Help - How much is this worth?

[TomatoBoy]

I wonder if anyone could please help me? I have been offered a SW Synscan goto and tripod, late 2008 vintage, for £140 with AC adapter. Assuming it is in good condition and working is the price okay? Is there any firmware or other issue to look out for with these?

If bought, the Heritage 130P will have a hand finding objects

[OleCuss]

Synscan is nice, but do you know the focal length, the size of the objective, whether it is a refractor or reflector, what eyepieces and other accessories come with it?

[andyp180]

is that just for the mount/tripod,
or does it iclude a scope on it?
clear skies,

[TomatoBoy]

Just the mount, tripod and power adapter. The best new price, without power adapter, seems to be £199 plus delivery. The one offered is quite local so no delivery cost.

[andyp180]

the power adapter usually comes with a goto
scope,or an autotrack when bought as a package with a scope.
i have one,never use it.i use a portable jumpstarter.
i have seen those mounts/tripods cheaper here:
U.K. Astronomy Buy & Sell
see if you can get the price down some,it's four years old.
clear skies,

[TomatoBoy]

Cheers Andy, your help is much appreciated.

I've been watching the buy/sell pages for a mount or a complete Mak unit but anything on there lately has been too far and collection only. Not that much comes up round here and it always seems to be stuff too big for us to handle.

The original asking price was £180, which is well over the top compared to new. I don't think they will sell for much less than £140. Too much you think? Btw, it actually may be a late 2009 unit after all.

[sxinias]

A new SkyWatcher SynScan AZ GOTO mount is around £220 including VAT. A new SkyWatcher Explorer 130P SynScan AZ GOTO telescope with a parabolic mirror is £280 including VAT.

current hand controller version is 3.08 but many of the earlier mounts will not run it and have to use version 3.07 ... the difference is that 3.08 also includes DOBs bot 2.07 is for the mount only (my mount will not take v3.08... no big deal). I think there may have been a few with hc version v 3.0 that can not be upgraded but am not really 100% positive...

Things to watch out for. The tripod is the weak link. examine it for screws, nuts missing or pulled through the soft plastic fittings. Especially look at the extension leg clamp screws. The screws fit screw into a metal insert located in the plastic extension leg sockets. If the extension leg screws are tightened too much these metal inserts will pull out slightly and the extension leg is not firmly secured... If the mount was used very much, one of more of these inserts are most likely pulled out. Not a showstopper... I use electrical tape to secure my extension legs, others use c clamps, hose clamps, etc. Good bargaining chip to see if you can get the price lower. The metal insert should be flush with the surface of the plastic leg clamp. The 130 on the mount will be vibration city but there are some easy and almost free modifications you can do to the tripod to solve the problem.

The SynScan AZ GOTO mount is very rugged and tough. It can take a lot of abuse and keep on going. Here is mine with an 8 inch SCT attached to it. Works like a champ.

[andyp180]

as cheap as you can get it!!
follow joes tips above,as he said,great bargaing tools!!
even if you get another £20 off,it's a bonus.some folk need
to be realistic tbh.
and £180?they were certainly dreaming there!!
clear skies,

[TomatoBoy]

Thanks chaps. I'm getting the vibe this should be cheaper, and I'm trying to weigh up passing versus shipping costs for another situated further away at some point. The seller is happy for any inspection so at least we can check for the things Joe mentioned, thanks Joe.

Please can I ask what DOBs bot 2.07 is? I am sorry for my ignorance.

[andyp180]

Please can I ask what DOBs bot 2.07 is? I am sorry for my ignorance.

slight typo i think:

current hand controller version is 3.08 but many of the earlier mounts will not run it and have to use version 3.07 ... the difference is that 3.08 also includes DOBs but 3.07 is for the mount only (my mount will not take v3.08... no big deal). I think there may have been a few with hc version v 3.0 that can not be upgraded but am not really 100% positive...

this is what i think joe means.
if i am wrong,he will correct my errors.
clear skies.