Problem with Telrad?

[Planetesimal]

So, received my Telrad from FLO this morning, just over two weeks on back-order so very happy!

The only thing is, when I switch on the reticle, it appears blurred in the glass - sort of like I'm looking at it being reflected in several sheets of glass, i.e. there's the main reticle image projected onto the window, but then a slightly fainter blurrier equivalent offset a little bit which may make it hard to use. Has anyone had this problem or have any suggestions?

I'm probably being impatient and should actually try it out on the night sky before becoming convinced there's a problem, but still...

[OutThereSomewhere]

I much prefer my Telrad over a red dot finder. The red "target" is a reflection as you say, but I've never noticed any colour other than red. I've only used it at night and turning the brightness up & down, plus being a good distance from the Telrad when using it, makes for an easy finding experience for me. Hope you can test it out tonight. Good luck!

[brantuk]

Test it in a dark room and adjust the brightness down - I think that may help. Also ensure you're looking through the correct end of it - I got mine the wrong way round when I first acquired it lol

[rory]

sounds daft but are you looking through the right way ? ( the long plastic extended part furthest away from you) look at it under a sheet or towel so its dark. make sure the glass is clean

[Moonshane]

could be a dirty screen. try giving it a wipe?

[Tinker1947]

Either you have it the wrong way round, or you have the LED to bright, once its dark your be able to check it out......

[Planetesimal]

Thanks all - I read the instructions first to be fair

So I'm looking at the glass from the end with the 3 adjusting screws, which I think is the correct end!

I'll have a look in the proper dark and see if it works better...

[Moonshane]

I don't think you can see the reflected reticule the wrong way round. sometimes dodgy batteries can cause problems. if nothing else works try swapping them out and see if that helps.

[ianfiat]

Do you wear glasses? I get this affect if I am partly looking at the reticule over the top of my glasses.

[MorningMajor]

Sounds like you've got it turned up to brightly as has been suggested - at night you'll need it very dim as it will drown out all but the brightest stars if not.

Hopefully you'll get your chance to check it either tonight or tomorrow before the clouds return!

[Astro Imp]

So I'm looking at the glass from the end with the 3 adjusting screws, which I think is the correct end!

Exactly right.

Once you get it aligned on your scope and you've used it a couple of times you'll wonder how you ever found anything without it.

[Planetesimal]

Still clouded out tonight, but fingers crossed!

I asked my wife, who's a physicist with training in optics... She reckons that the problem is I'm trying to focus on the reticle itself, but really I should be focussing on infinity, i.e. the star field behind the reticle, and it should resolve once I do that! Don't know why I always ask SGL to solve my problems before asking my wife

Just waiting for some cloud free sky now...

[Catweazel]

It sounds like it's turned up too far and so is too bright, I turn mine right down

[Matt Scunthorpe]

I got mine today as well from FLO. When i was testing it out (indoors) i had the brightness full and the rings were sharp and not blurred.

[Planetesimal]

Still too cloudy to test outside... I'm hoping there isn't a problem with the positioning of the reticle projector, if it's too close or too far from the mirror. Best wait and see how it performs in the field, as it were. If there's still a problem I'll have to get back to FLO about it.

[Planetesimal]

Oh well, too cloudy, the moon has everthing lit up like a Christmas tree, and it's blowing a gale. Just about to call it a night, when Vega appeared from behind the cotton wool. A quick look through with both eyes open at a reasonable distance and the image appears sharp, so it looks like all is well...

I'm not going out in that howling gale though - fingers crossed for tomorrow night!

[cantharis]

Received mine this week as well - the rings are pin-sharp.

[brantuk]

Glad you got it sussed

[Planetesimal]

Glad you got it sussed

Thanks!

Fairly rubbish viewing session tonight unfortunately - I hope my experience wasn't typical. The hoped-for clear skies were blocked out by a load of bizzare high altitude "herringbone" clouds, lit up by the moon. I did get the chance to line up the telrad though, and it's definitely working fine. Just needed to get my eye in I think!

[rory]

ive just looked through my telrad in full daylight ,on full power and theres no blur of the image at all, so i wouldnt be so sure theres not some minor fault with yours.

[Planetesimal]

Or it might be a problem with my eye's focus rather than the reticle itself. I took a photo of it and it looks sharp to the camera!

[rory]

Or it might be a problem with my eye's focus rather than the reticle itself. I took a photo of it and it looks sharp to the camera!

oh right. well as long as you can focus out in the field with it ,should be okay id imagine.

[Planetesimal]

The most I could do with it last night was to confirm what I'd read, that the noon only covers half a degree of sky. So I brought it to the centre circle of the reticle and the moon fit inside, nest as a button. Very surprising, I think the brain plays some serious tricks on us because the moon definitely looms larger in the mind's eye!

[Planetesimal]

*neat

[Matt Scunthorpe]

Where did you mount your Telrad? I'm still debating