Scope not tracking

[bs30017]

Hi,

I have an 8" LX90 ACF. I've had it for a few months and it never seemed to track very well. I always needed to slew the scope with the hand controller to keep an object in view. I kept going into the menu to adjust the tracking rate and nothing seemed to work. Finally, last night I had a revelation. The reason adjusting the tracking rate did not help was because it is not tracking at all! Has anyone come across this problem before? I'm hopping I don't have to send it back to Meade. I've heard it can take months to get a scope repaired. I really anjoy the views in this scope compared to my old one (DS2130) and don't want to go back to it if I can help it.

In the menu it is set to astronomical. So that should not be the problem.

Thanks
PJ

[Mark Sibole]

A few things to check.
Make sure you are not in terrestial mode.
Make sure the batterys are good.
Make sure you have trained and calibrated the drives.
Does the scope move in RA if you press the e/w buttons?
If so it may be one of the above listed items.

Mark

[John S.]

PJ
What Mark said is right. A couple of other things,... assuming you are running in ALT/AZ mode, make sure you select ALT/AZ in your Autostar. Also did you calibrate your sensors? Calibrating sensors is simple and allows the auto-alignment to correctly find north. When you power up the scope make sure it is in it's home position, that is tube 90 degrees horizontal and pointing slightly west of north. Is your GPS on and running?
I am also really picky for precise alignment, make sure you take the time to center the alignment stars in the center of you FOV. I use an illuminated 12.5mm crosshair reticle eyepiece just to make sure. The tracking with my LX90 GPS has always been bang on.
Hope some of this helps. Good luck.

John

[bs30017]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies. I think I have everything set correctly, I'm not in terrestial mode, batteries are good and I do center the alignment starts. I do train the drives and calibrate the sensors, but not everytime I use the scope. I make sure the tripod is level. I will double check to make sure it is in ALT/AZ mode (it should be). I didn't realize I needed to start in the home position (I thought it was not necessary with the GPS), so I will try that also. 

I will try it tonight using all suggestions. I'll let you know how I make out.

Thanks
PJ

[autostaretx]

What version is the Autostar's firmware?
(Setup/Statistics/[scroll up])

If it's 59Ef, then there's a bug (it doesn't keep track of the time of day correctly).

You can download the new Meade Autostar Updater (ASU) and bring the firmware up to 5BE2,
which fixes a number of 59Ef's issues (but not all).  Tracking should improve.

59Ef and 5BE2 only apply to the new "497EP" which is currently being shipped with LX90's.
If your Autostar is running v43Eg, that's the newest firmware for the "old" model 497.
(and it's far less buggy than 59Ef)

good luck
--dick

[bs30017]

Hi Dick,

Thanks for the reply. I do have the version with the bug. I ordered the cables from Meade to do the upgrade. I have a question regarding the cables, specifically what plugs into what. From the picture it looks like I will receive a serial port plug and two cables similar to phone lines. I assume the serial port plug goes into my PC with one of the phone type cables connected to that. Where does the other end of that cable go? To the autostar hand controller or into the connection on my mount? And then what is the second cable for?

I checked my manual and there are no instructions for downloading updates

Thanks
PJ

[John S.]

PJ,
Use this link to the Meade site to see the manual for connecting your autostar. The longer cable goes between the serial adapter and the Autostar. THe shorter cable is for cloning between two Autostars. One other thing, you will need a serial port which is rare nowadays. If you don't have one you will need the serial-USB interface. I hope the new firmware version provides you with your fix!

John

http://www.meade.com/manuals/TelescopeManuals/AutostarManuals/505CableSet.pdf

[bs30017]

John,

Thanks for the link. That is just what I needed. I'm not at my home computer now, but I think I have a serial port. My computer is about 5 -6 years old, it even has a floppy disk drive.

PJ 

[saguaro_48]

And the final outcome was.....??

[Conroy]

And the final outcome was.....??

Yes, I would like to have learned the outcome here.
It leaves it a bit flat when it just comes to an abrupt end like this.
Conroy.
   

[bs30017]

Hi,

Sorry I didn't get back with a resolution.

It took a while for Meade to send the cable. It was backordered for about 6 weeks. Once I got the cable and did the upgrade (there was a newer upgrade than 5BE2) everything worked perfectly. I only had to wait about 3 days for the clouds to clear and the first night out I saw more items than I've seen in the 2 years I've been doing this. I'd punch in a messier number, the scope would slew and boom there is was and it would stay in the field of view too.

The cable is probbaly the best accessory I got. I am now able to use the scope the way I envisioned when I bought it. I never really minded hunting for objects before. It helped me to learn my way around the sky. But it's so much better spending more time looking at something than finding it.

Thanks to everyone for their help!

PJ