Meade Telescopes. Which one to buy?

I just pick up my etx, incl tripod, walk 3 meters into my backyard, put it
down, switch it on,
and I am ready for viewing. now that did not take 3 minutes, did it? :-)
point is not time though, but portability, a 10" reflector is a BIG scope for
some folks to
carry around.
--
md


There is not doubt that prior to purchasing a 10 inch DOB, one should check it
out and see if it too big.

Concerning the ETX, it does depend on which model, the 125 with a tripod is
probably more awkward to move than a 10 inch F5 Newt OTA, at least that was my
experience.

jon

"md" not given to avoid spam wrote in
:


"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
. 125.203...
"md" not given to avoid spam wrote in
"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
Alexander Avtanski wrote in
bill kline wrote:

I'm considering getting a Meade ETX series Astro Telescope and
was looking for some feedback as to which one to buy or even
another mfg. The use will be for my father-in-law mainly, so
once set up

One thing that is often not considered is the ease of use: time
to set-up, portability, etc. I have an 8-inch Orion reflector
on EQ mount and I like it very much. However, for casual
observing from the patio after work, lugging the heavy tripod,
setting-up, etc. was too much for me. So, in addition to it,
couple of weeks ago I got a small Orion StarBlast (4.5-inch f/4
tabletop dob). Now I'm using it almost every clear night, while
I use the big scope mainly for "serious" night-long observing.
I take a look outside, if it's clear I take it out and in 30
seconds I'm set at the eyepiece.

I concur completely. The ETX is (unfortunately) NOT user friendly.
You will get much more bang for your buck with a medim sized
(4-10") reflector on a Dobsonian mount.

The ETX is very easy to setup, more so than a 10" reflector!
remember you can use the ETX without aligning it

Just to assure you that I am not trying to start a flame war, I own
BOTH an ETX-125 and an Orion XT-10.

I assure you that even without aligning it (and what would be the
point in that?) I can set up the XT-10 in one tenth of the time
(about 30 seconds) it takes me to set up the ETX (about 3 minutes).
If I do align the ETX (again, what would be the point in not doing
so?), I am looking at well over 10 minutes.

I just pick up my etx, incl tripod, walk 3 meters into my backyard,
put it down, switch it on, and I am ready for viewing. now that did
not take 3 minutes, did it? :-) point is not time though, but
portability, a 10" reflector is a BIG scope for some folks to carry
around. --

You didn't specify that you were talking about portability, nor did you
specify that the ETX was pre-attached to the tripod (not the normal
situation when you must transport the scope). But I assert that my
assesment still stands. If I have both the XT-10 and the ETX broken down
in my car, the times I gave you are accurate (albeit subjective).

You still haven't explained the point in switching your ETX on if you are
not going to level and align it.

"bill kline" wrote in message
om...
I'm considering getting a Meade ETX series Astro Telescope and was
looking for some feedback as to which one to buy or even another mfg.
The use will be for my father-in-law mainly, so once set up it ideally
needs to be "user friendly". I'm no rocket sceintist, but after some
brief research I think I can get this set up for him to use.
He has always wanted a telescope and now has the scratch to invest in
one, so I want to make sure he is getting what he wants.
Any suggestions are welcome.
TIA

I have an ETX-90 and an Orion 8-inch Dob. I use the ETX more than the
Dob -- but --only because of my observing site -- to get away from the
parking lot lights, I must haul the Dob a quarter mile. On most nights, I
end up setting up the ETX on the balcony and taking a quick look.

The ETX requires careful set up and alignment for the GO-TO to be on target.

A lot depends on how comfortable your FIL is with computers and gadgets.

I recommend a small Dob, a pair of binos, and a couple of good books:
-- "Turn Left at Orion"
-- "Skywatching", by David Levy.


--

-----
Joe S.

"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
. 125.205...
"md" not given to avoid spam wrote in
:


"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
. 125.203...
"md" not given to avoid spam wrote in
"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
Alexander Avtanski wrote in
bill kline wrote:

I'm considering getting a Meade ETX series Astro Telescope and
was looking for some feedback as to which one to buy or even
another mfg. The use will be for my father-in-law mainly, so
once set up

One thing that is often not considered is the ease of use: time
to set-up, portability, etc. I have an 8-inch Orion reflector
on EQ mount and I like it very much. However, for casual
observing from the patio after work, lugging the heavy tripod,
setting-up, etc. was too much for me. So, in addition to it,
couple of weeks ago I got a small Orion StarBlast (4.5-inch f/4
tabletop dob). Now I'm using it almost every clear night, while
I use the big scope mainly for "serious" night-long observing.
I take a look outside, if it's clear I take it out and in 30
seconds I'm set at the eyepiece.

I concur completely. The ETX is (unfortunately) NOT user friendly.
You will get much more bang for your buck with a medim sized
(4-10") reflector on a Dobsonian mount.

The ETX is very easy to setup, more so than a 10" reflector!
remember you can use the ETX without aligning it

Just to assure you that I am not trying to start a flame war, I own
BOTH an ETX-125 and an Orion XT-10.

I assure you that even without aligning it (and what would be the
point in that?) I can set up the XT-10 in one tenth of the time
(about 30 seconds) it takes me to set up the ETX (about 3 minutes).
If I do align the ETX (again, what would be the point in not doing
so?), I am looking at well over 10 minutes.

I just pick up my etx, incl tripod, walk 3 meters into my backyard,
put it down, switch it on, and I am ready for viewing. now that did
not take 3 minutes, did it? :-) point is not time though, but
portability, a 10" reflector is a BIG scope for some folks to carry
around. --

You didn't specify that you were talking about portability,

then please reread this thread, I was reacting to a message by alexander avtanski who
explicitely mentioned portability

nor did you
specify that the ETX was pre-attached to the tripod (not the normal
situation when you must transport the scope). But I assert that my
assesment still stands. If I have both the XT-10 and the ETX broken down
in my car, the times I gave you are accurate (albeit subjective).

excellent. I consider the difference of a few minutes setup time not significant though, in the
situation of transportation by car: it is not significant in comparison of an hour drive to a
dark spot.

You still haven't explained the point in switching your ETX on if you are
not going to level and align it.

I thought that was pretty obvious: in that way I can easily keep objects centered with a low
slew speed.
--
md

"md" not given to avoid spam wrote in
"Paul Lawler" wrote in message

You didn't specify that you were talking about portability,

then please reread this thread, I was reacting to a message by
alexander avtanski who explicitely mentioned portability

Okay sorry... misunderstanding. I was referring to the OP, who was talking
about his father in law.

excellent. I consider the difference of a few minutes setup time not
significant though, in the situation of transportation by car: it is
not significant in comparison of an hour drive to a dark spot.

agreed. well, except when it starts raining, and then the "take down" time
becomes VERY significant. g

You still haven't explained the point in switching your ETX on if you
are not going to level and align it.

I thought that was pretty obvious: in that way I can easily keep
objects centered with a low slew speed.

Yes, yes... I understand that... I just don't understand why you would do
that with an ETX since the only (okay, most) useful part of the ETX is the
GOTO computer.

btw... are you in the Netherlands? There's a young person (I'm not sure what
age) on alt.astronomy with a lot of genuine curiosity. Can you recommend any
observing clubs there?

"Paul Lawler" wrote in message
25.202...
"md" not given to avoid spam wrote in
"Paul Lawler" wrote in message

You didn't specify that you were talking about portability,

then please reread this thread, I was reacting to a message by
alexander avtanski who explicitely mentioned portability

Okay sorry... misunderstanding. I was referring to the OP, who was talking
about his father in law.

excellent. I consider the difference of a few minutes setup time not
significant though, in the situation of transportation by car: it is
not significant in comparison of an hour drive to a dark spot.

agreed. well, except when it starts raining, and then the "take down" time
becomes VERY significant. g

:-) that's true!

You still haven't explained the point in switching your ETX on if you
are not going to level and align it.

I thought that was pretty obvious: in that way I can easily keep
objects centered with a low slew speed.

Yes, yes... I understand that... I just don't understand why you would do
that with an ETX since the only (okay, most) useful part of the ETX is the
GOTO computer.

uh, what about the optics then?

btw... are you in the Netherlands? There's a young person (I'm not sure what
age) on alt.astronomy with a lot of genuine curiosity. Can you recommend any
observing clubs there?

yes, from the netherlands, I'll look in alt.astronomy and respond to him, always nice to help
someone get started!

--
md

I thought that was pretty obvious: in that way I can easily keep
objects centered with a low slew speed.

The best times I had with the ETX-125 I had were when I didn't bother turning
the thing on, not a great manual alt-az mount, but workable. And its much
quieter, that constant chipping of the motors disturbs breaks the quiet,
something I much enjoy about spending time under the night sky.

But as Paul says, the best thing about the ETX is the GOTO so there are better
choices for non-powered use.

jon

snip

excellent. I consider the difference of a few minutes setup time not
significant though, in the situation of transportation by car: it is
not significant in comparison of an hour drive to a dark spot.

agreed. well, except when it starts raining, and then the "take down"
time
becomes VERY significant. g

:-) that's true!

/snip

But the setup time isn't related to the strip down time....

It takes me an hour to setup and properly align my LX90. What with checking
that each part is set properly with a spirit level and jumping up and down
on the tripod to bed it in place. It not a problem as the optics take a
couple of hours to aclimatize.

As for strip down time, I can to that in about 5 mins. Without rushing.

Regards

Colin Dawson
www.cjdawson.com

I would settle for nothing less than 8 inches in aperture. The LX90 is a
good buy.

Matthew Ota

bill kline wrote:

I'm considering getting a Meade ETX series Astro Telescope and was
looking for some feedback as to which one to buy or even another mfg.
The use will be for my father-in-law mainly, so once set up it ideally
needs to be "user friendly". I'm no rocket sceintist, but after some
brief research I think I can get this set up for him to use.
He has always wanted a telescope and now has the scratch to invest in
one, so I want to make sure he is getting what he wants.
Any suggestions are welcome.
TIA

(Jon Isaacs) wrote in
:

I thought that was pretty obvious: in that way I can easily keep
objects centered with a low slew speed.

The best times I had with the ETX-125 I had were when I didn't bother
turning the thing on, not a great manual alt-az mount, but workable.
And its much quieter, that constant chipping of the motors disturbs
breaks the quiet, something I much enjoy about spending time under the
night sky.

Yes... I have to admit that my ETX does sound like the mothership is coming
in for a landing. My observing buddy's Celestron is much quieter.

But as Paul says, the best thing about the ETX is the GOTO so there
are better choices for non-powered use.

And we both know what they are...but we Dob't dwell on it. g