Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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Hi all,
I just sent my Coronado BF-15 diagonal to Meade for an in-warranty repair/replacement of the blocking filter. Has anyone else here done similarly, and if so, have you observed the reappearance of any rusting of the filter?
I'm curious as to whether or not Meade has resolved that problem, or at least gotten it to the point of not degrading in under 5 years.
Many thanks,
Ed
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Ed
Televue TV76
Coronado SM60/BF15
Meteorite Collection
IMCA #8911 - http://www.imca.cc
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Orben
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Hey OOgie good to see you and Floyd again. 
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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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LarryAlvarez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/05
Posts: 2955
Loc: Texas
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Quote:
Hi all,
I just sent my Coronado BF-15 diagonal to Meade for an in-warranty repair/replacement of the blocking filter. Has anyone else here done similarly, and if so, have you observed the reappearance of any rusting of the filter?
Many thanks,
Ed
Hello Ed, I've sent mine back 1 time over a 5 year period and it came back with a different type of ITF, the turquoise colored filter. The Original appeared silver on one side turquoise on the other with a black painted on band around the outside, the replacement was darker turquoise with an aluminum ring around the outside which had the band pass printed on the aluminum ring. Visually I can't say I could tell the difference between them but the newest one appears to be going strong since it was replaced a few years ago. I'm not sure they've cured the issue but so far so good. I kind of expect it to happen sooner or later due to the materials they use to make them so I keep mine stored air tight with silica when not in use. The newer one with the aluminum band appears to be a better quality build but we'll see. I've also had the ITF on my calcium scope go bad and had to get it replaced also. In each case it took about 2 to 3 weeks to get the replacement. I also purchased a newly refurbed PST, the one with the dark blue front and its ITF at the bottom of the eyepiece holder went bad also. It was a different kind of ITF in that it had a red glass side and a turquoise front. So far I've seen them go bad around a 2 to 2.5 year period and this is with a good storage method being used but so far the aluminum band itf has not gone bad on me and its coming up on a couple years now.
Clear Skyz, LA
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My Solar Website
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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Hey OOgie good to see you and Floyd again.
Hi Ralph. I'd never have pegged you as an "Uncle Floyd & Oogie" fan. Wow, the things that you can learn on CN!
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Ed
Televue TV76
Coronado SM60/BF15
Meteorite Collection
IMCA #8911 - http://www.imca.cc
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Orben
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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Hello Ed, I've sent mine back 1 time over a 5 year period and it came back with a different type of ITF, the turquoise colored filter. The Original appeared silver on one side turquoise on the other with a black painted on band around the outside, the replacement was darker turquoise with an aluminum ring around the outside which had the band pass printed on the aluminum ring. Visually I can't say I could tell the difference between them but the newest one appears to be going strong since it was replaced a few years ago. I'm not sure they've cured the issue but so far so good. I kind of expect it to happen sooner or later due to the materials they use to make them so I keep mine stored air tight with silica when not in use. The newer one with the aluminum band appears to be a better quality build but we'll see. I've also had the ITF on my calcium scope go bad and had to get it replaced also. In each case it took about 2 to 3 weeks to get the replacement. I also purchased a newly refurbed PST, the one with the dark blue front and its ITF at the bottom of the eyepiece holder went bad also. It was a different kind of ITF in that it had a red glass side and a turquoise front. So far I've seen them go bad around a 2 to 2.5 year period and this is with a good storage method being used but so far the aluminum band itf has not gone bad on me and its coming up on a couple years now.
Clear Skyz, LA
Hi Larry, Thanks for the heads-up on storing the BF in a sealed container, with some silica. I will be on the lookout for a suitable container, and modify my Coronado case to accommodate the container. Maybe even put silica in the Coronado case as an overkill effort.
Sorry to hear about your CAK ITF. Was that a Coronado scope, or a Lunt? I wonder if they both use the same type of ITF???
Thanks,
Ed
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Ed
Televue TV76
Coronado SM60/BF15
Meteorite Collection
IMCA #8911 - http://www.imca.cc
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Orben
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swisswalter
sage
Reged: 03/29/09
Posts: 404
Loc: Eastern-Switzerland
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hi all
i will build right away a hermetically closed housing for my B1200 from LUNT in order to keep it in shape for more then 5 years (warranty end). Does it make sense to store the whole lunt, incl. filter in silicagel dreyed air?
walter
walter
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only dust in the wind, TAK on GM8, Lunt 60, DMK31,still greenhorn, but as a golfer used to be humble
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LarryAlvarez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/05
Posts: 2955
Loc: Texas
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My Cak scope that had the bad ITF was a Coronado Cak scope. I do have a Coronado scope that has not rusted at all and is over 5 years old. Its a Coronado 70mm NearStar. It has an older type of ITF and is still going strong. Its a completely different setup to what Coronado uses now. Clear Skyz, LA
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My Solar Website
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LarryAlvarez
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/12/05
Posts: 2955
Loc: Texas
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Quote:
hi all
i will build right away a hermetically closed housing for my B1200 from LUNT in order to keep it in shape for more then 5 years (warranty end). Does it make sense to store the whole lunt, incl. filter in silicagel dreyed air?
walter
walter
Hello Walter, all my scopes are Coronado brand scopes, I have yet to hear of a Lunt scope that has an ITF issue. But as a precaution its always a good idea to keep your scope as moisture free as possible. I throw a couple silica packs in my case every 3 months or so to keep the scope dry. I keep my blocking filters in a small tupperware type container and throw a couple of packs of silica in with it also.
Clear Skyz, LA
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My Solar Website
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swisswalter
sage
Reged: 03/29/09
Posts: 404
Loc: Eastern-Switzerland
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hi larry
thank you for your information. i'll do it in future the same. We too in switzerland have tupperware :-)
walter
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only dust in the wind, TAK on GM8, Lunt 60, DMK31,still greenhorn, but as a golfer used to be humble
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Skydetector
member
Reged: 08/21/06
Posts: 66
Loc: Albuquerque NM
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I'm using a desiccant cap in mine. A nice looking bronze one. I can't claim credit for it as it came with my used scope but now it is sounding like a required piece of equipment.
Here is a link if anyone is interested.
Desiccant caps
Mike
Charlie Bates Solar Astronomy Project
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I guess I'm a looker, cause I'm looking in the ground, I'm looking in the night sky and I'm looking at the sun.
Orion XTi10 Reflector
Coronado PST/SM40/Coronado DSM
Fisher Metal Detectors
http://www.charliebates.org/
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Doug D.
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/23/05
Posts: 1859
Loc: Virginia
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I keep my Coronado CaK 70 in a Pelican case with dessicant cartridges, a PWC dessicant cap (blue anodized - of course), and humidity range indicator! I ain't taking any chances. So far so good.
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Hooville
AP 105EDF f/6 Traveler; AP 140 EDF StarFire f/7.5; TV 76 f/6.3 with Solarscope SF70 filter; Solarscope Solarview 50; Coronado CaK 70; Orion XT-10; Baader Mk V & ZAO II's; Half-Hitch Mk II; Astrotrac TT320X, pier & wedge; AP Mach1GTO; PGR Flea 2
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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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Uncle Floyd lived in Totowa New Jersey accross the street from my sister in law ,he had a red Porshe 911 coupe with "OOGIE" licence plates I used to watch him every day untill I quit drinking then he was not so funny anymore but boy could he pound that Piano.. 
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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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Ralph Marantino
Postmaster
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 6330
Loc: Old Bridge, New Jersey
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same for me with my Cal K 70mm scope.
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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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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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Well, I just got some good news, and some bad news. I called Meade to verify that they received my BF-15. And the good news is they did receive it - on 10/16/2009. ( Never mind that I have verification of delivery to them on 10/09/2009. I guess their receiving department is swamped? )
The bad news is that I was told that the turnaround time to get the BF back to me was 16 ( SIXTEEN ) weeks. Yep, I verified with it him - 4 Months!
They still have it sitting in their Irvine, CA, facility, waiting to be shipped to their repair facility in Mexico.
I asked if there was any way to expedite this, and was told no, and that this was "the process" for my repair job.
And so I sit... And wait... And wonder... 
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Ed
Televue TV76
Coronado SM60/BF15
Meteorite Collection
IMCA #8911 - http://www.imca.cc
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Orben
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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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I have a status report on my BF. I noticed that my credit card was billed for the return shipping fee, and thought that I would be getting it back a lot sooner than the 16 weeks I was previously quoted. After ten days of no BF, I called Meade for an update. The BF is in Mexico, it has been assigned to a repair technician, but no work has been done to it as of yet.
I was told today that it could take the technician up to 16 weeks to do the repair work.
The customer service rep said that I should not have been charged the return shipping fee until it was ready for return to me.
So, I still sit... and hope... and wait...
Sigh... 
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Ed
Televue TV76
Coronado SM60/BF15
Meteorite Collection
IMCA #8911 - http://www.imca.cc
“A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that 'individuality' is the key to success." - Robert Orben
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Evokal
member
Reged: 02/12/09
Posts: 42
Loc: Manitou Springs, CO
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Hang in there man... I just sent my PST away for the second time two weeks ago.  The first time I had to force myself to forget I had ever had one to begin with...
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Michael Huwe
Lunt 60mm Doublestack w/ B1200 BF
"Might the sun be a metaphor of the compassion we can only reflect if we turn in that direction, revealing every flaw? I wonder this every time I see a full moon light up the night around me..." -Anonymous
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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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I am getting the same BS from Celestron concerning my CGE rerpair as I got from Meade with the PST.
I wanted to interject some sanity here. How could these companies possibly have let themselves get into the position where it takes FOUR MONTHS!!! or longer to perform a 1 hour repair job? And we are just supposed to accept it as business as usual. That is absolutely and unacceptably pathetic customer 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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brianb11213
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/25/09
Posts: 2103
Loc: 55.215N 6.554W
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Quote:
How could these companies possibly have let themselves get into the position where it takes FOUR MONTHS!!! or longer to perform a 1 hour repair job?
Mostly because we, the customers, demand a low ticket price. That means that support gets pared to the bone, or indeed some distance into the bone ... not enough repair technicians to match the rate at which jobs accrue, therefore queue length tends to infinity.
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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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BINGO! We have a winner. Except, I am not in that group of low price demand.
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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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attckbvr
member
Reged: 11/11/08
Posts: 25
Loc: British Columbia, Canada
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I sent my PST away 3 months ago, phoned Meade, and they told me NOT to call again until the end of Nov, then they may have a "better" update for me. I have since purchased a Lunt 60DS B1200 scope, had it in 2 weeks (no kidding). Now I could care less if I see the PST again. Soon as it comes back its for sale. I personally think the Coronado service is the poops, I too own a business, and if I treated my customers like they did, I wouldn't have a business for very long.
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