Meade 14" LX200 GPS imaging - how is it for you?

I'd like advise from anyone who owns an equatorially mounted Meade 14"
LX200 GPS + UHC used for CCD imaging eg pointing/drive accuracy, image
quality etc.

I'm aware the view visually is excellent but think CCD imaging is more
critical especially on engineering. I'm thinking of upgrading my
12"Classic LX200 - the 14" fits the pier without modification!

Websites with sample 14" images would be useful too. TIA

Is it true that the LX200 series use plastic RA and DEC gears?


"Maurice Gavin" wrote in message
...
I'd like advise from anyone who owns an equatorially mounted Meade 14"
LX200 GPS + UHC used for CCD imaging eg pointing/drive accuracy, image
quality etc.

I'm aware the view visually is excellent but think CCD imaging is more
critical especially on engineering. I'm thinking of upgrading my
12"Classic LX200 - the 14" fits the pier without modification!

Websites with sample 14" images would be useful too. TIA

Is it true that the LX200 series use plastic RA and DEC gears?

Hi:

No, absolutely not. Some of the gears in the gear trains are nylon/plastic, but
the final worm and wheel are not. You can get "Buck's Gears" to replace those
plastic components with metal, and some people have done this, but it has not
been demonstated to me that there's any benefit to this other than possible
peace of mind.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
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Rod, I think that, that is a distinction without a difference. There are Nylon
gears in the drive system and that was the question. The "Bucks Gears" is a
significant improvement, but if you replace the original gears, or otherwise tamper
with the internals, you have voided the warranty.

Gary


Rod Mollise wrote:


Is it true that the LX200 series use plastic RA and DEC gears?

Hi:

No, absolutely not. Some of the gears in the gear trains are nylon/plastic, but
the final worm and wheel are not. You can get "Buck's Gears" to replace those
plastic components with metal, and some people have done this, but it has not
been demonstated to me that there's any benefit to this other than possible
peace of mind.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

"Gary Hand" wrote in message
...
Rod, I think that, that is a distinction without a difference. There are
Nylon
gears in the drive system and that was the question. The "Bucks Gears" is
a
significant improvement, but if you replace the original gears, or
otherwise tamper
with the internals, you have voided the warranty.

Gary
Why are they a 'significant improvement'...
It is worth realising that plastic gears are not necessarily low quality. If
the gears are low accuracy, it is down to the selection criteria, rather
than the fact of their being 'plastic'. Plastic gears are used in quite a
few very heavy duty applications, for reasons such as noise (the camshaft
drive gear in the old Buick V8, was 'plastic', yet was a reliable part of
the engine, giving far less problems than the 'metal' cousins).
So the question should not be 'do they use plastic gears', but 'do they use
gears with a known accuracy/failure problem'. It does appear that in a few
cases they may do, but in general, the units appear to work fine.

Best Wishes

Rod Mollise wrote:


Is it true that the LX200 series use plastic RA and DEC gears?

Hi:

No, absolutely not. Some of the gears in the gear trains are
nylon/plastic, but
the final worm and wheel are not. You can get "Buck's Gears" to replace
those
plastic components with metal, and some people have done this, but it
has not
been demonstated to me that there's any benefit to this other than
possible
peace of mind.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html

The "Bucks Gears" is a
significant improvement

HI Gary:

Up to this point, I've been unable to ascertain that adding Bucks Gears helps
the tracking. Have you done this?

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Check-out sct-user, the mailing list for CAT fanciers!
Goto http://members.aol.com/RMOLLISE/index.html