Bench Testing Specialist?

[catman161]

Hi guys, 

I am hoping the Astro community can perhaps help me out here. 

Not to go into to long a story but I have an Altair Astro Planeta 250 Truss-Cassegrain OTA that "adjusted" foolishly  

Basically I messed about with the spacing between the primary and secondary mirrors. I have had someone take a look for me but I still do not feel it is performing as well as it did when I first got it. 

I was wondering if anybody out there knows of a service/person who specialises in setting up/testing of this type of OTA. I've been told it is similar to an RC type of scope. 

I have already tried Altair Astro who couldn't help me. I've had the scope for a while now but after my initial images (Jupiter) which before I messed with the OTA were pleasing I can not seem to get it to perform even visually on the moon as we'll as it did. 

Any suggestions/thoughts gratefully received. 

 

Felix 

[Putaendo Patrick]

You might contact Orion Optics UK not so far away, at Newcastle-under-Lyme near Stoke-on-Trent. They make telescopes of similar complexity to yours (although not the same). They offer to service and repair telescopes of "any make, any age". Probably not cheap, and they can be quite slow - but perhaps one of the few companies with sufficient expertise.

http://www.orionoptics.co.uk/

[swag72]

There's Steve Collingwood http://sctelescopes.com/ and Es Reid (but I'm not sure how you can contact him)

 

[catman161]

1 hour ago, swag72 said:

There's Steve Collingwood http://sctelescopes.com/ and Es Reid (but I'm not sure how you can contact him)

 

Thanks. Have just fired an email off to SC Telescopes enquiring if they may be able to help with this type of OTA. Fingers crossed  

[dweller25]

Hello Felix,

Perhaps you could contact Catalin Fus at CFF telescopes who makes scopes just like yours, he seems to be a very helpful chap.

Or,  closer to home Peter Drew at the Astronomy Center in Bacup

[Timebandit]

4 hours ago, catman161 said:

Hi guys, 

I am hoping the Astro community can perhaps help me out here. 

Not to go into to long a story but I have an Altair Astro Planeta 250 Truss-Cassegrain OTA that "adjusted" foolishly  

Basically I messed about with the spacing between the primary and secondary mirrors. I have had someone take a look for me but I still do not feel it is performing as well as it did when I first got it. 

I was wondering if anybody out there knows of a service/person who specialises in setting up/testing of this type of OTA. I've been told it is similar to an RC type of scope. 

I have already tried Altair Astro who couldn't help me. I've had the scope for a while now but after my initial images (Jupiter) which before I messed with the OTA were pleasing I can not seem to get it to perform even visually on the moon as we'll as it did. 

Any suggestions/thoughts gratefully received. 

 

Felix 

 

I think there is a lesson to be learnt here for us all and anyone reading this thread . It is very tempting sometimes to "adjust" your scope to get that bit extra. But unless you really know what you are doing then "leave well alone"

I hope you get the scope back up to perform again as it should, I am sure some of the experts mentioned here will be able to help☺

[Astrobits]

22 hours ago, catman161 said:

I have already tried Altair Astro who couldn't help me. I've had the scope for a while now but after my initial images (Jupiter) which before I messed with the OTA were pleasing I can not seem to get it to perform even visually on the moon as we'll as it did. 

Felix 

I find it surprising that the makers with their name on the telescope are not "able" to help. Doesn't say much for their customer service should you have a  fault with a new 'scope.

Nigel

[Davey-T]

3 minutes ago, Astrobits said:

I find it surprising that the makers with their name on the telescope are not "able" to help. Doesn't say much for their customer service should you have a  fault with a new 'scope.

Nigel

With a lot of scopes the "makers" as you call them are in a factory in China the people that sell the scopes just stick a badge on it and distribute it.

Dave

[Astrobits]

According to the Altair Astro web site they make the optics in Europe.  They claim to test the combination of mirrors as a set so must be able to align them correctly.

If you are going to buy items from another source and then stick your name on then you are responsible for the product.

Nigel

[Davey-T]

7 minutes ago, Astrobits said:

According to the Altair Astro web site they make the optics in Europe.  They claim to test the combination of mirrors as a set so must be able to align them correctly.

If you are going to buy items from another source and then stick your name on then you are responsible for the product.

Nigel

Possibly for their RC scopes but the refractors look identical to WO, TS  and others, the only difference is the logo.

Dave

[Astrobits]

46 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

Possibly for their RC scopes but the refractors look identical to WO, TS  and others, the only difference is the logo.

Dave

Quite possibly, but I was quoting Altair Astro's info for the product in the OP's post. And my last sentence still applies.

Nigel

[DaveS]

Not to hijack this thread but I'd be very interested too, as I have a TS 80mm f/4.4 that's been giving me (And Ultranova) the runaround. I would *really* like a report on it, and if possibe have it adjusted.

[James Vincent]

Hi Felix

The Altair Astro Planeta 250 telescope is a classical F18 Cassagrain, Norman Oldham has information on collimating  these on his web site  http://www.oldhamoptical.com/cassegrain-setup

Hope this helps.

Best regards Jim