187 replies to this topic

[orlyandico]

might be cheaper to just buy an SG-4 for the Tak..

[jrcrilly]

might be cheaper to just buy an SG-4 for the Tak..

I have shot with that kind of load weight and up to 3900mm with the Tak - but I had to add hardware (OAG, guide camera) to make it work.

[jrcrilly]

I'm not sure you could get increased payload capacity with the Meade LX850 over the Tak NJP.

That's one possible concern. I've looked at one but wasn't serious at the time; I'd want to take a closer look. I may be already over the weight rating on the NJP; there are more than 70 pounds of counterweight on there now.

I'd also be concerned about Meade being there in the next few years. Still, we've been hearing about their imminent demise for many years, during which Celestron was the one to be sold off by a bankruptcy trustee.

I haven't decided to do it; I'm just considering it. I usually don't keep stuff forever; I sold the four Tak refractors and the Tak Cassegrain already so the mount could easily be next. I note that I haven't been in the observatory since April; I need to stir things up a little in there to make it fun again.

[Whichwayisnorth]

I'm not sure you could get increased payload capacity with the Meade LX850 over the Tak NJP.

That's one possible concern. I've looked at one but wasn't serious at the time; I'd want to take a closer look. I may be already over the weight rating on the NJP; there are more than 70 pounds of counterweight on there now.

I'd also be concerned about Meade being there in the next few years. Still, we've been hearing about their imminent demise for many years, during which Celestron was the one to be sold off by a bankruptcy trustee.

I haven't decided to do it; I'm just considering it. I usually don't keep stuff forever; I sold the four Tak refractors and the Tak Cassegrain already so the mount could easily be next. I note that I haven't been in the observatory since April; I need to stir things up a little in there to make it fun again.

I know what you mean about making it fun again. Are you involved in any sort of live broadcasting on a site such as NSN or Google Hangouts? I've been considering that since I can do it all from in the house where it is warm and there are no bugs.

[mmalik]

I'd also be concerned about Meade being there in the next few years.

Between this... and now, there is a well-documented record of what transpired in between; that kind of track record alone is reason enough it went away. LX800/850 is a mediocre technological effort when one looks at the equivalently priced high-performing mounts in the market. While automatic guiding is a fancy concept, its development has been nothing but trial and error at the expense of unsuspecting/prospective customers. Thx

[WadeH237]

Only 5 minutes?

Sure. In a light polluted area, you probably would not want to go longer than this. 5 minutes is long enough to be a credible subexposure. On a sufficiently bright object, you would also get a decent (albiet noisy) image. Certainly, there would be enough data in the stars to see how the mount is doing.

Now if you live in a sufficiently dark area, it'd be really interesting to see a single 30 minute DSLR exposure.

[SandyHouTex]

The discussion "dwindled" because every time someone created a post it was deleted by the admins.

I still wonder what happened to all of the folks that returned their mounts and ...

[Whichwayisnorth]

The discussion "dwindled" because every time someone created a post it was deleted by the admins.

I still wonder what happened to all of the folks that returned their mounts and ...

[blueman]

I too am curious about what happened to those who bought the LX800 and sent them in and waited. Now after all these months, what has happened?
Blueman

The discussion "dwindled" because every time someone created a post it was deleted by the admins.

I still wonder what happened to all of the folks that returned their mounts and ...

[rigel123]

Looking good Jason!

[Awesomelenny]

Man is this cool reading!

By the way folks, John C. lives about 30 miles south of me and he's right when he says he only has like a few days a year to really work with something with all the clouds we have here. Now look at that smiley. See the space between the two clouds that roll by? that's the equivalent of a clear night in N.E. Ohio!!!

[hectar]

Hector,

You do realize that the only reason Jason is listed as a vendor is because he sells prints of his photos don't you?

He doesn't sell Meade mounts. So how does selling prints of his photos make him biased?

If you Read carefully what has been said here, you will find your answers. I am not the type of person who buys everything which glitters and starts posting questions about it.

[Bowmoreman]

Just a general comment to all to keep it friendly and civil here... Has been thus far, but sometimes these LX threads can wander as we've all seen...


Thanks all!

[Pak]

High-Tech Telescopes
Defining Terms Used in Marketing
By Allen Hwang

ALL NEW - The power supply, connectors, and software
are not compatible with previous versions. Even the
screw threads are different.
ADVANCED DESIGN - Salespeople don't understand it.
BREAKTHROUGH - It nearly worked on the first try.
DESIGN SIMPLICITY - It was developed on a
shoestring budget.
EXCLUSIVE - We're the only ones who have the
directions telling how to use it.
FIELD TESTED - The manufacturer has no way to test
it.
FOOLPROOF OPERATION - It's unrepairable, short of
sending it back to the factory (which can't fix it either).
FUTURISTIC - It only runs with the help of a nextgeneration computer, which isn't available yet.
HIGH ACCURACY - The screw threads match the
threads of the holes they're supposed to mate with.
IT'S HERE AT LAST - We've released a 26-week
project in 48 weeks.
MAINTENANCE FREE - see Foolproof Operation.
MEETS OR EXCEEDS OPTICAL STANDARDS - We
haven't the foggiest idea about the total wavefront
accuracy.
NEW - It comes in a different color than the first version.
PERFORMANCE PROVEN - It worked through beta
test.
QUALITY STANDARDS - It works most of the time.
REVOLUTIONARY - Everything that's supposed to go
round and round actually goes round and round.
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED - We'll send you
another manual if this one fails to work.
STOCK ITEM - We shipped it once before and we can
do it again, probably.
UNMATCHED - No one else wants to copy our design.
UNPRECEDENTED PERFORMANCE - May mean two
different things:
1.Actually worked the first time right out of the box.
2.Nothing before ever ran so erratically.
YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT - We finally got one to
work.

[TxStars]

You forgot one:

"Thuroghly Tested"
a)Two people have used it
b) One person used it two times

[rockethead26]

Pak,

[Pak]

Not my list so blame the author.

You forgot one:

"Thuroghly Tested"
a)Two people have used it
b) One person used it two times

[Awesomelenny]

:rofl2:

[TxStars]

I stand corrected.
Is that why the included instructions for a product are incorrect?

[Mantis707]

That is one of the nicest horse heads I have seen! I'm drooling.....Cant wait to see more and read more about the testing of the new system!

[mpgxsvcd]

That is a good image. I wouldn't be disappointed with it. What camera was used?

[ahopp]

I am going to call this image the 'Horse' nebula instead of 'Horse Head'. With a little imagination you can make out an entire horse!

Tony

[DeanG]

Jason,
Can you send me the dimensions of the 14" OTA? I need to know the width of the OTA and the width including the Losmandy mounting plate. I am building a fork mount and I am trying to calculate the distance between the fork arms.

Dean

[Hilmi]

Any body received the LX 850 yet? Seems like a very long time to be in transit

[Griffin!]

The only one I know of is the guy on 4M. Though, I did see a short 2nd-hand report from someone on another forum:

"I spent over 2 hours with an 850 mount/12" OTA user, over Google+, I saw what he saw. I have to say, I am impressed, starlock works, and works well. Automated Drift alignment, no problem."

Has anyone with a 14" on order gotten a tracking number yet?