GENERAL FEEDBACK Last updated: 27 April 2006

This page is for user comments and information of a general nature or items applicable to all LXD55 models. 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:	GO-TO Fault - 'Motor Unit Fault'
Sent:	Tuesday, April 25, 2006 02:34:39
From:	Neill McKeown (neillmckeown@hotmail.co.uk)
I am emailing you about a LXD 75 8 inch reflector. I was at a star
party/meteor watch on Friday night and when I attempted to align the
scope, I ran into difficulties. I sent the scope to Arcturus, but it
ended up pointing to the ground with the hand controller display reading
'Motor Unit Fault'.

As far as I could tell, its not a power issue, as the scope was hooked
up to a power pack and it was fully charged and it was the start of the
session. Have you any ideas? Your help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Neill McKeown

Subject:	re: Electric focuser for LXD75-SC8
Sent:	Friday, April 21, 2006 22:03:20
From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
If the 1206 has a 'stereo' plug, it's meant to go into
the focuser socket on a Meade 909 APM module ($50, i think).
That module -is- compatible/usable with an LXD scope.
The only part with doesn't work (with Meade's blessing)
is the autoguider socket... and my patch kit for 42Ed
shall attempt to activate that for all models (if it
fits)

But you can -focus- (and drive illuminated reticles)
with it now.  This brings the focus control into the
Autostar, and also allows remote focusing.
For an extra $50 (which may not be worth it to you)

have fun
--dick

Subject:	LDX55 is absent in Autostar
Sent:	Friday, April 21, 2006 09:22:32
From:	Rana (khan_rana@dataone.in)
We bought LXD55 on Sep'2002. the telescope arrived with a defect in RA
gear. somehow we manage to recover it. then in 2005 autostar #497
totally shut down its operation. we failed to restart it. then we bought
another autostar for LXD55 but in telescope section there in nothing for
LXD55.

it includes other later models. it failed to drive telescope properly.
how can i use it with LXD55 and how the softwre of LXd55 be loaded?

Please help us.
Rana Khan,
Kolkata.
India.

Subject:	Differences between the LX90, LX200 AND LXD75
Sent:	Tuesday, April 18, 2006 21:47:27
From:	Alfonso Mndez Tenorio (aamendez@prodigy.net.mx)
My idea is to buy a new telescope, as my experience on using telescopes
has increased in the last years. I began with a small 4 inches refractor
(with only manual controls), then I move to the Meade 4500 (A Newtonian
It seems is now discontinued), finally I bough a Meade ETX 90 EC, that
it is until now the best telescope I ever had. I've experimented also
with classical and CCD astrophotography and now I am interested in
buying a SC telescope  8''. I figured the Meade's models LX90, LX200 and
LXD75 SC have the same (or similar) optical system, and I found in the
MEADE's web page that main differences between all them are related with
the Autostar's database and the mount which is considerable different
between the LX90-LX200 and LXD75 models. The German equatorial mount in
the LXD75 is cheaper than that for the LX90 and LX200 however, what
about the performance? I am think  I am capable to deal with the setup
of the polar alignment which is the kind I prefer for astrophotography,
are other important differences in the performance compared with the
mounts in the LX90 and LX200 models?. Also I thinking in to buy the
telescope in USA in my next visit to the country in one or two months
from now, and then I will bring it to my home in Mexico city. This is
the reason because I am thinking in the compact design of the SC and I
feel comfortable with this kind of optics despite its f/10 speed. Do you
know the difference in weight between the mounts of the LXD75 and the
LX90_LX200 models? I was not able to find this information in the
MEADE's web page for the LXD75. How stable is the mount of the LXD75
compared with that of the LX90-LX200 models?

Congratulations for your site. It is wonderful the information you have
on it
 
Best wishes
 
Alfonso Mendez-Tenorio
Mexico city.

Subject:	Electric focuser for LXD75-SC8
Sent:	Tuesday, April 18, 2006 06:01:01
From:	Dave Wallace (d_wallace@ecrm.com)
I'm confused.  I want to get an electric focuser for my telescope
(LXD75-SC8), but I can't tell from the product descriptions whether the
1205, 1206 or neither would be the correct model.  Since you have
essentially the same telescope as I do, which one would/did you get?

And:

Thanks, Mike.

Subject:	LXD75
Sent:	Monday, April 10, 2006 15:36:48
From:	Marco A Diaz (marcodiaz1@earthlink.net)
I have wanted a telescope all of my adult life and finally bought one
about 3 weeks ago. So far, I have been very disappointed and
disillusioned by the representatives from Oceanside photo and telescopes
and Meade telescope customer service personnel. All have been rude, curt
and generally unhelpful. OPT sold me a $280.00 battery that arrived
without one bit of instruction and then I'm told by OPT that I can't
plug my telescope into the battery and need to buy another expensive
battery to power the telescope. I finally called Meade and was told that
it was ok to power the telescope with the 12 volt battery I bought and
did not need to purchase another battery.

When I finally put the telescope together, I found that the azimuth
control knob was bent. After several calls to Meade, I finally got
through to a very uninterested, rude customer representative.

It appears you are genuinely interested in astronomy and are trying to
provide those of us who are newbies with current useful information, but
I cannot understand why you would allow yourself to be tainted by
companies such as OPT and even Meade.

I have just begun my journey into astronomy and am already very
disappointed. I hope it gets better from here.
 
Marco A. Diaz
Indio, CA.

And:

I recently complained to you about your affiliation with OPT and Meade
Telescopes. I had some bad experiences with them and should have waited
a day or two in order to calm down and cool off. You apparently actually
do read your e-mail and I received a call from the owner of OPT
inquiring as to the details of my complaint.

I must admit, I am impressed and have since had that day or two to cool
off. I sincerely apologize to you for making unwarranted claims and
complaints. I believe I just had some bad contacts and luck and plan to
move forward in a positive manner.
 
Thank you
 
Marco A. Diaz

Subject:	Choosing the right scope
Sent:	Sunday, April 9, 2006 10:25:12
From:	Bart spreeuwenberg (bart_spreeuw@hotmail.com)
For 3 years now I have been using the etx-70 telescope. This i=amazing
scope has shown me some awesome things and has allways been my favorite
waste of time :D But after 3 years I have started to search for a big
brother for my scope. I have been looking around and have now chosen 2
candidates, both from the measde LXD75 series. The 6 inch goto
refractor, or the 8 inch UHTC goto sc. I want to choose the right one,
for I will be using it for life if possible. Well, at least for a long
time.

The refractor I like because of the high contrast, the sc because of the
exra 2 inches.

Portabilit is not really the issue, because both are quite large.

After saving and scraping money I am getting ready to place an order
this week, but have not made a real choice just yet.

My choice is now kind of depending on what I will be able to see.

Could you please tell me witch scope will offer me more? I know 8"
catches more light, but will a 6" refractor outperform it?

If you maybe have some other pro's and con's, could you please teel me
about them?

You have in the past helped me greatly with my etx and was hoping if you
could give me some tips again.

Thanks for your great website, I love it!
Bart Spreeuwenberg

And:

Wasn't it just a couple of minutes ao I sent this question? I hardly
finished my game of mine sweeper!!! Thnx for that!!!

Ok, so the bottem line is that they will show me pretty much the same
thing, though the 8inch will magnify more.

Since for me transpotation is not really a problem, I think I will go
for the cristal clear pictures a refractor has to offer me.

TNX for helping me out again, can't wait for the box to arive!!!

Subject:	Same problem here
Sent:	Saturday, April 1, 2006 13:49:24
From:	don (handsonmytime@peoplepc.com)
My LXD-75 not Align!!!

I saw this problem when I googled for the problem I'm having with my
LXD75.  Even just manually trying to rotate the new mount ( I've always
used a fork equatorial before)  to various DEC and RA many cause the 
Dec motor to hit the computer motor panel.  What am I missing about
German Eq. mounts?????

Thanks
Don

Subject:	My observatory
Sent:	Friday, March 31, 2006 02:20:50
From:	John Kalantzis (acent4@vol.forthnet.gr)
I spent a lot of time reading in your web site about your Oracle
Observatory and I want from you to learn about my observatory in Volos -
Greece and the nearby area. The city of Volos is 320 Km north of
Athens. You can see it in the map. I leave in Volos and I have a summer
house 40 Km away in a place away from the city lights. In this place I
have my observatory. I send you some photos of my place.
 
BEST REGARDS
JOHN KALANTZIS

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