90 replies to this topic

[Rick-T137]

This might be right up Chas' alley!

 

Just needs to scoot the Bolt up to Nova Scotia and then presto! Bob's your uncle! A spiffy Meade ED scope for your new big mount.

 

https://www.astrobuy....php?view=78469

[RichA]

This might be right up Chas' alley!

 

Just needs to scoot the Bolt up to Nova Scotia and then presto! Bob's your uncle! A spiffy Meade ED scope for your new big mount.

 

https://www.astrobuy....php?view=78469

They guy is motivated, he'll travel to Toronto.  That's 1000km.

[Rick-T137]

They guy is motivated, he'll travel to Toronto.  That's 1000km.

Good point! If I had the room, I'd think about buying it myself. But man... that thing would be a... ____________ (insert word here)!!!

[Astrojensen]

I think Chas has been scarred for life by his experiences. 

 

Myself, I'd pick it up in a heartbeat, if I could. I now have the tools and knowledge to deal with it, if it misbehaves. 

 

My late mentor Per Darnell had a Meade 178 ED, and it was a fantastic scope. Super sharp, with gorgeous planetary details, and no false color that I could see. 

 

 

Clear skies!

Thomas, Denmark

[CHASLX200]

This might be right up Chas' alley!

 

Just needs to scoot the Bolt up to Nova Scotia and then presto! Bob's your uncle! A spiffy Meade ED scope for your new big mount.

 

https://www.astrobuy....php?view=78469

One was enough.  Three 2 sec peeks and back to Meade. Went back 5 times that i know of.  Chuck from Wolf cam got it down the road and the lens was ok after it put on slapped center.. This was before the cell fix. Another person bought it and destroyed it and did us all a favor. Don't slap a OTA on a mount without the weights and he did two times.

Edited by CHASLX200, 28 January 2025 - 07:15 PM.

[RichA]

One was enough.  Three 2 sec peeks and back to Meade. Went back 5 times that i know of.  Chuck from Wolf cam got it down the road and the lens was ok after it put on slapped center.. This was before the cell fix. Another person bought it and destroyed it and did us all a favor. Don't slap a OTA on a mount without the weights and he did two times.

That's pretty bad.  I sent a C14 back twice because of a rough corrector, but there was nothing they could do, their master plate mold was worn.

[CHASLX200]

That's pretty bad.  I sent a C14 back twice because of a rough corrector, but there was nothing they could do, their master plate mold was worn.

Must have been old and worn when my Orange C14 was made.

[ccwemyss]

What I've read is that Celestron wore the masters out during the Halley craze. When the Fastar models appeared around 1997, they retooled, trying to restore their reputation. The original master mounting also caused some print through of the supports that was fixed at that point with a new system. 

 

There are documented approaches to fixing the 178ED, but it involves modifying the cell, and very careful alignment of the elements. They used relatively steep curves, which made the design very sensitive to even slightly decentering of one element with respect to the other. 

 

Chip W. 

[YourNotSirius]

IF we were even interested then booking it down to Bangor, ME would be an easy trip for him and a long day trip for us. Fortunately, or not, those things have a bad reputation. One of the members of the club to which the old man belongs had one and after six, maybe more, returns to Meade, they finally got the company to issue a refund because it could never be made to work, period. He seems to remember that there was mention of lawyers being suggested and that helped to get the refund expedited.

 

Just one more reason why that company no longer exists and won't be missed by us. (Sinister smile)

 

Trust me, we do NOT need any more refractors! Although, that 26" Clark... IF it could be scored for about 10% of it's current asking price, we may go for it. LOL

 

Q

[deSitter]

That's pretty bad.  I sent a C14 back twice because of a rough corrector, but there was nothing they could do, their master plate mold was worn.

That must have been the ultimate bummer.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

Good point! If I had the room, I'd think about buying it myself. But man... that thing would be a... ____________ (insert word here)!!!

Pre-180mm Mak I would have been very tempted. But someone should pick that up. The fundamental optical design is great. That looks like one that is old enough to be good. There are water marks for staying outdoors, those will come right off. No big deal.Note that it does not come with the Baader focuser - he will reinstate the stock focuser.

 

-drl

[CHASLX200]

What I've read is that Celestron wore the masters out during the Halley craze. When the Fastar models appeared around 1997, they retooled, trying to restore their reputation. The original master mounting also caused some print through of the supports that was fixed at that point with a new system. 

 

There are documented approaches to fixing the 178ED, but it involves modifying the cell, and very careful alignment of the elements. They used relatively steep curves, which made the design very sensitive to even slightly decentering of one element with respect to the other. 

 

Chip W. 

I always wondered how Celestron would vary so much from OTA to OTA back in the 80's.  One could be mush city kitty and the next a killer like my 1984 black C8.  Meade seemed to be all just ok to fair back in the 80's. Never had a bad Meade but had more sharper Celestron's.

Edited by CHASLX200, 29 January 2025 - 06:52 AM.

[CHASLX200]

IF we were even interested then booking it down to Bangor, ME would be an easy trip for him and a long day trip for us. Fortunately, or not, those things have a bad reputation. One of the members of the club to which the old man belongs had one and after six, maybe more, returns to Meade, they finally got the company to issue a refund because it could never be made to work, period. He seems to remember that there was mention of lawyers being suggested and that helped to get the refund expedited.

 

Just one more reason why that company no longer exists and won't be missed by us. (Sinister smile)

 

Trust me, we do NOT need any more refractors! Although, that 26" Clark... IF it could be scored for about 10% of it's current asking price, we may go for it. LOL

 

Q

Meade had no clue what was going on in 1999 and that was when i went from a Meade lover to a basher. It sure was not the Meade i loved in 1977 dorthy.

Edited by CHASLX200, 29 January 2025 - 06:51 AM.

[Rick-T137]

One was enough.  Three 2 sec peeks and back to Meade. Went back 5 times that i know of.  Chuck from Wolf cam got it down the road and the lens was ok after it put on slapped center.. This was before the cell fix. Another person bought it and destroyed it and did us all a favor. Don't slap a OTA on a mount without the weights and he did two times.

I only posted the ad, because you have stated previously that you'd like another chance at a 178ED. For what it's worth, the seller says the scope is excellent ("one of the good ones").

 

Anyway, carry on!

[RichA]

What I've read is that Celestron wore the masters out during the Halley craze. When the Fastar models appeared around 1997, they retooled, trying to restore their reputation. The original master mounting also caused some print through of the supports that was fixed at that point with a new system. 

 

There are documented approaches to fixing the 178ED, but it involves modifying the cell, and very careful alignment of the elements. They used relatively steep curves, which made the design very sensitive to even slightly decentering of one element with respect to the other. 

 

Chip W. 

That was typical (steep curves) for doublets, even fluorites.  If people were really keen on improving it if there was a problem, getting a new cell made isn't that much of a hassle and you could put side adjustment screws on it as well. 

[starman876]

I think I know the seller of the scope and he is a good guy.  If he states that the scope has excellent optics I would believe him.  Not all the Meade 178ED's were not bad.  Just because we read some reports of some that were not great does not mean they were all bad.  The one I had was excellent and the scope the guy is selling may be the same scope. 

[deSitter]

Meade had no clue what was going on in 1999 and that was when i went from a Meade lover to a basher. It sure was not the Meade i loved in 1977 dorthy.

You keep hammering this tired mantra. Almost all my Meade gear was purchased after 1998 and it is all, without exception, excellent. That include your hated Series 4000 Plossls. I have 2 sets, and there is nothing more that could be wished for Plossls. NOTHING. The smoothies are no better. The RGs are no better. Every last one has a jet black field stop = no lateral color, a flat field, and superb sharpness. That is a total of 18 eyepieces and every last one is excellent. I have Meade DS2000 and LXD75 mounts bought new since 1998 - both work perfectly. I have two ETXes from the early 2000s - both perform perfectly. I know you are afraid of computers but I am not, and there are more of us. So please stop bashing Meade! They're dead, isn't that enough?

 

-drl

[deSitter]

One was enough.  Three 2 sec peeks and back to Meade. Went back 5 times that i know of.  Chuck from Wolf cam got it down the road and the lens was ok after it put on slapped center.. This was before the cell fix. Another person bought it and destroyed it and did us all a favor. Don't slap a OTA on a mount without the weights and he did two times.

So you bought, what did you say, 50 SCTs? Yet 1 178ED was "enough". You have the consistency of a TikToker. A thousand good reports could come in, and one failure is "enough". And absolutely NOBODY would evaluate a scope with a 5 second look. What are you going to tell support? "It didn't pass the 5 second test. I don't really know how to test telescopes, so 5 seconds was enough." Exasperating.

 

-drl

[deSitter]

IF we were even interested then booking it down to Bangor, ME would be an easy trip for him and a long day trip for us. Fortunately, or not, those things have a bad reputation. One of the members of the club to which the old man belongs had one and after six, maybe more, returns to Meade, they finally got the company to issue a refund because it could never be made to work, period. He seems to remember that there was mention of lawyers being suggested and that helped to get the refund expedited.

 

Just one more reason why that company no longer exists and won't be missed by us. (Sinister smile)

 

Trust me, we do NOT need any more refractors! Although, that 26" Clark... IF it could be scored for about 10% of it's current asking price, we may go for it. LOL

 

Q

Something like 4 out of 5 of your posts amount to describing your cranky father and his ramshackle collection that he can't track, or you laughing derisively at something that goes against your personal taste. I cannot remember a single instance of you saying something positive about ANYTHING. You and Chas should take a romantic trip to Svalbard where it is always cloudy and there is nothing astronomical to b**** about because the stars are never out.

 

-drl

Edited by deSitter, 29 January 2025 - 01:07 PM.

[Sean Cunneen]

All right everyone, lets cool it off a bit... Focus on the topic, not the individuals....

[YourNotSirius]

I almost posted something for the Craigslist gang. Ooops! My bad!

 

As for that monster 178ED I do not think that we have a mount that could handle it. I could be mistaken because I have no idea how much it weighs. I've only see pictures of it. My guess is we would have to make one for it. That could be fun, though. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....

 

 

Addendum: That web site has a lot of invasive tracking and scripts. It's setting off our security systems if we try to register plus, it wants us to shut down our VPN. Therefore, I don't think we will be going any further with this one.

 

FWIW

 

Q

Edited by YourNotSirius, 29 January 2025 - 05:43 PM.

[CHASLX200]

I only posted the ad, because you have stated previously that you'd like another chance at a 178ED. For what it's worth, the seller says the scope is excellent ("one of the good ones").

 

Anyway, carry on!

Gotta be local. I never buy anything that has to be shipped and for sure would need a few weeks to test out. If someone has mint OTA gents that can hold center and is near like what  AP can do i gots 5k for the OTA ready to go. 

[CHASLX200]

You keep hammering this tired mantra. Almost all my Meade gear was purchased after 1998 and it is all, without exception, excellent. That include your hated Series 4000 Plossls. I have 2 sets, and there is nothing more that could be wished for Plossls. NOTHING. The smoothies are no better. The RGs are no better. Every last one has a jet black field stop = no lateral color, a flat field, and superb sharpness. That is a total of 18 eyepieces and every last one is excellent. I have Meade DS2000 and LXD75 mounts bought new since 1998 - both work perfectly. I have two ETXes from the early 2000s - both perform perfectly. I know you are afraid of computers but I am not, and there are more of us. So please stop bashing Meade! They're dead, isn't that enough?

 

-drl

All of my Meade stuff has been good also and trust me i have had wayyyyyyyy more Meade stuff that you could have in 10 lifetimes man.  Nothing to hammer i had one bad Meade scope out of 100's where is the tired part in this bra. I don't count the bad 2045's since Meade did not make them. I spent 6k for a lemon that could not be fixed so you darn right i am gonna bam hammer away . What does plossles or other Meade stuff have to do with my hammering of a 7" ED? You don't make since vince.   Only mount i had that was wonkey was that Meade LXD600 that did GO-TO's on it's own.  Mount wise it was a good mount minus the GO-TO bro.  

Edited by CHASLX200, 29 January 2025 - 07:07 PM.

[CHASLX200]

So you bought, what did you say, 50 SCTs? Yet 1 178ED was "enough". You have the consistency of a TikToker. A thousand good reports could come in, and one failure is "enough". And absolutely NOBODY would evaluate a scope with a 5 second look. What are you going to tell support? "It didn't pass the 5 second test. I don't really know how to test telescopes, so 5 seconds was enough." Exasperating.

 

-drl

You are lost bra. I am not the only one that had a bad 7"ED by far, Many and many had been down the road i got rammed down.  No 5 sec look it was a 2 sec look that showed a pinched star that looked like a line. Anyone that knew their salts worth in optics would know it was going back to Meade and it went back and back and back and still that star looked like a line. So you  tell what you would do if you laid out 6k and got what i did and sent it back jack 3 times and no change.  This was when Meade was Meade. Odd how  ya miss all the times i swore by their F/6 mirrors.

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Edited by CHASLX200, 29 January 2025 - 07:54 PM.

[starman876]