(Viewed 2,121 times)

[-=CROMAN=-]

www.telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/mounts-and-tripods/meadelx80multimountandtripodwithaudiostar1.cfm

www.meade.com/lx80

Product Number 37-0080-00
Telescope Mounting Alt-Azimuth or German Equatorial

AutoStar Controller
AudioStar
Object Database 30,000 objects
Pointing Precision (High-Precision Mode) Up to 5 arcminutes
Go-To Pointing Precision (approx.) 10 arcminutes
Periodic Error Correction Polar mode only

Slow Motion Controls
Electronic
Slew Speeds

RA and Dec:1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal and 1.5°/sec., 3°/sec., 6.5°/sec.
Tracking Rates

Sidereal, lunar or custom selected from 2,000 incremental rates

Latitude Range (in EQ mode)


25° to 90°
Control Panel 12v DC, Power, HBX port, 2 Aux ports (RS232)
Total Instrument Capacity Multi-OTA = 70 lbs
Alt-Az or German Equatorial = 40 lbs
Batteries (User-Supplied) 8 x AA
Tripod Adjustable-height tripod with 2 inch stainless steel legs. Includes fine adjustment leg levelers on each leg. Range of fine adjustment for each leg+ 0.2 inch. Tripod height adjusts from 30.5 to 47 inches.
Optional AC Power 12v DC, 5 amp power supply
Smart Drive Yes
AutoStar Suite Planetarium Software Yes
Counterweights One 11 lb. steel weight included
Astronomer Inside Yes
Other Features

Alt-Az or German EQ configuration, dual OTA configuration, optional plug-in autoguider port
Materials
Mount Body

Diecast aluminum with ABS panels
Weights and Dimensions
Mount Weight 35 lbs.
Mount Dimensions (LWH) 12 inches x 8 inches x 14 inches
Tripod Weight 31.5 lbs.
Tripod Dimensions 30.5 inches to 47 inches (variable)


Whats your opinion?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

I like this a lot.

The tubular legs will bring great stability and I dig the sectional/adjustable counter-weight shaft.

You can go all manual in alt/az or fully go-to in EQ. And the ability to attach two scope in line is cool.

About the only drawback for such an expensive machine, is the rather large error rate of 10 arcminutes in the pointing. I think it should be much less.

I would like it as part of the Chicago Astronomer arsenal...

[Paulie pchris00]

It looks like a nice scope, and views are bound to be razor sharp, but what are you going to use it for? If you're planning on wide field astrophotography or splitting tight doubles, this would be a good choice. For visual observing, I think you'll be quite disappointed compared to your 10". Something tells me though that you're looking to do AP.

[magic612]

40 lbs max eq weight means it's good for 20 lbs max for astrophotography. That limits it to around a 5" or 6" scope at most, though a high quality, fast 6" reflector will take some amazing shots for sure.

Like Joe, I don't like the GoTo accuracy. 10 arc minutes is nothing to write home about for what it costs, IMO. Also, I didn't see a maximum slewing speed. I know the paltry 5 degrees per second GoTo mounts I've had in the past seemed ungodly slow when moving from one side of the sky to the other.

THAT SAID...

2" steel legs are nice and solid. The fine adjustments for leveling should be a nice feature. It would be cool to have the ability to use the same mount for both eq and to have two scopes side-by-side alt-az style would be nice.

I'd say it comes down to what you want to do with it, and if it would meet your needs.

[-=CROMAN=-]

I was tossing around the idea of purchasing the orion starhoot deep space color imaging camera but I really no nothing about GOTO mounts. Thus far I've been my own goto with the z10. My initial thinking was to use the dual mount capabilities to mount an 8" SCT with starshoot on one side and a guide scope on the other. If the 10 arc seconds thing is a killer then I'll have to rethink my plan.

[jpmoneystar]

Nov 10, 2011 11:41:59 GMT -6 -=CROMAN=- said:

www.telescopes.com/telescope-accessories/mounts-and-tripods/meadelx80multimountandtripodwithaudiostar1.cfm

www.meade.com/lx80

Product Number 37-0080-00
Telescope Mounting Alt-Azimuth or German Equatorial

AutoStar Controller
AudioStar
Object Database 30,000 objects
Pointing Precision (High-Precision Mode) Up to 5 arcminutes
Go-To Pointing Precision (approx.) 10 arcminutes
Periodic Error Correction Polar mode only

Slow Motion Controls
Electronic
Slew Speeds

RA and Dec:1x, 2x, 8x, 16x, 64x, 128x sidereal and 1.5°/sec., 3°/sec., 6.5°/sec.
Tracking Rates

Sidereal, lunar or custom selected from 2,000 incremental rates

Latitude Range (in EQ mode)


25° to 90°
Control Panel 12v DC, Power, HBX port, 2 Aux ports (RS232)
Total Instrument Capacity Multi-OTA = 70 lbs
Alt-Az or German Equatorial = 40 lbs
Batteries (User-Supplied) 8 x AA
Tripod Adjustable-height tripod with 2 inch stainless steel legs. Includes fine adjustment leg levelers on each leg. Range of fine adjustment for each leg+ 0.2 inch. Tripod height adjusts from 30.5 to 47 inches.
Optional AC Power 12v DC, 5 amp power supply
Smart Drive Yes
AutoStar Suite Planetarium Software Yes
Counterweights One 11 lb. steel weight included
Astronomer Inside Yes
Other Features

Alt-Az or German EQ configuration, dual OTA configuration, optional plug-in autoguider port
Materials
Mount Body

Diecast aluminum with ABS panels
Weights and Dimensions
Mount Weight 35 lbs.
Mount Dimensions (LWH) 12 inches x 8 inches x 14 inches
Tripod Weight 31.5 lbs.
Tripod Dimensions 30.5 inches to 47 inches (variable)


Whats your opinion?

Ive read - The mount boasts a 10 arc minute pointing accuracy elevated to 5 arc minutes with the High Precision mode enabled.
I just recieved the mount and really think its more than its cost me. This mount was made for those who dobt want to spend 2-3 thousand on a mount. I will find out how good it is but do think it could be sold for a lot more just its solid mount, abilities and look. I also think the claims of weight capacity are going to be closer than previous mounts. It just seems like it will handle close to 35 pounds eq and 60 pounds dual. So long as the motors and gears can hadle it the weight of this mount and how its set up in dual will push it to the limits. I just have this feeling that meade designed it to do what it says it does. I find that theres a large market that has been ignored and a lot of newbies are not buying the junk anymore and are researching to learn more first. Thats what i did. I started with the 8" dob only because i had a financial issue arise but still wanted a scope and i was content. I then decided to get into astrophoto and decided i wanted a mount to do everything so i waited on backorder for this mount to go along with a meade 102ed. I will now take a chance and get a 12" ota and wish i could afford a 14" because i would try it out and see. Maybe i might have to customize a bit. Ad a weight on the bar where the eyepiece holder goes. I would check it out to see if they made this for 35 pounds at least or not. It seems capable. Smooth and moves nice. It doesnt shake. The question is, are the motors/gears capable of pushing the weight becauses the mount can. Just an opinion. First impression until i use it tommorrow hopefully.