Weasner's Meade DS, DSX, Older Models User Feedback

DS, DSX, OLDER MODELS FEEDBACK
Last updated: 27 December 2010

This page is for user comments and information specific to the Meade DS, DSX, and some older telescope models. Accessories and Feedback items appropriate to the ETX models are posted on other pages as appropriate. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me for posting. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message per the Site Email Etiquette. Thanks. Remember, tips described on this site may invalidate the warranty on your telescope or accessories. Neither the submitter nor myself are responsible for any damage caused by using any contributed tips.

Subject:	DSX-125AT Mounting Arm
Sent:	Friday, December 24, 2010 18:36:42
From:	Arif Shaikh (arifmshaikh@yahoo.com)
I have just bought a second hand DSX-125AT and found that there was some
noice inside its arm. When I opened it, there was a spare screw inside
which look like it was original screw fitted inside. I also checked the
other two screws and all were loose.  The screws are very small and
might be sleeping when it rotate. Can someone send me the inside picture
of this telescope's arm to find out how it should fit. Do I require
washers to fit them firmly?

Thanks

And more:

Please see the attached photo without screws. After removing screws the
lock tightens properly but the OTA slips a bit.  You can see in the
photo that there is only one hole passing through the plastic gear. I
need to know what parts are missing and what the best way to fix it. If
someone can give me the inside photo of this mount arm, which may give
me an idea for fix.

Thanks again.

And:

After opening the Dec lock, i found the attached part is broken. I don't
know what it is called. Please let me know what this part is and then I
will request Meade to see if they have it.

Thanks

Mike here: Meade likely won't sell you the individual part but it won't hurt to ask. As to what it is, since it came from the DEC axis, it is the DEC gear. You may be able to get a replacement gear from another source; see the article "Replacement Gears source" on the Helpful Information: Telescope Tech Tips page.

Subject:	Re: Autostar/ Starfinder question
Sent:	Thursday, December 16, 2010 22:37:48
From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
Here's the more-or-less DS motor card schematic...

good luck
--dick

Click image for full-size version

Subject:	Autostar/ Starfinder question
Sent:	Tuesday, December 14, 2010 10:34:17
From:	mamonett@comcast.net (mamonett@comcast.net)
I own a few telescopes including a Meade etx 125at, a Meade etx 60at,
and a Meade 114EQ-DH4.

A short time ago, for no reason, the 114EQ-DH4 Starfinder handbox went
"dead". Shortly after initializing the display goes dark and "IN
DOWNLOAD" shows in the display.

I tried the "dead" 114EQ-DH4 Starfinder handbox on my etx60at and it
works, accept of course the programming is for the 114EQ-DH4. Then I
tried the etx60at Autostar handbox on the 114EQ-DH4 and it to shows "IN
DOWNLOAD".

I thought this "IN DOWNLOAD" message was being generated in the handbox,
but it looks like it is coming from somewhere else.

Thanks

Mike here: Perhaps Dick Seymour has an idea about this.

From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
I can't answer for sure (and i'm roping in Andrew Johansen to tweak his
curiosity)
But:

The 494 Autostar has some wiring quirks which lead me to believe that
short circuits on a couple of the signal lines in the 8-pin connector
*may* invoke some hidden factory test/whatever routines.   I've never
tried playing with the wires to see what happens.
(Nitty-gritty details: the 494 ties all three data lines together and
brings them to PD2 on the CPU.. *and* to the  XIRQ pin.  The CLK1 (pin 2
on the 8-pin socket) goes to PA7 on the CPU *and* through a 47K resistor
to both MODA and MODB.

What happens if you connect your 497 Autostar to the 114EQ's socket?
(you may see motor runaway, doing a Calibrate Motors should stop that)

So my *guess* is that something's damaged in one of the 114EQ's motor
units, and that's grabbing (offbeat) control of the 494.  (A
"Starfinder" is a 494 at heart).
Look for one of the six signal lines being held to ground (dirt in the
socket?).

good luck
--dick

And:

On 12/14/2010 11:38 AM, mamonett@comcast.net wrote:
> WOW! Wou guys are quick.
>
> I havent tried the 497 with the 114EQ-DH4 because I knew the Starfinder and Autostar boxes
> were very similar. I'll look for shorts in the motor boxes and report back.
>
> Is there any circuitry in the 114EQ-DH4 motor boxes that could be generating the IN
> DOWNLOAD message?

All of the "brains" are in the Autostar/Starfinder.
As i wrote, there could be a fault in the motor boxes causing the
Autostar/Starfinder to generate the message.

(i'll try to locate a schematic of the EQ/DS motor units... it's from
Meade's patent)
((it's probably posted on Mike's site somewhere, but i didn't see it in
a quick look))

have fun
--dick

And:

I disassembled the motors on the 114EQ-DH4 and I didn't find any broken
or shorted connections but I did notice something new.
The handbox doesn't actually go to the initialization screen, it goes
directly from the copyright screen to the "IN DOWNLOD" message with a
darkened screen. Also, and I'm suprised I didn't notice this before, the
power indicater LED never lights.
If someone does have a schematic of the motor boxes it would be
helpfull.
 
Thanks again,
 
Mike Amonett

Mike here: Have you checked for a key stuck down?

And:

Both handboxes work OK on my etx 60 though. So I'm thinking if a key was
stuck it would show up on the other scope as well.
 
Mike Amonett

Mike here: Yeah, one would think that.

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