Weasner's Meade ETX-105EC User Feedback

ETX-105EC FEEDBACK

Last updated: 15 July 2002

This page is for user comments and information specific to the new Meade ETX-105EC. Comments on accessories and feedback items appropriate to other ETX 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:	ETX105
Sent:	Friday, July 12, 2002 7:45:06
From:	annubi@libero.it (roberto)
Ciao  my meade etx105 info direct current 2 motor dec. ar.350,400ma cc
12v e regular yes o no.
thank Ermanno  Italy (Trieste)

Mike here: See the Power Supply info on the Telescope Tech Tips page. The ETX-105EC will be the same as for other ETX models.

Subject:	Re: ETX105 and Autostar 497 compatibility and download
Sent:	Tuesday, July 9, 2002 23:50:44
From:	BtwdFritz@aol.com
Thank you so much for getting back to me; it really helped.  The Meade
website is not nearly as clear as Richard Seymour's instructions on how
to perform the download.  I finally got the software downloaded, but
haven't yet had the time (or the clear skies) to test the scope.  I'm
hoping for the best, but if it gives me problems, I guess I'll revert to
the original firmware, if that's possible.  I'm looking forward to
sending a "First Light" report to your site---a positive one!

Fritz

Mike here: Remember to reTRAIN after upgrading the Autostar. Otherwise you'll experience "rubberbanding" when trying to center an object.

Subject:	105
Sent:	Tuesday, July 9, 2002 4:17:36
From:	marc.baier@basler.ch
It' Marc again. I found the following statement on your site "If the
cost for the ETX-125EC is outside the budget, then the ETX-90EC remains
the telescope of choice. "

Since I am looking at the ETX105, would you say that I should consider
the ETX 90 as well ? The prices in Switzerland are as follows:

ETX70 :      445 swiss francs
ETX90:    1'165 swiss francs
ETX105:  1'595 swiss francs
ETX125:  2'380 swiss francs

Apart from the outrageous pricing, the price jump from the etx90 to the
etx 105 (+400 ) is smaller than from the etx105 to the 125 (+800). Of
course I am wondering if the additional cash is worth the difference :-)

Any comments are greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Marc

Mike here: That quote may have pre-dated the 105.

And:

uhm - hmm. so you are saying that the 105 would defenitely be an option
for me if i don't have that extra wad of cash. from what i have read,
the image quality or "visual experience" of the 105 is not that much
different from the 125.

i would hate to spend the extra money without having considered the
etx105, which is quite alot cheaper over here. since you have worked
with all of these telescopes, your opinion would be greatly appreciated.

Mike here: I have only briefly used the ETX-105EC. It lies between the -90 and -125 in size and capability. The -90 is more portable and the -125 has somewhat more light gathering power and focal length. So, you have to decide which tradeoffs are important to you.

Subject:	#889 adapter for polar wedge also usable for the ETX105
Sent:	Tuesday, July 9, 2002 2:48:09
From:	marc.baier@basler.ch
After looking at the ETX125 for quite a while now I am considering the
ETX105 due to the much lower cost. I already own a meade deluxe tripod
with polar wedge (used it with my LX-10) and i know that meade sells an
adapter for the ETX125. Do you know if this adapter will also work with
the ETX105 ?

Many thanks for your help
Marc

Subject:	ETX105 and Autostar 497 compatibility and download
Sent:	Sunday, July 7, 2002 20:07:29
From:	BtwdFritz@aol.com
After a 3-hour drive from L.A. to Oceanside, I bought an ETX105 and
Autostar 497 yesterday. Beforehand, the salesmen first assured me that
I'd get a "new" Autostar with the 105 set-up option, but then said, no,
there are no "new" ones with the option preprogrammed, and I'd just have
to download the new software from Meade.  Which statement is true?  Very
annoying.  And very problematic.  But I said ok and forked over a bunch
of money.

Anyway, I went to Meade's website, and clicked on the "25Ea" link to, in
their words, "download the [ASU] and install it on your PC."  Sounds so
simple.  I downloaded it, extracted the zip file, and now have this
bizarre thing called "Build25Ea.rom" sitting in my download file that I
can't open!  What the #2$*! is a "rom" file, and how do I open it to set
up the ASU---whatever that is--on my PC so I can get the current
firmware I was promised I could buy in the first place so I could avoid
all this?!  Whew!  Sorry about that, though I do feel a bit better.

I just want to get up and running.  Though I doubt malice on the part of
the seller, I haven't gotten straight, or at least consistent, answers
from them so far.  You and your site contributors seem to be very
knowledgeable.  Please help me!  How do I open and install the software
and download it to my Autostar?  (I did buy the cables, much to my
unanticipated displeasure.)  Or, as I've read on your site, will Meade
really send me the latest version, with only the stipulation that I
return the outdated one in their box?  That would be very cool.

I look forward to your reply!

Mike here: I'm not surprised that the dealer still has older ROMs in the Autostars on the shelf. But at least they can be easily updated. You need the application from Meade's Autostar page to do the download of the ROM file. Just grab the full installer (Autostar Update Client Application for Windows, Version 3.51). For info on using the app, see "How to use the 3.x Updater" on the Autostar Information page on my ETX Site. By the way, if you don't want to download it you can select ETX-125EC as the telescope model and it will work fine.

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