ETX-105EC FEEDBACK Last updated: 29 January 2003

Subject:	Upgrading ETX 105/UHTC
Sent:	Wednesday, January 29, 2003 0:39:49
From:	siegfried.gonzi@stud.uni-graz.at (Siegfried Gonzi)
I am a little bit baffled in navigating the site. I hope it does not
mind you if I ask whether it is possible to put the following question
forward to the discussion's section:

==
Hi:

Anybody any good ideas how to turn the ETX 105 into a better wide field
performer? Yesterady, I took delivery of my eyepiece special from Meade
(30th anniversary) and now I am contemplating to trade this 8
eyepiece-case for a wide field eyepiece:

- Nagler type?
- or the 56mm eyepiece (52 of field) from Meade

Normally, Deep Sky does not require that much on wide field especially
on tight objects. But sometimes it would be desired to enjoy a complete
Pleijades field of view.

S. Gonzi

Subject:	105EC Electric Focuser
Sent:	Monday, January 27, 2003 20:40:11
From:	bob@shutan.com
1/27/03

The Meade 1244 Electric focuser that was designed for the 90-series (and
mistakingly thought to have worked on the 105) has been re-designed and
now works properly on the 105EC without any problems. The new design
uses a small teardrop-shaped plastic "mounting plate" between focuser
and scope. The housing of the focuser itself looks the same but there is
no longer a 1-inch-or-so plastic stud extending off the back of the
focuser  housing. This new style focuser is available now from stock.

Sincerely,

Bob Shutan
Shutan Camera & Video
www.shutan.com

Subject:	Meade ETX 105EC Autostar and thanks.
Sent:	Saturday, January 25, 2003 9:12:37
From:	nigel@golfnut.fslife.co.uk (Nigel SMITH)
First of all hello from Tobermory in Scotland and a big thank you. As a
new proud owner of a 105 I went to set up the autostar and (you guessed
it), no 105 in the data base. Frantic search of internet and you arrived
out of the electronic ether with an answer. I must say how impressed I
am with the autostar. Once I got used to the set up it unerringly took
me where I wanted to go an apart from some "operator induced error" it
works perfectly. No doubt I will be back with some questions but for now
thanks for a great site.
Regards.
Nigel Smith

Subject:	ETX105 Image Shift
Sent:	Friday, January 24, 2003 20:32:21
From:	jjmatuszak@earthlink.net (John and Laura Matuszak)
I am just starting on this fantastic hobby, and your website is
wonderful. Its the reason I bought an ETX.  Can you clarify what is an
acceptable amount of image shift.  I have the 105Ec and I have read
Ric's posting regarding image shift.  Unfortunately, I don't live near
Switzerland, so I can't take the scope there.  When I first turn the
focus know either left or right, the image shifts to the left or the
right, but then stays in about the same place.  The image shift about a
1/3 of the FOV using 26mm with a 2x Barlow.  Is this acceptable or
normal? Will a flexi-focus help?  Is there any lubrication necessary? 
Thanks.

Subject:	ETX-105 Image Shift update
Sent:	Monday, January 20, 2003 3:54:30
From:	ric_capucho@hotmail.com (ric capucho)
I thought I'd give you an update with regards to the dreadful
image-shift problem I was having with my ETX-105.

Thanks to your advice, I wisely declined to break into the OTA of my
warranty-expired ETX-105, and got it to someone with the necessary
skills: that turned out to be a guy called Bertrand at Galileo-Planet at
a place called Morges, near Lausanne, here in Switzerland.  Bertrand
told me to leave it with him, and to go for a loooong lunch.  After a
couple of hours (burp) I returned to find a beaming Bertrand, with my
'scope declared 'fixed', all for CHF 50.  That's the equivalent of 20 or
$30, so a real bargain.

Tested it on Saturday evening, and what a dramatic difference.  I really
have problems detecting any image-shift at all with the 26mm SP, and
very little with a 12mm Nagler.  Even with the 7mm Nagler, there's only
a small shift, say around 5% of the FOV.  An amazing difference, seeing
as previously the image used to leave the field of view entirely, even
with the 12mm Nagler!

Thanks again for the help.

Ric Capucho

Subject:	Fwd: Removing the Optical tube of the ETX 105
Sent:	Saturday, January 18, 2003 14:29:16
From:	monopertuz@yahoo.com (Fernando Pertuz)
To:	drclay@arksky.org (Clay Sherrod)
Clay,

I would like to share with you the procedure provided by Bruce Dickson
for removing the OTA off the ETX 105. In doing so I would like to thank
Bruce for his help as it really simplifyed the task and made it
significantly less risky.

Saludos,
Fernando Pertuz
Barranquilla, Colombia

__________________________________________________
From: "Bruce Dickson" (bdickson@mweb.co.za)

Fernando, I picked up Dr. Sherrod's response to your question. I found
that the only safe way to remove the ETX 105 from it's mount is to
remove the left fork arm (which is described on Mike Weasner's site at
http://www.weasner.com/etx/techtips.html.) I've copied a message I sent
to Mike some months ago that describes the procedure.  [copy removed from email]

I suggest that you do not remove the telescope unless you have a _very_
good reason. This is particularly true because the 1/4" mounting is not
very securely mounted to the optical tube, and there is the potential to
cause a lot of damage.

regards
bruce

Bruce Dickson
Midrand
South Africa

And:

From:	drclay@arksky.org (Clay Sherrod)
This is of course the preferred and only safe way of removing the 105
tube assembly; however, as the text implies this is NOT something that
should be done by the casual user; there are entirely too many wires and
small parts that can become sheared or broken (lost) if extreme care is
not taken.

Frankly, for the 105 and 125 newer models I do NOT recommend any
disassembly at all....the tune up series for ETX scopes do not apply
whatsoever to these new models.  They are designed totally different and
as those who are using them know.....they have their own sets of
idiosyncrasies and problems.  The new metal-bearing 105 and 125 models
are incredibly complicated to tweak and Supercharge.....even if you have
experience tinkering in small places and feel confident lurking within
these machines, the problems that I have identified with these
telescopes are NOT focusing on one "bad area" at all....normally it is a
series of small multiple adjustments and alignments that need to be made
to assure proper operation.

I highly discourage anyone from attempting a self-tune-up on the new
model ETX 105 or 125.

Dr. Clay
Arkansas Sky Observatory
www.arksky.org
MPC/cbat Obs. H43 / Conway
MPC/cbat Obs. H41/ Petit Jean Mt.

Subject:	ETX 105EC Viewfinder
Sent:	Thursday, January 16, 2003 11:46:55
From:	Kevin.Roberts@NBPCD.com (Kevin Roberts)
Kudos on such a fantastic site.  I have probably logged about 60hrs of
reading time in last couple months!  I have a general question on the
ETX 105EC right angle viewfinder.  I noticed the other day that the lens
section will easily pop off in your hand and doesn't appear to have any
mechanism for tightening it.  Is this a normal thing or is my viewfinder
defective?

Other than that, I have had clear sailing with my 105.  (thanks of
course to the alignment tips from your site).  Was going to do some
comet Kudo-Fujikawa viewing this week but the temps here in Thunder Bay
have been -30C each morning!  Sure eats the batteries.
 
Thanks again Mike.
 
Cheers,
 
Kevin.

Subject:	Re: horizontal rotation of ETX-105EC
Sent:	Tuesday, January 14, 2003 17:32:26
From:	reboston@highstream.net (The Bostons)
Dick,

THANK YOU!!!!!  After loosening the horizontal lock nut several clicks
and applying minimal force in turning the scope on its base, there was a
very faint "click" and the scope began to rotate freely. I can't believe
I fixed something!!!.

THANKS THANKS & THANKS.

Mike, your page is more important than you can understand & I'm forever
grateful for the support it provides.

Respectfully
BBoston

Empowerment -R- us.

Next lesson: using a bent paperclip to add overdrive to your car's automatic
transmission.

have fun
--dick  

Subject:	re:  horizontal rotation of ETX-105EC
Sent:	Saturday, January 11, 2003 11:03:32
From:	rseymour@wolfenet.com (Richard Seymour)
To:	reboston@highstream.net
Before you send it back... the manual may describe a procedure for
removing the RA clamp handle, and repositioning it 60 degrees 
"tighter" or "looser" to allow more travel.  You might try that first.

In your case, Swing the handle to the "loose" end of travel,
unscrew the locking screw, lift the handle, rotate it one "stop"
in the air, and then put it back down on the base.  Now (before
tightening the lock screw), try rotating/loosening the clamp the
extra distance the new handle position allows.  

If the base now allow free rotation, you've fixed the problem 
(or at least have hidden the symptom).

good luck
--dick

Subject:	re: ETX-105EC Focusing
Sent:	Saturday, January 11, 2003 11:03:27
From:	rseymour@wolfenet.com (Richard Seymour)
To:	reboston@highstream.net
Be aware that (in the past) the electronic focuser Meade sold for
the ETX-105 **DID NOT FIT** the telescope.

I do not know if they have corrected the problem by bringing out
a new model focuser... but the ones designed for the ETX90 and ETX125
did NOT work with the ETX105.

Unless it has been resolved (and nothing i've seen leads me to believe
it has), be sure to have "full refend return" ability if you buy a
Meade  electric focuser "for the ETX105".

Good luck
--dick

Subject:	Grinding 105
Sent:	Saturday, January 11, 2003 4:48:14
From:	karengaryaubert@jerseymail.co.uk (karengary)
Many thanks for your prompt reply re: Polar mode.

Since reading your reply, I have simulated polar alignment indoors and
pointed at an imaginary star in the living room and left  it running for
some time. But my ETX-105 still refuses to track.

Something else now seems to have gone wrong. I have levelled the tripod
(884) and levelled the tube and reset the dec scale to zero.It now
appears my scope refuses to move above 87degrees (either manually or
with controller) and a horrible clicking sound can be heard from the
declination lock.

Does this sound like the scope needs to be returned as its only 3 weeks
old?

Many thanks again

Gary

Subject:	horizontal rotation of ETX-105EC
Sent:	Friday, January 10, 2003 15:34:28
From:	reboston@highstream.net (The Bostons)
The horizontal lock on my new scope is disengaged (all the way
counterclokkwise) but the scope won't rotate manually on its base.  It
moves electronically but I think it may rotate beyond 360 degrees. Any
suggestions?

Thanks

And:

Not the news I wanted to hear but thanks.  Have you heard of this
happening before?

Subject:	ETX-105EC Focusing
Sent:	Thursday, January 9, 2003 19:42:03
From:	reboston@highstream.net (The Bostons)
My ETX-105EC is far more fabulous than anything I ever dreamed of
owning. And, I don't even have optional eyepieces yet. Can't believe the
clarity of Moon craters nebulas and clusters.

The hand controller that came with my 105 has "FOCUS IN OUT" indicator
buttons.  Do these function? Is the optional #1244 Electric Focuser
required for electronic focusing? If so, why did Meade put these buttons
on the "standard equipment" hand controller?

Thanks for your support. You've been a great help to this novice.

Subject:	Re: Stops
Sent:	Monday, January 6, 2003 7:17:05
From:	ianrdocherty@hotmail.com (Ian Docherty)
Hope you had a good christmas and new year with better weather and skys
than sunny ! (not) Scotland.

Another newby question for you, hard stops in both axis on the ETX 105
?, I dont seem to have a stop on the declination of the telescope in
either manual or motorized movement, but there is one in the other axis,
is that correct.

Also with the autostar, finding it fairly accurate ! Sitting the scope
on a fairly level table out the back of the house and after reading othe
peoples comments on being none to impressed with it all I can say is go
out and buy one!, even with its minor discrepancies it is far quicker at
finding things than I ever was !!

Anyway, my question is the setup of the thing, it did not list the 105
as an available telescope, so I chose the 125 and changed the focal
length figure in one of the sub menu options, all drives have been
trained etc also. Is there anything else I should be aware of to change
in the settings, also would you know if the latest updated software
lists the 105 and is it worth getting the cable connector to upgrade, is
there anything majorly improved ?

Thanks and clear skys

Ian

Subject:	Colours in M42
Sent:	Friday, January 3, 2003 1:56:13
From:	bdickson@mweb.co.za
I had my 12" LX200 with me for the eclipse at the beginning of last
month. I saw pink and blue in M42 - as did several people with me. The
telescope was set up at f/6.3 and about 60x magnification. The sky was
incredibly still, transparent and dark.

There was a fair bit of ambient light around us, so our eye's couldn't
have been fully dark adapted, and this _may_ have kept our eyes in
colour mode. The colour was very grainy - So I presume it was right on
the limit of visual colour detection?

BTW - I got Saturn and M1 in the same field of view last night using my
ETX 105. I could still see M1 although it was really dim in comparison.
The Cassini division was easily visible, as were some bands on Saturn.

clear skies
Bruce

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