"J" wrote in message
...
Phillip Brown wrote:
Hi, I live in the UK and am looking to purchase a good quality, good
value, computerized telescope. I have intermediate experience but
consider myself an amateur at present. I have used £800 binoculars with
image-stabiliser, but would prefer a telescope.

Looking for 5" or above so I get decent results, and it doesn't have to
hook into a computer, it could just be the keypad type on the side where
I enter the data.

My budget is around £200-£400. Is there a telescope that fits the bill
that is generally regarded as the best budget computerized telescope?

Thanks!
Check out the Meade ETX series. ETX-90, -105, and -125; the numbers
indicate aperture in mm. Recommend paying a little more for the UHTC
coatings.

This may be a good time to purchase one because Meade has just introduced
the ETX Premier Series (or something like that) and dealers may be
offering discounts on their ETX inventory to clear the way for the new
ones. You should be able to purchase the scope w/UHTC coatings, tripod,
and #497 Autostar as a package.

Check out Mike Weasner's Mighty ETX Site:
http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html

A year ago I would have agreed with that choice - indeed yesterday I would
have agreed with it. However since my ETX105 has gone wrong again - the
second time in a year - I am less than convinced.

It is a superb scope although some of the mechanics seem fragile. It has so
far had a control panel replaced under guarantee - it just stopped working
one day, and now the RA motor rotates without moving the scope and the
guarantee just ran out :-(

P.