Meade LX 90 problems (Long)

Hello folks,

I recently purchased a Meade LX 90. The scope arrived and was setup. This
was the start of the problems, Meade failed to include the lens for the
smart-finder. Contacted Meade and the received the lens.

On the first night out checked collimation which seemed to be good. Had some
problems with alignment but finally got it done and was able to enjoy a few
things. Problems on the first night mostly related to getting familiar with
the Autostar system.

Took the scope out for the second time tonight and that is when the real
problems began. Scope aligned first try and I proceeded to pick M36 for a
start. The scope went directly to M36, no problem. Next was M37, once again
no problem. M38 was next, scope found the cluster and while I was looking at
the cluster the scope began slewing on its own. Tried to get it to go to M38
again but no luck.

Repeated auto alignment, while trying to center the stars for alignment I
noticed that when I pushed the right arrow the scope went to the right but
when I pushed the left arrow it also went to the right. Finally got the star
centered but alignment failed.

Tried to do auto align again, the scope calculated tilt and then went to
detecting north but then just set there. This went on for several minutes
and I finally turned off the power and started over. The scope stall out
several times during the alignment process. I never was able to get a
successful alignment again.

And finally the backlight for the keypad went out. Needless to say I am less
than impressed with this scope. I tried new batteries and sure I was on the
right stars but nothing helped. I have been very active in astronomy for
about 7 years and own several scopes to include a ST80, and a Orion XT 10
plus a couple of others over the years. I have viewed several hundred
oblects with these scopes and am very familiar with the night sky.

I hate to be so long winded but I was just curious if others have had this
kind of experience with the LX90? Purchased the scope for visual use and
with hopes of doing some photography later. Will contact Meade customer
support in the morning.

Thanks for listening!
Brian

Brian K. Mathis wrote:

And finally the backlight for the keypad went out. Needless to say I am less
than impressed with this scope. I tried new batteries and sure I was on the
right stars but nothing helped. I have been very active in astronomy for
about 7 years and own several scopes to include a ST80, and a Orion XT 10
plus a couple of others over the years. I have viewed several hundred
oblects with these scopes and am very familiar with the night sky.

I hate to be so long winded but I was just curious if others have had this
kind of experience with the LX90? Purchased the scope for visual use and
with hopes of doing some photography later. Will contact Meade customer
support in the morning.

Thanks for listening!
Brian

HI Brian:

Even though you say you replaced the batteries, this sounds very much
like a power problem. How are you powering the scope? Not AA cells I
hope. On winter nights you'll be lucky to get a few hours out of 'em.
But a 12vdc cable for the scope and one of the "jump start" battery
packs from Wal-Mart and similar will give you plenty of reliable power
for long observing sessions with your nice LX90...it's what I use with
my ETX125PE.. Also, you can try reseating the Autostar cable at both
ends, and reversing it if that doesn't help.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Join the SCT User Mailing List.
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sct-user
============================
See my home page at
http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland/index.htm
for further details!
============================
For Uncle Rod's Astro Blog See:
http://journals.aol.com/rmollise/UncleRodsAstroBlog/

Even though you say you replaced the batteries, this sounds very much
like a power problem. How are you powering the scope?
Peace,
Rod Mollise

I ran into really weird behavior on a CG-5 when I ran it with my
emergency car start battery. I got so frustrated I took it back to the
local shop where bought it and they plugged it into a fully charged
Celestron battery pack and it worked fine.

I'd bet either the battery isn't giving it enough power or the electical
system in the scope itself is messed up. Can you plug it directly into
an extension cord coming from your house's grid power? That should narow
down the power problem possibilities.

--
Clear Skies,

Paul Murphy


(remove gemini to email me)

Paul Murphy wrote:
I ran into really weird behavior on a CG-5 when I ran it with my
emergency car start battery. I got so frustrated I took it back to the
local shop where bought it and they plugged it into a fully charged
Celestron battery pack and it worked fine.



Hi:

Well, actually, the Celestron power units are very similar to the
jumpstart batteries, and there have really been more problems reported
with them than with what you get down to the local Wally World. ;-)

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Join the SCT User Mailing List.
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sct-user
============================
See my home page at
http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland/index.htm
for further details!
============================
For Uncle Rod's Astro Blog See:
http://journals.aol.com/rmollise/UncleRodsAstroBlog/

Brian K. Mathis wrote:
Hello folks,

I recently purchased a Meade LX 90. The scope arrived and was setup. This
was the start of the problems, Meade failed to include the lens for the
smart-finder. Contacted Meade and the received the lens.


I agree with Rod's assessment. I've had problems of the sort with an
ETX which I solved by switching (external) batteries. The Autostar
seems very sensitive to voltage supplied. A poor connection could cause
similar problems.

Phil

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. The scope was being powered by 8 C
batteries. I will look into an external power source ASAP. One thing I
failed to mention was that even though I haven't had the best of luck, the
veiws through the scope have been very pleasant.

Brian
"RMOLLISE" wrote in message
oups.com...

Brian K. Mathis wrote:

And finally the backlight for the keypad went out. Needless to say I am
less
than impressed with this scope. I tried new batteries and sure I was on
the
right stars but nothing helped. I have been very active in astronomy for
about 7 years and own several scopes to include a ST80, and a Orion XT
10
plus a couple of others over the years. I have viewed several hundred
oblects with these scopes and am very familiar with the night sky.

I hate to be so long winded but I was just curious if others have had
this
kind of experience with the LX90? Purchased the scope for visual use and
with hopes of doing some photography later. Will contact Meade customer
support in the morning.

Thanks for listening!
Brian

HI Brian:

Even though you say you replaced the batteries, this sounds very much
like a power problem. How are you powering the scope? Not AA cells I
hope. On winter nights you'll be lucky to get a few hours out of 'em.
But a 12vdc cable for the scope and one of the "jump start" battery
packs from Wal-Mart and similar will give you plenty of reliable power
for long observing sessions with your nice LX90...it's what I use with
my ETX125PE.. Also, you can try reseating the Autostar cable at both
ends, and reversing it if that doesn't help.

Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of _Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope_
Like SCTs and MCTs?
Join the SCT User Mailing List.
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/sct-user
============================
See my home page at
http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland/index.htm
for further details!
============================
For Uncle Rod's Astro Blog See:
http://journals.aol.com/rmollise/UncleRodsAstroBlog/

"Brian K. Mathis" wrote

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. The scope was being powered by 8 C
batteries. I will look into an external power source ASAP. One thing I
failed to mention was that even though I haven't had the best of luck, the
veiws through the scope have been very pleasant.

Just in case: if your C cells are rechargeables, you'll be getting no more
than 10 volts, if that much.

I have talked to Meade customer support and since the key pad lights are out
they feel there is a problem with the hand controler. Also after so many
comments about the batteries, I have also ordered the AC & 12v adapters
Thanks again
Brian
"Brian K. Mathis" wrote in message
...
Hello folks,

I recently purchased a Meade LX 90. The scope arrived and was setup. This
was the start of the problems, Meade failed to include the lens for the
smart-finder. Contacted Meade and the received the lens.

On the first night out checked collimation which seemed to be good. Had
some
problems with alignment but finally got it done and was able to enjoy a
few
things. Problems on the first night mostly related to getting familiar
with
the Autostar system.

Took the scope out for the second time tonight and that is when the real
problems began. Scope aligned first try and I proceeded to pick M36 for a
start. The scope went directly to M36, no problem. Next was M37, once
again
no problem. M38 was next, scope found the cluster and while I was looking
at
the cluster the scope began slewing on its own. Tried to get it to go to
M38
again but no luck.

Repeated auto alignment, while trying to center the stars for alignment I
noticed that when I pushed the right arrow the scope went to the right but
when I pushed the left arrow it also went to the right. Finally got the
star
centered but alignment failed.

Tried to do auto align again, the scope calculated tilt and then went to
detecting north but then just set there. This went on for several minutes
and I finally turned off the power and started over. The scope stall out
several times during the alignment process. I never was able to get a
successful alignment again.

And finally the backlight for the keypad went out. Needless to say I am
less
than impressed with this scope. I tried new batteries and sure I was on
the
right stars but nothing helped. I have been very active in astronomy for
about 7 years and own several scopes to include a ST80, and a Orion XT 10
plus a couple of others over the years. I have viewed several hundred
oblects with these scopes and am very familiar with the night sky.

I hate to be so long winded but I was just curious if others have had this
kind of experience with the LX90? Purchased the scope for visual use and
with hopes of doing some photography later. Will contact Meade customer
support in the morning.

Thanks for listening!
Brian

Brian K. Mathis wrote:
I have talked to Meade customer support and since the key pad lights are out
they feel there is a problem with the hand controler.

Seems likely if they are out altogether and it's not an operator error.

"Howard Lester" wrote in message
...
"Brian K. Mathis" wrote

Thanks to everyone for the ideas. The scope was being powered by 8 C
batteries. I will look into an external power source ASAP. One thing I
failed to mention was that even though I haven't had the best of luck,
the
veiws through the scope have been very pleasant.

Just in case: if your C cells are rechargeables, you'll be getting no
more
than 10 volts, if that much.


Ain't it kinda' amazin' how, with wunna' these GOTO thangs, when ANYTHANG
goes wrong, that's IT! Yore DONE!

With other scopes, folks just keep on pluggin' and chuggin'...

--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.6
Longitude: -112.3