My Setup

29th October 2006 - Went to pick up my new second scope the ETX125 today from Horsham just south of Crawley from a very nice chap by the name of Patrick Collins, I'd landed the deal of an ETX125/Toshiba Satellite Pro Laptop and the Meade eyepiece collection and thier original case. Left bristol about 9.00am and got to Patricks about 11:45am. Thanks Patrick for your great hospitality and I hope all go's well with the band - incidentally you can preview his The Who tribute band at www.myspace.com/thequadrophonia well worth a look see.

Anyway got back to Bristol around 3:00pm but oh no cloudy skies so I went indoors and checked everything out. I intend to use this scope for more portability and for taking out to better dark sites.

31st October 2006 - Finally got out to check the scope this evening. The goto worked fine finding both alignment stars within the 26" eyepiece. Slewed to the Andromeda galaxy and looking through the 32" Super Plossl I did'nt realise just how much I'd missed my hobby. But woe of woe's the galaxy was'nt staying in the eyepiece field of view - a tracking problem me thinks. I retrained the drives and calibrated the motors and pretty much spent the rest of the night scratching my head and drinking loads of coffee. About 10:45 I came in from the cold and decided to update the autostar instead.

01st November 2006 - Had a rude awakening in work today my wife had been involved in an RTA so I rushed home as quick as I could, Mandy and my son Camlann were OK thank God, as for the car, i'd rather not talk about it. Spent the rest of the day sorting out the insurance etc and trying to cheer up the missus. I was out with the scope about 6:30pm this evening and again two star alignment was brilliant but the thing still would not track correctly, not even the bloody Moon. At 9:00pm I came back in and went straight online to Mike Weasners site for a bit of salvation. After reading upteen posts I came across one left by Steve Bryson back in August 2003.

Basically he describes how checking the optical encoders for grease may improve the scope, he go's on to say:

"Summary: I had no east to west motion on my RA/Azimuth axis at low speeds. In particular I had no northern-hemisphere sidereal tracking in polar mode with the basic EC (though I had good southern-hemisphere sidereal tracking). The problem turned out to be grease on the optical encoder's pink component (It's either the emitter or the detector, I'm not sure which). After the grease was cleaned off the telescope works wonderfully!

Details: This is a story of thinking I had bought a lemon then discovering an easy but not obvious fix, resulting in a GREAT telescope. I bought the ETX-125 last week from the discovery store (without UHTC :() after waiting several months for the one I ordered -- I couldn't stand missing Mars anymore. I should mention that the model I have is the newer metal-fork model, even though the model number on the box reads 0515-03-01.

The first two nights the autostar behavior was very erratic, sometimes tracking, most times not. GOTO on the autostar was often inaccurate. I reset, calibrated, retrained and realigned the autostar several times, with no change in behavior. Then several cloudy days/nights. Today while doing some Solar observing with the basic EC in polar alignment I confirmed that it was no longer doing any sidereal tracking at all in northern hemisphere mode. Strangely, when I switched to the southern hemisphere mode it clearly tracked correctly (which is in the wrong direction for me). In both northern and southern hemisphere modes the RA/azimuth motor was making noises so clearly it was trying to track.

After deciding that I did not want to deal with Meade warranty service (not to mention not wanting to miss Mars) and guided by the wealth of information on your wonderful site I took a deep breath and opened the bottom. The appearance was a little different from Jordan Blessing's pictures at http://home.att.net/~scopetronix/etxtu.htm, including many more exposed plastic gears smothered in grease. I went through his checklist and there were no obvious problems: the gears were generally very tight.

I then put the batteries back in the case and plugged in the EC (with the base still open). I put it in southern-hemisphere sidereal tracking mode and could see the gears turning nicely. Then in northern-hemisphere sidereal tracking mode the behavior was very erratic: sometimes there would be no motion of the gears at all, then after high-speed slewing with the EC the big gear attached to the motor would wiggle but not turn. I could find no obvious physical obstruction.

Inspired by Jordan Blessing's warnings about grease on the optical encoder gear (which I had verified was clean), I then identified the three parts of the optical encoder, which is hidden behind the large gear unlike the photo on Jordan Blessing's site: the toothed gear which counts the rotations ("counter gear") and is attached to the motor shaft behind the big gear and is the only gear with no grease; the black component (the detector?) between the counter gear and the case, and the pink component (the emitter?) between the counter gear and the motor. On close examination I could see that there was a lot of grease on the pink component.

After removing the batteries, I used a bent paper clip to scrape much of the grease off the pink component, and a little grease off the circuit board under the pink component. It is not easy to see and access this area because it is under the big gear, unlike the picture of the optical encoder on Jordan Blessing's page. I had to be careful not to get grease on the counter wheel.

After removing most of the grease, I replaced the batteries and put the system in northern-hemisphere sidereal mode. The gears now turned very nicely just like in the southern-hemisphere mode. I was surprised it was that easy and my wife was impressed.

Tonight, following Clay Sherrod's excellent instructions on your site, I reset, recalibrated and retrained the motors using Polaris, then carefully set home position with a bubble level before doing an easy alignment. I then had a very enjoyable 2 hours with the telescope using autostar in alt/azimuth mode, with rock solid tracking and perfect GOTO behavior. I split the double double with a 9mm eyepiece/2x Barlow (demonstrating the solid tracking at high magnification), and unexpectedly enjoyed the "best of tonight" tour, with GOTO placing every object within the 26mm eyepiece field. I finished with a nice view of Mars before the clouds rolled in"

I followed the above to the tea and as I write this the bottom is open on my scope and everything looks like its tracking fine - to check this I marked each cog with an indelible marker, so far so good. One thing though I did open up the scope to find one of the screws holding down the gear shaft housing had fallen out and the whole housing was loose, I believe this is what started the problem off in the first place. Found the screw and replaced, screwed the housing down and its been tracking with no cog slide for about 20 minutes or so. Tomorrow night I will go out and check, that will be the ultimate test. I will keep you posted.

02nd November 2006 - 9:00pm , I had previously set up the scope at about 6:30pm this evening to give the scope plenty of cool down time and once out I set about checking the sidereal to see if the previous nights tinkering had worked. I commenced the two star alignment, this went well with both stars within the 26" eyepiece.

I then chose to stay with the second alignment star to check the tracking I centered it and went away and made a coffee. When I came back about ten minutes later "with my fingers crossed" I looked in the eyepiece and HOORAH there it was dead center, thanks Steve. I chose the Pliades next and the scope slew straight to it, then The Andromeda Galaxy, again dead center and then back to Pliades. By this time it was about 10:30pm and not wanting a late night as I had the previous night I closed everything down and was packed away and in the warm within 10 minutes. Its getting very cold very quickly as we approach christmas.

05th November 2006 - Bonfire night tonight, had all the kids round and had a very noisy time.

26th November 2006 - I must confess I've been a bit too busy to update the diary this past couple of weeks. Needless to say the weather has'nt been the best so I've not been using the scope as I would like. Managed to link my laptop to the computer via my new Belkin Wireless Network Adaptor I bought from Amazon, this works really well and cheap too. So I've managed to link everything and load all my Astronomy software onto my laptop ready for when the weather breaks.

Ive also been doing somemore updating to my website, I've updated the WeatherCams section - I feel I'm going a bit mad with the cams, I keep adding more and more.I've also added the How Too section. I'm quite pleased with how this has turned out. Anyway I'm off to bed "Heres to clear skies"

08th December 2006 - Been working nights for the first part of the month so the sites finally been updated but not until today, my apologies. Have updated the Observing Notes for this month and included new data for the planets plus the Geminids meteor shower due this month, have also included a write up on Orion. As for being out with the scope, the UK has seen the brunt of particulary nasty weather this month so no clear skies for me, hers hoping the weather improves soon. I hope you all have a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a GREAT NEW YEAR.

04th January 2007 - Happy New Year one and all, I've had a busy Christmas and I enjoyed it but I'm glad its over. Suffering with a chest infection as I write this so I'm trying to be quick so I can go back to bed. I have managed to update the Observing Notes for this month and added something new to the How Too section. Once I get rid of my cough I hope to start work on the foundations etc of the new SkyShed. Speak soon Clear Skies.

10th January 2007 - I had a great view of Comet Mcnaught on the western horizon at about 17:15 this afternoon it looked great through binoculars - the weather cleard just enough so I was very lucky.

The photo's below were posted by Rod Cuff to the ETXAstro User Group, taken by himself from the North Yorkshire Moors near where he lives. I think you will agree they are lovely photos.

Pictures taken by Rod Cuff of the ETXAstro User Group

16th January 2007 - Picked up my new camera today, an SBig ST5-C after seeing the advert in astronomy buy and sell . I met up with Dr Lilian Hobbs who was selling the camera, please go and visit her website . Lilian emailed a lovely photo of what the camera was capable of before I bought it.

M42 through ST5-C Lilian Hobbs ©

This was the result of a combination of 60, 2 sec images taken thru Lilians 4” AP telescope. Focus is only very rough and processing is rough but what a fantastic image. What else oh yes finally started my setup page, oh and its still raining, heres to clear skies soon.

22nd January 2007 - Had the scope out tonight for the first time in what seems like forever, for the first couple of hours I was testing the star alignment and tracking again and guess what I think I need to take the bottom off the thing again, tracking is still a wee bit aratic. This was a major pain because I was also testing the SBIG tonight, finding a star in rough focus was fine but trying to focus down and image was a nightmare because of the irregular tracking. I will have a look at the scope again tomorrow and see what I can see. On a brighter note I did manage a look at Saturn tonight and she looked gorgeous. The weathermen say we may have snow tomorrow aswell, we will see.

18th February 2007 - Been very busy this month, but at the same time very lazy. I've only just updated the website so I do apologise. I'm just about to start my Pier project which will be linked from this webpage keep a lookout. Weathers been a bit rubbish so no astronomy for me so far this month, hoping to get back out there soon. My webcam is down at the moment, sorting this soon waiting for delivery of a new one.

19th February 2007 - Just thought you might like to join the online petition to Number 10 against LIGHT POLLUTION in th UK go here to sign LIGHT POLLUTION PETITION .

02nd March 2007 - Just added a new link for my friends Drivng school here in Bristol, if your looking to learn to drive please visit AMANDA'S SCHOOL OF MOTORING .

03rd March 2007 - Outside tonight for the Total Eclipse of the Moon, weather looks good for clear skies.

09th March 2007 - Equipped with only your eyes, you can join other stargazers in a worldwide effort to assess light pollution.

A team of astronomers and environmental scientists wants you to count some stars this month as part of the GLOBE at Night project, an effort to gauge the extent of light pollution worldwide. The task is simple: determine how many of Orion's stars can be seen on clear, moonless evenings from your home or observing site, then report your findings to project's website.

Conceived by staffers at the National Optical Astronomy Observatories in Tucson, Arizona, this ambitious endeavor is managed by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research and Colorado State University. GLOBE stands for Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment, a program to involve primary-and secondary-school students in scientific activities worldwide.

17th March 2007 - Added my PIER PROJECT to the How To section, please take a look. This is for my ETX 125 to be used in Polar Mode.

18th March 2007 - Please visit my mate Gareth's new WEBSITE, MTBAvon, all about cycling in and around Bristol, Wales and the Westcountry.

09th May 2007 - Have'nt made any notes in the past few weeks, I've just updated the observing notes and I've also almost completed my Astrophotography pages, watch this space.

02nd August 2007 - Well its been about two months since I updated my website, been a bit busy and to tell the truth a bit lazy aswell. The weather as we all know has been complete rubbish, as a matter of fact I think the last really clear night we had here in Bristol was about two months ago aswell.

Well I've updated this months observing notes and all willing I am looking forward to seeing Vesta by Jupiter later this month, I may even try to photgraph it, we'll see, speak soon seeya.

06th October 2007 - Just updated this months observing notes and I'm looking forward to it getting darker earlier - more time on the scope - Happy Halloween.

01st January 2008 - Another year passes and a new one is just beginning, I've been a bit lapse with the website the last few months - New Years resolution "keep the site up to date", as for January, theres the Quantrantids Meteor Shower to look forward to, and a nice couple of comets. Happy New Year all from The Skyshed.

01st February 2008 - Looking forward to the Lunar Eclipse on the 21st, lets hope its clear skies here in Bristol and for you, I've have just updated the Observing Notes for this month aswell.

21st February 2008 - Watched what I could of the Eclipse this morning, as I was in work and also it was a bit cloudy, from what I did see it was a good show.

10th March 2008 - Updated observing notes for this month, bit late I know but I've been tackling the garden.

06th April 2008 - Updated observing notes for April and also updated My WeatherCam with a 24 hour timelapse movie which will update automatically. Also I have been inspired by Martin Hicks Weather Site to build my own weather station and I will be introducing this to the website very soon. Watch this space..