Sheffield Col

On 21/04/2024 at 16:42, RT65CB-SWL said:

Apologies in advance if I appear negative.

If your ETX-125 motors carry on being problematic, you may have to ‘bite the bullet’ and de-fork it. It can be done, but requires a bit of effort and patience to separate the OTA from the forks.

They are good scopes optically, let down by poor quality drives and nylon/plastic gears in the drive train.

Yes you could be right, but hopefully I will get it sorted.  

On 21/04/2024 at 14:02, michael8554 said:

 

An Unregulated 12V 1.5A power supply may supply too many volts when just tracking.

And not supply enough volts under the load of slewing at high speed.

Check it's a Regulated Power Supply.

Hi thanks, I will look for a proper power supply and see if it helps. 

Found instruction manual. 

Hi thank you for your reply, I was using a 12v 1.5 amp power supply, I don't know if this is any good but it seems to work. I don't know how to get to the menu's or "do the Train Drives routine". Can you tell me how to find the instruction manual please. Thank You. 

Hi The Autostar only comes on for a split second now, so I think it's faulty. Is there any way it can be repaired or is it not worth the trouble. Cheers. 

1 hour ago, bingevader said:

That sounds like the Autostar, rather than the ‘scope then. Are you able to update the handset?

Hi, I think that is my next move. 

Hi thank you for your reply, When I plug in the "Autostar controller it asks me to "press Mode for Menu or 0 to Align" No matter what I press it slews a little then comes up with "testing Motors" Then there is no response from any of the buttons. If I plug in the little hand set all the buttons seem to work, the scope slews and moves up and down. I have had the scope for a few yrs. but have had very little time with it.   When I first got it the motor was slipping rather badly I had a look inside and could see some of the teeth were stripped and the motor mountings were broken. I managed to repair the mountings and get a new motor. At this time I did not have the Autostar Controller, it's only recently that I acquired the Autostar Controller.   

I have a Meade ETX 125. When I plug the controller in it does a "Test" then says there is a fault on the motor, has any one else had any experience of this ? Could there be a fault with the controller ?

I have been looking at a Helios Evolution 120, does any one know the focal length of this scope ?

A bit more on the Astromaster 114, I have had the focuser out to clean it but have run into a snag, it seems there is a lens in the focus tube that act's as a Barlow I took it out because it was filthy same as the rest of the scope, but cannot remember which way up it is suppose to go. So I am just hoping someone can tell me, also I got to thinking "Is it really necessary to have this "Barlow" in the focus tube.   

Many thanks for all the reply's, they are very helpful.  

Just picked up a Celestron Astromaster 114 very cheap, but It needs a repair.  The Aluminium bit where the screws go through to pinch on the Dovetail was broken. Well I got it rewelded and it's ok now but the scope looks like it's been is a filthy shed for some time it was full of spiders and web's and the primary mirror and secondary mirror was covered in dust and fly Sh*t. Well I have got the mirrors out to clean them but cant seem to get hold of any Distilled Water to rinse them with, can I use De-ionised water instead ? Thank You. 

Hi what is the best time to set your scope up ? is it just before you want to use it, or a couple of hours before ?

Is it possible to buy a lens to suit my D=120 F= 1000mm. ? 

On 07/01/2023 at 12:05, dannybgoode said:

To expand a bit on Robert's response. No, the lenses will not be the same as the focal lengths of the two scopes are different so they'll have different properties to get the light to focus at a different point

That's why I posted, I wanted to know if the lenses' were different.  Cheers. 

Many thanks for all reply's.  The Helios lens was badly chipped, the damage was intruding for nearly 40 mm. so it was discarded some time ago.  

Hi I have a Sky watcher.  D=120  F= 600 mm also a Helios.  D= 120 F = 1000. Most likely made by the same Manufacture's.  Will the the Lenses be the same in both scopes ? I ask because the Helios lens is damaged and the Sky Watcher has some C A. I would like to put the Sky watcher Lens in the Helios if it's possible.  

Many thanks for all your replies. I learn something new every day. 

I have downloaded Sharp Cap Version 4 onto my tablet Samsung A6. and also on Samsung S2. but none will open. Can anyone help ?

Under the Base of my Meade ETX 125, there are Two threaded bolt holes, I think they are for attaching a wedge. Can any one tell me what size bolts are needed for these holes ? thank you...

Hi mate It's an SPC880 Flashed to 900. Will it make any difference ? 

18 hours ago, WanderingEye said:

As long as it’s a native SPC900 and not an SPC880, then these drivers will work.. Win 7 one is the one you need, 

https://www.philips.co.uk/c-p/SPC900NC_00/webcam-with-pixel-plus/support

Edit: although I can see them on my screen the link does not seem to go to the correct page.... 🤔

Hi mate thank you for your reply, still having trouble installing drivers. Frank the Troll sent some but still no luck..

Hi, I have a Phillips SPC 900 webcam it's a few yrs. old now but It's very light so ideal for my ETX 125. But I need drivers for it, can anyone tell me where I can download some from, I am waiting to hear from Phillips Support but not holding my breath.  thank you  Colin..

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To be Honest I don't know, but I know a man who does. But I know the all plastic one is an early model but not sure when they started using Aluminium Forks. 

Hopefully got this sorted now, I have rebuilt and installed the gearbox, it seems to be working just fine now but don't know how long it will last, so keeping my fingers crossed for now..