[Outbackmanyep]

Originally Posted by citivolus

I just got my new Meade 9mm battery powered illuminated reticle eyepiece, and wow, Meade really has taken a high dive into the shallow end of the pool. The LED is on even when the pot is in the off position, there is glue all over the illumination module, and it randomly turns its self off and on. One quick check after assembly at the factory would have caught this, but apparently even that is too much to ask.

I'm sure the vendor will make everything right for me, but he shouldn't have to. I should have just gone for the "cheaper" option to start with.

No more Meade for me, thanks.

I share your pain, i got one from a reputable eastern sydney telescope supplier and when i received mine i encountered the same problems with the illuminator. It looked like it was a faulty unit (perhaps a recirculated factory 2nd) and someone had tried to repair it and did a really crap job on it, like a kid tried to solder the internal connections, im currently getting a replacement CELESTRON illuminator from Adorama in the US, Its the ONLY Meade product i use and im less than impressed, the reticle is quite ok although sometimes it wont hold the focus of the reticle whilst guiding, my illuminator switch now rotates completely around and i have had to "feel" the switch to make sure its turned off properly, my finder scope on the Celestron Ultima has a very good illuminator, i can switch it on with one finger without bumping the scope at all, and its smooth and reliable! Only problem is it doesn't have a screw fitting to put in the Meade reticle......

I will eventually look at the Celestron 12mm fixed crosshair guiding eyepiece as the microguide one is a bit too expensive, the 12mm eyepiece has the thread to put the optional reticle on.
Don't get me wrong though, Celestron do have issues as well, but mainly from the Chinese manufactured variety of Celestron....but if its Japanese made it won't give ANY hassles!!!

Cheers!