My new setup!

[Jake]

Hi Guys -

Seems like it has been pretty dead around here lately. 

I recently decided to change my setup and go with a refractor rig
instead of my newt/CI-700 combo.  I have switched to a LXD650 mount
with a Meade 102ED  (f/9) and a Vixen ED80sf (f/7).  I am also considering
getting a reducer/flattener from William Optics for this rig.  I also have a new
Canon Rebel XT on order.

I have not yet been able to test the rig photographically, but visual use has
so far been a real treat - Mars has been wonderful in both scopes even from
light polluted LA.  My hope is that this will be a slightly easier setup
for me to haul out of Los Angeles for imaging. 

-Jake

[lindendave]

Congrats Jake!

I'm really happy for you. 

I am wondering though if the tripod is steady enough for all that equipment?

[Jake]

Hi Dave -

It seems to be plenty steady for it.  It's the same tripod used with the LX200's.
The mount is also bigger than it looks!     I was expecting it to be a bit, um, smaller!

Now I have to find out how well the mount tracks for photos - I'm keeping my fingers
crossed that it is a good one!

-Jake

[Ron]

Hi Jake,

It's been awhile

Nice looking rig you have acquired there.  Hope you get some nice weather to check it out.  Things have been sort of iffy around here.  This weekend looks like it's going to be good but I have to go out of town so won't be doing any star gazing.

What king of animals do you have running around there?  Is that a watering bowl and food bowl I see in the background?

Ron

[Jake]

Hi Ron -

It has been awhile!   

It's raining here right now, most likely my fault for buying a bunch of new equipment!
Sorry to hear you won't be enjoying the clear skies. 

I do have a few critters running around here - a good old sweet dog, and an ornery cat.

I really hope this will be a good imaging rig - I think between the two refractors, I should
be able to do a number of objects!  Believe it or not, this is more portable than my
previous setup - altbough I must admit I am going to miss that pretty orange:


-Jake

[twilbur]

Congrats on the new gear Jake!

The Konus had great optics and if I recall correctly, your mount tracked very well.
The new setup looks great! That said, scary stuff getting rid of a mount that you know doesn't have any fast errors!

I'm in awe of your intestinal fortitude and look forward to seeing your imaging results!

[Jake]

Hi Ted -

I am scared to change setups.  My old mount was a real keeper, and the OTA had a great mirror.
It was very nerve-racking to sell what I know to be a good setup. 
But I really needed a smaller rig, as I have to drive 2 hours away to do my imaging and observing,
so I threw caution to the wind and put this together. 

The good news is that both of the refractors are fantastic.  The bad news is that the mount has to go
back to Meade.  It has a very large amount of slop in the RA axis, which does not seem to stem from the
worm gear adjustment.  Having had several Meade products, I am not suprised - every Meade mount I have
owned had to go back to the factory at least once to get it to work right.  I really wish Meade would start
doing a better quality check on their gear - it certainly would save the consumer alot of hassle, and save Meade
some expense of shipping/fixing things.  I think that with Meade, you get a good product, you just have to send
it back to them a few times first.   

Oh well - guess it will be another month until I can test this rig out for photography.

-Jake

[Jake]

Well, I personally drove the mount back to Meade for repair.

They seemed very concerned, and assured me it will get a full "run through" both mechanically and
electronically.  They estimate two weeks, so I should have it back in time for next new moon.

keeping my fingers crossed.....

-Jake

[H44]

Sounds like all they did was increase the pressure (meshing) with the worm and wheel.  That will certainly cause a freeze in slewing.  They could also have tightened the worm in its mount too much laterally.  Just depends on where the original slop was coming from.  Doesn't sound like good quality control on this one...