Hand controller went completely dead while using it one night. Tried different battery packs. Will not light up. Check coiled cable continuity at both ends. ch'k ok. Red led still lights up on the telescope's plugin port. Telescope's encoders inside scope still light up.
Do I need a new Autostar Hand controller?
I don't know if my old one will work on another scope or not. But at least the new controller works!. Tom Net I don't know if my old one will work on another scope or not. But at least the new controller works!. Tom Net
AnonymousApr 09, 2008
So, finaly I solved the problem. I dismantled the scope too gain access to circuit board and resoldering the wire just behind the connector plug. Now all is ok. I get a help from different sites like www.weasner.com/etx
I asked help to Meade Europe and they responds me and promised to send some parts if we need it, I can't tell any bad about Meade :) So, finaly I solved the problem. I dismantled the scope too gain access to circuit board and resoldering the wire just behind the connector plug. Now all is ok. I get a help from different sites like www.weasner.com/etx
I asked help to Meade Europe and they responds me and promised to send some parts if we need it, I can't tell any bad about Meade :)
AnonymousJul 23, 2008
First Autostar controller for LX90 (no GPS) would get erratic readings in the middle of a session. It would fail to respond to key inputs. Sent to Meade for repair ($85) and they sent a "new" one. Now, this one goes completely dead in the middle of a session. Lights go out, and sometimes it will reboot itself, sometimes it will just be a lights out problem. Called Meade again and service suggested I try battery packs rather than AC adapter. Haven't tried yet. Frustrating. No more Meade products for me either. -RichFirst Autostar controller for LX90 (no GPS) would get erratic readings in the middle of a session. It would fail to respond to key inputs. Sent to Meade for repair ($85) and they sent a "new" one. Now, this one goes completely dead in the middle of a session. Lights go out, and sometimes it will reboot itself, sometimes it will just be a lights out problem. Called Meade again and service suggested I try battery packs rather than AC adapter. Haven't tried yet. Frustrating. No more Meade products for me either. -Rich
It seems I have similar problem and I am trying to solve it.
If I found an answer I let You know. Hallo Tom Net, did You solve Your problem?
It seems I have similar problem and I am trying to solve it.
If I found an answer I let You know.
You can't post conmments that contain an email address.
Had the same problem. Took it to a dealer and we put a new controller on but the funny thing was that my old controller worked fine on another scope but it would not work on mine. Agreed with "Guest" above - Mead's after sales service is bad.
I ended up replacing the Hand Controller with a new one. After that it started working. I brought the new one on E-bay. They seem to have the best prices. Forget about talking to Meade. Their innate ability to reply to your phone calls or emails just doesn't work. I will ***** buy a telescope from them again.
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First thing to check or replace is the hand controller cable.
Does the red light come on -- on the control panel. If yes the scope is receiving power but it's not going to the hand controller. I have had two Meade cables fail. A longer one is available on
However these scopes do have an issue with blowing out the capacitors on the power circuit board. To repair the scope must be returned to Meade, or you need to find a local electronic repair technician and be willing to remove the board yourself and take it to them.
Reset the hand controller, calibrate motors, train drives, calibrate sensors.
Make sure you have either fresh batteries, or better a seperate 12 volt power pack. The above will eleiminate everything except an actual BROKEN electronic part (such as a bad gps board).
If it still will not align using the gps, time to send it back to Meade for repairs. Make sure you have the latest firmware in the hand controller which is 43Eg. You can download the firmware using the UPDATER free software here: http://www.meade.com/support/downloads.html
A fellow by the name of Ron Sampson can repair hand controllers and main boards on Meade telescopes. He does very good work. All you need to send him are the board(s).
You can contact him by posting a message on the Yahoo LX90 or LX200 group forums. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/lx90/
Good luck-- by the way he repaired the hand controller for our astronomy clubs 10 inch Meade LX200, at a very reasonable cost.
If it will not boot-up it's probably the main board. However, I would try a brand new hand controller cable first before I panic.
A fellow by the name of Ron Sampson can repair the hand controller and or the main board circuits. He can be contacted by placing a message for him on the LX200 and the LX90 Yahoo Tech Group.
Hope that helps you. You can send him the hand controller and the main board and he will have a look at it.
Since you already disassembled the scope-- you can send the board to Ron Sampson and he should be able to repair it. He fixes main boards and hand controllers (including the screen and keyboard on the hand controller!)
If you post a message on the Yahoo LX90 group looking for Ron Sampson he will answer you. You can then email or phone him for instruction on how to send him the board.
ARE YOU SURE it's the board? It could be a bad keyboard or a bad cable on the hand controller. You should get another hand controller and cable and test it before you send it off. Can you borrow a hand controller and cable from anyone.... or from a local scope retailer?
Calibrate motors using the same power source you will use outside.
Re-train the drives
Calibrate sensors on Polaris
Use either the 110 volt power cord, or buy a 12 volt power pack and the proper Meade 12 volt cable. (www.scopestuff.com carries the right 12 volt cable)
If your scope is NOT the LNT or GPS model you must level the tripod before you align. Go to home depot and buy the $3 small plastic two way bubble level, or the bulls-eye style bubble level.
Further trouble, I suggest going to the LX90 Yahoo group forum, and asking questions there.
If the hand controller on the LX6 has stopped working you have a problem since meade does not support this very old telescope. My only suggestion would be to place an ad on www.astromart.com looking for a new hand controller.
If the error message indicates a "motor fault" make sure you have a good power supply and or fresh batteries-- as low voltage will cause a motor fault error.
Later you said it was an LX90 LNT-- ?? so which scope do you actually own???
One thing you can do is to completely reset the controller and reinput everything back into it. If that doesn't work then you need a new hand controller.
It would be nice if you can take it to a local telescope shop and have them try your controller on one of theirs. Tom Net
I don't know if my old one will work on another scope or not. But at least the new controller works!.
Tom Net
So, finaly I solved the problem. I dismantled the scope too gain access to circuit board and resoldering the wire just behind the connector plug. Now all is ok. I get a help from different sites like www.weasner.com/etx
I asked help to Meade Europe and they responds me and promised to send some parts if we need it, I can't tell any bad about Meade :)
First Autostar controller for LX90 (no GPS) would get erratic readings in the middle of a session. It would fail to respond to key inputs. Sent to Meade for repair ($85) and they sent a "new" one. Now, this one goes completely dead in the middle of a session. Lights go out, and sometimes it will reboot itself, sometimes it will just be a lights out problem. Called Meade again and service suggested I try battery packs rather than AC adapter. Haven't tried yet. Frustrating. No more Meade products for me either. -Rich
Hallo Tom Net, did You solve Your problem?
It seems I have similar problem and I am trying to solve it.
If I found an answer I let You know.
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