stars_in_my_eyes
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 803
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I would like to have some advice concerning the progression of equipment purchasing for solar observing.
I have an old solar filter for a C8..nothing more.
Where would you start and what would you buy or build?
Thanks
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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I did, and would again, start with a PST. Make sure to understand the repair issues with rust on the older models before you buy one used.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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James Johnson
member
Reged: 07/30/07
Posts: 26
Loc: Maryland
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Yes, I would second that. Before Meade was repairing all the defective coatings under warranty. Now, unless you have the original sales receipt that shows it was purchased less that 5 years ago, you will have to pay for the repair. And other members have reported quality issues with Meade's repairs. A PST is a good scope, but you want a newer one that didn't have the defective coating or one that was already repaired. The best of luck.
JJ
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James Johnson
Starmaster 11.5EL Dobsonian
Celestron 9.25 SCT on Losmandy GM8
Celestron Nexstar5SE
Williams Optics Zenithstar II 80mm ED
Williams Optics Zenithstar 66mm SD
Coronado MaxScope40
ailing Coronado PST (needs rust removal)
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4125
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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If you can stand twice the price of a PST and you're a patient guy  I'd say get in line for a Lunt!
Jim
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Tom and Beth
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 01/08/07
Posts: 945
Loc: Tucson, AZ
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Besides the PST, why not work with that old C-8 filter? If it used to give you a blue image you can replace the film with the Baader film very cheaply.
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LivingNDixie
Lord of Ferrets
Reged: 04/23/03
Posts: 16384
Loc: Hoover, AL
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I have C11 that I just got a used Thousand Oaks filter for whitelight observing. I also have a Lunt on order, which I am really excited about. I am a little gunshy of the PSTs just from what I have heard on here and at star parties.
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Preston
Meade 10in LX200R GPS UHTC (layaway but coming soon!)
Tak FS 78
Tak Teegul-Lapides
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stars_in_my_eyes
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 803
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Quote:
Besides the PST, why not work with that old C-8 filter? If it used to give you a blue image you can replace the film with the Baader film very cheaply.
Good question.
Because I want to do H-alpha work.
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stars_in_my_eyes
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 803
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Quote:
Yes, I would second that. Before Meade was repairing all the defective coatings under warranty. Now, unless you have the original sales receipt that shows it was purchased less that 5 years ago, you will have to pay for the repair. And other members have reported quality issues with Meade's repairs. A PST is a good scope, but you want a newer one that didn't have the defective coating or one that was already repaired. The best of luck.
JJ
Has it been determined that the rust problem is NONEXISTENT on the new scopes?
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stars_in_my_eyes
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 803
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Quote:
If you can stand twice the price of a PST and you're a patient guy I'd say get in line for a Lunt!
Jim
What is the wait time for a Lunt now?
How have the first reports been on performance?
Thanks
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colinsk
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 2170
Loc: CA
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We do not know that the rust problem has been eliminated. In fact we do know that no manufacturer of ITF filters for other industries will guarantee them past 5 years. We are on the bleeding edge of filter design. We should expect to have future failures. However, no failure has resulted in an unsafe H-Alpha scope!
I am very happy with my Lunt... I fully expect them to be here in 5 years if my scope needs repair.
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
TV-76/Baader Film White Light
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
LDX-75
AT Voyager
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stars_in_my_eyes
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/24/08
Posts: 803
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Quote:
I would like to have some advice concerning the progression of equipment purchasing for solar observing.
I have an old solar filter for a C8..nothing more.
Where would you start and what would you buy or build?
Thanks
Thanks for the responses but I still have no idea as to how to spend my money on this aspect of astronomy.
Could someone LIST the options in increasing order of expense and capability?
Thanks
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stephenramsden
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1616
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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Buy a PST. $499
Do some research. $0
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Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA--USA
NASA SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR
www.solarastrophotography.com
www.SolarScopeReviews.com
www.stephenramsden.com
Edited by stephenramsden (10/12/08 04:22 PM)
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6350
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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I would never buy a used PST,if you must get it new bit I would go with the cheapest Lunt.
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Lunt H-alpha LS100THa/B3400
Rockland Astronomy Club
Member BAA Solar Section
Central Appalachian Astronomy Club
Astronomical League
DSPST,PST & 70mm Coronado Cal K telescope.2.2A
Zeiss 2 inch prism diagonal&Zeiss Zoom EP
2inch APM Herschel Wedge in a 94mm F7 Brandon
14.5 inch f4.2 Starmaster Dob(Zambuto mirror)
TeleView Genisis SDF with 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Zeiss 63mm f13.5 refractor 1000 Oaks Glass filter
Itty Bitty Solar Radio Telescope.
LHRIES Lite Solar Spectrometer
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BobH1357
super member
Reged: 01/15/05
Posts: 161
Loc: San Jose, CA
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As others buy up to Lunt scopes, there should be some good PSTs on the 3 or 4 internet classified sites. Keep your eyes open for them, then check out the serial numbers on the "Sick PST" thread here. Buy up in quality when you know you have aperture fever AND bandpass envy.
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stephenramsden
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1616
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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I bought a used PST last month and it works perfectly. Of course, I knew what I was looking at and I have had nothing but trouble with Meade service.
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Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA--USA
NASA SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR
www.solarastrophotography.com
www.SolarScopeReviews.com
www.stephenramsden.com
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Moon Shadow
member
Reged: 02/05/07
Posts: 71
Loc: Phoenix,AZ
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I'm not sure what you normally like to view. I'm not much for DSO but am a planetary junkie. I also travel alot and like to bring a grab n go with me. A while back I got a chance to view through a PST. I was very impressed and thought that someday.... Now my once dark skies are filled with streetlights and the area of state land that surrounds me is filled with illegal vagrants. I used to keep my 80ED by my back door for quick views before I went to bed but now it does not seem worth the effort. A while back on a very expensive whim I ordered a Lunt scope. And it came in a few weeks ago. And what a kick! I have the scope set up on my grab n go now instead of my 80ED. After walking the dog as soon as the sun comes up out comes the scope. Unlike most times with the planets or the moon the Sun is very unpredictable. You sometimes get very little activity one day and the next is like the Forth of July! It's constantly in flux. If you are interested in perhaps using a solar scope then I suggest going back through the posts and looking at the great images posted in the past. Most of them are pretty much what you can see through a Ha scope. As far as the PST vs Lunt I'm not an expert. I went with the Lunt because of the price was good for the size. I also was never very happy with the construction of the smaller (but cheaper) PST. Lunt says that they will be coming out with a scope that should really give the smaller PST a run for the money. But like planetary or DSO scopes ,in solar, size does really matter.
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Lunt L60THa B1200 Solar
Astro-Tech 80ED
Celestron Nexstar 8se
Helix Grab n Go mount
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Jim Rosenstock
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 4125
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
What is the wait time for a Lunt now?
How have the first reports been on performance?
Thanks
First reports (including mine  ) are good; for wait times, you'd best call Lunt and/or a couple of their dealers, and then assume any estimate is a little optimistic 
Hopefully, the trickle of new Lunts is turning into a stream, and they'll get wait times down. FWIW, mine was well worth the wait.
Jim
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George N
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 05/19/06
Posts: 773
Loc: Binghamton & Indian Lake NY
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Quote:
.... Now, unless you have the original sales receipt that shows it was purchased less that 5 years ago, you will have to pay for the repair.
Meade just told me on the phone that they will only do free repairs for one year after purchase no matter what was said when I got my PST. I told them I do have the receipt and sent in the reg card - they said: "If it's older than one year, pay or no repairs." It looks like have little choice except to ship, pay, and take my chances that I'll eventually get a working PST..... unless I just trash it.
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George N
Obsession 20
Optical Guidance Systems 10" F/9 R-C Cass
6" F/5 & 8" F/8 home-made Newts
MI-250 mount
SBIG STL-1301E CCD
Member, International Dark-Sky Association
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marktownley
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/19/08
Posts: 2761
Loc: West Midlands, UK
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With all the negative vibe about Coronado scopes - their rustiness and bad service et al, I think if I get problems with my SM40 in the future it'll take a trip down the stairs or it could get reversed over with the car, then, i'll claim on the insurance...
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Daniel
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 06/16/05
Posts: 917
Loc: Roscoe,IL
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My PST has gold coatings, I am on the list of serial #'s here. My scope is original... and it aint for sale!
I guess I got lucky with the optics on mine. It has got to be about 5-7 years old now, (I would guess)
Mine has been out in the rain,snow,ect..... not on purpose I must add, but it is one of the good ones. I think its a shame all the bashing about these good little scopes. I guess I just dont see the bad cause mine is a good one.
I feel sorry for all you guys that have been through hell n back gettin' them fixed. Meade took on a big problem with this scope. Heck, my old ETX90 was sent back once for an overhaul.... and that was pure he double hockey sticks getting it back. They lost it, found it, lost it again... I finally got it back after 4 month's of waiting. BUT it was better than new I think.
oh well, just had to toss in my 2 cents.. 
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Looking for a big ol Dobsonian..12-16"
ETX 70mm,F5
Bushnell 7-21x40 bino's
Barska 20x80mm Binos
Meade Video Eyepiece
Canon A-E1 SLR,Canon EOS ElanII
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