Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Quote:
A list of the Cloudy Nights members with LX200R 10" collimation symptoms was sent to Scott Roberts at Meade a short time ago. Scott will be contacting them individually. There are not that many OTAs affected (a good thing). There were only 3 owners with the problem that PM'd me. With the two posting earlier from the UK and one from down under, Morris and Chris (Steddyman) that would make 8 OTAs plus mine. (Morris isn't sure if he has the exposure so possibly 7 plus mine).
I really appreciate the effort Meade is putting out on this. It is an obscure problem many new users may notice but not understand the implications of. Meade is taking a sincere effort to diagnos and correct any and all problems with their equipment. That's the old Meade I started doing business with in 1992. (Scott, I know you and the folks at Meade are reading this. You still need to get some time shaved off that phone line when on hold for support and have a dedicated "high end" scope representative for RCX/LXxx. The EMail support is a great new alternative.)
Jerry,
I took the scope out last night in less than optimal conditions but it seemes to be holding collimation on either side of focus. I may just be lucky.
I have one question which is likely showing my lack of familiarity with astronomical instruments:
When I was focussing and defocusing a star I noticed that the image flipped on either side of focus. I could tell because there was a telephone wire in the bottom of the image on one side of focus and then on the top of the image on the other side. (I moved the scope when I did the check for holding collimation of course). IS this a function of the type of scope and the means by which it focusses?
Thanks.
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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Magician
super member
Reged: 05/26/05
Posts: 143
Loc: Pasadena, CA
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Hi Morris,
Yes this is perfectly normal; just a bit of optics. Draw a ray trace diagram, two lines coming in at an angle, intersecting at a point, then diverging again. The point is the focal plane (where everything is in focus). Draw an arrow pointing up across the lines inside of focus. If you follow the lines through focus and then out of focus, they exchange orientation, so now the arrow is pointing down.
And so that's why the wire you saw flipped in orientation. 
Best,
Akram.
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steddyman
super member
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 169
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Did you get a chance to take the new scope out under clear skies Jerry?
It's now 5 days since I emailed Scott at Meade with my problems and so far no reply 
Steddyman
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Skywatcher 100ED2
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Nikon D200
Sony HDR-HC1E
Philips Toucam Pro II
Edited by steddyman (09/04/06 04:37 PM)
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JerryWise
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 7006
Loc: Lexington, SC
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Steddyman..... clear skies??????? Nope, haven't seen any of them lately. August and early September are extremely soggy here. It will be mid to end of September before I can pair it off. Lets see what Scott does since you joined the group EMail recently. Has anybody on the list heard from Scott?
Morris, congratulations.... I think you have a good one.
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Jerry
LX200ACF 14", Tak FS 152 & TOA 150
AP-1200 & Mach1
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Akram, thanks for the explaination which was perfectly clear and made total sense.
I hope so Jerry.
Intersting that you said in your earlier post Jerry that your original OTA didn't have a handle on it but this new one did. Mine came with a handle so I wonder if the handle is an indicator of recent models and thereby those without the collimation problem (or maybe just a coincidence)?
Anyone care to add to that?
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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Bob Moore
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/07/06
Posts: 547
Loc: New York
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When are you sending it back.
Bob 
--------------------
R.A.C. Advisory Committee
NEAIC Co-Chairman
NEAF Advisory Committee
http://deer-pond-observatorie.wetpaint.com/
Warwick, New York
41.15984 -74.2541
Losmandy G11/Gemini
TAKAHASHI MT-160
10" F4.5 Newt
Vixen R200ss
Orion Starblast
Astro Tech 80 ED
Astro Tech 66 ED
Coronado PST H alpha
ToUcam pro,& DSI Pro II, SX MX716,SBIG ST-10ME
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steddyman
super member
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 169
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Quote:
Intersting that you said in your earlier post Jerry that your original OTA didn't have a handle on it but this new one did. Mine came with a handle so I wonder if the handle is an indicator of recent models and thereby those without the collimation problem (or maybe just a coincidence)?
If by a handle do you mean the one at the bottom back of the OTA under the visual back adapter? If you do, then mine has one, in which case it makes no difference and its odd Jerry's first didn't come with one.
Steddyman
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Skywatcher 100ED2
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Nikon D200
Sony HDR-HC1E
Philips Toucam Pro II
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JerryWise
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 7006
Loc: Lexington, SC
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I got curious on this and looked back through the pictures.
LX200R 12" Number 1 has a handle
LX200R 12" Number 2 ???
LX200R 10" Number 1 does not have a handle.
LX200R 10" Number 2 does not have a handle.
LX200R 10" Number 3 does have a handle.
Must have been a production change after the first ones were shipping.
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Jerry
LX200ACF 14", Tak FS 152 & TOA 150
AP-1200 & Mach1
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nighthound
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 08/30/06
Posts: 860
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Jerry, I received your cc of the message sent to Scott on Friday. It's Tuesday am after the long holiday weekend so I'm hopefull that this week I'll hear something. I'm curious, what was the turn around time on your exchange after notification from Meade?
My LX200R did not come with the handle, which I found to be strange. Although it's not needed on a GEM for tilting or teetering like on a fork mount it's still helpful when carrying and mounting the OTA on the GEM. I don't have an observatory so I do a lot of that.
NH
Steve
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Moggi1964
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/07/05
Posts: 2515
Loc: Madison. NJ. USA
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Quote:
When are you sending it back.
Bob
This week if they will collect it.
M
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Morris
WO Megrez 80 ED F/7
WO 8x42 binoculars
Seymor Rosin F/4.5 Astrograph in the making
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Bob Moore
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/07/06
Posts: 547
Loc: New York
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So we will be scopeless for RAC BBQ on the 16th... if your going? ...it was fun last year 
Bob
--------------------
R.A.C. Advisory Committee
NEAIC Co-Chairman
NEAF Advisory Committee
http://deer-pond-observatorie.wetpaint.com/
Warwick, New York
41.15984 -74.2541
Losmandy G11/Gemini
TAKAHASHI MT-160
10" F4.5 Newt
Vixen R200ss
Orion Starblast
Astro Tech 80 ED
Astro Tech 66 ED
Coronado PST H alpha
ToUcam pro,& DSI Pro II, SX MX716,SBIG ST-10ME
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Kim Miau
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/17/06
Posts: 1133
Loc: Kluang, Johor, Malaysia
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Quote:
So we will be scopeless for RAC BBQ on the 16th... if your going? ...it was fun last year
Bob
Where it and when is it? I am just interested to know it. It's quite impossible for me to take a $1000 flight to US for this.
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-Robin
QHY CCD
My Astronomy Blog - http://www.astronomynotes.net
Meade 8" LX90 + LPI + QHY5 + Denk's Power x Switch S2 Diagonal
More equipments @ here
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JerryWise
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 7006
Loc: Lexington, SC
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Quote:
Jerry, I received your cc of the message sent to Scott on Friday. It's Tuesday am after the long holiday weekend so I'm hopefull that this week I'll hear something. I'm curious, what was the turn around time on your exchange after notification from Meade?
My LX200R did not come with the handle, which I found to be strange. Although it's not needed on a GEM for tilting or teetering like on a fork mount it's still helpful when carrying and mounting the OTA on the GEM. I don't have an observatory so I do a lot of that.
NH
Steve
Steve, once notifed it wasn't but a couple days. I suspect the number we have here will likely require a production run so we may have a wait. I'm pretty sure they are following this thread so we will likely hear something soon.
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Jerry
LX200ACF 14", Tak FS 152 & TOA 150
AP-1200 & Mach1
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steddyman
super member
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 169
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Quote:
Must have been a production change after the first ones were shipping.
I think it's more likely just poor QA or parts shortage.
My scope was one of the very first ones shipped and it has the handle but still has the collimation issue. It is also much earlier than Morris's LX200R which had the handle but no issues.
Steddyman
PS I would like to thank Jerry for getting this problem to the attention of the people that matter in Meade.
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Skywatcher 100ED2
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Nikon D200
Sony HDR-HC1E
Philips Toucam Pro II
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mdine1us
sage
Reged: 03/14/06
Posts: 354
Loc: San Diego
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No word from Scott here in San Diego as yet. But I wouldn't have expected anything with the holiday weekend and all. (I know I wouldn't have likely responded yet!)
ps. mine has a handle.
Regards,
Marty
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JerryWise
Postmaster
Reged: 12/26/03
Posts: 7006
Loc: Lexington, SC
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I have Emailed Scott Roberts, Meade VP, again this evening asking if there is a plan of contacting customers on these OTAs.
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Jerry
LX200ACF 14", Tak FS 152 & TOA 150
AP-1200 & Mach1
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steddyman
super member
Reged: 03/02/06
Posts: 169
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Thanks again Jerry.
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Skywatcher 100ED2
Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro
Nikon D200
Sony HDR-HC1E
Philips Toucam Pro II
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lerock
sage
Reged: 03/23/06
Posts: 311
Loc: Arizona Coast
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Okay Jerry,
I'm waiting to hear your comparison between your C14 & a LX200R 14". You are the best.... 
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Mike
18" f4.5 Obsession #1377
W/Argo Navis DSC
6" f/10 ANRA Canopus, circa 1963, modified for solar
If you don't make dust, You eat it.....
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Bob Moore
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/07/06
Posts: 547
Loc: New York
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Hi Kim check
here for BBQ info
Bob
--------------------
R.A.C. Advisory Committee
NEAIC Co-Chairman
NEAF Advisory Committee
http://deer-pond-observatorie.wetpaint.com/
Warwick, New York
41.15984 -74.2541
Losmandy G11/Gemini
TAKAHASHI MT-160
10" F4.5 Newt
Vixen R200ss
Orion Starblast
Astro Tech 80 ED
Astro Tech 66 ED
Coronado PST H alpha
ToUcam pro,& DSI Pro II, SX MX716,SBIG ST-10ME
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Kim Miau
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 07/17/06
Posts: 1133
Loc: Kluang, Johor, Malaysia
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Quote:
Hi Kim check
here for BBQ info
Bob
Bob, thanks for the information!
--------------------
-Robin
QHY CCD
My Astronomy Blog - http://www.astronomynotes.net
Meade 8" LX90 + LPI + QHY5 + Denk's Power x Switch S2 Diagonal
More equipments @ here
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