Beware Meade. Boy, if we could afford another Paramount to put our tube
on,
we'd use the drive base a a boat anchor.

I've been there and I done that. I could never figure Meade out, one day
they could be as tough as nails and the next like mothers milk. About 7
years ago I received a brand new LX200 which came out of the box with loose
parts rattling freely in the OTA. The primary mirror appeared to have chips
from the parts banging into it. I telephoned Meade and explained my problem
and the guy at the other end told me someone would get back to me. When
they got back, I was told to disassemble the OTA (he would talk me through
it) and remove the loose parts. What appears like chips on the mirror is
probably only oil marks, he said. I was not about to do this and suggested
where he could go. I then contacted my dealer who sent me a new scope and
picked up the bad one.

By the way, if you think that Celestron is above this kind of stuff, I sadly
tell you that this is not so. The _only_ astronomy company (in my
experience) who treats you as though you're right even when you're wrong is
Orion.

Al


"Stan Jensen" wrote in message
...
You guys aren't going to *believe* this one....

back in January we had to send the drive base for our 16-inch LX-200 back
to Meade for a second time, due to problems. This time was a faulty RS-232
connection. After five weeks, we got the scope back.

Just yesterday we got it back up, hooked up, and running. But it wasn't -
the RS-232 *still* didn't work. So Meade was called, and this is their
reason why it won't work...

"You obviously don't have the latest version of Direct-X on your computer.
it will work fine when you get the latest version."

What?!?!?!?! What kid of horsehockey is that? Direct-X has nothign to do
with that stuff. Besides, the computers we used (the one in the dome, and
two laptops) are all up-to-date software wise.

Well, screw Meade. The drive's going to go into Optec and be tested, and
they will change out the chip if need be.

Wow. I know tech support has to put up with idiot consumers some times,
but
they better watch out when they talk to people who actually *know*
something.

Beware Meade. Boy, if we could afford another Paramount to put our tube
on,
we'd use the drive base a a boat anchor.