Welcome to the ETX (and some DS) Tech Tips page. This page provides basic and advanced technical advice on using and modifying the ETX and DS models. Tips may or may not be applicable to your model telescope, tripod, or accessories. Neither the submitter nor myself are responsible for any damage caused by using any contributed tips.

The Performance Enhancement articles and several other articles are courtesy of Dr. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) and the Arkansas Sky Observatory.

Important Information BEFORE You Work On Your Telescope or Accessory (or in fact, almost Anything)

Disassembly Procedure (03/12/10)

Performance Enhancement Creating The Perfect "GO TO" ETX or LX 90 Important Info for newer ETX models (05/04/08) Part 1 - Mechanical Considerations and Adjustments             German translation (10/04/03) Part 2 - AutoStar Downloads and Post-Download Initialization (10/31/02)             German translation (10/07/03) Part 3 - Training the Drives and Celestial Alignment             German translation (10/07/03) Part 4 - Eliminating Common "Rocking" in ETX Altitude Axis (09/11/02)             German translation (10/07/03) Part 5 - Polar Alignment Position (03/28/01)             German translation (10/07/03)

Click for info

Mounts Another #884 Tripod Mod (01/08/13) ETX Alt/Az Mounting Plate (04/03/12) Simple #884 Tripod Leg Slip Fix (10/24/11) Leveling a #884 Tripod (10/12/11) Mount hole spacing for ETX (08/10/11) #884 Tripod Replacement Bolts (08/12/10) Yet Another #884 Tripod Mod (01/22/10) ETX Tripod Wobble Fix (02/15/09) Another #884 Tripod Mod (01/18/09) #884 Tripod Mod (11/14/08) DS Models Altitude Axis fixes (07/04/08) Low Latitude Wedge (04/27/08) Tripod Vibration Suppression (04/17/08) Wood Wedge (02/14/08) Mount for Binoculars (10/31/07) Wedge for #884 Tripod (07/21/07) Modified #884 Tripod for Polar (04/21/07) ETX-90 on DS2000 Mount (03/31/07) Mounting a Scope on ETX Fork Mount(01/26/07) Pier for DSX (12/23/06) #884 Tripod Fix (11/23/06) Another #884 Tripod Modification (10/28/06) ETX Pier Style Mount (09/21/06) ETX-125 on a LXD75 Mount (07/14/08) Improve the Advanced Field Tripod #887 (02/10/06) #882 Tripod Mod (12/09/05) #884 Tripod Tuneup (08/12/05) Virtually Eliminate DS127 Mount Backlash (07/18/05) Stabilizing DS127 Mount for Larger OTAs (07/18/05) #884 Tripod at Low Latitudes (05/17/05) Increasing Tripod Stability (05/14/05) ETX-90 OTA and DS motors (04/22/05)             German translation (04/26/05) #884 Tripod Declination Adjustment (03/18/05) ETX "Tower" Mount (06/16/04) ETX-90RA on DS Mount (05/04/04) #882 Tripod Mods (04/30/04) Mounting Post (04/14/04) Another ETX Wedge (03/28/04) ETX-70 Wedge (03/25/04) Crutch Tripod (01/11/04) Another Wooden Tripod (12/17/03) Tripod Leg Slip Fix (09/30/03) Table Top tripod fix (08/15/03) Another Tripod Adapter (08/07/03) Yet Another DS-mounted ETX (04/14/03) #884 Tripod Mod (02/09/03) Wooden Tripod (12/19/02) DS Motors on other Telescopes (12/08/02) Putting ETX-90 on DS-60 (11/18/02) Putting ETX-90 on ETX-70 forks (10/29/02) ETX Guidescope Mount (10/11/02) ETX-70AT wedge (10/11/02) Another Homemade Tripod (08/31/02) Yet Another Homemade Wedge (07/23/02) ETX Station (06/30/02) #883 Tripod Mod for Polar Mounting (03/15/02) ETX-90RA on DS-70EC mount (02/16/02) ETX-60AT Tripod (01/31/02) Yet Another Homemade Wedge (01/12/02) Fix for Broken #882 Tripod Leg Clamps (12/28/01) Strengthening the #883 Tripod (12/22/01) Wedge and Pier for ETX-70AT (11/04/01) Tripod Mounting Plate (07/26/01) Another ETX-125EC Mount (06/23/01) Another ETX-125EC Pier (06/25/01) Tripod Leg Lights (04/09/01) Tripod Straps (03/03/01) ETX 125 Adapter for Manfrotto Tripod (02/24/01) ETX-125EC Pier (02/07/01) ETX with DS mount (02/04/02) #883 Tripod Modifications (01/13/01) Yet Another Homemade Pedestal (12/23/00) Mounting Adapter Plate (11/05/00) Deluxe Field Tripod leg fix (09/09/00) Yet Another Deluxe Field Tripod mod (08/16/00) Another Homemade Tripod (07/22/00) Another Homemade Wedge (07/15/00) Another ETX Pier (03/20/00) Another Homemade Tripod (03/12/00) Another Homemade Pedestal (03/09/00) Another Homemade Tripod (02/26/00) Equatorial Mounting on a Manfrotto Head (02/01/00) Mount Idea (10/24/99) Another Meade Tripod Modification (12/28/99) Using DS mount with ETX-90RA (02/16/04) ETX Pier (09/10/99) Meade Tripod mod (09/10/99) Homemade Wedge (02/16/99) Homemade Tripod Head (01/13/99) Homemade Pedestal (01/13/99) Add-Ons ETX-70 Finderscope (08/27/13) Reverse Polarity Protection (05/24/12) Finder/guider for ETX-80(02/20/12) Meade ETX 125 PE Electric Focuser (01/15/12) Adding a NcStar RedDot scope (10/10/10) Inexpensive Dew Shield (09/08/10) Homemade Eyepiece Tray (05/31/10) Turn #492 Handcontroller into Electric Focuser (03/12/10) Adding 2nd Finderscope to ETX (01/28/10) Laser Pointer Add-on (08/25/09) AutoStar holder (03/18/09) DIY ETX-80 Electric Focuser (02/18/09) $2 Dewshield & Focus Knob Extender (07/31/08) DIY 909 (05/25/08) ETX Adaptive Optics concept (05/21/08) Sighting Aid on ETX-80 (03/25/08) 6x30 finder on ETX-90 (03/09/08) Articulated OTA Brace (02/02/08) Electric Focus for ETX-70/80 (12/17/07) Counterweight Tip (11/27/07) JMI MotoFocus mod (09/26/07) ETX-90RA On/Off Switch add-on (09/23/07) Another Homemade Dew Heater (09/19/07) Multiple Finderscopes on ETX (09/07/07) FlexiFocus for ETX-80 (08/22/07) Zero Power Finderscope (07/26/07) Dewshield, laser, AutoStar, Finderscope (02/09/07) Laser Pointer Holder (01/31/07) Cheap Solar Finder (10/16/05) Attaching a Green Laser Pointer (07/22/05) PICfocus Electronic Focuser (05/17/05) Yet Another Flexible Focuser for ETX (05/10/05) Another Flexible Focuser for ETX (04/07/05) Home-made hi-economy finder for ETX (03/24/05) ETX-70 Electronic Focuser (02/15/05) Aperture Cover Handle (10/22/04) Orion 6X30 Right Angle Finderscope (09/30/04) Starmap Dew Shield (09/23/04) Dew Shield (08/24/04) Dew Heater (08/24/04) Eyepiece port cover (08/16/04) Eyepieces Holder (06/08/04) 35mm Film Can Sun Finder (06/08/04) Another Solar Filter (05/27/04) Simple Focuser Add-on (05/12/04) ETX-105 Tune-ups (03/19/04) Inexpensive Illuminated Finderscope (03/11/04) Flexible Focuser Parts List (03/11/04) Sun Finder (12/07/03) Removable mount for Red Dot Finder (10/31/03) Homemade Light Pollution Filter (09/30/03) Another Homemade Dewshield (08/07/03) Daisy Red Dot Sight Mount (04/17/03) ETX-60AT accessories (12/15/02) Solar Filter (09/08/02) Simple Handcontroller Holder (09/04/02) Handcontroller Holder (08/11/02) Electric Focuser for ETX-70AT (05/10/02) Laser Pointer, Mount and Level For Under $16 (04/14/02) SCT field widener setup (03/15/02) Remote Control Telescope (03/06/02) Installing a Crosman Red-Dot scope (01/17/02) Circuit Polarity Protection (02/04/02) ETX90 Solar Scope (01/12/02) Sun Pointer (08/31/01) Solar Sighting Aid (07/12/01) Finderscope Mounting Bracket (06/17/01) Dew Heater Modification (06/11/01) Another Focus Motor (04/19/01) Mounting a Red Dot style finderscope (02/28/01) Meade ETX Finderscope (01/31/01) Adding AUX jack to 4504 or DS114 (01/13/01) Viewfinder dewshield/solar cover (09/17/00) Another Homemade Dew Cap (06/08/02) Homemade Dew Cap (07/31/00) Focus Motor (01/23/00) Focus Aid, Autostar Aligning Aid (03/23/00) Video Camera mounting, electric focuser (01/25/00) ETX "Magic Cube" (12/04/99) Some Add-ons (09/21/99) Accessories Shelf (05/05/99) Power Supplies Low Cost Power Supply (04/13/08) ETX-80 External Power (03/09/08) Some LX90 & ETX Power Requirements (12/23/07) External Power Cord for ETX-70 (12/20/07) Another ETX-70AT power supply (12/20/04) ETX AC Adapter Plug Info (05/23/04) Homemade Power Supply (04/18/04) Battery Performance at Low Temps (02/04/04) ETX-70 Battery Holder (12/14/03) Info on Batteries & Power Supplies (03/18/03) Homemade Power Supply (02/04/03) Power Supplies (11/17/08) ETX-70AT power supply (09/08/02) Another ETX-70AT power supply (06/21/02) ETX-60AT, ETX-70AT Power Supply (08/31/01) DS114-EC Power Supply (01/21/01) Alternative Power Supply (03/15/00) Power Supply, Serial Cable - (U.K.) (01/14/00) Drive Alternative Power Source (01/14/00) Cases Premier Edition Case Tip (04/21/07) ETX-125 Case with Outline (04/11/05) ETX-105 Outline for Hard Cases (01/19/08) Homemade ETX-105 Case (06/12/04) Another Homemade Case (06/12/04) Wood Case (04/04/04) Another Case Modification (12/31/03) Homemade Hard Case (03/25/03) ETX-90, ETX-125 Outline for Hard Cases (06/11/01) (ETX-)LS ETX-LS Notes (12/31/09) ETX-LS Alignment Tip (09/07/09)

2011-2012 ETX Models Mounting #1244 Electric Focuser on ETX-90 (05/24/12) Premier Edition / LNT Broken ETX LNT Lens Fix (12/08/12) Analysis of ETX-125PE (04/18/10) Replacing SmartFinder with Laser Pointer (02/28/10) LNT Module Stabilizing Bracket (11/04/09) LNT Module Bracket (09/19/09) SmartFinder - LNT Module Reassembly (03/09/09) LNT Module Battery Replacement (11/24/08) LNT Module Battery Replacement caution (11/11/08) LNT/Smartfinder mount mod (09/05/08) Meade #1247 Focuser Mod for ETX-125PE (08/31/08) AutoStar not seeing LNT - check wires (08/22/07) Adding a LNT Module (09/15/07) ETX-125PE Mechanical Assembly Notes (02/23/07) Adding a LNT to a non-LNT Telescope (01/22/07) LNT Not "Seen" Fix (01/12/07) LNT Summary Information (01/18/07) Setup Troubleshooting & Advice (07/05/06) Removing the OTA, LNT (05/15/06) Using the SmartFinder (01/26/06) New SmartFinder Info (07/25/05) LNT Info (05/20/05) Replacing the SmartFinder/LNT Module (05/03/05) LNT SmartFinder Tips (04/21/06) Star Testing and Collimation Do this BEFORE you Collimate (04/20/20) Collimation Warning (11/20/07) Some Example Collimation Images (01/23/06) Star Test in Daylight (09/15/03) Another Collimation Tip (07/03/03) Collimating an ETX Mak (05/16/02) Collimation Test (11/16/98) Modifications Meade 1244 Electric Focuser Mod for ETX-125 (08/31/13) ETX-90RA Power Modifications (01/04/13) ETX-105 Accessory & Mount Mods & Add-ons (03/26/12) ETX-80 RA Bearing Modification (02/16/12) Wiring Protection (01/08/12) ETX-90 Focuser #1244 (12/31/11) Altitude Clamp Mod (06/30/11) ETX-125 Image Shift Mod (04/16/11) ETX-125 Dec Lock Modification (03/12/11) ETX-70 Focuser Modification (12/15/09) ETX-AT DEC Noise Fix (12/03/09) ETX-AT Altitude Play Fix (11/19/09) ETX Finderscope Modification (06/23/09) ETX Drive Modification (06/16/09) Meade #1244 Focuser Mod for ETX-125 (03/09/09) RA Drive Tuning Video (02/06/09) More Finderscope Modifications (07/24/08) Friction Reduction (07/17/08) DEC Scale modification (08/17/07) HBX Plug Repair & Improvement (04/21/07) Some DS telescope mods (01/31/07) Meade eyepiece mod for eyeglass wearers (12/08/06) ETX-125 Heavy Wiring mod (11/27/06) ETX-125 Focus Knob mod (11/27/06) Another ETX Azimuth Lock Lever mod (10/09/06) Extending the Fork Arms (12/31/04) Potential Random Slew Fix (03/08/04)             German translation (03/08/04) Drive Noise Fix (12/17/03) Altitude (DEC) play fix (11/23/03) #1244 Electric Focuser Mod/Info for ETX-105 (10/07/04) DS-70EC focus modification (03/12/03) Finderscope modification (03/12/03) ETX-60AT Tuneup (03/12/03) Another Focus Knob Modification (02/19/03) ETX-90 Light Baffle mod (01/29/03) Some ETX-70AT Modifications (01/19/03) ETX-90RA Power Switch mod (12/29/02) Removing the "permanent" Finderscope (06/17/02) DS-114 Fork Mount Mods (10/03/01) Replacement for Azimuth Lock Lever (05/31/01) Altitude Play Fix (04/19/01) Azimuth Needle Roller Thrust Bearing (04/19/01) Azimuth Lock Lever Modification (03/06/01) Too Tight DEC Axis (02/28/01) ETX-90EC Wiring Protection (01/21/01) Meade Electric Focuser Mod (01/16/01) Homemade Focus Cable (09/15/03) ETX-125EC Right Ascension lock fix (12/23/00)             German translation (10/11/03) Slipping Declination Circle fix (12/23/00) ETX-125EC Baffle Modification (02/03/09) Power Source Modification (09/06/00) ETX-90RA Secondary Baffle Fix (08/10/00) ETX-125EC Right Ascension Drive Fix (06/26/00)             German translation (10/11/03) ETX-90RA Right Ascension Play Fix (05/03/00) DS Scopes Drive Modification (02/26/00) Inexpensive Finderscope Right Angle Adapter (02/16/00) Another ETX-90RA Drive Mod (03/12/03)             German translation (11/20/03) Focus Knob mod (09/10/99) DEC lock mod (09/10/99) Alternative Finder Mounting (07/27/99) ETX-90EC DEC fix (Right Tube Adapter repair) (08/27/13) Drive ON LED mod (07/03/99) More ETX drive/base mods (05/31/99) ETX/EC Tune-up (04/25/99) ETX Base Modification (03/31/99) Simple Drive Mods for $10.50 (11/19/98) ETX Hints, Tips, Projects, & Products (10/16/98) Miscellaneous Finderscope Mount repair (PDF) (12/29/22) Right Tube Adapter repair (PDF) (12/29/22) DEC Gear Plastic Stud Replacement (01/06/22) ETX-125 Dec Worm Drive Mount Repair (04/18/20) Easy to find North indicator (04/17/13) Encoder Fix (12/27/12) Meade ETX-90RA Fixes (08/23/12) ETX-90EC RA Gearbox Repair Tutorial (08/27/11) Possible Simple Fix for RA Sticking (08/17/11) Accessory Storage (04/30/11) ETX-90 Gearbox Repair (03/23/11) ETX-125 Circuit Board revs (02/25/11) ETX-90 Declination Axis Repair (10/06/10) ETX-80 Axis Repair (09/04/10) Another ETX-125 Gearbox Repair (08/31/10) DIY Observing Chair (06/30/10) EC Handcontroller Repair (06/16/10) Another ETX-60 Repair Guide (06/04/10) Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece Cleaning (05/04/10) Power Usage (04/12/10) Misc Screw Size Info (02/08/10) ETX-70 Battery Wiring (12/09/09) Another Homemade Observing Chair (11/04/09) RA Gearbox Repair (10/31/09) ETX-70 Base Disassembly (Spanish) (09/30/09) ETX-70 Disassembly Instructions (07/12/09) Another Image Shift Solution (06/19/09) Tighting the ETX Rear Port (04/20/09) Replacing Finderscope Crosshairs (01/16/10) Altitude Measurement using an iPhone (04/14/09) ETX AZ Hard Stops (04/14/09) S&T DIY Projects (04/14/09) Multi-Purpose Observing Chair (04/04/09) ETX Wiring Concern/Diagnosis (03/12/09) ETX-125 gearbox repair (09/23/08) ETX-125 cover threads, clutches (06/20/08) ETX-60 Repair (06/08/08) mySKY Tripod (05/14/08) Replacement Gears source (04/18/10) Dew Shield, Case (04/27/08) ETX Rear Port fix (04/20/08) ETX-70 Disassembly (11/27/07) Setting DEC axis scale (11/20/07) Homemade Crosshair Eyepiece (10/20/07) DS-2130 Altitude Axis Fix (09/30/07) AUX Port Information (06/26/07) ETX-105EC/AT Internals (06/22/07) Leveling (06/17/07) Hard Stop Repair (06/12/07) Dismantling the ETX-70 (05/31/07) Lubrication (03/27/07) Fixing a Motor Unit Failure (12/19/06) Avoiding a Potential ETX wiring problem (08/04/06) ETX leveling and gearbox problems (07/09/06) Fixing Tracking "Jitters" (06/04/06) ETX-70 Focus Knob Fix (01/20/06) Repair ETX-60 Azimuth Problem (09/19/05) ETX Focus Shift (04/26/05) Repairing ETX-60 Azimuth Drive (12/31/04) ETX-90RA Drive Fix (12/06/04) Repairing Fork Mount Adapter (10/28/04) Info on Cut Wires in Base (10/26/04) Repairing Battery Cutoff Switch (08/20/04) Gearbox Replacement (07/25/04) Repairing Broken Battery Wires (05/14/08) A DEC problem fix (01/04/13) Cleaning the Encoders (05/12/04) ETX DEC knob fix (04/25/04) Meade Electronic Focuser Repair Info (04/11/04) Making a Crosshair Eyepiece (04/11/04) ETX Hex Key Sizes (03/31/04) Easy Solar Alignment (02/20/04) Motor Fault fix (01/25/04) ETX DEC Lock Not Tightening Fix (12/31/03) Eyepiece Extension (11/14/03) "Repair" - Do Not Do This (11/10/03) DS Drive Errors (11/07/03)             German translation (11/20/03) Some ETX-90RA RA and DEC fixes (10/31/03) Flip Mirror Repair (09/15/03) ETX-70AT Repair Guide (05/20/12) 0.965 Eyepiece to 1.25" (08/07/03) Gear Grease Information (08/04/03) ETX-90 OTA Dimensions (05/28/03) Homemade caps/covers (05/25/03) Another Image Shift Fix (04/25/03)             German translation (11/20/03) Telescope Alignment Tool (02/13/03) ETX-105 DEC drive "jitters" (11/15/02) ETX-105 RA looseness (11/06/02) ETX-105EC DEC Wiring (09/04/02) ETX Tube Touch-up Paint (07/08/02) More Inside the ETX-105 (06/30/02) ETX-90EC electrical current info (06/26/02) Inside the ETX-90EC (or how to almost ruin a scope) (05/16/02) Inside the ETX-105 (or how to ruin another scope) (05/10/02) Meade Electronic Focuser pinouts (03/29/02) Flip Mirror repair (03/15/02) Fix for Worm Gear (03/03/02) Reducing OTA Play (02/28/02) Repairing a Binding RA Axis (02/25/02) Inside the ETX-125 (or how to ruin a scope) (02/12/02)             German translation (11/20/03) Replacing an ETX Hard Stop (02/16/02) Homemade Spanner Wrench (02/04/02) Saga of an ETX-125EC (12/31/01) Rechargeable Batteries (09/13/08) Inside the ETX-70AT (09/22/01) #541 AC Adapter fix (08/10/01) ETX-90 Image Shift fix (06/25/01) ETX-90RA "sticky" R.A. movement fix (06/25/01) Re-attaching the Baffle (05/10/02) Uncoupled Electric Focuser (05/19/01) Importance of Balance (05/10/01) Eyepiece Designs (04/28/01) Light Leak Fix (04/03/01) Focus Knob Tip (03/28/01) Deck Observatory (03/22/01) ETX-125EC Backlash Tuneup (01/16/01) DS Disassembly (01/13/01) Drive Inoperative tip (01/04/01) Adjusting the DEC Setting Circle (07/15/00) Focus Shaft Fix (04/22/04) Serial Computer Connections (02/04/00) Report on Televue Eyepieces (07/31/99) ETX Electronics (07/29/99) Polar Alignment Guide (03/27/99) Meade, TeleVue Eyepiece Specs (12/31/98) Motor Drive shorting out (11/13/98) Teflon Pad check (11/08/98) Eyepiece Holder Cover (11/08/98) Doc G's ETX OTA Guidescope & Disassembly Photos Guest Contributions Archive 1998 Guest Contributions Archive 1997

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