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CyberJeepEric
member
Reged: 05/11/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Pompano Beach, FL
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I just picked up an ETX-125PE from the original owner of less than 1 year. He claimed he never used it. Took it on a trip, but conditions weren't favorable so he packed it back up. The scope is mint, not a scratch on it. In fact, many of the accessories were still sealed. It was too good to be true. I purchased some AA's to power it up on the way to see it. However, it did not power up. He seemed to honestly be shocked that it wouldn't turn on. The optics seemed fine, so I made him a really low offer, $300. That included a sealed Meade Electronic Eyepiece and an Orion 3x Barlow. Even if I never get it to power up, I still won't feel too bad.
I loved my first night with it. The images are beyond anything I had experienced at home before. I'm sure anyone reading this is well aware of the quality.
I tried reversing the Autostar cable, checked the battery connection and even tried to jump grounds to bypass the battery cutoff switch. I also purchased a 1.5A power supply from Radio Shack. Now the red LED light up, but still no display on the AutoStar controller.
Anyone have any suggestions?
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3536
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Bad hand controller cable-- ??? try reversing the cable and wiggling it to see if light comes on in the Autostar.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
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CyberJeepEric
member
Reged: 05/11/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Pompano Beach, FL
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I will say that the connector on the scope doesn't look "perfect." I used a small pick and all the contacts seem like they should make a connection. I will work on it some more when I get home. Thanks.
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dbx
sage
Reged: 02/13/08
Posts: 206
Loc: Orange County, CA
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Don't even bother, I had a PE before my current AT UHTC scope and I'm going to be selling the mount because it is utter trash compared to my CG-5 mount. Sell your mount base and get a better EQ deal. my 2 cents
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Scopes:
Z10 Dob
Vixen A80SS F5 Refractor
Eyepieces:
Orion Stratus 17mm
TV Ethos 13mm
TV powermate 2.5x
TV 16mm NT5
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6695
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Take a close look at the connectors on the cable and make sure the slides are clear. I once had a cable set where the plastic guides on the connector were a bit munged and this kept it from making good contacts. Once I cleaned up the guides it worked fine. Just for yucks I'd also check the battery compartment to make sure the previous owner didn't leave a set of bateries in it that have leaked. The Autostar works best when it has a stable power supply and an AC adapter or an external battery pack like a jumpstart battery works well in keeping the ETX-125PE humming all night long.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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CyberJeepEric
member
Reged: 05/11/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Pompano Beach, FL
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I am using a 12 Volt (1.5A) power supply. Last night I wiggled, prodded, pushed, pulled, reversed, cleaned and prayed with no luck. When I pressed a couple of buttons on the Autostar controller, I could get a couple of others to light up. For example, after pressing a lot of buttons, I could press "6" and "4, 5 and 7" would light up. From my 12 volt electronics background, it would seem like something is not grounding right. I want to test the cable. Unfortunately, I don't even have a multimeter anymore. I guess I'm off to buy a new one...
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Joe Lalumia
Post Laureate
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 3536
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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How about just order a new cable from scopestuff.com --
http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_l5hc.htm
Scopestuff has a very nice cable-- longer and more flexible than the Meade stock cable- and or borrow a hand controller from a local Astronomy shop --- and see if it works -- if it does buy it.
Your first step in figuring this out is to eliminate the cable and the hand controller as the source.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s-- www.texasastro.org
"Great minds discuss ideas;Average minds discuss events;Small minds discuss people." Unknown
Edited by Joe Lalumia (05/13/09 03:06 PM)
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6695
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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Can you swap the controller with someone? I'd almost suspect a dead controller from what you're describing. You can usually pick up a #497 from eBay for about $100. You can also convert a #495 to a #497 by updating the firmware. However, before going that route I'd want to confirm it was a bad controller to start with.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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Arthur Dent
Galactic Hitch-Hiker
Reged: 10/23/08
Posts: 1150
Loc: South Yorkshire, UK
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Eric
I'm wondering if maybe it is a contact issue.
Inside the Autostar handset there is a flexible rubber keypad with carbon pads underneath. These "short out" contact patches on the pcb to "make" the switch for a button press.
Occasionally, dust, dirt, grit, coke, gets in there and stops the buttons from making good contact.
If you are willing to open up the Autostar handset (three screws I think (my ETX is currently back at the Telescope Hospital, so can't look to check) are all that are needed to be loosened and the two halves separate.
You can clean the rubber pads and the pcb contacts with iso-propyl alcohol (do you guys across the pond call it rubbing alcohol?). Be careful though - the ribbon cable that connects the pcb to the lcd display is a kind of very thin & flimsy plastic and easily "nipped" and folded when re-assembling the handset.
If you're game, it might be worth a try. Personally, I'd try the curly cord first and if that doesn't fix it and you can't borrow another handset, then have a look at the contacts.
See if that helps.
Art
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If I like it, the wife says that we can't afford it!
=======================================================
Meade ETX105 (a nice "Grab & Go" scope) & Celestron NexStar 6SE with Bob's Knobs.
Various EP's from 6mm to 26mm, a 2x Barlow, 2" diagonal and 7Ah PowerTank.
MRF and Antares 8x50 RACI finder scope - both for the 6SE's OTA, whilst the ETX gets a plain RDF.
Canon EOS 400D DSLR (un-modded) and SPC900 webcam. Finally climbing the AP Learning Curve!
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JT5
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 564
Loc: Ozarks of Missouri
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If you have access to a Volt/Ohmmeter. Check pin to pin continuity on the cable.
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My wife shares my love of the night skies and tolerates all of my other hobbies.
Televue Pronto w/Starbeam pointer and Televue tripod
Meade 2045D, ETX-125PE, 12" Lightbridge
Celestron: 7Amp PowerTank, 15X70mm binoculars
Meade, Swan and Televue Lenses (33, 26, 20, 15 & 9mm), Televue Barlow
Catsperch Observing Chair
Member: Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
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StarWars
Postmaster
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 13673
Loc: CyberSpace
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The problem is most likely in the motor mount control panel.. 
You might need to remove the three screws on the motor mount bottom and look inside for a loose or broken connector.
You could also post a question on the Mighty ETX web site.. 
http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html
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Sony Digital Media player..
MX 460 earbuds
Celestron 2x Barlow Lens
Orion Collimation Eyepiece
Rigel Quick Finder
Assorted Bino's 
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CyberJeepEric
member
Reged: 05/11/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Pompano Beach, FL
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Thank you for the input. I have been enjoying the scope without the controller, but I think it is time to re-visit it. I am picking up a VOM this week and will be checking the cord. I have already had the motor base apart, everything looks fine.+
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CyberJeepEric
member
Reged: 05/11/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Pompano Beach, FL
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What mount would you recommend for it? Not looking to break the bank...
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JT5
professor emeritus
Reged: 11/08/07
Posts: 564
Loc: Ozarks of Missouri
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Check out Mike Weasner's Mighty ETX site. It is a great resource for anyone that owns an ETX with an enormous amount of information. There are also a number of special topics like mount or tripods that others have built for their ETX. Many of these include photos. It is also a good source for the kind of info you are asking for.
John
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My wife shares my love of the night skies and tolerates all of my other hobbies.
Televue Pronto w/Starbeam pointer and Televue tripod
Meade 2045D, ETX-125PE, 12" Lightbridge
Celestron: 7Amp PowerTank, 15X70mm binoculars
Meade, Swan and Televue Lenses (33, 26, 20, 15 & 9mm), Televue Barlow
Catsperch Observing Chair
Member: Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri
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