Meade Quartz Controller Model 784

Meade Instruments Corp Meade Customer Support

StarGPS

Meade ETX60AT Telescope Items found similar to Meade Autostar 497 controller for parts or repair

Do a RESET on the hand controller and then re-enter time date and site--

If this model has a Calibrate Motors feature in the hand controller do that also.

You must have fresh batteries in the scope or the controller will have very strange errors when the battery power drops below about 60% of full charge.

Meade should have the controller and cord.

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

Eyepieces can be purchased from many on-line suppliers. Here are two:

http://www.agenaastro.com/

http://www.optcorp.com/category.aspx?uid=30

Contact Meade customer service:

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

You have two choices.

1. Remove the mirrors and send them off to be recoated.

2. Buy a new primary mirror and a secondary mirror.

Here are some on line retailers:

http://www.spectrum-coatings.com/Telescope-Mirror-Prices.htm

http://www.alcoat.net/

http://www.pinesoptical.com/

http://www.fpi-protostar.com/quartz.htm

Many Meade dealers can order you a new hand controller, either Autostar II, or the 497 controller. Contact a large telescope dealer in the UK, or you can order direct from Meade here:
http://www.meade.com/support/index.html

Eventually the pads wear out. There are repair kits you can buy to repair the contacts. Here:

http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/20-3890&CAWELAID=220229634

or you can buy another new keypad from Meade.

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

Since you already disassembled the scope-- you can send the board to Ron Sampson and he should be able to repair it. He fixes main boards and hand controllers (including the screen and keyboard on the hand controller!)

If you post a message on the Yahoo LX90 group looking for Ron Sampson he will answer you. You can then email or phone him for instruction on how to send him the board.

ARE YOU SURE it's the board? It could be a bad keyboard or a bad cable on the hand controller. You should get another hand controller and cable and test it before you send it off. Can you borrow a hand controller and cable from anyone.... or from a local scope retailer?

No schematics out there for that model, although there are ones for the LX classic and GPS. The center contact is positive.

One thing you can do is to completely reset the controller and reinput everything back into it.
If that doesn't work then you need a new hand controller.

It would be nice if you can take it to a local telescope shop and have them try your controller on one of theirs.
Tom Net