Telescope Reviews: Tasco 11TE-5

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Equipment Discussions >> Classic Telescopes

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hottr6
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/28/09

Loc: 7,500', Magdalena Mtns, NM

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: droid]
#5647896 - 01/28/13 11:36 AM

Quote:

Shane , your right, its ringer for an 11TE-5, NICE RIG

One thing to note is that my Towa came with a "low profile" helical focuser and a 0.80" secondary. This entails that the tube must be longer than later OTAs with "high-profile" R&P focusers, with 1.0" secondaries.. The difference in tube length is quite significant... about 2".

With the helical focusers, these Newts are visual-only instruments. With R&P focusers, they are dual visual/AP platforms, and have larger CO.

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: BarabinoSr]
#5649029 - 01/28/13 07:27 PM

Gary; nice scope,ty

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bremms
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/31/12

Loc: SC

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: droid]
#5649320 - 01/28/13 09:44 PM

Took my 11TR out this evening. It showed nice images of Jupiter, very good. I tried my other OTA and it was similar. Seeing was about a 2 after 8:00 then, in rolled the clouds. Took my 4" Jaegers out for a comparo, but the seeing was so bad at that point I couldn't tell anything.

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: bremms]
#5649757 - 01/29/13 06:50 AM

I do have some experience with these scopes a while back I rebuilt one for a donation project, it was quite literally a cloudy nights project.
The lady and her husband were thrilled to recieve it.
I star tested it, it was a decent performer, but was always destined to move on to a good home, and it wasnt my 11TE5 from the 70s, lol.

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=classics&...

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bob midiri
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/17/04

Loc: pa 19320

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: droid]
#5649771 - 01/29/13 07:04 AM

Quote:

I do have some experience with these scopes a while back I rebuilt one for a donation project, it was quite literally a cloudy nights project.
The lady and her husband were thrilled to recieve it.
I star tested it, it was a decent performer, but was always destined to move on to a good home, and it wasnt my 11TE5 from the 70s, lol.

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=classics&...

Wow Andy I just read that thread. Awesome thing you guys did. I hope she still is enjoying her 11TR. Bob

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bremms
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/31/12

Loc: SC

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: bob midiri]
#5649840 - 01/29/13 08:25 AM

Mine belongs to my 3 three year old. Its his red telescope and we take it out when he asks. He looks through my others too, Even brought out his step stool.
Bob, you need a Sears 6339 to complete your Sears set!

Edited by bremms (01/29/13 08:28 AM)

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bob midiri
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 06/17/04

Loc: pa 19320

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: bremms]
#5649880 - 01/29/13 09:02 AM

Yeh You are right!! Enjoy that D&G

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: bob midiri]
#5653781 - 01/31/13 08:21 AM

Well tomorrow Ill send out the money order, and in a short period of time, Ill finally have my 11TE5 Ive wanted.
Keeping my fingers crossed no one plays basketball with the boxes

http://www.cloudynights.com/classifieds/showproduct.php?product=42440&sor...

its in very good condition

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BarabinoSr
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 11/17/05

Loc: Slidell La

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: droid]
#5654090 - 01/31/13 11:01 AM

Good Luck, Andy! I believe you're getting a good one.This scope has been well cared for and looks good in the images. Looking forward to first light reports!! I too have always wanted one to add to the Tasco Group and was fortunate to find it.!

Gary

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GeneDiG
sage

Reged: 05/31/05

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: BarabinoSr]
#5654282 - 01/31/13 12:58 PM

I have a Towa made red tube 11T and I love it. I replaced the original focuser with a Firstcope 114 focuser so I could use 1.25 EP's. I had to cut down the draw tube so the EP's could focus. I also added a Meade 6x30 (painted the tube red to match!)and an EQ2 RA drive. It gets more use than my 5 inch Mak that's mounted on a CG5. The 11T is light and easily transported from indoors to outdoors.

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: GeneDiG]
#5659566 - 02/03/13 09:21 AM

Well the scope is ready to go out Monday morning via parcel post. No idea how fact parcel post moves, but Im getting amped all ready. Gonna be a long week of hurry up and wait, lol.

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: droid]
#5663001 - 02/05/13 07:52 AM

Advice on where to find decent .965 eps?

I have one Faworski 16.8 mm ortho here.
And the scope comes with a 6mm ortho plus a H20 ep.

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hottr6
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/28/09

Loc: 7,500', Magdalena Mtns, NM

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: droid]
#5663299 - 02/05/13 10:34 AM

Quote:

Advice on where to find decent .965 eps?

I have one Faworski 16.8 mm ortho here.
And the scope comes with a 6mm ortho plus a H20 ep.

Sheldon sells .965 EPs? I'll have to follow that up.

Bottom line is that "decent" and ".965" are almost mutually exclusive, except for the well-heeled. I saw a set of Pentax orthos sell for $400+. I keep an eye on the bay and AM; vintage Kellners can be had relatively inexpensively, and Orthos pull a premium. I steer clear of Huygens, Ramsdens and Symmetrics (life is too short to waste on these EPs), though I did pick up an SR4, pulled out all the glass and use at as a collimator.

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bremms
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 08/31/12

Loc: SC

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: hottr6]
#5664514 - 02/05/13 11:58 PM

Funny, I have celestron 0.965 KE in 18 and 30 that are pretty good, But my Zeiss Huygens 25mm is maybe a little better at f10 and up.
My best 0.965 is a Vixen 9mm Ortho that is every bit good as my UO.

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new

[Re: bremms]
#5664756 - 02/06/13 07:53 AM

I suspect Im gonna wind up placing an add in the S and S forum.
I had breifly considered find a 1.25 focuser, then Id have to probably get a slightly larger secondary,etc.
This scope is in really good condition, and finding these in good condition and unmodified is getting harder and harder.
Im loath to do anything to it to ruin it.

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hottr6
Pooh-Bah

Reged: 06/28/09

Loc: 7,500', Magdalena Mtns, NM

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 [Re: droid]
#5665301 - 02/06/13 01:46 PM

If your 'scope was built for visual/AP, you could put it in AP configuration (remove the focuser extension tube) and use one of these:
http://agenaastro.com/blue-fireball-0-965-1-25-eyepiece-adapter.html

This is what I use on my visual/AP Cometron CO-114, but I have to stick with 0.965" on my visually-optimized Towa because of insufficient in-focus.

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droid
rocketman

Reged: 08/29/04

Loc: Conneaut, Ohio

Re: Tasco 11TE-5 new