DS, DSX, OLDER MODELS FEEDBACK Last updated: 27 August 2011

Subject:	Meade 4500 mirror
Sent:	Saturday, August 27, 2011 11:37:32
From:	Ehcweaver@aol.com (Ehcweaver@aol.com)
I was impressed with the ETX site and your knowledge.  I have a Meade
4500 with a scratched mirror.  I called Meade to see about a
replacement, and of course they said the 4500 is discontinued.  Asked
them if the 114EQ-AR (or one similar) mirror would work.  As far as I
can tell from the specs, the 114EQ appears to be the "new model" of the
4500. Meades' reply was that none of their telescope parts are
interchangeable.  I find that hard to believe.  Do you or some of the
others out there have any idea?
 
Thanks
 
Robert M. Weaver
Seattle, WA

And:

Thanks Mike.  Especially for the quick response. As far as I can tell,
focal and diameter are the same. The only thing i can't find out is the
thickness. If less or equal, it could work. Yes we could get a new
one...but that leads to a long story.

Was just hoping someone knew all of th dimensions. 

Again thanks. Great site. 

Bob

Subject:	Re: Connect #492 with NGC 60?
Sent:	Sunday, July 31, 2011 21:13:59
From:	LightSighted (lightsighted@gmail.com)
Hey fellas  ....that was a fast reply for a sunday....  

Thank you Dick for your insight......lolol....My husband, Andy, when he
sails out in the sea of garages he wont come home empty handed.
I asked him what he payed for the DS-114  and he said he couldnt
remember...but for sure he din't pay more then $25.00.
Ive always wanted a motorized telescope.... one that sits on top of the
patio table ... next to my laptop  and all I have to do  is click on the
computer, wait a few seconds and put my eye on the lense and Waaa
Laaaa....the shadow of one of Jupitars moons  racing across Jupitars
surface.
That set up well never happen.....costs way too much.   The DS-114 may
be the closet thing Ill ever get to that....so I found the manual
online, read everything I could find ..and got very disappointed.  I
dont see the point of having the motor,  spending a small fortune for
all those batteries..everytime I use it ...I can track whatever Im
looking at ...just as good as the motor.
My little NGC 60  was alittle frustrating  but  once it agreed with the
alignment would put on a nice little show...
So I was right .....the NGC is Autostar ...
I found a 494 for sale...$42.00.....and a 497 on ebay...NIB...bid was up
to $14.00, $10.00 for shipping.  I found another 497 for $84.00 free
shipping thru Gorilla.com........I have a feeling I will be finding a
497 under $50.00 in a couple of days....
If you happen to come across one in the near future please let me
know...Im on a mission ...lolol...
Dick......thanks for the compilment about my user name.  
I put alot of thought into the names I use...  What is it you like about
my name?
When you look up in the night sky..is there a particular place you enjoy
looking at....over and over and over....and it never gets old?

Thanks again for all your help....
;o)
Cindy

And:

From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
On 7/31/2011 9:13 PM, LightSighted wrote:
> Hey fellas  ....that was a fast reply for a sunday....
>
> Thank you Dick for your insight......lolol....My husband, Andy, when he sails out in the
> sea of garages he wont come home empty handed.
> I asked him what he payed for the DS-114  and he said he couldnt remember...but for sure
> he din't pay more then $25.00.

Fantastic deal.

> Ive always wanted a motorized telescope.... one that sits on top of the patio table ...
> next to my laptop  and all I have to do  is click on the computer, wait a few seconds and
> put my eye on the lense and Waaa Laaaa....the shadow of one of Jupitars moons  racing
> across Jupitars surface.
> That set up well never happen.....costs way too much.   The DS-114 may be the closet thing
> Ill ever get to that....so I found the manual online, read everything I could find ..and
> got very disappointed.  I dont see the point of having the motor,  spending a small
> fortune for all those batteries..everytime I use it ...I can track whatever Im looking at
> ...just as good as the motor.

The DS-114 (with the 492 already on it) is 95% of the way there.
If you want to drive it with a computer, that affects the cost-choice of
the Autostar.
A 494 Autostar will require a 506 adapter (which has internal smarts). 
They're $30 to $50 (if can be found).
A 495 or 497 Autostar only requires a home-made cable (DB9-to-RJ14
adapter). $10 or less.
So that can lower the effective cost of the 495/497.
Your PC will require a serial (COM) port, or a USB-to-serial adapter.
Of course, the 497 Autostar has 30,000 objects already "known", so you
may not need a PC.

I use an external rechargable battery (a $40 automobile JumpStart
unit... it can also inflate my tires and jump-start the car).  Much
cheaper than small batteries.

> My little NGC 60  was alittle frustrating  but  once it agreed with the alignment would
> put on a nice little show...
> So I was right .....the NGC is Autostar ...
> I found a 494 for sale...$42.00.....and a 497 on ebay...NIB...bid was up to $14.00, $10.00
> for shipping.  I found another 497 for $84.00 free shipping thru Gorilla.com........I have
> a feeling I will be finding a 497 under $50.00 in a couple of days....
> If you happen to come across one in the near future please let me know...Im on a mission
> ...lolol...
> Dick......thanks for the compilment about my user name.
> I put alot of thought into the names I use...  What is it you like about my name?

I figured it was astronomy (or SF) related.

> When you look up in the night sky..is there a particular place you enjoy looking
> at....over and over and over....and it never gets old?

Um... everywhere?  Just panning with binoculars or a small scope always
finds something interesting.   Asterisms abound (the Coat Hanger is
always fun to re-discover). If i'm *trying* for something as a first
night or small crowd set, i'll go for the Ring Nebula, M81 and M82, good
old Orion Nebula, M13.  I'm too far north to play much in Scorpio or
Sagittarius.   Many double/multiple stars get visited, even on hazy
nights.

And i can just sit and watch Jupiter's moons dance (and Jupiter rotate)
for hours on end. The fact/thought that you can see *in
short-attention-span* human time scales the moons travel hundreds of
thousands of miles "while you watch" just keeps me fascinated.

Or crank up the magnification and walk along the Moon's terminator.

Letting the Autostar chase the space station is a delight... it's
certainly grown over the years (you can see a LOT of detail).  ((you did
know that the 494,495 and 497 can do that, didn't you?))

have fun
--dick

Feedback Archive

Check the Feedback Archive for previous editions of the DS, DSX, and Older Models Feedback pages.

Go to the ETX Home Page.