Weasner's ETX Classic Feedback Page

ETX CLASSIC FEEDBACK

Last updated: 8 February 2012

This page is for comments and user feedback about ETX telescopes. ETX models discussed on this page include the ETX-60/70/80/90/105/125 (EC, AT, BB, Premier Edition). This page also includes comments and feedback of a general nature. Comments on accessories and feedback items appropriate to the ETX-90RA, DSX, 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 for posting. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message per the Site Email Etiquette. Thanks. Remember, tips described on this site may invalidate the warranty on your telescope or accessories. Neither the submitter nor myself are responsible for any damage caused by using any contributed tips.

Subject: ETX 125 Sent: Monday, February 6, 2012 10:35:00 From: thomas hutchins (ultramanv@me.com) Hi All , I purchased a ETX 125 recently that had not been taken well care of . So far Ive cleaned it up and have been able to get the motors back to working. It is missing the degree band around the bottom so i don't know where O degree is It there and way to mark it with a new band or even manually creating one ? Umm also the first day i had it on the tripod it fell over and caused a lil crack in the bottom of the front lens so also looking for one of those. Thanks Mike ... Was in AZ last week and the view of the sky was amazing !!! Sent from my iPad

Thanks For the info Mike .. I was thinking i needed the RA to first setup the Autostar. Or do i just point it north ? It seems that i can still see things ok with the crack (Only about an 1/4 of and inch and not all the way thru) I looked at the moon just to check . ill just keep my eye out to see if anyone pops up with one.. .. I did see the site but the don't have any lens in stock //

Subject: etx spares Sent: Sunday, February 5, 2012 13:25:41 From: MICHAEL KIRKPATRICK (nickshell2@yahoo.co.uk) hi, i wonder if you can help me, i need to know how i can get a new prism i think it is called to aline the autostar of the etx90 i have as the arm that clips into the ???? on tpo of the scope is not there "snaped off" i am totally new to this pass time and am clutching at straws i live in the UK. please advise thanks michael k..

thanks for responding ust bought scope i think it is plastic piece i will get back to you later on if thats ok with the exact part ect ok? thanks michael k..

hi, this is the address for meade spares if you are asked again, and thanks for your help michael k.. From: Sales Telescope House (sales@telescopehouse.com) Subject: RE: ltn lens To: nickshell2@yahoo.co.uk Date: Monday, 6 February, 2012, 9:48 Thanks for the email, these are available by phone order,8.50 plus VAT. Regards Pete Gallon Sales Manager BCF Ltd Telescope House - Telescope Specialists Since 1785 2 New Buildings Newchapel Road Lingfield Surrey RH7 6BA 01342 837610 www.telescopehouse.com Please consider the environment - only print this e-mail if absolutely necessary -----Original Message----- To: Sales Telescope House Subject: ltn lens hello, i am after a replacement LNT LENS for my etx 90 telescope please advise thanks michael k..

Subject: Right Angle Finder for ETX-90EC Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 15:50:15 From: Ted Kowalczyk (tedkowalczyk@comcast.net) I have been out of the astronomy loop for a few years but have returned and have decided its time to put a right angle finder on my scope. After searching the internet it seems the Meade scope #825 is not available anywhere. Do you know of a right-angle finder scope that would fit without modification on the EXT-90EC? Thanks, Ted Kowalczyk

Here is JMI's response. I think I will just install a mount from Orion and use one of their finders. Thanks for your help. Ted ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sorry. It's been years since we had that item. Best Regards, Tom Johnston Production Manager JMI

Subject: ETX 80 altitude moves too high during alignment Sent: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 09:42:20 From: maes (maes@fireflyuk.net) Hope you can help. Cannot see this problem elsewhere on the site. I have a secondhand ETX80AT refractor. With several failed attempts to get the scope to align and in case previous owner had a strange set up I reset the Autostar Fitting new Duracell batteries; correctly entered and double checked all settings for location, time and date, time zone. I have also trained the drives. Telescope level and pointing north (Home position) at start The problem is when going through the alignment process whether using the"easy" or "two star" method the azimuth moves to the correct position but altitude goes 20 to 30 degrees too high no matter which star is used from the database. If an alignment star is chosen with a high altitude the scope will move upwards until it would hit it's vertical stop, if I did not stop it. Moving the scope to the correct altitude and centring the star leads to "alignment failure" message. Accepting the "wrong" position without centring give an "alignment successful" message but of course the scope is hoplessly off actually locating objects. A possibly connected problem with the altitude motion is that if using the telescope manually (ie non aligned) through the controller it does not stay in position once it is pointed at an object but after a few seconds will move upwards a degree or so in sharp little jumps. I hope this is a fixable problem with the scope best regards Mike Alexander Whithorn UK

I read that FAQ you suggested but the scope is not "berserk" it very deliberately goes to a position too high on the alignment star - the az drive is fine. I had already done the things suggested by the answer, however as it was a clear night toight I thought to double check I would redo it all Just so you have it 1) Before I changed any settings the scope went too high in alt. 2) Tonight with new batteries, did the reset, calibrating motors and trained drives. Location time and date, time zone all set correcty. Result - it still went too high. By the way it only tries to hit the alt stop if you align on a star like Capella (near zenith) but is 30 deg too high on Rigel or Regulus. Watching the scope movements carefully throughout the alignment process : From the Home positin the alt drives moves first and seems to reach approx the correct angle for the selected alignment star. The az drive then moves to approx the right position too. Both are a few degrees out but about what you would expect for 1st star in alignment process. However instead of stopping at that point the alt drive starts again, moving the scope to a steeper angle thus over shooting the alignment star by 30 deg. There seems to be a repeatable error in altitude motion not a random one which I cannot account for hence e-mailing you Hope you have alternative solution - many thanks all the best Mike

Thanks will give that I'll give it a try My apologies I rewrote the e-mail from a first draft that did include "calibrate motors" but seemed to have missed it in the version sent to you all the best Mike

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