![[Home!]](../../images/mighty_etx.jpg){kind=small}
Last updated: 31 January 2003
|
Last updated: 31 January 2003 |
Subject: A couple of "newbie" ETX90 questions Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 9:18:19 From: DHill@nact.com (Hill, David) Question #1 I have an ETX90EC with an Autostar that is at firmware revision 2.1ek. I noticed that there are newer revisions of the Autostar firmware. Is this a good version to use or would I be well advised to update my software? Question #2 I have trained and calibrated my ETX90EC. I notice that at slew speed 3 that it takes about 10 seconds of pressing the button before noticeable movement occurs (in either the "alt" or "az" directions). Is this normal for the "3" setting? If not, would changing the alt and az percentages (currently at 15% and 15%) help any? Thanks for any help you can give me! DavidMike here: First off, I would definitely upgrade to the current version. Once you do see if the backlash is still present. I would suggest doing a RESET, CALIBRATE, TRAIN sequence following the upgrade to clear out any bogus settings.
Subject: O-lll filters Sent: Friday, January 31, 2003 6:02:23 From: etxjim@yahoo.com (jim abbey) I posted on the group but got no reply so I will ask you. I want to see if anyone has had any luck with an O-lll filter on there ETX 90s I finally got clear sky s here in Jacksonville Florida and I got to use this filter> It made the Orion nebula more detailed but not much ,the field around it was darker and stars were sharper but the brightness was down a bit. The Ring nebula came into view and I could for the first time make out the ring structure even though it was kind of ,dim at around 138x with a 9mm MA the 26mm plossl was small but I could just make out the ring.Mike here: Check out the Accessory Reviews - Filters page.
Subject: meade Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 22:05:13 From: war_god104@hotmail.com (mike szaroz) i am currently looking to invest my money into a telescope, i have been looking at the meade etx90ec for awhile and not haveing much luck with telescopes would like to have your info on which is a good beginner scope . of coarse i have high expectations due to the lack of more direct info , i would just like to now the basics like what can i seen outside our solar system and with what scope, and what lens i would need to seen these objects incolor . i have looked on the net and as for as i can tell the images with the greatest detail would bee the moon . i have looked into the etx90ec because it is portable cheap and very effective but can it live up to my expectations can i actually see outside our solar system with it. i also know the in order to get a quality pic exposure time is required i just want to view with the naked eye thank you for your time :< michaelMike here: Check out the User Observations page for some indication of what you can see.
Subject: Knob sticking Sent: Thursday, January 30, 2003 4:27:07 From: Dsteele@focusnet.co.uk Hi, I was wondering if you could help me. I have a ETX 90 RA and when i turn the knob to move the scope left or right the knob will not move smoothly. It seems to be sticking which makes it difficult to actually get what im looking for in sight and also hard to follow planets etc. Please can you help me Thanks Daniel SteeleMike here: See the article "ETX-90RA "sticky" R.A. movement fix" on the Telescope Tech Tips page.
Subject: Well, this 90EC seems to be better. Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2003 12:12:53 From: Anthony8720@aol.com Thanks for the info you have been giving me, this is my first Mak (not to mention Meade) and Im not very familiar with how it is supposed to perform. Anyways, the new one that I got from the store seems to be fine. I just managed to get the controller out of polar mode. What happened was somehow the controller was not only in Northern hemisphere polar mode right out of the box, but for some reason the siderail rate had been increased by like 40X, so I had to press a button about 8 times to back it out so I could turn off the mode all together. This is yet another thing that meade should include in their troubleshooting section of the instructions. I do however have a few minor complaints. On this one the focus knob is far "tighter" than the last 3 scopes that I have had to return. At times it even seems to be stuck and needs to be really turned hard to budge. Although it seems to be getting better. Also, I have a quick question for you. I noticed that there is small amounts of debris (some dust and small filamentous structers) clinging to the inside of the optical tube. Is this unusual and could it cause distortion? I'm sorry for bothering you, it just seems to me that you know alot more than the people I have talked to at meade. Thanks alot, AnthonyMike here: The focus mechanism will probably loosen up with use. If it doesn't then it is probably binding some place. As to the "debris", it won't cause any problem as long as it is on the side of the tube.
And:
Once again, thanks for the info! I am pleased to announce that the autostar worked perfectly tonight withouta single glitch. I went from having to realign every 20-30 minutes to not having to realign all night. Now I just need to set my dec ring to actually represent where the scope is level. When the scope is level the declination ring reads -4 degrees, Not zero. I assume this is easy to fix and will refer to your tec tips page for help. Thanks again. AnthonyMike here: See the FAQ page for the DEC setting circle info.
Subject: ETX90 Declination Motor doesn't run Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 18:37:44 From: bossert@frontiernet.net (bossert) My ETX90 is out of Warrantee and the motor that slews the telescope up and down (dec) is not running (totally quiet or dead). The motor (same motor?) to slew the telescope abound (RA) works fine. I'm using new batteries. This problem happens when I use the Autostar (it slews to the RA position, but Slewing to the Dec is quiet/dead and lasts forever). and when I use the manual controller (the left and right arrows move the scope, but the up and down arrows result in quiet and no re-action) This is the second time I've had this problem. First time, I was inside the warrantee period and I was given replacement scope from the retail place I purchased it from. Do you know of anything I can do? Or, is it something I have to mail to a Meade repair center? Thanks, BobMike here: If the motor is not running then a wire has likely been cut. You have three choices: try to repair it yourself, contact Dr. Clay Sherrod for a Supercharge, or contact Meade. If you want to try the first, you will have to find the location of the severed connection, assuming that is even the problem.
Subject: ETX90 on ETX70-tripod Sent: Friday, January 17, 2003 8:58:00 From: matthias.heid@gmx.de (Matthias Heid) two weeks ago I bought an ETX90-EC for travelling. I donot have a tripod for it but can get an ETX70-tripod very cheaply. 1. Is it possible to mount my ETX90 on it? 2. Does it make sense, is it stable enough? (It is just my scope for travelling. For serious obeserving I have got my LX90). Thank you Matthias Heid Hamburg, Germany
Subject: Right dec knob on ETX90 Sent: Monday, January 13, 2003 18:56:38 From: chrisandbron@tsn.cc (Chris Cooper) I have a problem with my ETX90. When you go to tighten the knob it just will not do up. I have taken the right arm apart and the problem seems to be the small nut in the arm has come loose. I have tried glueing it back in but it will not hold. The scope is out of warranty and I dont live in the USA to ring up Meade. Will I need a whole new arm support or is there some other part I could get that would fix the problem. Thank You BronMike here: Sounds like the Right Tube Adapter has failed. This is a free part from Meade. Perhaps your dealer could get you a replacement. Lacking that, see the article "ETX Hints, Tips, Projects, & Products" on the Telescope Tech Tips page and then select "ETX/EC Tune-Up Page ". Near the end is a tip on repairing it.
Check the Feedback Archives for previous editions of the ETX-90RA and ETX-90EC User Feedback pages.
Return to the top of this page.
Go to the ETX Home Page.