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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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I received my ETX125PE closeout from Astronomics last week, and have to admit the printing really isn't half bad, but the Meade blue anodizing is still better.
I got to briefly check the optics on Saturn using manual guiding which despite no cooldown, through my TV 8mm Pl at 240x and viewing across and over a busy main street it looked great, almost equal to best I ever achieved through my former CPC925. I haven't had a chance to get it outside yet to tryout the alignment or really work it. But I have checked it indoors and noticed that the LNT seems to insist on using Magnetic North as True North. I thought at first it might be a function of the auto-alignment as I had to pretend to align on my 2 stars. So I tried the Easy alignment mode I've used for the last 9 years very effectively. With Starry Night running on my laptop to verify Alt/Az coords, I notice the scope keeps slewing to objects using Magnetic North, not True North. I've used Autostar and Easy Align since 1999, so I know it and how to work it with great accuracy. This PE model simply won't accept or recognize True North.
I've calibrated, comp'd, and trained the drives; triple-checked the date/time/dst; and input very accurate lat/long to the arcsecond for my back yard. All are correct - LNT simply doesn't release control. I've also reset Autostar and reprogrammed and nothing. The only thing I haven't tried is removing the LNT batteries and forcing it into AT mode.
Probably missing or overlooking something very simple, any clues or hints would be appreciated. I've searched a bit but haven't found (or at least seen) the solution yet.
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 4134
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Steve--- I have an ETX90 and an LX90 LNT--- I must admit I have never actually checked its alignment against TRUE NORTH??? I just center the two alignment stars and away I go.
Does it GOTO objects properly?
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, SV 80/9d, 20x80 binoculars www.texasastro.org
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein
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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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Hi Joe,
It performs the Go-To function properly, and all altitude angles are correct, but everything is skewed by roughly 15 degrees clockwise (not westerly as you would get from incorrect time setting). This is the about the amount of deviation offset we have here. I first noticed it when I ran my first Auto Align. It always points to 15 deg East when "locating North" and if I slew to Polaris, it points to 15 degrees East. All Alt angles are correct. And it does the same when trying to run Easy Align vs Auto Align. When I try an Easy Align, it consistently tries to place Sirius (1st alignment star) 15 degrees too far west.
I'm hoping I'll catch a break in the clouds tonight so I can run a real session; between the house sale, packing, and weather this last week I've not had any breaks.
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Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1711
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
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I can suggest two things.
First, the battery inside the LNT, if it's the original from Meade, may be low. You might want to change it just in case (AND BE CAREFUL - SPRINGS).
Second, there is a 'Calibrate Sensors' function which asks you to align with the North Star. This, in theory, should compensate for any compass variation/deviation.
I'll also note that when the scope is 'Finding North' in Auto Align, it's the LNT is aligning to north. The scope may not be pointing north. Oddly, my 8" LX90 does point the scope north, my 12" does not.
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MJ "Morg" Staley
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M5 Dark-Site Observatory
Meade 12" f/10 LX90GPS "River"
WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Meade SP 5000 full set, 24mm Meade 5000 UWA,
BO/TMB Planetary 8, 9mm, Nagler 13mmT6
Meade 505/USB/ASU/SNP6
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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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Thanks, I'll check the batts; I did "Calibrate Sensors" and aligned to Polaris - my house and hardwood flooring sets true N-S so 0 deg Az/40 deg Alt is very easy to determine.
I was under the impression when you set time & date manually, and use one of the other alignment methods along with their "Home Position" it would override or turn LNT off, apparently that's not the case.
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Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1711
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
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Quote:
Thanks, I'll check the batts; I did "Calibrate Sensors" and aligned to Polaris - my house and hardwood flooring sets true N-S so 0 deg Az/40 deg Alt is very easy to determine.
I was under the impression when you set time & date manually, and use one of the other alignment methods along with their "Home Position" it would override or turn LNT off, apparently that's not the case.
Turning off the LNT is easy - just unplug it. It might be worth doing a 2-star align with the LNT unplugged just to see if there's any change.
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MJ "Morg" Staley
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M5 Dark-Site Observatory
Meade 12" f/10 LX90GPS "River"
WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Meade SP 5000 full set, 24mm Meade 5000 UWA,
BO/TMB Planetary 8, 9mm, Nagler 13mmT6
Meade 505/USB/ASU/SNP6
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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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Good tip, I'll try that! Where do I unplug it, and does the finder still work?
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Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1711
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
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Quote:
Good tip, I'll try that! Where do I unplug it, and does the finder still work?
Maybe I spoke too soon. I can't remember how it was wired on my previous ETX90, but on my LX there's a cable from the LNT to an AUX port. If that's not there on the 125 - sorry.
Yes, unplugging it (however it's done) will kill the red-dot. However, a lot of us have disabled that anyway - because - when you change the LNT battery, on the old LNT's anyway, there are two springs in that thing that are nearly impossible to get back in. I just left them out, and use a Telrad for pointing.
Depending on how your 125 is configured (old vs new LNT, how to unplug), the test I described might confuse the issue even more.
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MJ "Morg" Staley
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M5 Dark-Site Observatory
Meade 12" f/10 LX90GPS "River"
WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Meade SP 5000 full set, 24mm Meade 5000 UWA,
BO/TMB Planetary 8, 9mm, Nagler 13mmT6
Meade 505/USB/ASU/SNP6
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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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I just found it and removed the LNT & Smartfinder. Then performed a reset of Autostar. It then slewed and positioned very close to where alignment stars should be based on 8PM. So, the scope and Autostar are fine; LNT is another matter... You might have a good point of disabling it altogether and getting a red-dot. The optics really are good, and I have a perfectly good "AT" model this way.
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Tombstone Sky
One-Eyed Jack
Reged: 12/18/06
Posts: 1711
Loc: Tombstone Arizona
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Now that the LNT's off, and you're going to get a red-dot, the next thing to do is replace the LNT battery without worrying about the springs (don't throw them away, though).
Then, when you have time, re-install the LNT, do a 'Calibrate Sensors', and try Auto Align again. If it's still 15d off, you'll have to get Meade to replace it. They'll want the old one back, of course. With the springs.
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MJ "Morg" Staley
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M5 Dark-Site Observatory
Meade 12" f/10 LX90GPS "River"
WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Meade SP 5000 full set, 24mm Meade 5000 UWA,
BO/TMB Planetary 8, 9mm, Nagler 13mmT6
Meade 505/USB/ASU/SNP6
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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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Not sure I'll put it back on once I get the red-dot. I got the scope as I'd wanted a 125, and at $685 shipped (member cost) it's a great deal. I actually prefer the AT line and don't have any use for LNT; too bad they dropped it for the PE line.
It cleared up tonight so have a chance to give it an actual run with LNT, so I'll see what it does and how it acts in the real world.
Thanks to both of you for your help and feedback. 
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 4134
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Everyone posts BAD STUFF about Meade---- however on my LX90 which I bought USED--- they sent me a new LNT module for FREE!.... when the old style red dot finder stopped working.
BUT as others have said ... I have replaced the battery... and removed the SPRINGS!!!!!!! and use a Rigel Quickfinder instead of the original "dumbfinder"-------
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, SV 80/9d, 20x80 binoculars www.texasastro.org
"The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources." - Albert Einstein
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gfearing
member
Reged: 03/08/08
Posts: 46
Loc: Fostoria, Ohio
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This may seem like a dumb suggestion, and I mean no offense, but have you set the daylight savings correctly?
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Greg
Meade ETX 125
26 mm Super Plossel
SWA 18mm
2x telenegative Barlow
#883 field tripod
Loving wife trying to deal with my new hobby
4 children, 2 step children, and 2 beautiful grandaughters!
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professor emeritus
Reged: 11/04/06
Posts: 703
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Yes I did have DST on; I also tried it with DST off and time set to MST with no change - as mentioned everything was skewed 15 deg clockwise relative to the Azimuth axis. LNT-Smartfinder has been removed and it's working properly now. I actually called Astronomics earlier for an RMA, but decided to keep it. I'd rather mount a red-dot finder on it, something I did to my old 90EC, which is a great combo and better than the 8x25 right angle. When the mount wears out, I've still got a great OTA to mount onto a good GoTo GEQ.
Joe makes a good point above, and brings up something I'm not intending here; this isn't meant as a Meade bashing thread. They make some very good products and some GREAT optics (which is why I've decided to keep this scope). I love the ETX line, I just keep wondering why they dropped the AT line. I also have gotten great service from them, like a full OTA and base cleaning and gearbox retuning and tightening at no charge when I had to send them a scope for altitude bearing service. All with only a 3 week turn-around to my door.
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