hi andrew
are they using autostar 2 or a new controller ??????
sounds like your going to be de-bugging the new mounts
For the LX80, they are using the Audiostar, hence we will wait and see how much if anything has been fixed. We already have the code for them fully analysed, so checking shouldnt be a big deal.
I suspect the LX800 will be using similar processors to the LS series,
and this is on a massive PCB inside the scope, NOT the Hbx.
We have not and are not even looking at that firmware as it is too hard to disassemble/decompile ( unless someone knows where to get a generic Blackfin disassembler as a basis for writing a custom one )
As such, even tho we know the LS has lots of bugs,
and the LX800 will probably have a pile too,
they probably arent going to be fixed by us.
I bet almost anything that the lx800 will not actually live up to it's claims and go the same way as the rx400 scopes. Since I've been in this hobby Meade have consistently failed in their attention to programming. The lx50 Magellan 2 was a total disaster and wouldn't work properly in the southern hemisphere until I finally tracked down the programmer and after a series of emails got him to sent me a fix for it. Not generally made available as they didn't sell too many in this hemisphere. The autostar was generally good but how many times was this unofficially fixed with patches to bring it up to scratch? Reliability of the lx200 series was questionable as far as the electronics and motherboard was concerned.
I just hope they do a better job of it this time and don't klutz it up again and can actually program the thing for the southern hemisphere.
Rant off
kicking myself at the lower end - just bought a minitower (ioptron) and planning to buy a ADM wedge for it in a few minths - and here is the LX80 doing everything i want!... oh well
I have designed a new wedge for use with the MT and PRO. It will work on the iOptron HD tripod only as well as the venerable Atlas/EQG tripod. It SHOULD start production around November. Price will be announced around then. It will included indexed fine control AZ adjustments which were not in the version that I sent to ADM. There will also be better knobs and bearings on the ALT adjustment. We have tested it on both mounts and it is far better than my last design. We have done some nice imaging with both mounts using the proto-type. In fact, it is steady enough and accurate enough that the only errors seen were the result of the iOptron firmware and motor control!
I agree with many that these products COULD be iOptron killers. However, Meade has a very tarnished reputation regarding first shipments as noted above. Also, their service department and policies are the worst on the planet, bar none! Therefore, until I actually get one of these in hand and can test it and then tear it apart, I will consider the LX-80 and LX-800 to be Dreamware. All show and no go at this point.
I hope they get this right, as i was reading this post i said out loud i want one the wife was walking past and said you all ways want somthing but your not getting it, I wonder what she meant
Well those vids and brochure answered a few of my questions. So the guide system fixed to the dec head via some serious bracketry. Dec balance would be fun unless there is a counter weight system to offset the guide scope. At these prices one could have the tried and proven AP Mach1 GTO for $350 more which would mean the LX800 mount would really have to perform, not just be loaded with electronic doodads. Interestingly the stated controller is the autostar II version which I love.
Well those vids and brochure answered a few of my questions. So the guide system fixed to the dec head via some serious bracketry. Dec balance would be fun unless there is a counter weight system to offset the guide scope. At these prices one could have the tried and proven AP Mach1 GTO for $350 more which would mean the LX800 mount would really have to perform, not just be loaded with electronic doodads. Interestingly the stated controller is the autostar II version which I love.
Mark
Yea I'm wondering about the DEC balance with the Starlock as well, If these scopes turn out to be all that they are saying they are which is unlikely they surely be some very nice bits of kit. All will be revealed when the first proper reviews come out suppose.
Well those vids and brochure answered a few of my questions. So the guide system fixed to the dec head via some serious bracketry. Dec balance would be fun unless there is a counter weight system to offset the guide scope. At these prices one could have the tried and proven AP Mach1 GTO for $350 more which would mean the LX800 mount would really have to perform, not just be loaded with electronic doodads. Interestingly the stated controller is the autostar II version which I love.
Mark
Line the two mounts up - the LX800 and the AP Mach1 GTO bear more than a small resembelence ... looks like meade has done another re-badge -re work job ....
Looks like no more than an Mach1 GTO, with autostar II , and an autoguider built in - having said that - Autostar II is relatively well sorted, as is the GTO, so depending on the quality of the autoguider, should be a good package....
Looks like no more than an Mach1 GTO, with autostar II , and an autoguider built in - having said that - Autostar II is relatively well sorted,
Just for info, the ASII still has a lot of bugs in it, and a lot probably wont affect users of this scope, however PEC will
Also, looking at the piccies in the flyer and zooming then tweaking the images, it looks like the LX800 has a std LX200 control panel fitted
and the Starlock unit is plugged into what is currently the rs232port.
Secondly, the Starlock body would appear to show 2 cameras,
an rs232 port and an ST4 port.
If we assume the small camera operates like the LS scopes and the big scope has a camera, factory tuned for infinite focus, then all the guiding "smarts" are probably inside the Starlock unit, and it just sends std serial guide commands to the main control panel.
If it just uses std pulseguide commands, then the Starlock unit could theoretically be used as a standalone guider for ANY Meade scope.
Thats just a guess so far tho, but an enticing prospect,
Time will tell.
Just for info, the ASII still has a lot of bugs in it, and a lot probably wont affect users of this scope, however PEC will
Also, looking at the piccies in the flyer and zooming then tweaking the images, it looks like the LX800 has a std LX200 control panel fitted
and the Starlock unit is plugged into what is currently the rs232port.
Andrew ... I agree about ASII not being perfect - but it's proabably a better starting point than a lot of previous Meade new release products...
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewJ
Secondly, the Starlock body would appear to show 2 cameras,
an rs232 port and an ST4 port.
If we assume the small camera operates like the LS scopes and the big scope has a camera, factory tuned for infinite focus, then all the guiding "smarts" are probably inside the Starlock unit, and it just sends std serial guide commands to the main control panel.
If it just uses std pulseguide commands, then the Starlock unit could theoretically be used as a standalone guider for ANY Meade scope.
I did spot both of those cameras and assumed the small cam was a LS type auto align feature ... and also spotted the 'lx200' control panel in place of the AP one ... at least it probably responds to standard meade command sets for the LX-200 series .. in the most part anyway..
Quote:
Originally Posted by AndrewJ
Thats just a guess so far tho, but an enticing prospect,
Time will tell.
Andrew
Indeed - enticing enough to be an early adopter ... not quite sure!
Andrew ... I agree about ASII not being perfect - but it's proabably a better starting point than a lot of previous Meade new release products...
Sort of, maybe, but, yeah, nah
The old style 497 handboxes have been upgraded to new processors in the 497EP/Audiostars, but basically run the same underlying firmware.
As part of migrating the firmware from one processor type to the other,
lots of new bugs were introduced,
as the old firmware used 8bit big endian processing
and the new units use 16bit little endian.
This still causes problems in the newer 497s.
( I do like the newer processors and memory used,
as its easier to patch,
but the fact it does need patching is a problem )
If Meade have also gone to the new processors for the LX800
then i suspect that there will be a few iterations of new bugs to deal with.
This isnt a problem if Meade are receptive to fixing them,
but there isnt a good track record for that
What i like best about Meade is there pricing in Australia is much closer to the US price. The LX80 looks like a nice mount and the alt/EQ hybrid is really a cool feature. No more wedge requried. One thing the capcity of 70lbs is given is two OTA's are used but can this work in EQ mode? Could you use a 2nd OTA instead of counter weights?
Its good to see Meade are still around and putting out new products. Would like to have seen some new OTA designs though. Something like the Edge HD.
Would like to have seen some new OTA designs though.
The new OTAs coming with the LX800 are supposed to have a few innovations in them, incl an internal motorised focusser that moves the primary mirror without any shift.
Dont have any details, but it sounds like the mirror also sits on 6 bearings, vs a greased sled, so that may be a good move.
Maybe the bigger CO they use allows bearings to be fitted to the sled
whilst staying out of the light path????
Again time will tell
The new OTAs coming with the LX800 are supposed to have a few innovations in them, incl an internal motorised focusser that moves the primary mirror without any shift.
Dont have any details, but it sounds like the mirror also sits on 6 bearings, vs a greased sled, so that may be a good move.
Maybe the bigger CO they use allows bearings to be fitted to the sled
whilst staying out of the light path????
Again time will tell
Andrew
Sounds like more stuff to go wrong Im very happy they are trying new things though.
New wedge
Im very happy they are trying new things though.
