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ETX CLASSIC FEEDBACK
Last updated: 30 November 2012
This page is for comments and user feedback about ETX telescopes. ETX models discussed on this page include the ETX-60/70/80/90/105/125 (EC, AT, BB, Premier Edition). This page also includes comments and feedback of a general nature. Comments on accessories and feedback items appropriate to the ETX-90RA, DSX, and DS models are posted on other pages. 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: NEW version of ETX90 disassembled by grandson without documentation,Mike here: Very few companies provide drawings or system schematics to end users. I'm not surprised that a customer support rep would deny knowing who exactly manufactured a specific component. You can find some info on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page on my ETX Site. But not the specific info you seek. Of course, if you do come across such information elsewhere or create it yourself, feel free to submit it to me inclusion on the ETX Site for the benefit of others. Thanks.
I can't put it back together! Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 17:19:04 From: Mike Corley (corleysm@yahoo.com) Do you know if ANYONE has documentation on the bottom RA drive of this new version? Meade told me they not only don't have drawings, but that they don't even know who makes this new Chinese version or how to get in touch with them. Of course I don't believe that for a moment, but why would they just not care about this kind of situation? I MUST have some kind of documentation about how the drive works, or at least how many bearing plates go above or below the gear housing. I am told I am not allowed to kill my grandson for dismantling the telescope (that is supposed to be a joke). I guess I should be proud of the beautiful job he did, if he had only documented what he was doing!!! I guess I should stop whining, but I am so upset by the attitude at Meade! The gentleman I spoke with actually told me he had no way of finding out the name of the company that made the telescope. No company could be that incredibly stupid! He expected me to believe Meade had no drawings, no documents what ever on who was building what and how. Like Boeing selling an airplane and never having seen the blueprints! Preposterous! Well I will release you from torture. I am sorry for this tirade. Take care and Thank you for being, your site has helped me many many times. It is just for the type of site you have created that the internet was designed. In hope that people like you would amass such collections of information and put them available to the public. Thank you very much for the help you have given to so many people. Steven Corley Waller, Texas
Subject: Introducing the PicStop Website and its Blog Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 06:38:25 From: Ben Pethullis (ben@thedistance.co.uk) Hope you are well. Firstly, what an amazing photo on the homepage of the ETX telescope, the sense of scale is astounding. I work with PicStop who are a retailer of telescopes in the UK and I was hoping I could recommend them for the dealers section of the ETX links page. You can see their site here - http://www.picstop.co.uk/telescopes There is also a blog on the site which we are trying to build up as a resource beyond product pictures. We are adding reviews to the site and I was wondering if you would be interested in a guest blog as a means of sharing your expertise. We would be able to promote your online resource and perhaps you could share some photos taken using your set-up and some details on your equipment? It would be great to hear from you and thanks for your time. Ben -- Ben Pethullis Head of Digital Marketing The Distance Email: ben@thedistance.co.uk Web: thedistance.co.uk Tel: 01904 567744 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Company Reg No 6939899 Registered Address: The Catalyst, Baird Lane Heslington, York, YO10 5GA Vat No. 647 2055 41 The information contained in this email and any attachments are intended only for the named addressee and may contain privileged and confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient you must not copy, distribute or take any action and any dissemination is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediately. Although we believe this email and its attachments are virus free no responsibility can be accepted for any damage caused by any virus contained therein.
Subject: Crash base motor azimuth meade ETX 125 EC Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2012 06:59:04 From: Sergio Pivetta (serpiv@alice.it) in my ETX 125 is broken, in two points and in correspondence of two fixing screws to the base, the plastic of the motor horizontal movement. The whole thing is very clear from the photos that I enclose. What can you do? Sorry for my write english language. Thank you. My name: Sergio Pivetta Trevignano (TV) ITALY
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Thank you Mike for your quick response. I have contacted the shop meade and assistance for the new part. If I can not find the new piece I thought I'd paste in a thin plastic to fix everything. I'll let you know. Thanks a lot. Good life. SergioMike here: Hope you can get a true replacement. If not, aligning the gears and ensuring good contact will be the challenge.
Subject: etx 80 ra adjustment Sent: Saturday, November 10, 2012 03:44:00 From: dick birtles (astroscouse@gmail.com) I had to dismantle the base assembly on my 'scope and now can not seem to get the correct tightness on the centre plate assembly that fits over the white fitting with four nylon lugs inside thera axis,The axis is either too tight or loose and the 'scope doesn't drive properly,can you tell me how I adjust this so it all works normally again,it is a very fiddly job. Thankyou, richard birtlesMike here: I hope you followed the advice in the article "Disassembly Procedure" on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page. Could you have reversed some item during reassembly? If not, check the various articles on right ascension repairs on the Telescope Tech Tips page. You might find the article "ETX-70AT Repair Guide" useful, especially if you didn't follow the "Disasembly Procedure".
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Thanks for your speedy reply, I have an etx 80 not 70 at and I can not anywhere find guidance on how to correctly assemble and tighten the base assembly on this lovely little telescope, surely there must be an exploded view/diagram and instructions on this somewhere in the world; I have searched and never been able to find anything, I am at a loss and just want to get my telescope working again but cannot get the right tension on the chrome locking handle for r/a. This seems such a simple thing yet no one seems to be able to tell me how to do it, If you can help me I will be extremely grateful. Thank You Richard BirtlesMike here: There are many similarities in the ETX models, so studying the ETX-70 info should be helpful. As to exploded diagrams, nothing is available that I've come across.
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Thank you but the 70 and 80 baseplate/clutch fixings are completely different so that suggestion is of no help. Your site is really interesting and helpful to many people I can plainly see, but not to myself with a simple clutch tension problem on my ETX 80; I guess I'll just have to keep experimenting, maybe I'll be lucky, thanks anyway. RichardMike here: Yes, there can be some differences as well, depending on the year of manufacturer. If you get your problem resolved, please feel free to write up a description of how you fixed it, with photos if possible, and I'll be happy to post it on the Telescope Tech Tips page for others who find themselves with a similar situation. Many thanks.
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Will do Sir, thanks.
Subject: Meade ETX-125EC Carrying case? Sent: Thursday, November 8, 2012 18:15:47 From: Daniel M. (captaindynamite110@gmail.com) I had just received my ETX-125EC about a month ago, and within the past couple of days of actually being able to figure out how to use the Autostar correctly, it has been a lot of fun, though I have bad light pollution and a small perspective of the skies due to trees. So far, I've observed NGC884/NGC869, M37/38/39(?), Andromeda Galaxy, Pleiades, M13, M22, Jupiter, and the Moon. All have been a lot of fun to observe, since I've only owned 60mm refractors since I've been interested in Astronomy. Now my question is, since I will be travelling more to darker skies, I want a better way to pack it and take it with me. I have it's original box (I believe it's from 1999, it was given to me), and that hasn't been a trouble for me at all, it's just too bulky to carry around. But then again, a carrying case isn't the first on my accessory list I really need. I would need a Celestron Power Tank, the Meade #607 cable, and possibly the Meade #4000 eyepiece and filter kit. The case however...would be a nice add on. I've been looking at www.telescopes.com, and they have Zhumell's medium size carrying case, which measures 40x19x9, and correct me if I'm wrong, but I measured my ETX and it measured 19.5"x10"x9". Now this seemed ideal, until some of the reviews had said it isn't the most best case there is, but it IS $60, not like JMI's case, which is $239. What's your inputs/suggestions for this? And is it just best to find Meade's aluminum case on Cloudy Night's/Astromart's classifieds? Thanks, Dan. P.S. My corrector plate isn't the cleanest....there's dust and a few smudge marks, on a rating from 1 to 10, I'd say it's about a 3 or 4. Should I clean it? Or just leave it?Mike here: Cases are a somewhat personal decision that is based on your requirements and travel plans (and therefore limitations). You can get additional options from the Accessory Reviews: Cases page as well as the Cases section on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page. You may find it a better option to tailor a case to meet your needs.
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Wow, that was a quick reply...thanks for the information Mike. We normally drive a Chevy pickup truck off to where we go, so now that I think about it, I guess it doesn't really matter. Where can you get the fine brush? Like at walmart? And by the bulb style air blower, you mean the squeeze blowers in the travel section at Walmart? Thanks, DanMike here: See that "Cleaning Optics" article. It discusses the type of brush to use. As to the blower, you can get one from a camera store as they are a standard lens cleaning tool.
Subject: RE: Bantam 2.5X20mm Shotgun Scope Sent: Thursday, November 8, 2012 14:10:16 From: Thomas Melcher (tmelcher@triad.rr.com) Problem solved. I was able to remove the 1"+ snap ring with a fine pointed needle nose pliers. You have to remove (Unscrew) the eyepiece optics end to get access to the snap ring inside. Maybe older scopes from Batam did not have this ring, or it was not posted as a necessary step to mount the scope onto the ETX finder mount. I can only use my ETX90 telescope with my left eye and I wear glasses. This modification at least allows me easy access for "finding" objects over the original Meade 8x21 finder scope even though the magnification is much less. Thomas Melcher Asheboro, NC
Subject: Bantam 2.5X20mm Shotgun Scope Sent: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 19:56:03 To: gregko@microsoft.com From: Thomas Melcher (tmelcher@triad.rr.com) Found your finder scope modification on the ETX site. Purchased the scope on line and now have a problem removing the lens to allow the scope to be mounted on my ETX90. The large eye piece end unscrews but is stopped from being totally removed by a snap ring inside the tube. I am assuming this has to be removed (somehow) to allow the scope to fit through the mounting tube. Any help would be appreciated, Thomas Melcher Asheboro, NCMike here: The email address (gregko@microsoft.com) for the original submitter of the article is no longer valid.
Subject: Alignment of ETX 70 Sent: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 14:31:44 From: Denigma58@aol.com (Denigma58@aol.com) The manual to my ETX 70 says to set the OTA at zero, then point north to align. When I set the OTA to zero on the scale, it is still about 15 or 20 degrees off. Shouldn't the OTA be level horizontally? Thanks Dean SmthMike here: Yes, the OTA will be should. See the ETX FAQ page on my ETX Site for how to adjust the DEC scale.
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Thanks Mike. Looking at the scope from behind, the numbered scale is on the left. I am not able to rotate it after unlocking, however, the blank scale on the right side will move.Mike here: You may need to use a rubber "jar lid opener" or a rubber glove to help you grasp the knob.
Subject: Star chart dew shield for ETX90 Sent: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 13:27:02 From: W3DX (w3dx@aol.com) Somebody used to sell a nifty dew shield for the ETX90 that had a star chart (planisphere) on it. Does anyone know if these are still made and how to buy one? Thanks, RobMike here: This is what you are referring to: http://www.weasner.com/etx/misc.html#telewrap. As far as I've been able to determine, they are no longer available. However, you can make your own. See the article "Starmap Dew Shield" on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page.
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This photo shows the two pieces I'm looking for. Thanks, Rob
Subject: Looking for clear lens on ETX LNT module Sent: Tuesday, November 6, 2012 13:25:27 From: W3DX (w3dx@aol.com) I have a Meade ETX90-PE, the kind with an LNT module with a clear plastic red dot finder lens that sticks out to the side. (It's shaped like an eye patch). The plastic has a clear plastic tongue that goes into the LNT module, and the tongue has broken off. Does anyone know whether anyone sells replacements? Amazingly, Meade no longer supports the telescope by selling this fragile component. Thanks for any help. RobMike here: Try Telescope Warehouse (link on the Astronomy Links page).
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Hi Mike- Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, they don't have any. Do you have any other ideas? RobMike here: Have you tried to get a replacement for the complete LNT/SmartFinder module? You might have better luck with a complete unit vs just the lens. You could also mount an alternative finderscope using one of the techniques mentioned on the Accessory Reviews: Finderscopes page or on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page.
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Hi- Yes, those are available but expensive. Another approach might be for me to fashion a new tongue-piece, and try to bolt it in place. It's amazing that Meade doesn't keep more spares! Best, RobMike here: Meade (and other manufacturers) only support older models for a period of time that is never as long as users would like. If you do decide to DIY, that would make a good Tech Tip article if you want to submit one (with photos).
Subject: Meade 1244 focuser broken Sent: Sunday, November 4, 2012 10:46:26 From: James Isbell (Hoonakwa@prtcnet.com) I am looking for the small gear that goes on the motor for the electric focuser. Any help would be appreciated. James IsbellMike here: There are two gear replacement source articles on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page on the ETX Site. You could also try Telescope Warehouse (link on the Astronomy Links page).
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Wow thanks for the quick reply. I have ordered what I hope will fix this electric focuser. Thanks for a wonderful site. Izzy
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