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StarScream21
journeyman
Reged: 09/22/08
Posts: 5
Loc: Middleburg, FL
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Greetings from Northeast Florida...
I have a "new to me" Meade 90mm ETX with a 26mm super plossl, a 24mm plossl, a 9mm and a 2x Barlow. Gotten some great views of Jupiter and its moons and our moon over the last two months. I have high hopes of seeing some other objects but I'm having serious trouble adjusting my finder scope. There are three sets of two set screws, and it just doesn't seem to want to cooperate.
I have a Telrad and for those who don't know about the ETX, the tube isn't really big enough for the Telrad AND the finder. I saw a thread here on the CN forums where someone had modified their Telrad, so I'm thinking about that.
I guess my main question is that should I even bother mounting the Telrad on my ETX (with or without the modifications), or should I continue to hassle with the yucko little finder scope that came with the tube?
Thanks in advance,
-Paul
PS. Anyone ever wonder why when observing, mosquitoes seem to bite on the ankle and on the knuckle of toes?  LOL.. clear skies to all...
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Equipment:
Meade ETX 90RA with #884 Field Tripod
Eyeballs, blue, 20/75 but corrected with "diopters"... 
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oldsalt
Astro Philosopher
Reged: 02/12/05
Posts: 7951
Loc: Pa - between starparties
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Welcome to Cloudy Nights, Paul. The Telrad is a great finder, if you can find a way to mount it on the EXT, I do it. It makes zeroing in on a target so much easier.
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Jim
"A professional warrior prays for peace and trains for war. All else is folly."
Atlas mount
AT Voyager w wooden tripod
ETX70 "Lilliput"
AT80EDT(carbon fiber) "Beauty"
Antares 127mm refractor "Star Walker"
12XTi "Skyclops"
LX200GPS OTA "Blue Boy"
AT66ED " Silver Surfer"
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vinnie
Latinist
Reged: 01/05/08
Posts: 1446
Loc: Queensland, Australia
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Hi Paul,
Welcome!
Here's a nice little finder that isn't a Telrad, but is very functional, ultra compact, and built like a Sherman tank
Finder
HTH
Vin
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Bowmoreman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 09/11/06
Posts: 2981
Loc: Bolton, MA
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HI Paul, and welcome!
I started 3.5 years ago with that exact scope. I was able to mount a Telrad to it with no problem - yeah things were tight, but workable.
This was in my "didn't know anything" phase! 
I always found the finder to be USELESS. 5x21? who are THEY kidding. So, knowing NOTHING, I "upgraded" to the Meade 5x24 (whooopeee!) - money spent, NO improvement (duh!)...
Pretty much any finder smaller than 6x30 is USELESS (And I frankly think 30mm aperture on a finder is not enough either - but there are those whom I respect for which it works, so I won't push that issue too hard).
What really made my ETX90 shine was my Nagler 12T4 - my first premium EP...
Of course, not so long after that, I purchased my XT10i Dob, and life's never been the same!
But, for planetary, and some really bright DSOs (e.g. M42, etc.) that little ETX was quite nice.
If you can't make a Telrad work, then try a Rigel finder (same idea as Telrad, but smaller/taller - would be a better fit on the OTA).
Again, welcome to CN!
clear enough skies
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Dave
Ustream
YLive
XT10i, RTP, CGE, R200CF, TMB80SS
31T5, 22T4, 13Ethos, 8Ethos, TV 3-6 Zoom; Paracorr
MallincamColorHyperPlus,SBIG STV&237A;CanonRebel Xti
WilderSkiesObservatory(BYO #90)
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stefanj
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 1287
Loc: Western New York State
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I too have a 90mm ETX- Great little scopes with a WORTHLESS finder. Don't waste your time with it. A Telrad is great- but as you noticed- a bit of a push to mount. I purchased a Daisy bbgun reddot finder and mounted that on the ETX with some double stick tape- Works great in the daylight and on BRIGHT objects- but the dimmest setting on the reddot is still too bright and the aperture on the finder is WAY too limited. My best solution so far- A green laser pointer- Now I use mine (and I DO NOT RECOMMEND OR ENDORSE THIS METHOD) by shining it throught the EP holder- I get a beam that rojects out of the end of the telescope and just use that to aim the scope. A better method would be to get a GLP holder and mount it on the ETX. I'm currently working on a holder that would mount in the ETX's Finder- and yet still be adjustable.
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Life is a circus- and I'm stuck in the FREAK TENT
If these are blue- it means the moon is full!
Meade ETX 90RA w/ tripod
Meade AZ 70
Meade DS 2130 AT
Zhumell 10" Dob
Zhumell Plossel EP and Filter set
Simmons 10x50 Binoculars
GLPx6
LPI
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Bhavdeep
member
Reged: 07/18/08
Posts: 37
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take a look at the toilet paper roll solution here
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6" ebay reflector (temporary scope till I save for a Z10)
green laser pointer
skymaps for charts
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2543
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Yes unless mods are done the Telrad is too big. However the Rigel Quickfinder works just fine-- here is a picture of ETX90 with the Rigel mounted.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boatman1/2145341118/
Here is a Cloudy Night review:
http://www.cloudynights.com/documents/finders.pdf
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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
Edited by Joe Lalumia (09/24/08 02:41 PM)
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StarScream21
journeyman
Reged: 09/22/08
Posts: 5
Loc: Middleburg, FL
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Thanks for all the suggestions, folks! In addition to being helpful for the finder problem, more than a couple of you have made me feel good about my first scope, always a good thing.
Clear skies,
-Paul
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Equipment:
Meade ETX 90RA with #884 Field Tripod
Eyeballs, blue, 20/75 but corrected with "diopters"...
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 4939
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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welcome to CN Paul!
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Seymour Solar filter
Backyard Observatory
 -Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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albert1
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/01/07
Posts: 874
Loc: Northern New Jersey
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Hey there Paul, welcome from a New Jersey CNer. I recently picked up a used C-90 Astro, similar to your new aquisition and have been amazed what this little thing can reveal. Enjoy the scope. 
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Albert
Coulter Odyssey 10 (red)
Upgraded Astro Systems 2-speed Crayford
1984 C90 Astro, (cool little thing)
Upgraded to 1.25 visual back from .965
made a big difference in viewing quality.
Criterion Dynascope RV6
(another cool vintage scope w/an amazing little mirror)
Baader Hyperions
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