skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2101
Loc: Arizona
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Coronado has gone way down after Meade moved it from Tucson to Mexico. All the original Coronado team stayed behind and formed Lunt.
I dont know what Meade is doing down in Mexico or how they are even making money on Coronado now, they have really killed that company.
Luckily Lunt is here! People who know what they are doing and can do it quick!
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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I hear what all of you are saying. I bought my SM-60/BF-15 combination before Meade bought out Coronado. The only answer I get when asking about the length of time for turnaround is apparently a "canned" answer that they are told to give customers: "This is the process."
Well, it may be "the process," but it's not very comforting to the customer. But at least they are making an effort to fix it, I suppose.
I will consider myself lucky if I get the BF back. I shudder to think of what might happen if they declared bankruptcy, and had to shut down completely.
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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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Hey, in a worst case scenario, does anyone know if Lunt can provide a BF to replace my old one if either...
A) I don't get this one back (not a likely situation IMHO)
or
B) Down the line, the repaired BF goes bad, and I needed a replacement - but not from Meade???
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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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BYoesle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/12/04
Posts: 1115
Loc: Goldendale, WA USA
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Unfortunately, while a Coronado blocking filter can be used with a Lunt etalon, a Lunt BF can’t be used with a Coronado etalon. The Free Spectral Range of a Lunt etalon is larger (wider) and the Lunt blocking filter will let some of the side-band harmonic peaks of the narrower FSR Coronado etalon through.
However, the actual part of the blocking filter that fails (“rusts”) – the Induced Transmission Filter (ITF) – is relatively inexpensive and somewhat “universal”, and might be available through Lunt. I would wait to see what you get back from MEADE Coronado before giving up all hope. I had good luck with francisco.gutierrez@meade.com in getting updates on my BF30 repair.
Should the repaired ITF fail again in the future, a Lunt ITF might be a suitable replacement, as Lunt has now certified its ITF's against the thermal cyling thought to cause the prematue failure of the Coronado ITFs. Then again, MEADE may have also have solved this problem, but they do not offer any information with regard to this failure, while Lunt has.
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Bob Yoesle 
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars...
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Desiderata
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jcf2001
member
Reged: 03/27/09
Posts: 18
Loc: Beavercreek, Ohio
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I sent my Solar Max 60 scope back to Meade for Warranty service because the etalon was not performing as expected. I was originally told that it would be two to three months. To make a long story short I finally got it seven months later in fine working order.
The ordeal did test my patience but at least I now have a working scope.
Hopefully you will have the same results.
BTW Meade payed for the 2 day air return shipping.
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marktownley
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/19/08
Posts: 2256
Loc: West Midlands, UK
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Quote:
Unfortunately, while a Coronado blocking filter can be used with a Lunt etalon, a Lunt BF can’t be used with a Coronado etalon.
Could a Lunt etalon be used over the top of a coronado etalon to double stack a coronado scope?
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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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yes Mark. I swap my Coronado etalons and my LUNT etalons routinely using special adaptors. The BFs are not the same but the etalons seem interchangeable.
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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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skyward_eyes
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/12/06
Posts: 2101
Loc: Arizona
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Stephens good old Lunt-a-Nados!
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www.skywardeyes.webs.com
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BYoesle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/12/04
Posts: 1115
Loc: Goldendale, WA USA
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Theoretically yes -- it wold be the same as doublestacking identical front etalons. The only caveat I would have is the potential spacer overlapping issue -- depending on the filter sizes you are trying to mate you will have four vs. one or three obstructions. You will aslo have to make the appropriate adaptor to mate each etalon.
If I were going this route, if availalbe I'd use a Lunt pressure-tuned etalon as the "primary" (closest to the objective) and use the Coronado as the secondary etalon stacked on top of it (this also applies to DSing a Lunt scope with an internal etalon). Otherwise use the etalon which requires the leaast amount of tilt as the primary, and rotate the other etaon to where the ghost images are farthest off-center, thereby requiring the least amount of additional tilt to remove them from the field of view.
The blocking filter will generally have to be the one for the etalon with the narrowest FSR, i.e. the Coronado.
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Bob Yoesle
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars...
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Desiderata
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BYoesle
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/12/04
Posts: 1115
Loc: Goldendale, WA USA
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You can also DS a eyepiece-end H-alpha filter system (DayStar, Solar Spectrum) with a front mounted etalon. Just use it in place of the ERF...
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Bob Yoesle
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars...
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Desiderata
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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
Unfortunately, while a Coronado blocking filter can be used with a Lunt etalon, a Lunt BF can’t be used with a Coronado etalon.
<SNIP>
However, the actual part of the blocking filter that fails (“rusts”) – the Induced Transmission Filter (ITF) – is relatively inexpensive and somewhat “universal”, and might be available through Lunt.quote]
Bob,
Thanks for all of this info. I was completely unaware of the "makings" of the BF, and it is a relief to know that the ITF can be replaced outside of Meade, and perhaps even by Lunt. 
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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:
I sent my Solar Max 60 scope back to Meade for Warranty service because the etalon was not performing as expected. I was originally told that it would be two to three months. To make a long story short I finally got it seven months later in fine working order.
The ordeal did test my patience but at least I now have a working scope.
Hopefully you will have the same results.
BTW Meade payed for the 2 day air return shipping.
Hi jcf2001,
WOW! Seven Months! But at least it was in working order when you got it back. Hopefully mine won't take quite that long. I don't know if I have quite as much patience as you. But then, I have little or no choice, do I?
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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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stephenramsden
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 1324
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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The LUNT a nado
--------------------
Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA--USA
NASA SOLAR SYSTEM AMBASSADOR
www.solarastrophotography.com
www.SolarScopeReviews.com
www.stephenramsden.com
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marktownley
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/19/08
Posts: 2256
Loc: West Midlands, UK
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Hmmm, interesting, i've seen a 50mm lunt etalon for sale that I may well purchase...
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Lost in Space
Vendor - Galactic Rocks
Reged: 11/14/04
Posts: 1841
Loc: North Carolina
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Quote:
The LUNT a nado
Stephen,
VERY NICE!  I imagine the photos were taken at an outreach event?
--------------------
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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Keith Howlett
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 977
Loc: Northumberland, UK
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Hi Stephen,
That's interesting. How does the Luntanado image compare to the original Coronado setup?
Cheers,
Keith
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marktownley
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 08/19/08
Posts: 2256
Loc: West Midlands, UK
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Quote:
Theoretically yes -- it wold be the same as doublestacking identical front etalons. The only caveat I would have is the potential spacer overlapping issue -- depending on the filter sizes you are trying to mate you will have four vs. one or three obstructions. You will aslo have to make the appropriate adaptor to mate each etalon.
If I were going this route, if availalbe I'd use a Lunt pressure-tuned etalon as the "primary" (closest to the objective) and use the Coronado as the secondary etalon stacked on top of it (this also applies to DSing a Lunt scope with an internal etalon). Otherwise use the etalon which requires the leaast amount of tilt as the primary, and rotate the other etaon to where the ghost images are farthest off-center, thereby requiring the least amount of additional tilt to remove them from the field of view.
The blocking filter will generally have to be the one for the etalon with the narrowest FSR, i.e. the Coronado.
Just got back from a weekend away and have given this matter somemore thought...
The Lunt LS50 filter is a obstruction free etalon so would not have issues with spacers clashing with the 2 etalons. The Lunt etalon would be mounted over the SM40 scope as the Lunt comes with an adapter plate to mate it to an 80mm frac. I could use the laser cutter at work to cut out a series of step up rings out of acrylic to fit round the SM40 so the lunt attachs on easily...
Hmmm, I can feel smoke coming out of my wallet! However it would be nice to move up to double stack status. I'm going to have to give this some serious consideration...
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