Weasner's Meade DS, DSX, Older Models User Feedback

DS, DSX, OLDER MODELS FEEDBACK

Last updated: 26 March 2012

This page is for user comments and information specific to the Meade DS, DSX, and some older telescope models. Accessories and Feedback items appropriate to the ETX models are posted on other pages as appropriate. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me for posting. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message per the Site Email Etiquette. Thanks. Remember, tips described on this site may invalidate the warranty on your telescope or accessories. Neither the submitter nor myself are responsible for any damage caused by using any contributed tips.

Subject:	My little scope
Sent:	Monday, March 26, 2012 03:36:39
From:	shirley feickert (sfeickert1@gmail.com)
Maybe I should start at the beginning.

I have ask you many Questions, I just back my 9.25 Celestron scope from
Dr. Clay

just waiting fot weather to clear up . Here my question I have bought a
2045 Meade.

Old scope yes, Operates great, But I think it is out of Alignment I talk
you before about this scope

How DO I CHECK ALIGNMENT? Is it different than my Celestron?

My Wife thinks it is cute little scope.

James

Mike here: See the "Star Testing and Collimation" section on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page. Since the 2045 is a SCT, it is probably the same as your Celestron. Don't know if the 2045 can be user-collimated.

Subject:	I need some Help
Sent:	Monday, March 19, 2012 07:33:54
From:	shirley feickert (sfeickert1@gmail.com)
Mike, I have a Schmidt-cassegrain meade D120mmf/1000 scope having
probles focusing the night sky,But day time it is clear.
and where can I get meade tripod the tripod doesn't collapse? I don't
want to pay200+ dollars dealers want.

James Feickert

Mike here: Your message was originally DELETED UNREAD as SPAM due to the ambiguous subject. If you have questions or comments in the future, please read the Email Etiquette on the ETX Site. Otherwise, you might not get any replies. Thanks for understanding. Are you letting the telesope reach "thermal equilibrium" before using it at night? For best results, you need to wait at least 20-30 minutes and perhaps up to 30 minutes for each inch of aperture, depending on the temperature difference from indoors to outdoors. Also, what magnification are you using? Remember, telescopes have a maximum theoretical magnification, which as you approach it, the image will get fuzzy. If you are unsure how to calculate magnification and the maximum, see the ETX FAQ page. As to a tripod, it is a critical component for good viewing. A flimsy tripod will shake the telescope at the slightest touch or breeze, making focusing difficult and viewing unpleasurable. If you don't want to spend money for a good mount, you might cansider making one; see the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page.

And:

Yes i am letting it warm up to temperature. I am using a 28mm eyepiece
to start then I drop down to a 15mm. The tripod is a sturdy mount but is
kind of a tripod with the legs are strong but not retractable.  James
Feickert

Mike here: What are you trying to focus on at night? Depending on what type of tripod mounting your telescope model needs, you may find good alternative solutions. But extendable legs on a sturdy tripod will add cost.

And:

Trying to focas on Jupiter or venus.  all i can see is a dot/circle.  James

Mike here: Depending on when you try to view them, if they are too low in the sky, seeing conditions may blur them out. Venus, when in focus, should (currently) show about a "half-moon" phase. With Jupiter you should be able to see the North and South Equatorial Belts (thin cloud bands). Trying focusing on a star; it should be essentially a point of light when in focus. If you suspect a problem, do a "star test"; see the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page for info on star testing and collimation.

Subject:	Question
Sent:	Sunday, March 11, 2012 20:55:51
From:	Sunni Lee (sunnilee@rocketmail.com)
I was hoping you might help me figure something out. I have perused your
site and though I found it quite fascinating, I fear that it may incite
my non-mechanical yet curious brain to take things apart and further
harm my telescope and quite possibly myself. I'd really like to get
things to just simply work again, before I take on any further
challenges.

Forgive my rambling. Onto my question if you'd be so kind as to assist
me: I have a DS-114- which I'm assuming from reading what I could from
your site and looking at the innards of my Autostar 'remote'- that it
has the 497 system. My issue is that it came with a battery pack which
was subsequently stepped on and crushed sometime in the past 15 or so
years...it could not be fixed. The power "outlet" has a spot for what
looks like-says- (a) "12v" (adapter?) and so I attempted to plug one in,
to no avail. I tried several, but the 12v 'hole' was not the right fit
for anything I have. I saw instructions for creating alternate sources
of power-forgive my lack of technical knowledge here- by tweaking a
power source to one of these phone jack outlet plugs. Is this the route
I should go, or is there some magical 12v pack that some radio shack guy
should be directing me to somewhere? 

The correct size plug for the 12v hole is still connected to my broken
battery pack, and I've half a mind to just rig it up to a 12v battery,
but as you can probably tell by my language, bad things tend to happen
to me when I try to play mad scientist. I apologize for being so long,
and I hope I make sense. I am not as dumb as I sound, at least I didn't
think so until now. Ha-ha. I would really appreciate any advice on how
to best re-power my telescope. It's virtually useless to attempt to
manually control it, unless I'm looking at the moon :). Thank you for
you consideration and time. 

Sunni Lee

Mike here: Apologies for the delay in responding. Your message was originally DELETED UNREAD as SPAM due to the ambiguous subject line. PLEASE read the Electronic Mail Etiquette and Submittal Guidelines to avoid this happening in the future. Thanks for understanding. Site visitors will appreciate it as well.
As to external power, DO NOT supply power to the telescope via one of the "phone jack" style holes. If your telescope has a 12 VDC input jack, it will be a small round hole. If you search the ETX Site for "Radio Shack" you will find several articles that provide info on plug and power supplies that will work. You might even find a replacement for the battery pack.

And:

Subject:	Apologies and thank you
I apologize for the etiquette breach regarding my subject line, etc. I
did not realize there was more to your site. I had found you on my
iPhone when I searched for Autostar and failed to realize there was more
to see than just the page I was linked to. Thanks for the info! I look
forward to be back up and running and coming back to your site for more!

Sunni Lee

Subject:	DS2130-LNT : LNT not seen by 497 while seen with 494
Sent:	Friday, March 2, 2012 05:36:39
From:	Damien Charlet (damien.charlet@free.fr)
I acquired a Meade DS2130-LNT with a #494 handbox, and a second-hand
#495 handbox which I just updated to latest firmware 43eg using
ASU2v593. 

However, the #495 (upgraded to #497, that is) does not see the LNT
module as it only gives me simple align, not automatic. 

I tried again with the #494 which still uses the LNT. I also tested the
continuity of the HBX cable of the #497, which seems ok (pin-to-pin).

Could you give me a hint as to where to look for ?
Thanks,
Damien

Mike here: There are some LNT troubleshooting tips and other LNT articles on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page. Check those. Odd that the #494 sees the LNT but not the upgraded #497.

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