Last updated: 31 July 2004
|
|
Last updated: 31 July 2004 |
|
Subject: Stupid Question on LXD55 Mount Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 19:55:02 From: Mike Smith (msmith0612@yahoo.com) In reading your website, I noticed that you did graduate work at UW Madison in meteorology. That reminded me that I took the Meteorology 101 course as the "easy" course in the fall of 1972 to balance my freshman course load in Chemical Engineering. I got A's in everything but Meteorology. Was that you teaching that course??????? You're probably not old enough. You would think that a guy with a degree from a Big 10 school could figure this out, but..... What's with the head on the LXD-55 mount? I just bought one of the refurbished ones on Ebay. Looks good, I guess, except the small glue-on scale on the RA axis is off the scope - adhesive didn't hold. That's easy. I'm sure I can do the hyper-tune thing by myself - gears, lube, etc. isn't hard, I don't think. Is the head strictly designed for the LXD series scopes? I bought this mount because I wanted a mount that I could put a variety of scopes on (and which I still have to acquire - like the Orion ED80, maybe an ETX125 OTA, etc.) I have an LX200 and tire of the setup / weight / etc. and it's time for a change that just lets me VIEW once in a while. I see some dovetails advertised - ScopeStuff, a couple of archived drawings. Do these simply fit in the existing slot on the mount? Or do they replace it? Again, this seems like such a newbie question - and I'm really not. But I haven't done mount mods before. Sorry for the length of the email. Go Badgers! Thanks - Mike SmithMike here: Nope, wasn't me. The GEM mount is pretty much the same as the Vixen (and others). See the "Vixen Mount Polar Alignment Instructions" on the LXD55 Site home page to prove it. Some adapters may replace the existing bracket and some might slide in.
And:
Actually, I was asking even a more basic question. What is the terminology? Is that the "adapter" on the top plate - the adapter for the LXD series scopes? I'm hesitant (somewhat) to take the top of the mount off. Are there other "adapters" that will screw in place that will fit a variety of scopes? I see "Televue" and "Takahashi" type "adapters" for tube rings, etc. I think I'm looking for a dovetail-type head for the mount that will match other dovetail-type components that I can put on other scopes. I spent an hour on the net the other night, and as stupid as it sounds, I ended up confused. I see dovetail adapters for the Vixen series; do those fit into the existing LXD55 head or replace it? Actually, why don't I just ask the direct question. I want to use this mount as a visual-only mount - one that I can pop on a refractor, pop on a Mak, etc. So I'll have dovetail-or-something already on the OTA's, and need a corresponding head/adapter on the mount. What is the best solution without spending a ton of money on something like a Losmandy - which is meant for much heavier loads? Any opinions? What do you use? Thanks - MikeMike here: As to the mount, I haven't researched that myself but I know that many people on the LXD55telescopes group on the Yahoo Groups have talked some about other mounting modes. I just use the standard Meade LXD55 with their 8"SC on it.
Subject: 2"camera adapter
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 04:21:45
From: Jorda126@aol.com (Jorda126@aol.com)
i want to purchase a 2"camera adapter for my lxd55 6"newtonion.will i
need any extensions or will the camera come to focus with just the
adapter?
thanks,
john j.
Mike here: If you mean to use a camera for prime focus or eyepiece projection photography (instead of afocal photography) that will depend upon many factors. If you know which adapter you plan to use and can determine (or guess) at its length, you can hold the camera at that distance from the telescope and see if it reaches a focus.
Subject: RE: LXD55 RA Drift Problems Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 19:28:04 From: Michael A. Howell (mhowell@gvtc.com) I did 3 star alignments prior to PEC and at least three iterations of polar alignment, back and forth between Archturus and Polaris. GOTO function worked like a champ, but still need better tracking (better alignment). Tracking, once settled in, seems to be within specs but it is the application of hitting the "lefthand" arrow that throws the star in motion until stopped by the pushing of the "righthand" arrow. Michael A. HowellMike here: Go ahead and do a RESET. Then do the CALIBRATE and TRAIN DRIVES again (don't forget to do both axes when training). If that doesn't solve it, try downloading 3.2Ee which could fix any possibly corrupted code in the Autostar.
Subject: LXD55 RA Drift Problems Sent: Wednesday, July 28, 2004 13:24:32 From: Michael A. Howell (mhowell@gvtc.com) Can you tell me if this is normal, OR, how to correct the following problem? WHAT I HAVE: I have a "new to me refurb" and have loaded latest firmware 32e__, hypertuned, regreased, and installed Teflon bearings in the mount. I calibrated and trained motors prior to last night's setup. PROBLEM: After polar alignment (3 times iterative), while attempting to train the PEC, every time that I pushed the "left" RA arrow for a correction the guide star just kept on going across the FOV at the correction rate but would not stop unless I pressed the "righthand" arrow. I ended up training the RA PEC in one direction only (right arrow) as well as making many corrections in DEC for my poor alignment. Once tracking (with a less than good polar alignment) I did manage to get at least 1 min images with little drift: www.gvtc.com/~mhowell/LXD55%20Test%20Images.htm The drift seen in these images is not the problem I am talking about. The amount of RA movement when pressing the "left arrow" briefly, is as if someone were holding the button down continually. I am new to GEM mounts, having spent 7 years with my LX200 so in learning the LXD55 I am not sure to do to correct this. Is this something that a complete "reset" would fix? My refurb has obviously had another owner in its past as the scratches, electrical tape inside of the polar scope, and something other than black grease inside. Michael HowellMike here: Those are pretty good images! I haven't yet tried PEC (haven't even updated to 3.2Ee yet). Forgetting PEC for a moment, how is tracking and GOTO with 2-star and 3-star alignments?
And:
Tracking is not what I get with the LX200 (2min qt-2500mm or 5min at 400 routinely) but I am hoping to do much better with my little 80ED on top of the LXD55. Three minute images looked really bad on the alignment of the night, but plan on improving that quality. Alignment seems to be better than on my LX200 "classic," especially with the 3-star alignment and the "synch" function. But what do you know about my wandering star and the "left-hand" arrow key? I did rest the AutoStar but haven't had the chance to try it at night. MichaelMike here: Again, forget PEC first and try 2-star and 3-star alignments. Let me know.
Subject: Silicon glue warning-LXD55 clipectomy Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2004 18:23:50 From: res05aih (res05aih@gte.net) Just a note about using silicone adhesives near expensive optical surfaces. Most silicone glues release acetic acid vapors as they cure. This could damage the aluminum coatings used on telescope mirrors. A much safer silicon glue is made by Dow Corning for use around electrical components, it is their product number 3145. This silicon is grey in color and does not contain corrosives that could damage your optics. I've used this product for many projects and while it costs a little more than other types, think about how much that scope cost you! It also doesn't have that "run you out of the house" vinegar odor. Hope this helps, Tim M.
Subject: re: Grenade view of LXD55 mount Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 21:43:09 From: Richard Seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com) If you dig through the pages and pictures at the various LXD55 "fan" sites, you'll find some of what you seek. Among them are: (not in order of usefulness, just in the order they're in my notes) http://www.backyardastro.com/ http://www.bedair.org/OtherScopes/LXD.html http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LXD55telescopes/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheOtherLXD55telescopes/ http://www.lxd55.com (well, duh, as they say...) http://www.lefevre.darkhorizons.org/lxd55/clipectomy.htm ..and googling on "lxd55" yields 56,000 hits.... (i don't think i'll list them...) have fun --dick
Subject: Dew Heater on an LXD55 SC-8
Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 13:01:21
From: lmclouth@a1isp.net (lmclouth@a1isp.net)
I have an LXD55 SC-8 and I'm thinking about getting a dew heater for it.
I already have an Astrozap flexible dew shield (with the notch) and it
works quite well. I have a couple of questions about a dew heater and
the LXD55 SC-8:
* Do you place the dew heater between the OTA and the bottom bar
or do you put it over this bar?
If you put it over the bar, the dew heater would need to be
longer.
* Do you place the dew heater below the Astrozap dew shield or
is it safe to put the dew shield on top of the dew heater?
I'm thinking the latter might be okay since Astrozap now has
a dew shield that has a dew heater built in.
Thanks for your excellent site.
Lamar
Mike here: The dew heater is to heat the air near the objective so you would have to add it to the far end of any dew shield for best results. You could run it over the bar but as you noted it would have to allow for that.
Subject: LXD75 Manual now on line Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 09:55:38 From: Dave Wallace (d_wallace@ecrm.com) For all those who have been waiting, Meade has put up the LXD-75 manual on their site: http://www.meade.com/manuals/TelescopeManuals/LXDseries/LXD-75.pdf
Subject: Grenade view of LXD55 mount Sent: Tuesday, July 20, 2004 13:05:43 From: Michael A. Howell (mhowell@gvtc.com) Do you know where I can get a grenade view (parts diagram and listing) of the LXD55 mount without paying $30 for a video or $90 for a hypertune kit? Thanks, Michael HowellMike here: Nope. Sorry.
Subject: lxd55 allignment error Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 14:55:20 From: Francisco Jesus Cortes Hidalgo (fcortesh@yahoo.com) I have bought recently a lxd55 8''SC and I got some problems with the autostar allignment. I think I got the telescope well centered to polar and making the two star alligment process, the first one Arcturus go past then I use cursor keys to center; the second one Vega, and oh my god it goes near Altair... then I use cursor keys again to center to Vega and now I make a GOTO to other star, and the error is too big. Then I try the one star allignmet, autostar choose polaris and after a while it says to me "unsusecsfull alignment, can't reach" (well, something in spanish that should be like this message). When I turn on the autostar the initial message is "2003 Autostar [31s]". I use other battery which makes 12v DC and between 5 and 7 Ampheries which I think is more powerfull than the common batteries. Please what can I do? thank you for your helpMike here: Have you selected the telescope and mounting in the Autostar? Have you set the proper location and date/time settings? Have you done a CALIBRATE and TRAIN DRIVES? If you can handle the English version (and have a #505 cable and Windows) you might want to consider updating to the current version from Meade's web site.
And:
First, congratulations for your web page, it is very very usefull. Yes, I had selected the right telescope. I can't select other mount than "Polar". The location, date and time and saving time are right. I'll try to update my version, I have to build or buy some cable. Do you know if my "31s" is a very old version? I can't find a date for that version launch on autostar. And is it old enough to have the big error I describe you? My steps are: (after setting the correct time/date/location/saving time etc.) 1 - balace. 2 - check motors. 3 - reset (which makes another motors check and it asks me time/date/location etc again). 4 - train drive. 5 - axis adjustment pointing to a low mountain, for declination and altitude. (altitude only is necesary the first time I do, after is ever right) 6 - I level the tripod and make the home position, which makes me not to use the mount polar eye finder because if I do I loose the most correct declination position so, I only use the viewfinder and telescope to point to polar. 7 - Easy Allignment failure. Thank you Mike. Regards.Mike here: 3.1 should be OK for the LXD55. But upgrading won't hurt, and even give you new capabilities. I didn't see a CALIBRATE step mentioned but if I follow the other steps correctly, you should be OK. But actually you may be going a little overboard. I set up in the GEM Home position (nothing exotic for me; just set for latitude, point at roughly north), then I do the One Star Alignment, which uses Polaris to start with. That allows me to correct the north and latitude positions; GOTOs are usually good after that. I don't do all the other adjustments.
And more:
Yes, I make calibrate step before and after the resets. Well, after cloudy nights I've tried again: * I can't do one star allignment. When I do I can't choose other star than polaris, and it gives me ever the same error, something like "allignment error: not found". * I can do two star allignmet but how!: First home position and I choose Arcturus, the telescope slew and ops, it goes past about 10 declination degrees or more and some in R.A. too. After I choose the second star Deneb or Vega it goes past about till declination for altair and not enough altitude for R.A. Never Successful if I correct with the arrows the correct position for each star. Successful if I correct with the arrows only for one star and with the other I free the knobs for the 2 axis and move the telescope manually (not the mount nor the tripod ;-) * Allign easy successful ever I do and although I correct with the arrows the correct position. So, I've tried three times easy allign successfully but the big declination error persist. I've re-trained drives again, and the same. I've tried to re-train again and that time (only that time) making it badly and that is doing that never reach the exact center of my current terrestrial object which is at least 3Km(2 milles more or less). The error is the same when alligning. And now go past the exact center of that terrestrial object. And the error again the same when alligning. The version in autostar shown in the display is 31s and in the back of the keypad appears printed 26Ec. I think that could be: *The version. *I've never made a right train drives (I've made 15 at least, some of them should have been the good.) *the board that control the motors is wrong. The date, hour, saving time, location (Madrid/Spain), the model of the telescope LXD55 8''SC...... the mount is "polar"... all is well filled and indicated. What is your opinion? Thank you very much.Mike here: When using One Star, it aligns on Polaris to start with (follow the prompts on the Autostar display). Beyond that, from your descriptions it has got me stumped. If you are OK with the English version, maybe you want to upgrade to 3.2Ee.
Subject: Interesting Info... Sent: Wednesday, July 7, 2004 11:35:03 From: WarpedCorp (warpcorp@swbell.net) Just got off the phone with Meade - long technical conversation. Some interesting info regarding the new version of AutoStar software and the LXD75 mounts. I didn't know if it would be appropriate to post - and again you may already know this... so, I'll let you make the call since you seem to have the connections... and you two know the AutoStar as well as anyone on the planet. First, said there is a possibility that some 75's will ship before the end of the month... just taking longer than expected. Substantially beefier castings necessitated by the addition of the bearings. Load factors should handle the SN10 with no problem. Biggest caveat with the SN10 or heavier scopes is the momentum they induce and the energy needed to start and stop them. Quiet slew eliminates this problem. Motors on the new 75's have been improved and are smoother. Biggest factor is the change in the software which corrects an error in one of the algorithms used to compute goto coordinates. It seems in the previous software that the closer you were to a perfect polar alignment, the less accurate your goto calculations would be. If you were "perfect" in the polar alignment, this problem did not exist. However, close but not perfect was a problem. The new version of the software fixes this problem so a one star with repetitive slews back to Polaris should be the preferred method of alignment if someone is interested in really good polar alignment and accurate goto's. Really sounds like Meade has gotten their ducks in a row with this new mount and software. He said their biggest problem is that with the mount priced where it is it attracts too many newbies which have no understanding or experiences with GEMS which are by far the best type of mount but demand the most from the user in setup and alignment. Just FYI.... Respectfully, WarpAnd:
From: Richard Seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com) I think what you sent is/was perfectly appropriate to post, however, it has one ambiguity... by : > The new version of the software fixes this problem... do you mean the firmware which was just released (32Ea), (which i expect they're loading like mad) or The Firmware Which Is Yet To Come? > ...ducks in line... Never walk behind a line of ducks in bare feet.... have fun --dick
Check the Feedback Archives for previous editions of the User Feedback pages.
Return to the top of this page.
Go to the LXD55 Home Page.