ETX-105EC FEEDBACK Last updated: 29 March 2002

Subject:	To good of a deal?
Sent:	Thursday, March 28, 2002 22:42:15
From:	jayhkr1@netzero.net (Eddie Sola)
Recently I have been EXTEMELY interested in astronomy.  Partly due to
the fact that my 9 year old daughter is studing it in her school and she
is very interested in space and such.  As a young child, I had always
been fascinated about the great blackness above, but never had the money
to invest in anything worth while in a telescope.  Now that I'm all
grown up and have some money I really want to give my daughter what I
couldn't when I was her age. (Ok, it's for me too :>) ) Anyway, I was
browsing a few ads in on the interenet newspapers and ran across this,
what I think, is an unbelievable deal, but I want your input please. 
Here is the ad I saw:
=======================================================
ETX-105EC, Deluxe Field Tripod, Autostar 495 (upgraded to 497), Electric
Focus, 505 cable connector set, Electronic Eyepiece, Scopetronix 30,20 &
12.5 Plossl EP's, Meade 4000 Super Plossl 26, 9.7 & 6.4 EP's, Sirrus
Orion 10mm PLossl EP, #82a Lt Blue, #8 Lt Yellow & Moon filters, Meade
2x & 3x Barlow, Starry Night Pro 3.1 Full Retail Version & last but not
least a compass. The telescope and all accessories are in new condition
only use 4 or 5 times never farther than my driveway. Reason for selling
is #1 I have too much light pollution around my house and #2 I have the
fix my boat up for summer fever! Payment within 5 days and acutal
shipping charges. I prefer FedEx but they are more expensive than UPS.
Will leave shipping method up to buyer! I am able to accept a credit
card through my work with a 2% extra charge. Let me know if you need
this option. Link to the a few more pictures
http://www.curious.net/etxpics.htm I forgot I have the standard camera
adapter. Never even used, wouldnt fit my camera.
=======================================================

Now I'm very new to this whole computerized telescope stuff, but I know
what I want to see out of one.  Definately the cloud bands on Jupiter
most of the surrounding galaxy's etc.  What can I expect out of this
telescope.  He is asking $1050.00  Should I take it and run or keep
looking?  The faster the response the better of a chance I will have of
getting this if need be.  Thank you.  Eddie

And:

Thank you for your response so quickly.  I was reading that maybe the
Celestron NexStar5 or NexStar8 would be a better buy then?  I saw the
comparison on the etx-125 to the nexstar5 and it seems the nexstar5 has
a better drive unit and is able for deep space.  I just thought the
etx-105 was a good deal since it came with the tripod, filters, electric
focuser, etc..  Thank you for your help on this matter!

Eddie

Subject:	ETX-105EC
Sent:	Monday, March 25, 2002 7:37:36
From:	tmewherter@lefletcher.com (Tom Mewherter)
I purchased an ETX-105EC and an Autostar controller about a week ago
from a Discovery Channel Store.  I was not sure this was a good idea
after reading many articles about "department store" telescopes.  I also
felt somewhat victomized by such a purchase a few years ago of a 4.5"
reflector (Polaris by MEADE) that I probably paid 3 times too much for. 
Well, I modified that old tripod with the addition of a round, 1/2"
thick aluminum plate to provide a good sturdy base for the 105. (Nice to
have a machine shop available).  Friday night was clear and cool here in
Southeast Louisiana so I decided to set up and see what the 105 could do
from the bottom of this fish bowl we live in.  I set up in a field about
200 feet from the apartment complex on the "dark"  side of the huge
parking lot spot lights.  I homed the scope and pointed in the general
direction of Polaris and went to easy align.  The 105 picked the first
star for alignment and I assumed it was the brightest one in the general
direction the scope was pointing so I centered it up.  The 105 picked
the second star, and again I figured it must be the bright one.  The
controller came back with alignment successful and waited for me to pick
the first object.   I selected Jupiter and watched with some amazement
as the 105 put the crosshairs of the guidescope right on. Cloud bands on
Jupiter were very clearly seen. Saturn was next, then Mars, right on
each time.  Thought I would give the Orion Nebula a try even with all
the light and to my surprise, there it was.  Every object I choose based
on what I thought I could see with all the light pollution was near
centered in the 26mm eyepiece every time.  The detail on the moon was
breathtaking.  I am very pleased with the optics and though I am no
expert, I think I got a good one.  Stars are bright pinpoints of light
and off focus objects look like little donuts.  I can't wait to get to a
really dark sky site.  I may send you a quick update once I have done
that.  Thanks for a very informative web site, had I found it before I
bought my 105 I may not have waited so long.
Tom

Subject:	Electric focuser
Sent:	Thursday, March 21, 2002 7:48:02
From:	marc.delaney@ntlworld.com (marc.delaney)
Pleasure and dissapointment ought not to be inflicted at the same time,
but they did on me! I recently upgraded my old ETX-90 for an ETX-105EC
because the 90 mount is, as has already been documented, rather flimsy.
The 105 mount seems a definite improvement and its slewing and locks are
much more precise. That's the pleasure bit. Now the disappointment:
Mead's adverts say that the electric focuser #1244 fits and works with
all ETX-90 and ETX-105 models. I had an electric focuser on the 90, so I
transferred it to the 105 and  it doesn't work. It worked fine with the
90, but on the 105 the focuser's knurled roller just misses the teeth of
the brass wheel that fits on the focus rod. Mead ought to be more
careful in their advertising. No dealer here in the UK has any info on
this problem, and Mead in the USA appear to be contactable only through
an expensive overseas call (I haven't called them yet). Any comments
from you and other ETX users most welcome.
Best wishes and thanks again for such a useful site.
Marc

And:

Thanks for your prompt response. On an impulse, I emailed ScopeTronix
with the same query, and this was Jordan Blessing's reply:

"I just called Meade for an answer...They said, " the #1244 is currently
being redesigned so that it will fit both the ETX90 and ETX105 and the
new unit will be available shortly. Owners who have the older focusers
will be allowed to exchange them for a limited time.Jordan Blessing,
ScopeTronix Astronomy Products".

I'd like to say that I am tremendously impressed by ScopeTronix
"service", even though it is obviously that being a UK resident I am
unlikely to be a customer. Can you print this as a well-deserved plug
for ScopeTronix please? And finally, but definitely not least, again my
admiration for your superb site!

Marc (Wales, UK)

Subject:	Etx-105 & 883 Tripod
Sent:	Wednesday, March 20, 2002 18:43:52
From:	Marknjuli@aol.com
With my 105 I use the Scopetronix medium duty tripod adapter (sturdy
aluminum). It does add a significant amount of stability.

                                      Mark

Subject:	105 & 883 deluxe field tripod
Sent:	Monday, March 18, 2002 18:12:53
From:	simo5@mindspring.com (MindSpring Account)
I find that the plastic base of the 105 flexes very easily when attached
to the #883 tripod, which in turn causes a great deal of extra scope
shake.  I have seen some of the home grown mounting plates in the Tech
Tips section, but does Meade make a metal mounting plate for the 105?  
I have heard that they make one for the 125, but I have not been able to
find one.   Is there a part number, and can anyone tell me if it will
work with the 105?

Thanks,
 Dave

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