christurner
member
Reged: 06/24/08
Posts: 67
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Hi folks:
I really need some big time help here. I have a brand new 12 " lx200 acf and can't seem to get it to slew to objects. For instance, when I tell it to goto jupiter (when its obvious where it is) it slews and points no where near it, in fact, it points down at the ground. Or when I tell it to goto cassiopea, it says its on it but its nowhere near it.
I have it mounted on a wedge, not sure if that matters....
help would be greatly appreciated as I have been at this for 3 nights in a row and it's getting very frustrating...
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Chris and Family
Nova Scotia, Canada
Dark Sky Country
Platforms:
Meade LX200 ACF 12"
newstar 5.1" reflector
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Spoonsize
Vendor/Clothing
Reged: 08/27/04
Posts: 2150
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Chris:
Hang in there....I've a new one also and I've only used it in Alt/Az mode so far. It's been great to date, much better than the old LX200 Classic I used to have as far as goto's are.
I'm certain you will be answered here, be patient.
In the meantime, PLEASE be aware, we all know how confusing the manual can be to a newbie, just stay with it, one step at a time. Make sure you understand every step before going on to the next. If it does not make sense, you might be missing something.
Don't take this the wrong way. There MIGHT be something wrong with the mount, but when using one for the first time, things can be tricky, to say the least.
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Steve Durham
www.margesmonograms.com
(Marge made me do it)
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fastrudy
super member
Reged: 04/09/06
Posts: 164
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Did you go through the alignment procedure, or just turned it on?
Have you changed your mount setting to "POLAR" from "ALT/AZ"?
Which alignment procedure did you use?
You got problems, we got questions. 
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2335
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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Don't hate me for suggesting this, but if you never used the scope before, it might be a good idea to (have a friend help you!) get it off the wedge and just make sure it works in Alt az mode before delving into the intricacies of using it in polar mounted mode.
Nobody is going to take world class astrophotos the first night out, so a wedge is just complicating the matter exponentially. If you are new to the scope you just want to have it point to things you never saw before and also to make sure the optics are in good shape. Wedges are really only needed for photography.
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX 
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hi Chris
Just suggested the same thing on the other thread....why 2 threads with same question?
Tom
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christurner
member
Reged: 06/24/08
Posts: 67
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
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thank you everyone for all the support. I will take heed of all of the comments. Hopefully I will report back with somethign like "holy $#$%$#, wow! Is this ever cool!! ..:) I am sure I will.. thanks to all again...
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Chris and Family
Nova Scotia, Canada
Dark Sky Country
Platforms:
Meade LX200 ACF 12"
newstar 5.1" reflector
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Pess
(Title)
Reged: 09/12/07
Posts: 1910
Loc: Toledo, Ohio
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Get if off the wedge.
Polar alignment is an advanced situation when you have mastered the scope and need to perform long term photographic exposures. You don't need it for visual at all and if you are just learning you can take short exposure pics in alt/az.
I would get about 6 months to a years worth of alt/az experience with the wedge sitting in a box somewhere before messing with it.
Pesse (Polar alignment can give you a weggie real quick.) Mist
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12" RCX400
WILLIAM OPTICS 110mm APO ZENITH STAR refractor
Custom Wyorock focuser for refractor
Douglas Schwan DC
Befuddled observer, bewildered student, bemused teacher.
Purveyor of cognitive dissonance.
Todays Quote: "Answers are worthless unless the proper question has been asked."
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2545
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Plenty good advice from Pess-- put the wedge in the closet. Spend several months learning the scope in alt az--- for visual observing you may never want to remount the wedge!
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s.
"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein
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JanS
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/24/05
Posts: 566
Loc: K/W
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Hi!  Its always great to have another Canadian around (no offence southern & overseas neighbours). These guys here are great, lots of experience & patience. I'm new to my lx200 too (even if it isn't a new one). I don't know anything about wedges, but I do know the manuals are complex. They're right when they say 'one step at a time'.
Clear Skies, Jan
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GOTO #106 75mm f17
Meade 10" LX200GPS EMC w/UHTC
TeleVue BinoVue
(2) 24mm Panoptics
A whack of Meade Super Plossls
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AstroTay
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/10/06
Posts: 943
Loc: Toronto, Canada
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Quote:
Get if off the wedge.
Pesse (Polar alignment can give you a weggie real quick.) Mist
 
And seeing is not too good when you have a weggie 
Cuts the oxygen to the brain... 
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Meade 10"LX200R w UHTC "Ocean Liner Anne" + wireless Autostar II 
DSI Pro w CCD Color Filter Set
Celestron NexStar 102 SLT "SteamShip Anne"
Celestron SkyMaster 15X70 Binoculars "Can-U Anne"
*New* Canon EOS Rebel XSi/450D DSLR Camera Now Moded 
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christurner
member
Reged: 06/24/08
Posts: 67
Loc: Nova Scotia, Canada
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Hi all.. Thank you for all the valuable input. I left it on the wedge and gave it one more try and voila! I have finally figured it out, with lots of help from this forum. It's funny how it doesn't seem hard anymore once you understand it! The views were breath taking. Absolutely amazing.... I am looking forward to more clear skies...
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Chris and Family
Nova Scotia, Canada
Dark Sky Country
Platforms:
Meade LX200 ACF 12"
newstar 5.1" reflector
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snowdragonusa
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 637
Loc: Denver, CO
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Grats Chris! Glad you were able to get the hang of it. Now you get to master.... da da dummmmm
Polar Drift Alignment!
Actually it isn't that bad and you get the most benefit from it when doing AP. Anyway, enjoy the views and the great GOTOs!
Cheers!
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Adam
12" LX200R
AT80mm piggyback
DSI Pro, DSI-C, LPI
Denver Astronomical Society
Brighton Astronomical Group
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