mount and
also the plastic housings and placing the electronics in a new remote
plastic box. I will be soldering all the internal connections (there are a
stack of them to go wrong) to remove any joint problems and adding new
cables and connectors to the two motors and hand controller. I will also
include the celestron programming box in my new box, a better power
connector and some other options that should have been included in the first
place.

By removing the plastic housings the mount runs so much quieter, noticeably
quieter I have to say.

I have made a new stainless counter balance arm that is 200mm longer, this
allows for better balancing of the 8"sct and the ED80 with the Canon 10d.
This also saves adding any more weight to balance the setup.

Just by working on the mount I now get better performance, it feels so much
smoother. The electronics once moved will cure the other problems. I believe
it is a better unit for the improvements.... Maybe I am just being a little
to picky, either way some of the problems other users and I have experienced
should not even exist. Its poor design in my eyes.

Rant over....
Steve

Strange. Celestron has impressed me with their quick responses to my emails.

--
Don
"Steve - www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk" wrote in message
...
As a Celestron user I would say don't buy Celestron.. Their ASGT mount
is
a pile of pants and Customer service is very poor, but that's based on
my
experience only.
Steve
May I ask what was wrong with your ASGT?.
Did you deal with your distributor first (even in the US, it is the
distributor who should fix problems that arise when the mount is
initially
delivered)?.

Best Wishes


As I said this decision is based on my experience.
Some problems are...

The software that is in the handset and on the motor controllers cause
runaway slews and other odd problems. (I have now updated the motor
firmware
and that has improved it a bit)
The cable connectors on the leads have often failed me because of poor
crimps. Sometimes I can set it all up and I then get stuttering of the
motors. Sometimes removing the cables and starting over will cure it and
sometimes it won't cure it straight away without pushing down on the
crimps
with a fine screwdriver.

I have had it repaired once already. I was not impressed with the way I
was
dealt with. (main dealer) Celestron don't answer any emails, nor does the
main dealer. No point giving out an email address if you don't answer it,
maybe they are just being selective.

The power connector is a very poor fitting and the solution is to use a
screwdriver to open up the pin so its a better fit. (main dealer
suggestion)
My solution was to replace both the connector on the mount and make a new
cable with a proper fitting connector. . Supplied power cable is to long
and
you get a volts drop under load. If you have a ASGT mount make your own
good
0.75 dia power cable and keep it below 2m. Use a good 5 amp power supply,
I
know it can be powered by less but I notice slew and tracking problems if
the power supply is no good.

Quite a few of these problems and more have been reported on the Yahoo
Celestron user group.

On the other hand, now that I have given up on any support for the
product,
and I am really not expecting the service to suddenly get any better. I
have
decided I have nothing to loose by improving the mount myself. I will
investing in a new mount later this year anyway. (still undecided what
though)

I have stripped it down, polished the inner touching surfaces, re-greased
it, taken out any play with shims etc. mounted it on a pier. Updated the
software on the motors and generally fine tuned what I can. It is now not
that bad.
I am in the process of removing all the electronics mounted on the mount
and
also the plastic housings and placing the electronics in a new remote
plastic box. I will be soldering all the internal connections (there are a
stack of them to go wrong) to remove any joint problems and adding new
cables and connectors to the two motors and hand controller. I will also
include the celestron programming box in my new box, a better power
connector and some other options that should have been included in the
first
place.

By removing the plastic housings the mount runs so much quieter,
noticeably
quieter I have to say.

I have made a new stainless counter balance arm that is 200mm longer, this
allows for better balancing of the 8"sct and the ED80 with the Canon 10d.
This also saves adding any more weight to balance the setup.

Just by working on the mount I now get better performance, it feels so
much
smoother. The electronics once moved will cure the other problems. I
believe
it is a better unit for the improvements.... Maybe I am just being a
little
to picky, either way some of the problems other users and I have
experienced
should not even exist. Its poor design in my eyes.

Rant over....
Steve

I am currently working a simple sofrware update with Celestron.

I sent my first email 1-17-05...I received my first response from them
on 1-28-05.

Eleven days between sending an email and getting the first response is
not my idea of being quick.
We'll see how responsive they are in actually getting the job done.

"Steve - www.ukspeedtraps.co.uk" wrote in message
...
As a Celestron user I would say don't buy Celestron.. Their ASGT mount
is a pile of pants and Customer service is very poor, but that's based
on my experience only.
Steve
May I ask what was wrong with your ASGT?.
Did you deal with your distributor first (even in the US, it is the
distributor who should fix problems that arise when the mount is
initially delivered)?.

Best Wishes


As I said this decision is based on my experience.
Some problems are...

The software that is in the handset and on the motor controllers cause
runaway slews and other odd problems. (I have now updated the motor
firmware and that has improved it a bit)
The cable connectors on the leads have often failed me because of poor
crimps. Sometimes I can set it all up and I then get stuttering of the
motors. Sometimes removing the cables and starting over will cure it and
sometimes it won't cure it straight away without pushing down on the
crimps with a fine screwdriver.

I have had it repaired once already. I was not impressed with the way I
was dealt with. (main dealer) Celestron don't answer any emails, nor
does the main dealer. No point giving out an email address if you don't
answer it, maybe they are just being selective.

The power connector is a very poor fitting and the solution is to use a
screwdriver to open up the pin so its a better fit. (main dealer
suggestion) My solution was to replace both the connector on the mount
and make a new cable with a proper fitting connector. . Supplied power
cable is to long and you get a volts drop under load. If you have a ASGT
mount make your own good 0.75 dia power cable and keep it below 2m. Use
a good 5 amp power supply, I know it can be powered by less but I notice
slew and tracking problems if the power supply is no good.

Quite a few of these problems and more have been reported on the Yahoo
Celestron user group.

On the other hand, now that I have given up on any support for the
product, and I am really not expecting the service to suddenly get any
better. I have decided I have nothing to loose by improving the mount
myself. I will investing in a new mount later this year anyway. (still
undecided what though)

I have stripped it down, polished the inner touching surfaces,
re-greased it, taken out any play with shims etc. mounted it on a pier.
Updated the software on the motors and generally fine tuned what I can.
It is now not that bad.
I am in the process of removing all the electronics mounted on the mount
and also the plastic housings and placing the electronics in a new
remote plastic box. I will be soldering all the internal connections
(there are a stack of them to go wrong) to remove any joint problems and
adding new cables and connectors to the two motors and hand controller.
I will also include the celestron programming box in my new box, a
better power connector and some other options that should have been
included in the first place.

By removing the plastic housings the mount runs so much quieter,
noticeably quieter I have to say.

I have made a new stainless counter balance arm that is 200mm longer,
this allows for better balancing of the 8"sct and the ED80 with the
Canon 10d. This also saves adding any more weight to balance the setup.

Just by working on the mount I now get better performance, it feels so
much smoother. The electronics once moved will cure the other problems.
I believe it is a better unit for the improvements.... Maybe I am just
being a little to picky, either way some of the problems other users and
I have experienced should not even exist. Its poor design in my eyes.

Rant over....
Steve
Fair enough.
However the key thing is to compare with what else you can get for the
price. The small 'centre pin' power connectors are fitted to just about
every scope in existence (units like the AP, add a locking nut to prevent
this problem), but every scope I have met, has eventually had problems
with these connectors.
The ASGT, has less problems in this regard, than the Nexstar, where the
supply a shorter 'coiled' cord, which pulls on the connector.
The thin lead, does work OK, if fed with a really good 13.8v supply, but
is too thin for 'comfort', if nothing else.
The crimp connectors on the 'telephone' cables, are also common to just
about every current scope (the old LX200, even had them internally as
well), and Meade uses them on the handcontrollers etc.). Most work OK, but
they are not rugged. Again this is down to price.
If you look at much more expensive controllers (like the Vixen
Skysensor2000), there have been persistent complaints about the connectors
from day one. The Losmandy Gemini, used the telephone connectors for it's
motor feeds, and this was only changed with the very latest hardware
release. Unfortunately, these connectors are difficult to handle in the
dark, and once damaged, can be a real pain.
Motor 'runaways', have been a problem that a number of users have seen,
but many others have had hardly any of this behaviour, despite having
identical firmware revisions. On the Nexstar, this was commonly caused by
using an autoguider, and apparently generating a 'noise' spike into the
motor controller. One suspicion I have, is that different users are
actually operating the buttons slightly differently, making this a problem
that is a pig to track down.
Now I am suprised that you have not had replies from Celestron. They are
'variable' (for instance, there was a long delay around the time of the
Venus transit last year), but they do normally reply. I'd suspect you
either have something that is stopping you getting replies (a spam
protected return address for instance), or are sending the mails to the
wrong person. At least Celestron do have an email address (Meade don't).
Normally, a simple mail will get a fairly quick response, with longer
delays if questions are 'technical', so something is wrong if you are not
getting replies. One other thought, is that your mails are not getting
through at all (many company sites use a commercial 'spam filter', and if
your address has got listed in the database for this, it may never be
getting to the destination).
Unfortunately, your experience, reflects one thing that I'd always suggest
"know your supplier". The temptation to buy 'mail order', from a cheaper
supplier, is fine if the kit works OK, but a local shop, where you can
actually talk to a salesman, is much better when you have problems. I had
major problems with a Vixen Sphinx, when these were new. Took it back to
the shop, and had it replaced then and there.

Best Wishes