20 Most Recent Meade LX200GPS Telescope - Page 3 Questions & Answers

Do a calibrate motors and make sure you are using a separate 12 volt power pack or BRAND NEW internal batteries. All goto scopes work better with smooth, regulated power. The internal batteries will NOT work well for very long.

The Calibrate motors routine adjusts the motors for the power supply being used.

You must Calibrate motors using the same power source as you use at night outside, then do a TRAIN drives. Some of these scopes also have a Calibrate Sensors -- and some do not.

Then do a two star alignment and center both alignment stars. Daylight Savings Time = Yes right now in the USA, check that it is set to YES.

You need the Meade cable and if you do NOT have a serial port then you also need a USB- to serial adapter cable.

Keyspan makes a good USB0-Serial adapter cable.

Check the PORT number in the software and make sure it is the one the computer is using.

Is the control panel red light ON? If not you have a power circuit board problem.

Meade will want the scope returned for repairs.
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

This is a major project. You will either need to return it to Meade for repairs, or be ready to almost completely disassemble the telescope to get to the motors.

Contact Meade first:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

First, always use a seperate 12 volt power pack and NOT the internal batteries. Do a Calibrate Motors -- first thing whenever you turn on the telescope.

The eyepiece may be DIRTY-- clean it gently with an eyeglass cleaning solution. DO NOT use must liquid as it can seep behind the lens. Locate a local Astronomy club and the members will help you with the scope.

This is called mirror flop. All SCT type telescopes have this.

TRY turning the focuser all the way in and all the way out 3 or 4 times to spread the grease out on the baffle tube. This sometimes helps with mirror flop.

There is an internal battery, check and replace to make sure it is new.
Any obstructions like tall buildings where you setup the scope?

It is possible to bypass the GPS, just manually enter Time, Date, and SITE, and do a two star alignment.

This is sometimes caused by a bad hand controller cable and or corrupted firmware in the hand controller.

Get a new cable first and try it-- if this does does work then RESET the hand controller and reload the firmware using the proper computer cable and Autostar Updater Version 5.9 available here:

http://www.meade.com/support/auto.html

http://www.meade.com/support/Win7_ASU592_Installation.pdf

Runaway DECLINATION is what this is called. Usually it can be fixed with a new hand controller cable. If a new cable does not fix it, then it has a blown motor circuit board and must be returned to Meade for repairs.

Meade customer service:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

Hello. Yes, the temperature could be causing the lube that was used to thicken so that the drive motor freezes up. placing an electric heating pad on it should solve the problem for you. Also, removing the present lubricant and replacing that with a lighter lubricant with a greater operating range would be the long term fix. J.

Your scope may need collimation-- see these web sites:

http://astrosurf.com/legault/collim.html

http://sctscopes.net/SCT_Tips/Maintenance/Collimation/collimation.html

Do a re-load of the firmware in the hand controller, also replace the hand controller cable.

The first thing I would do is get another new hand controller cable. These can be ordered from Meade, or from a local dealer, or from www.scopestuff.com.

If a new cable does not help-- I would locate another Hand controller just to test if the controller has gone bad.

You can also try reinstalling the firmware into the hand controller, using the Meade version 5.9 updater software. You will need the proper computer cable between the computer and the hand controller to update the firmware.

http://www.meade.com/support/downloads.html

http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

Is this mounted Alt-AZ or is it on a wedge.

If Alt Az probably all you need is a rail and weights. If mounted on a wedge you may need a 3D weight arrangement.

See these web sites-

http://sctscopes.net/SCT_Tips/Balancing_an_SCT/balancing_an_sct.html

http://jan.eaglecreekobservatory.org/balance.html

Before you panic I would update the firmware/software on the telescope. With an LX200 interface cable you can upgrade the software in your telescope from your PC by going to Meade's web site at www.meade.com

Download Meade's ASU (Autostar Update Utility) and the latest software for your Autostar II absolutely free. You can also use the ASU to add Comets, Asteroids, Satellites, and User Objects to your Autostar II with a few simple clicks of the mouse.

I believe you can get the manual here.

Before you panic, try a new hand controller cable. You can buy these from Meade or for a better one from www.scopestuff.com

"Autostar II: if you need to use Safe Mode to recover from a disaster,
turn on the telescope, and key 999 before it says "Initializing"
The Autostar will say "Flash Load Ready"... now go start the ASU.

Read this page all the way through--

http://www.weasner.com/etx/autostar/guide-asu3x.html

Once the scope has taken a GPS fix and knows TIME, and SITE, and you do a two star alignment your alignment stars overide any automatic alignment issues.

You could turn off the GPS put in Time, Date, and Site, do a two star alignment and everything would be fine. Centering the alignment stars is the "trick". Apparently the scope also finds NORTH OK, or the alignment stars would be way off. Since you pre-level the tripod already the software can FAIL on "tilt" and you still get good gotos.

I would not worry about it, especially since your gotos seem perfectly fine.

Ron Sampson can repair the electronics in Meade telescopes. You only need to send him the boards with your detailed description of what you believe is burned out.

He can be reached by posting a message on the Yahoo LX200 and or LX90 Group forums.

Also Dr.Clay in Arkansas can repair the scope along with Meade (possible if they have new boards) -- Dr. Clay can be reached here:

http://www.arksky.org/supercharge.htm