Wes James
Postmaster
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 5477
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Just got one of these off the other forum.... anyone have any experience with these little scopes? Any info floating around on them? Am interested in using it for quick & easy lunar viewing...
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Bino’s- Tak's, Fuji's, Nikon's, Canon IS and Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from Carton & Zeiss 60mm's up through a couple of 8” reflectors… Orion 3.6" O/A- and a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Schiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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Alex^DJ^
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 1200
Loc: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
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Wegat?..never hear of that scope...
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My Telescopes and Equipment:
- WO 66SD scope
- ETX-125 (Soon to be sold) "My Big Fat Mak"
- C6-ASGT " The Mexican "
- Starshoot CCD Cam
- Nextimagen Planetary Cam
- Canon EOS Rebel XTi (400D Unmoded)
Eyepices and Accesories:
- Celestron E-Lux 25mm
- GSO Superview 20mm
- GSO Superview 15mm
- ADM dual saddle plate
- 100mm Guide rings
- Orion 2X Shorty barlow
- Garmin E-Trex GPS handheld
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seeker372011
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/05/04
Posts: 993
Loc: Sydney , Australia
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Huh?
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ED 80 on ASCG5 mount;ED 127 on EQ6; QHY8,QHY2pro, 20 x 80 LW Obies;PST (spectrum 60);10 inch GSO dob;Astrotrac and Mini Borg 45ED
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Wes James
Postmaster
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 5477
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The Wegat Meade's were Meade ETX 125's modified by Wegat Optical Co., apparently for government laser research. The plastic ends were replaced by machined aluminun endcaps, much better focuser, etc. There have been a few on the other website for sale... just wondering if anyone had any experiences with them.
Wes
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Bucephelus
Vendor
Reged: 04/20/06
Posts: 777
Loc: Northern, CA
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I have one and it's superb. Jim Wegat is a great guy too---
These were not modified by Wegat---they were built to spec by Meade and are far better quality than their plastic etx-125s. BUT, the optics are uncoated. Personally, that's a plus---for lunar,it will make no difference nor will it for most applications. And, if you want to clean the corrector, no biggie because there are no coatings to worry about. In all, an excellent buy.
They are a bit heavy owing to the fact they are not 90% plastic.
Chris
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Wes James
Postmaster
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 5477
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Chris-
Thanks for your input! I kind of bought it in a hurry without doing a lot of digging on the specs... was concerned about the lack of coatings (that I discovered AFTER the purchase committment!), but your comments & a response to an email by Dr. Clay Sherrod make me feel a lot better! I don't mind the weight- I plan on using it on a regular mount; to my understanding, the EXT's main downfalls lie in their mounts anyway... I love equipment built like a tank! Thanks again for your input- I feel much better about the purchase now. And I'll simply take it as a reminder that I have to pay more attention before the purchases in the future (as opposed to after!).
Wes
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Bucephelus
Vendor
Reged: 04/20/06
Posts: 777
Loc: Northern, CA
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That's funny because I did the exact same thing. I jumped in and then it hit---yikes, what did I do????? But now that I've had it a while, I've come to really love the scope---I think manufacturers over rate the value of coatings and there is something very beautiful about the moon in crystal clear optics. I like the built like a tank concept too.
Do you have yours yet? Drop me an email and we can stay in touch...there is a little trick on the focuser---wind it out all the way then in all the way---do it a couple times to distribute the grease. You'll see almost no image shift in these...
I had a horrible time finding rings---that was a real challenge. How will you mount yours?
Chris
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Wes James
Postmaster
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 5477
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PM'd you, Chris-
Wes
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smooth
super member
Reged: 10/30/06
Posts: 135
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its basically bult like an Orion 127mm Mak.
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moynihan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 2039
Loc: Lake Michigan Watershed
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Have one. Very good optics.Do not miss the coatings. On Moon and planets, view similar to 4" APO, i think. 
Use it on an a SVP mount.
jay
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"May I have the ability to reduce the uncertainties I can; the willingness to work with the uncertainties I cannot; and the scientific knowledge to know the difference."
Based upon an adaptation from Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer, by J. Barsugli, C. Anderson, J. Smith and J. Vogel.
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Wes James
Postmaster
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 5477
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Thanks, Jay-
Looking forward to using it- just waiting on a set of rings from Ken... One question- on the tube itself- near the rear end, there are 3 untapped holes, approx .125" in dia; looks like dark grey cardstock inside the tube visible, like a tube liner or something- and 3 little rubber plugs in the hole that don't want to stay in (!) Any idea what they're there for? Were they for the original EXT-125 mounting or rear cover? Just curious.
Wes
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Wes James
Postmaster
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 5477
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One more general question-
Do most of you use it with 1-1/4" eyepieces/diagonals, etc.- or do some use it with 2" accesories? I guess this question would pertain to the regular Meade ETZ 125's as well...
Wes
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moynihan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 2039
Loc: Lake Michigan Watershed
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Quote:
...question- on the tube itself- near the rear end, there are 3 untapped holes, approx .125" in dia;...
Yes. My understanding is that the holes are where the plastic focusing assembly would have attached to the tube. When the project was cancelled at Meade, they had not yet been fitted with a back-end on any type.
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"May I have the ability to reduce the uncertainties I can; the willingness to work with the uncertainties I cannot; and the scientific knowledge to know the difference."
Based upon an adaptation from Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer, by J. Barsugli, C. Anderson, J. Smith and J. Vogel.
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moynihan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/22/03
Posts: 2039
Loc: Lake Michigan Watershed
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My "Wegat"/White Tube has a 1.25" metal back assembly. So, no 2". 
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"May I have the ability to reduce the uncertainties I can; the willingness to work with the uncertainties I cannot; and the scientific knowledge to know the difference."
Based upon an adaptation from Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer, by J. Barsugli, C. Anderson, J. Smith and J. Vogel.
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CharlesStG
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/01/06
Posts: 729
Loc: Eastern Kansas USA
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My two Wegat White Tube scopes both have a later engraved aluminum back threaded for 2" SCT diagonals - I bought Russian diagonals for mine as they fit close and I don't have room to spare at the rear of my Meade/Terabeam mounts.
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