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Last updated: 27 April 2006
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Last updated: 27 April 2006 |
This page is for user comments and information of a general nature or items applicable to all ETX and DS models. Comments on accessories and feedback items appropriate to other ETX and DS models are posted on other pages. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.
Subject: Request information Sent: Thursday, April 27, 2006 06:50:03 From: Luis O' Conor (luisoconor@medilabsrl.com.ar) I am new in your page. I write from Rosario, provincia de Santa Fe, Repblica Argentina. I join your page by accident and like it a lot!!! Very good articles, a lot of usefull information, great photos!!!! I want (if can) give me your opinion: Iam looking for a new telescope and read some information about the MEADE ETX 90 and ETX 105 (sincerely, I prefer de 125, but it is to much expensive for me!!!, in my country 1 U$$ = 3,20 Pesos!!!) and I cant afford the price, the shipping, the taxes, etc. and if I by it in a local store the complete equipment costs more or less U$S 2.000. Another posibility is to buy it by EBAY, the ETX 125 costs U$S 500 / U$S 700 plus the shipping: U$S 150 / U$S 250. Can you give me your opinion or if you know somebody who buy his telescope (used) by this way?. Another question: What is your opinion about the ETX 105? I read some articles in your page that tells problems with alignement, that the AutoStar dont work properly, etc. You know if these problems are already solved by MEADE? Can you give me more information? I want the telescope primarily for astrophotography and have a Canon 300 D (Canon Digital Reflex). I want to begin with these experience and read all the articles that your site have. Great!!!!. Thank you for answering, all that can you send me will be appreciate and beg your pardon for my English, I hope youll understand it!!! Bests regards, Luis OConorMike here: Glad you found the Site but you might have missed the RED text that said to read the Email Etiquette before sending email to me. Your message was originally deleted UNREAD as SPAM due to the ambiguous subject line. PLEASE read the Email Etiquette item on the ETX Site home page to avoid this happening in the future. Thanks for understanding.
Subject: Re: Damaged ETX 125 Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 13:08:33 From: P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) Hello Jan.... Very sorry for your continued troubles; although getting inside of the turntable is fine provided that you have someone with confidence enough to repair the wires that must be cut to do so, I am not sure what you are going to find inside, but very likely a broken hard stop tab. Frankly, it is upsetting that you have a new telescope that does not work and I would really hate to see you get inside IF the telescope should really be replaced. Let me know what you decide and I will be happy to help. Dr. Clay -------------------- Arkansas Sky Observatories Harvard MPC H41 (Petit Jean Mountain) Harvard MPC H45 (Petit Jean Mountain South) Harvard MPC H43 (Conway) Harvard MPC H44 (Cascade Mountain) http://www.arksky.org/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Jan H Kolst Hi again, Thank you for responding last time. I've checked at the Meade distributer in Norway concerning my scope , but they couldn't help.The Chairman of our local astronomy club here in Haugesund has had a look at my scope and he is willing to help. The wiring is no problem he says , but the hardstopp might be a problem perhaps. He hasn't opened the scope or done anything so far.Is it safe to try and fix the scope? If so, could you please assist me how to do it? I'm thinking of getting to the hard stopp and fix it. Is that possible?You have the pictures of the scope at least on Mike's Mighty page.I don't wont to send them to you once more since you have a phone modem. I hope you remember the case. The scope is bought at OPT December 2005 and I have written to a Mr.Eric Blackhurst at OPT asking him for a solution to the problem. Most of all I'd like to have a new scope. Much obliged! Best wishes from Norway Jan H Kolst
Subject: Celebrating first year of ETX Sent: Wednesday, April 26, 2006 04:44:13 From: rdl (rodelaet@yahoo.com) This month, I celebrate my first year of observing and sketching with the ETX! I thank you for your support. Thanks to you, I've had many visitors on my web page :)). It's fun to get feedback from other amateurs. My collection of sketches has grown to over 80. I've promised myself not to upgrade to a bigger scope before i've sketched every possible object. It should keep me going for some years. It's my therapy against aperture fever :) Regards, Rony De Laet http://www.geocities.com/rodelaet
Subject: http://www.weasner.com/etx/buyer-newuser-tips/moon.html Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 16:31:32 From: L Abraham (lusia.abraham@lycos.com) Thanks for your web site. Very useful. In http://www.weasner.com/etx/buyer-newuser-tips/moon.html you write: calculation that has revealed that the moon is very slowly - very slowly - moving ever-so-closer to the Earth. From http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html: Measurements show that the Moon is receding from Earth at a rate of about 3.8 centimeters per year. Just a small point to perhaps help make your site better still. Regards, Lusia
And from the article's author:
From: P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) Yes Mike, he is correct and where that statement came from I am at a loss; must have been a bad day. Yes, at a rate of about 3--4 cm/yr. The tidal bulges on the Earth main toward the middle of the oceans), raised by the Moon's gravity, are rotated forward (ahead of) the Earth-Moon line by the Earth's rotation since it is faster than the Moon's actual motion in its orbit. The gravity from these leading and trailing bulges impels the Moon forward along the direction of its motion in orbit and the force transfers momentum from the rotating Earth to the revolving Moon, simultaneously dragging the Earth and accelerating the Moon. This ultimately causes the moon to recede from the earth as it angular momentum increases. If you can, please correct the other statement to read such...thanks! Dr. Clay -------------------- Arkansas Sky Observatories Harvard MPC H41 (Petit Jean Mountain) Harvard MPC H45 (Petit Jean Mountain South) Harvard MPC H43 (Conway) Harvard MPC H44 (Cascade Mountain) http://www.arksky.org/
Subject: ETX90EC - Adapter/Batteries question Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 08:20:34 From: Lance (hobbyist@pei.sympatico.ca) I was unable to find the required topic (although I have seen it) on your site concerning Adapter/Batteries for power. I have a Motomaster Eliminator for power source of which I was using mostly for the Kendrick Dew heaters. Now I have the equvalent of the Meade Adapter #541 from Radio Shack and it works just fine. Now the question: .... Does the batteries supposed to kick in for power when the Elininator ends its power? When I turned it (Elininator) off all power is off (even when the batteries are in the ETX90EC compartment (and yes they are inserted correctly). I am testing the Eliminator for the length of time I can use it on any given night (right now its been 2.5 hrs.) At the time of shutting it off as per above ... it was at 70% power left, and when inquiring the battery % on the Autostar497 it says 100%. I am using Autostar497 with firmware 41ec. -LanceMike here: As long as the external power source is connected to the ETX the internal batteries are removed from the ETX power circuit. As to the Autostar power reading, it is still reading the external power as 100% (rightly or wrongly). I have run my external power source down once but didn't check the Autostar power display since it was obvious the power source was insufficient to slew the telescope.
Subject: Trouble with 125 Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2006 07:53:09 From: Jan H Kolst (jan.kolsto@online.no) Thanks a lot for all assistance so far concerning the jumpingproblem which I'm sorry to say is not solved.Ive taken some pictures which might illustrate the situation. Please give me a suggestion to solve the problem.
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From: P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) What exactly am I looking at? What is the problem that is being encountered here? 1) first question: why was the scope opened and photographed when NEW in Dec. 2005? 2) second question: what is supposed to be obvious in this photo? I am very curious why the scope was opened up when it was brand new....makes no sense. Please describe in detail what the photos are supposed to be showing. I think I know, but would like to hear in his words. thanks!! Clay
The wire is so twisted that it is nearly breaking. Please advise me what to do! Jan
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OH! Is this all that is wrong? He needs to take off the connector attached to the control panel board which goes to the twisted wires; merely unwrap it from around the post that it has been routed around....that will do it; they were not long enough coming from the factory!~ I see this all the time. Make SURE that both hard stops in azimuth work in both directions (total turn about 680 degrees); if there are NOT two stops, this will tangle the wires like I see them.... Dr. Clay -------------------- Arkansas Sky Observatories Harvard MPC H41 (Petit Jean Mountain) Harvard MPC H45 (Petit Jean Mountain South) Harvard MPC H43 (Conway) Harvard MPC H44 (Cascade Mountain) http://www.arksky.org/
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1 The scope started "jumping" and I asked Mike what to do. I followed his instruction which cured the problem for a while, but the "jumping " kept coming back.Black plasticbits were found in the base over time.So As an amateur I think that something has been wrong with the "HARDSTOPP" because now the scope has no hardstopp at least in one direction.I must add that I'm familiar to some extent since I've had an ETX 90 for 2 years. 2 The difference between the two pics is that the one at the bottom has got the wiring drawn into the gear and the wiring has been stretched , almost breaking. I don't dare to use it being afraid of a further damage.So in my opinion perhaps the hardstopp made of metal ? has hit some plastic ?which the hardstopp has scraped off. During time there there is no resistance.I've been using the scope very much during the 4 months. Perhaps I'm wrong, but please advise me! Regards Jan H Kolst Norway
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Oh...you have major problems. The jump and skipping AND the wire twisting are indeed happening because the telescope is twisting the wires radically inside the fork arm turntable; you must stop using this scope as it is. The hard stops are installed to prevent wire wrapping and tearing and that is exactly what is happening. You apparently have broken off one of the two stops and the scope is moving freely in one direction, taking the wires with it. It is possible that the telescope was not working properly when sold. Do you have someone over there that can repair it OR if you got this from OPT, perhaps they will exchange it for one that is not defective or at least arrange to have it repaired for you. This is a serious matter that will only further damage the telescope if you use it as it is presently. Dr. Clay
Subject: ETX125 focus Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2006 15:48:53 From: Flundberg77@wmconnect.com (Flundberg77@wmconnect.com) Joseph Moure wrote on April, 9 about his ETX125 not focusing. His focus shaft may have come unthreaded from the mirror. Try pulling back on the focus shaft / knob and rotating counterclockwise to re-engage the thread. this may solve his problem. Forrest Lundberg
Subject: re: etx-90 horizontal drive inoperative Sent: Monday, April 17, 2006 19:17:13 From: richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com) If it's still under warranty (calendar-wise) i'd recommend calling Meade... they're usually pretty forgiving about intelligent attempts to self-diagnose and repair (as long as you haven't -broken- something in the attempt). If it's beyond warranty, they'll still fix it for a reasonable flat rate. good luck --dick
Subject: Recommendation Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2006 11:37:10 From: S E Wroblewski (sewroblewski@comcast.net) Can you please recommend an ETX model? I am interested, in time, in astrophotography. I have a Canon 20D. I have many Canon L series lenses that I have been using on my tripod. If I find myself actually using the scope, then I may trade up. I have seen many references to used equipment. What are your thoughts on this subject? Thank you in advance. Regards, Steve WroblewskiMike here: If you have no other requirements (like portability and budget) then get the largest one available (and in the ETX line that would be the ETX-125 with UHTC).
Subject: Re: ETX125 focuser shift and a spontaneous defocusing Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 12:23:01 From: Ing. Gejza Novak (gnovak@zoznam.sk) many thanks for your great ETX site, which is very helpfull for every ETX owner, and for your monitoring of my correspondence with Mr Clay. I wish you all the best, Gejza Novak.
Subject: ETX 125AT Control Board Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2006 10:13:54 From: Hamer, Scott E., Celanese/US (sehamer@celanese.com) Read a bunch of the your blog during my fruitless search for Meade parts..do you know where I can get my hands on a main control board [it the biggest board so I call it the main] for my ETX 125AT scope? Bunch of previous motor faults and now my RA motor will only turn one way only, flipped the motor connection and it turns the other way just finechecked my autostar and by swapping l/r function and the buttons work.. so I can only narrow down to the this control board. All my nights are cloudy! Thanks, Scott reply to or s_hamer@grandecom.netMike here: I wouldn't call my ETX Site a "blog". As to parts, check Telescope Warehouse; link on the Astronomy Links page.
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Poor choice of words, my apologies, thanks for the lead. Regards, ScottMike here: No offense taken; the Site seems like WAY more than a personal blog!
Subject: etx-90 horizontal drive inoperative Sent: Friday, April 14, 2006 22:25:14 From: Nick Haussecker (ttalaoc@yahoo.com) Hello, first off I would like to commend your awesome site. The problem I have is similar to the one The Shudras (lshudra@ev1.net Date 12/30/03, 21:27) had; the horizontal drive on my ETX-90 was inoperative when I recieved it. The hard-headed techie am decided to keep it anyways and attempt to repair it. As I delved it to the base, the problem became somewhat apparent. There is a small gearbox in the base. When I tightened the screws on the gearbox, and held it upside-down, the scope would move clockwise. As I tried to move it the other direction, the gears started to slip again. I turned it over, it goes a small ways, then the gears start slipping in that direction aswell. I can "rock" (hit the other direction, it then clicks the gears back into place) it to work again, but this is no solution. Any and all help you could provide would be greatly appreciated. If you need any more information, please e-mail me at ttalaoc@yahoo.com; I will attempt to respond with all due haste. Thank you, Nick.Mike here: Is the gearbox loose? Are the threads stripped? Also, check that the gear is firmly attached.
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The gearbox might be loose, the threads are not stripped and the gear is firmly attached. The four screws are as tight as I can tighten them with a small jewelry screwdriver. I don't want to over tighten the casing for risk of cracking it. Is there any way I could possibly get a replacement gearbox? Thank you again.Mike here: Check Telescope Warehouse; link on the Astronomy Links page.
Subject: astral coordinates Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 19:59:13 From: steve harper (intmid8tr3@yahoo.com) just curious if there is a web site that i could go to and enter some coordinates to find out whats there. my daughter just named a star for me and all i have is the coordinates. i know its in orion. thanks for your time as always steveMike here: Try the Digitized Sky Survey:
Subject: RSS Feedback Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 13:42:50 From: Matthias Schnizer (matthias@schnizer.com) Earlier this week, I reported a problem with your RSS feed using PLUCK as the reader. I looked further in the issue and found that this error was (apparently) due to a Microsoft ActiveX patch (KB912945). Pluck has a patch for their product (RSS reader) which fixes the problem and can be downloaded from the PLUCK download page. I thought I will let you know in case somebody else is writing to you with the same issue. Best Regards Matt
Subject: ETX-90AT questions for first time buyer in germany Sent: Thursday, April 13, 2006 02:08:18 From: edward.stumph@us.army.mil I was looking at an ETX-90AT to buy for my daughter and I. She is 7 years old and im wanting something we both can do together. Anyways my question is, what version of the ETX-90AT would you recommend for a beginner scope? I read the differences and was looking more towards the ETX-90PE. Would the ETX-90AT with UHTC be better? The other question I have, can this telescope with Autostar be used in germany? I read someplace that you have to input your zip code into the Autostar, if so will it accept a german zip code of 68549 or an APO zip of 09102? Im currently stationed overseas, so I can still ship it to an APO address. The difference in price is too much to buy here in germany, about 1300 dollars for the ETX-90PE, and about 950 for the ETX-90AT. ThanksMike here: Yes, the ETX-90 is a fine beginner telescope. But you likely don't need the PE model if you are willing to learn a little bit about the night sky AND how to properly set up the telescope. The PE model does a little more automation on that vs the AT model. UHTC is well worth the extra cost. And yes, you can use the Autostar in Germany. If you buy the telescope from a German dealer you will likely get the German language version of the Autostar and have to load the English language into it using a computer and the #505 RS-232 serial cable.
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Thanks for the fast response
Subject: Question re Telescope EZ- Focus For Meade-ETX Telescopes Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 16:57:13 From: MKrupa7333@aol.com (MKrupa7333@aol.com) Have you had any feeback on these manual focusers? EZ Focus is name. Sold on e-bay. They are about $15 with shipping versus other brands. Thanks, Michael P. KrupaMike here: You mean like the two articles that show up when you search the Site for "EZ-Focus"?
Subject: Meade Scope as pan tilt webcam Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 08:30:20 From: Adrian -- Nanny Cay Marina (adrian@nannycay.com) I am trying to design a webcam that will give us close up images of outlying islands around our marina. I had the idea to use a telescope with digital imager for this purpose, but know nothing about scopes or the quality of digital images that I could achieve with a system such at this (most information regarding digital imaging is nighttime/astro stuff) and I am hoping for a bit of advice in this area if you have the time... Here is what I envision the system to be, perhaps you have some input. Using a Meade etx90 spotting scope, digital imager or video eyepiece, and computer with frame grabber for the back end.. as for pan and tilt, there are some surveillance products available suitable for this purpose that can be computer controlled (I initially was thinking that a motorized version of the telescope might work, but as I understand it, these will return an error when directed to objects below the horizon, and are ill equipped for such a purpose, as the autostar system cannot be programmed for terrestrial objects?). Automatic focusing is another hurdle, but figure some sort of electric servo with RS232 controller would do some sort of job. Not sure how easy it would be to design such a thing, as have no scope to play with. Any advice or input greatly appreciated. Cheers Adrian Sinton IT manager Nanny Cay Marina Tortola, British Virgin Islands http://www.nannycay.comMike here: If you consider the telescope as a 1250mm telephoto lens when you attach a camera (film or digital) at prime focus (the rear port on the ETX without using an eyepiece or camera lens), then you will get an idea of the image you will get. A webcam would perform a similar function (if you remove the webcam lens). As to controlling the telescope, you can do this, including focusing (which you probably don't need if everything is far enough away to be considered at infinity). See the "Autostar commands" on the Helpful Information: Autostar Info page.
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Thank you for the email, and your input. I had considered the prime focus option, but was unsure of how to attach the camera. I had seen there are adapters for 35mm cameras, but not for somthing like a webcam that usually require a c-mount lense(that would solve a lot of issues, and keep the cost down). Do you know of a c-mount adapter for the prime focus on the etx? thanks again. Adrian Adrian SintonMike here: Users typically add a 1.25" tube to the webcam (with the lens removed). And then use a "Visual Back" on the rear port which allows 1.25" accessories to be used there. Haven't looked for a c-mount.
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OK, got it.. thanks again for all the help Cheers Adrian
Subject: ETX 125 focus Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2006 18:58:15 From: Joseph L. Moure (adobejoe@comcast.net) I have n ETX 125 that I cannot focus. It worked fine until I hooked up the power focus device, now it just won't work, it just keeps turning with no effect - either power or manual. Any ideas? JoeMike here: When you turn the focus shaft itself (without the electric focuser attached) does it turn with or without any resistance? And can you focus by turning the shaft? If not, then it has likely become disconnected from the moving mirror at the rear of the ETX. Depending on your mechanical skills you may not want to attempt a repair yourself. You can also run the risk of putting the optics out of collimation. So if that's the problem you might want to contact Meade for the repair.
Subject: Re: ETX125 focuser shift and a spontaneous defocusing Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2006 17:01:29 From: P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) I suspect that your main mirror is loose; unscrew the front tube carefully; the mirror is held into place with a small metal ring that seats it firmly against the rear cell; if the mirror is loose, any motion of the focuser will cause a major shift in the mirror, thereby pushing the field of view off to one side. It does not matter where the mirror is locked relative to any shift, just aim the assembly straight up and carefully use two pointed objects (icepicks, but please be careful and go slow) to screw the collar clockwise to firm up the mirror.....this should take care of your problem. Best of luck! Dr. Clay -------------------- Arkansas Sky Observatories Harvard MPC H41 (Petit Jean Mountain) Harvard MPC H45 (Petit Jean Mountain South) Harvard MPC H43 (Conway) Harvard MPC H44 (Cascade Mountain) http://www.arksky.org/ ----- Original Message ----- From: Ing. Gejza Novk To: drclay@tcworks.net Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 2:29 PM Subject: ETX125 focuser shift and a spontaneous defocusing Dear Mr Sherrod, I`m from Slovakia and I own an ETX125 with UHTC(delivered from USA by my nephew 2 years ago). From very beginning I`ve troubles with awful image shifting when focusing ( and also with battery compartment wrongly manufactured, no hex wrenches added, bad connection between wires in the cable for new Autostar firmware downloading from computer to Autostar ) , the image shifts more than half way across the FOV when using, as an example, the 26mm eyepiece & when using a 9 mmm eyepiece it shifts completely out of the FOV before getting to the focus point, the image then shifts the other way when reversing the focuser. Last night was added to this problem another one - a spontaneous defocusing of previously focused object, when looking to Saturn eg. I`ve spent all the day reading Mike Weasner`s site and looking forward articles concerning my problems and I find the one with your helpfull information but I don`t know if your bellow given recommendation will fix my problem. I have no possibility to send my ETX to Meade for repair so I would be very gratefull if you could write me what to do by myself. Here is your previous answer to a similar problem: Subject: ETX125 focuser shift Sent: Sunday, April 24, 2005 05:40:10 From: P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) Hello Alan... Focus shift can be caused by MANY issue, but typically is just one...you need to remove the OTA from the rear cell; unscrew the focuser shaft about half way (CCW) and remove the knob or electric focuser unit; there are three very small hex cap screws which hold the OTA into the rear cell; remove these and save in a tuna can or similar, because they WILL get lost if you place on the countertop. Once done, merely grasp the blue OTA in one hand with a rubber glove for grip and the rear cell/fork arms in the other hand and pull gently apart....do NOT twist while separating! You will see where the threaded focus rod inserts into the OTA....typically binding is causing the shifting, but most of this is due to poor milling by Meade on some 125 models. You can improve these imperfect models greatly, but do not expect to eliminate all focus shift. Run the focus rod gently all the way CCW until you feel pressure...do NOT force or you will damage. Once there apply a thick grease, such as pure white Lithium (available in the tool dept. at Lowes) in a very thin layer, pushing hard into the threads...do NOT apply too much or you risk getting this stuff on the optics eventually. Once done, put the knob on the rod temporarily and run it in and out all the way slowly about 3-4 times. Once done, run it HALF-WAY between all the way and all the way out and stop. At that position, turn the OTA to about a 45-degree tilt, with corrector down and put 1-2 DROPS of 3-in-1 oil right where the threaded rod goes into the threaded rear cell of the scope and QUICKLY run the focuser CLOCKWISE to get that thin bit of oil into the rear cell threads. Once done, run the threaded rod slowly all the way CW and then CCW about 2 more times. This procedure will greatly improve the performance....NOTE: do NOT put more than 2 drops of oil on the rod! Take your time and do this very methodically....if you get in a hurry you will be worse off than you started and can greatly mess up the works. This procedure will NOT affect collimation or GO TO operation at all with the scope. Good luck! Dr. Clay -------------------- Arkansas Sky Observatories I have no possibility to send my ETX to Meade for repair so I would be very gratefull if you could write me what to do by myself. Sincerelly yours, Gejza Novak.
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Dear Mr Sherrod, many thanks for your prompt answer. Excuse my question, but please give me know how to unscrew the front tube, because I don`t know an exact composition of the ETX125 telescope. Should I firstly dismantle an OTA from a fork or the black front part with the correction lens is screwed in the blue OTA`s tube? Maybe some picture concerning the inner composition will be helpfull for me. I only don`t want to demage my ETX with my some inconvenient action. I will be during dismantling very carefull. Many thanks in advance and wishes all the best, Gejza Novak.
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To gain access to the mirror, which is really all that you need to do here, is to have a helper hold firmly onto both fork arms while you unscrew the blue metal tube from the black plastic rear cell....the cell will stay with the fork arms and the tube will simply slide off once properly unscrewed. Turn the open end of the tube downward to prevent dust and insects from getting in there and quickly look at the primary mirror that is now exposed...there is a small metal ring collar that holds the mirror onto the long baffle tube. That is the collar that likely has worked loose. Best of luck on this. Dr. Clay
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my probably last question concerning my problem. Please, give me know, which is the proper direction (CCW or CW) for unscrewing of the blue tube from rear cell (looking from a front part of the telescope). I`ve tried both directions but the tube is still without movement and keeps firmly. Many thanks, Gejza Novak.
Screw CCW facing the front of the tube; it is very tight and I suggest that you have someone hold onto the rear portion of the telescope. NOTE that it unscrews from the black plastic rear cell that is located between the fork arms....careful not to damage the fork arm holders (OTA adapters). Dr. Clay
And an update:
today with my wife`s help I unscrewed a blue OTA tube and was able to turn a small metal ring collar about one half of revolution. Maybe I will need more convenient instrument for firmlier mirror fixture. I achieved the following result: with an 4 mm eyepiece is a focuser shift about 30 to 40 % field of view. Can I achieve a better result? Best regards, Gejza Novak.
Wow, actually with a 4mm eyepiece, that kind of shift would be most welcome by most ETX users. I would be very content with it just the way it is. The only thing I would suggest is to make sure that the position where the mirror is now pulled to, that you make sure that the threaded rod that attaches to the mirror (the focusing rod) is not pulling or pushing to one side, but squarely line up to the exit hole on the back of the rear cell. Best of luck. Dr. Clay
And further:
the threaded rod that attaches to the mirror is now squarely line up to the exit hole on the back of the rear cell and all is OK. I`m very gratefull for your help, my scope now works as I always wanted. I wish you nice Easter holidays. Sicerely yours, Gejza Novak.Excellent...enjoy the scope and glad that we were able to help! Dr. Clay
Subject: meade ETX 125 cleaning Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2006 13:00:50 From: michelle smith (nellyshellybelly@hotmail.com) just a querie i bought a ETX 125 scope the other week with some bits and bobs. the guy who sold it to me also sold me a cleaning kit when i used the cleaning solution it took off the silver coating on my flip mirror. have you come across this before,and how would i stand on getting it sorted, is it down to the shop that i bought it from as he sold me the cleaning kit aswell as the scope. any advise would be appreciated regards garryMike here: Either the cleaning kit was not meant for use on "first surface" mirrors or you didn't follow the instructions in the kit. Either way, contact the dealer first. Good luck.
Subject: ETX 125PE Declination bounce problem Sent: Sunday, April 9, 2006 07:57:53 From: Alan (alan@madcapdj.gotadsl.co.uk) I have recently become the proud owner of an ETX125PE but I am also pretty new to telescopes and am having a problem which may be due to either me, the telescope or just possible my high expectations. I hope you may have some help. I intend using the telescope mainly in Alt/Az configuration and I have trained the drives in this mode (having previously set the Dec and RA % adjustments as per the very helpful article on your site from P. Clay Sherrod). I have also downloaded and installed the latest Autostar firmware (version 41Ec). The problem is that once I have centered a star in the eypiece and I want to make any adjustment to the Dec the actual movement of the telescope briefly goes in the wrong direction. eg if I tell the scope to go up it drops before finally going up, and vice versa. At low power this is no great problem, apart from the fact that I don't think it should happen at all, but if I want to change eyepiece and up the power I have great difficulty re-centering. I also noticed that on one occasion I tried to slew fractionally down and the telescope actually moved to the right instead. Many thanks in anticiaption. Alan PattisonMike here: Have you done a CALIBRATE MOTOR? Then do the TRAIN DRIVES; don't forget that you have to do both axes.
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Thanks for the quick response. I should have mentioned that I had done a Calibrate Motor as well. And yes I did train the drives for both axes.Mike here: It could be that something messed up with the download. Try a RESET, CALIBRATE MOTOR, and TRAIN DRIVES. This should get it back to normal. If not, you should re-download the update. Then do a RESET, CALIBRATE MOTOR, and TRAIN DRIVES. Do NOT make the adjustments suggested in the article until you KNOW you need them.
And:
I will give it a try. Many thanks
Subject: USB to parallel long exposure control Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2006 19:50:00 From: pgh (surfpgh@comcast.net) You have an awsome website! My question for reasearch is........ Do you or anyone know a good supply source for a "USB to parallel" adaptor that will work with the parallel long exposure and focus control? For a modified webcam obviously! I recently got a brand new laptop and can't use any of the modified parts that I have made for my scope equipment! Sincerely, Greg H.Mike here: I'm not aware of any such adapter but then since I use a Macintosh I haven't had any need to a parallel device.
Subject: ETX 90 Sent: Thursday, April 6, 2006 11:45:23 From: Joe Kehoe (joe@thekehoes.net) My family gave me the above mentioned telescope on my retirement. One problem. I have read many times the directions to set up the telescope. I have yet to set it up because I do not understand the directions. Would you know anybody who is able to get the telescope up and running. I am in the Falmouth,Mass. area. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter Joe KehoeMike here: If you are having problems using the Autostar, see the Alignment Tips section on the Helpful Information: Autostar Info page. Otherwise, can you describe the problem more specifically?
Subject: re: Forums (or fora)(was: from South Africa) Sent: Wednesday, April 5, 2006 21:44:52 From: richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com) As Mike mentioned, there are many message groups hosted by Yahoo.com. Among them are: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/etxastro http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade-ds-telescopes http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meadeds http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meadeetxowners http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade-uncensored http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade_autostar ... just to name a few of the dozen or two concerned with the various Meade telescopes and controllers. Unfortunately, the same questions -do- keep getting asked, over and over again (just like at Mike's site). This is in part due to new "i just got a telescope!" people not knowing how to fully explore the sites to find the old answers. have fun --dick
Subject: ETX 90 focusing advice Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2006 06:24:31 From: Steve Watts (Stevewattts@btopenworld.com) I've been looking at your web site and it's helped me to choose an ETX 90 as my first telescope. Thanks very much-I got my new telescope today. Can you give me some advice re the focusing knob please-I'm trying to get this focused on a terrestrial object to get everything aligned. I'm turning the knob anti clockwise but I can't seem to get anything in focus at all and I must have given it a couple of hundred turns at least. How many turns should this take from max distance to min distance focus? And is there an easy way I can tell whether I've got a faulty focusing mechanism here? Thanks in advance Regards SteveMike here: Keep in mind there is a minimum focus distance (3.5m or 11.5') for the ETX-90. Depending on what you are trying to focus on and how close it is, it may be difficult to determine when you have achieved a proper focus due to the high magnification. As to the number of turns, I haven't counted them but there several BUT not close to 200. But it shouldn't turn continuously. You can tell if the shaft is moving since it should move slightly in and out from the rear of the ETX as you rotate the knob. If not, check the setscrew in the knob to ensure it is tight. If you can see the Moon tonight, try it for a target object.
Subject: Hello Mike this mail is from South Africa thanks for your web site Sent: Tuesday, April 4, 2006 00:35:44 From: Dawie Venter (pdventer@buscor.co.za) I bought my first telescope a DS2114 and don't get a lot of sleep anymore i am sure you have been there. I got a lot of questions and I don't want to bombard you with it, I looked at your web site and it helped me a lot with getting started so I want to return the favor for The community if you don't mind By the way I love air plains to one of my hobbies is remote control plains And wow I have never seen so many books in a persons house I respect that a lot I battle with dyslexia and get tired easily from reading but a appreciate people that can do it. Ok back to business I am in the I.T industry for the last 15 years and is up to date with the latest technology I know web programmers that will help me for fee to get a forum started on your server our we can put a link to my server only for the forum. My idea with a forum is to get the community to ask questions there and experienced people like yourself can answer them on the forum and the rest of us can read the question and answer and that way all of us do not have to ask the same questions over and over again, it will be there on a notice board. Please get back to me on the subject you are welcome to do it on your own or I more than willing to support you in this regard Thanks Again for your Web site ! Dawie Venter Nelspruit South AfricaMike here: There already is a forum for ETX users on Yahoo Groups. There may be one for DS users; I haven't checked. As to why I don't use a "forum" on the ETX Site, see the Site Guide. But thanks for the offer.
Subject: Travel tripod for etx Sent: Sunday, April 2, 2006 13:06:02 From: Joe Herzing (jherzing@lakesplus.com) Is there a tripod that folds down to under 2 feet that could be used on an ETX mine specifically is a 105 but I don't know that it matters too much. Thanks JoeMike here: You could use a sturdy photographic tripod in Alt/Az but vibrations could be a problem.
Subject: How do I use the 1247 focuser and control the telescope from my computer? Sent: Sunday, April 2, 2006 10:55:44 From: Reid McCall (Reid.McCall@delwebb.com) I have the 1247 focuser. I have the 505 cable. My goal is to control the GOTO's and the Focus from my laptop. But my understanding is the 1247 and the 505 both plug into the Handbox for use. Any ideas? As always, Thanks! Reid McCallMike here: The focuser connects to the AUX port on the ETX.
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