ETX PREMIER EDITION FEEDBACK Last updated: 25 September 2006

This page is for user comments and information specific to the ETX PE (Premier Edition). Feedback on the specific PE technologies (Automatic Alignment + SmartFinder, Level North Technology) will be covered here. Feedback on the Autostar Suite AE (Astronomer Edition) will be posted on the regular Autostar Suite feedback page. Items that are applicable to all ETX models (EC, AT, PE) will continue to be posted on the other appropriate feedback 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:	re:  My Calibrate Sensors doesn't seem to work?
Sent:	Thursday, September 21, 2006 23:10:01
From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
You wrote:

> RESET, CALIBRATE MOTORS, CALIBRATE SENSORS, TRAIN DRIVES.

The Train Drives goes before the Calibrate Sensors.
(this won't affect your -problem-, but we might as well
have things in the correct order)

good luck
--dick

And:

From:	mhogansr@comcast.net (mhogansr@comcast.net)
Calibrate Sensors performs the same first steps as a normal Auto Align;
it just goes to Polaris instead of alignment stars and saves the result
in NVRAM.  Try an Auto Align.  If you have the same problem, here are a
few things to check:

Correct Site location values;
Correct base/tripod position - Full CCW should be to the West;

If this doesn't work, try a complete reload of the current Autostar
firmware, as Mike suggests.  Something might have happened during the
several months of down time. Presumably you installed  fresh batteries
after the down time or use external power.

Good Luck,
Mike Hogan

Subject:	My Calibrate Sensors doesn't seem to work?
Sent:	Sunday, September 17, 2006 06:24:06
From:	Kevin (kevin@secondstorystudio.com)
I haven't used my ETX125PE in several months.

I thought it best to perform RESET, CALIBRATE MOTORS, tried CALIBRATE
SENSORS, TRAIN DRIVES.

I attempted calibrate sensors about 3 times, but the scope kept running
into the hard stops.

I started the scope by placing it in the CCW position and it hit the
hardstops.  It moved a bit CW than up/down, than went CCW and hit the
hard stop.

Next, I started the scope by placing it in the CCW position than about a
half turn CW and it still hit the CCW hardstop.

My last attempt, I started the scope by approx. in the middle between
the hard stops and it still hit the CCW hardstops.

I think it is suppose to start in fully CCW, but it doesn't seem to work
for my.

How long does the CALIBRATE SENSORS take, I assume it is fully
automatic. Where is the correct starting position?

I'm using autostar version 41Ec.

Thanks again for you time and wonderful web site,
Congratulations on your 10th anniversary,
Kevin

And:

I tried that, but from full CCW position, it started to move CW a little
bit, moved up and down, than move CCW straight to the hard stop?  I'll
try loading 4.3Ea and do the complete sequence over again, RESET,
CALIBRATE MOTORS, CALIBRATE SENSORS, TRAIN DRIVES.

I hope that fixes my problem, by the way I saw M13 and M7 for the first
time last night.  They were amazing, the ETX125 does a great job, now to
get the user up to speed.  I even saw Neptune as a small blue dot.

Thanks for the advice,
Kevin

Subject:	re:90 ETX PE smart finder not adjusting
Sent:	Saturday, September 9, 2006 06:27:04
From:	mhogansr@comcast.net (mhogansr@comcast.net)
Are you first centering an object in the eyepiece?  The procedure is to
center a stationary object in the eyepiece, then look through the
Smartfinder and adjust it until the dot is on the same object.  It
doesn't matter how far your head is from the eyepiece.   Also, make sure
you haven't adjusted the right screw so much that it doesn't stick out
of the left side slightly.  Remember that if the dot turns off during
the adjustment, you can turn it on or off with the "0" (light) button on
the Autostar.

Mike Hogan

Subject:	90 ETX PE smart finder not adjusting
Sent:	Friday, September 8, 2006 06:27:33
From:	Jessica Gregory (she_ragc@hotmail.com)
i am sure I have seen this on your site before but really cannot find
:o( but I am having problems with my meade 90 ETX PE the smart findiner
lens I just cannot get to operate, now I was sure it wasn't a faulty
one, However I can sit the lens in no probs and I am putting it in the
correct way round.  I set my intensity at 14 in the day as I was to
calibrate it.  I switch on the power and to get the red light imagine i
am sitting behind my telescope towards the eyepiece, well i have to move
my ehad about 5" to the left to get the red dot on the right had corner
of the lens.  So next I adjust the top and right hand side knobs to try
moving the dot so that I can see it with my head more near to the eye
piece and nothing seems to happen, any suggestions? or links to earlier
months on the ETX feedback page where this is covered?

Thanks Jessica

Subject:	Meade Smart Finder Question (ETX 125 PE)
Sent:	Tuesday, September 5, 2006 22:05:42
From:	Robert Moranville, CFP (bob@hmllc.com)
First of all, thanks for a great and useful site!
 
My question is:  Are you aware of any upgrade or replacement part for
the "Smart Finder" that would include a reticle or cross hair? (Similar
to what one would find in a spotting scope). It seems to me that this
would make this finder so much more accurate and helpful (especially if
properly aligned with the scope).  Any thoughts or suggestions are
appreciated.
 
Thanks!
 
Bob Moranville

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