Weasner's Meade ETX-60AT & ETX-70AT User Feedback

ETX-60AT & ETX-70AT USER FEEDBACK

Last updated: 28 June 2003

This page is for user comments and information specific to the Meade ETX-60AT and ETX-70AT. Additional information on these models is available on the ETX-60AT & ETX-70AT Announcements page. Comments on accessories and feedback items appropriate to other ETX models are posted on other pages. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.

Subject:	etx70 guildscope
Sent:	Wednesday, June 25, 2003 19:43:51
From:	ARSASTRO@aol.com
I have a etx70 that i would like to use as a guildscope do you know or
could you direct me to a link that shows me how to remove the ota from
the base its a old scope so no warranty to worrie about.

Regards

Andy

Mike here: Since I'm traveling I don't have access to my ETX-70. But if it is like the ETX-90, there are four hexscrews (two on each) on the tube adapters. You can see more on the removal of the ETX-90 OTA near the bottom of this page: http://www.weasner.com/etx/90ec_comments.html.

Subject:	ETX-70AT won't move vertically up under motor power, but moves down fine.
Sent:	Monday, June 23, 2003 18:33:51
From:	nuyens@instant802.com (Greg Nuyens)
I just bought an ETX-70AT (the bundle with the field telescope that you
recently described) for my son's 10th birthday.  We're both neophytes,
so my question may be just ignorance.   The telescope horizontally slews
just fine, but vertically (whether using cursor keys or GOTO) it will
only move down.  Looking through the eyepiece, it is clear that the
motors start to move it up (maybe 3 degrees) then it stops.  I have
adjusted the Declination lock to "hand tight" but am nervous to tighten
it past there.

Reading other posts on your excellent site, I was also wondering if
power could be an issue?  I put new batteries in it, but haven't tried
swapping them out.  Any standard approaches?

Thanks for any help,

Greg

Mike here: Doubtful that battery power is the culprit. If you unlock the altitude axis completely, can you move the telescope tube up and down freely?

Subject:	ETX 70 AT different versions
Sent:	Monday, June 23, 2003 06:42:27
From:	Ljubo.Juvan@adapta.si (Ljubo Juvan)
I'm thinking of buying ETX-70AT (my first telescope). 
I noticed what Gary Clayton asked, so if this helps in any way (found it
on a pricelist).

The other versions are the same scope with additional equipment:

ETX-70AT       Astro Telescope
ETX-70AT-E     Astro Telescope with Electronic Eyepiece
ETX-70AT-SB    Astro Telescope with #882 field tripod and #124 Barlow
Lens
ETX-70AT-SBE   with #882 field tripod, #124 Barlow and Electronic
Eyepiece
ETX-70AT-S     Astro Telescope with #882 field tripod

Thanks for the Mighty ETX Site!

Ljubo

Subject:	ETX 70 AT different versions
Sent:	Saturday, June 21, 2003 02:12:15
From:	gaz_clayton@speed-mail.co.uk (Gary Bryce Clayton)
I am thinking about buying a 2nd hand ETX70 though EBay, it is marked up
as a ETX70AT-SB AUTOSTAR and includes the JMI NGC Minimax computer, are
there different versions of this scope as this one is located in
Singapore and would be shipped to the UK if I buy it.

Many thanks

Gary Clayton

Mike here: The only different official models were the EC (Autostar optional) and AT (Autostar included). It is possible that models sold in foreign markets had different designations. I'm not certain why the Minimax is included since the Autostar performs the same function.

Subject:	Scope comparisons
Sent:	Wednesday, June 18, 2003 18:31:43
From:	"Lynn Laux" (gemmalady@msn.com)
This is not for me but for a colleague of mine who is interested in
possibly getting an ETX.

He saw the ad for the 70-AT on the back of a catalogue that the
Astronomical Society of the Pacific sent out ($249).

If you had to choose a scope that a student could use with virtually no
tutorial (except maybe a little common sense): which would you
recommend: the ETX-90 or the 70-AT (or maybe even a NexStar 80GT).

My colleague is the astronomy teacher for our high school and also runs
the planetarium; however he has no real amateur astronomy experience (he
would be a complete newbie), and really can not identify many stars in
the REAL sky. I am desperately trying to help him out but he seems only
to want the cheapest scope; I keep telling him you get what you pay
for, and that there is nothing more frustrating than a cheap scope. I
have also repeatedly told him to email you regarding the ETX series, as
I know very little about them from personal experience.

Most amateursin my club have the big guns....the one gal who has the
70-AT never uses it because of the knobs and disappointing views. In
fact, she gets more pleasure and use out of her binocs.

Can you advise?

Lynn

Mike here: The bottom line is the short focal length of the ETX-70AT. Yes, it makes a fine beginner's telescope IF high magnification is not desired. GOTOs and wide field views are nice though. See the User Observations page for reports on the ETX-70AT as well as my experiences (linked from the top of the ETX-60, ETX-70 feedback page.

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