The compact and portable design of the ETX-80AT-TC Refractor Go-To Telescope will have you out observing the inexhaustible quantity of visible phenomena in no time. The ETX-80AT-TC double-tine, fork mountings include high-torque DC motors on both telescope axes, permitting electronic operation from the included plug-in AutoStar hand controller. You can instantly select any speeds simply by pressing the SPEED button on the AutoStar controller. As an added bonus, the ETX-80AT-TC telescope comes with Meade's ultra-sturdy, easy-to-use, Standard Field Meade #882 Tripod that features micrometric controls to provide precise equatorial alignment of your telescope at any observing latitude from 20 to 90 degrees. This alignment is useful for fully automatic tracking of celestial objects in right ascension. Should you decide to look at the surface of your own planet for a while, the Altazimuth (90-degree) Orientation option provided by this tripod is useful for terrestrial viewing. This is also the preferred mode for astronomical applications when you use the AutoStar controller for automatic object location and tracking. Lens Coatings - Multi-Coated Optics Maximum Practical Visual Power - 275X Telescope Mounting - Fork Type, Double Tine Series 4000 Super Plossl SP 9.7 mm And SP 26 mm 1.25 Eyepieces AutoStar Computer Controller (Meade #494) With Time Chip/Level/Compass Internal Flip-In Barlow Lens (FocalLength/Magnification Multiplier) Motor Drive System - DC Servo Motors With Encoders, Both Axes, 12 VDC Slow Motion Control - Electric, 9-Speed, Both Axes Standard Field Meade #882 Tripod Dimensions - Optical Tube Diameter 3.6 x Length 14.5 Weight - Telescope 12.5 pounds, Tripod 8.0 pounds
REVIEW
Not Bad for the Price Got this scope for Christmas. I was plenty excited about getting one after years of wanting a scope. I am a total amatuer in the field. The last scope I had was a long red Tasco many many years ago. I will review this just as I see it. I've never been near a fancy expensive scope, let alone use one. I put it together real quick. Put the batteries in (obviously any electronic field equipment is going to require batteries).
I gotto set it out finally after a week of overcast skies. I turned it on and set up the time, date, daylight savings time, zip code and other initial settings. I used the included compass/level and set it to North. I went through the 'easy align' setup where it pointed to two stars. I don't really know the star names or locations but I would try to adjust it to the nearest brightest star I could see. The first and second alignments did not take. It was way off in the end. Eventually on the third try I realized that I should turn the daylight savings time 'off' and reset the clock. This fixed me right up. Once I did my third alignment, I found Saturn first time. I had purchase, as an accessory, the zhumell 1.25" EYEFIL set and started from the 25mm set and worked my way down the the 4mm. I found the higher the magnification I got the more the slop in the gears and mechanisms I noticed. When I would turn clockwise on the focus the scope's view would skew right. I learned I could over compensate slightly and refocus in the other direction to bring back the image. Its not so bad with the 9mm size lense but with the 4mm, you lose sight all together and you have to reacquirethe target which shows other issues. When you skew the drive left it will send your view down slightly and then move as commanded. Again not so bad with the 9mm but borderline frustrating with the 4mm. The up and down skew does the same thing. Skew up and the view will move to the right some. It sounds like a nightmare of slop but in reality its liveable with some practice. It got cloudy on me so I packed it up for the night (that and I was freezing at 38 degrees)
Day two. Now that I was more familiar with it I dug in to the book and checked the faq sections on Meade.com. I calibrated the motors and checked alignments and mechanisms. I oiled the built in 2x barlow and it worked a lot smoother. I had to reset the azumith dial and I checked closely why I was seeing the slop. Its due 100% to construction. The forks are not sturdily built as they look and warp with the torque. There is a setting in the options for changing the backlash. I did not notice any improvement in the slop with this setting at max. I took it out again on a nice clear night. I had no problem getting it aligned in and I had a much easier time centering in and keeping targets in place even going to the higher powers with the barlow engaged. I used the Guided Tour option and I looked at Saturn, glimpsed Mars setting, The Great Orion Nebula, the Paliedes, and Cluster stars. I don't know how they did it but this little controller has a ton of information and it told me everything about what I was looking at. It has the ability to find whatever your looking for which is terrific for me.
It can also track satillites including the International Space Station. It says that satillites are best viewed in the morning or evenings because of the sun reflecting on the object. I haven't yet tracked any sats but I commanded it to find the ISS and it skewed into position and had a countdown timer. Apparently when the counddown is finished I look into the eyepiece for the target and push enter for it to follow. Is that cool or what? The government don't need to spend billions of dollars on fancy satillite tracking equipment. Just hire a friendly neighborhood nerd, pay him minimum wage and give him this telescope. Even Goerge W could use this!
With a communication cable you can use the included software to update its database for more recent finds or launches or firmware updates. I haven't loaded the software yet so I can't say if its good or not. I've heard there has been many issues with the software installing and right now I don't want the headache.
ALL TOGETHER, this is a fun telescope even with the high power slop. It is the best price/ bang for your buck at only $270. You cannot expect a super quiet, metal geared, cast fork, monstrosity for 270!. Instead expect a smart, compact, lightweight, 'plastic, tin, aluminum, made in korea' scope for the passing amatuer that will show you Saturn's rings, right out of the box and have enough money left over for fun accessories that can transfer over in a few years to something bigger and more expensive!
Chaotic is the revolutionary new collectible trading card game that takes TCGs and online game play to the next level with the inclusion of integrated multi-level online game play at no extra charge. These booster packs enhance The Chaotic online game experience. The Power is in the Code. Every chaotic card contains a unique code that unlocks a digital card playable on the free chaotic online gaming portal www.ChaoticGame.com. Chaotic is designed from the inception to be an interconnected brand. The online game experience, the video game, cell and wireless connections, toys and, most importantly, trading cards are all core elements to the game play and interact with each other through the central database where all the unique codes are stored. ChaoticGame.com allows players to store and share their cards in an online card portfolio, trade cards, build battle groups, join the Chaotic communities, challenge friends and compete in a secure parent-friendly environment against other Chaotic players. Each of the five factory-sealed booster packs contains nine cards.
This Futaba compatible rc transmitter trainer cord (FUTM4415) plugs into the trainer port on the back of your Futaba transmitter. Once both transmitters are connected with this Futaba trainer cord either transmitter can be used to control the radio control airplane, helicopter, car, boat, truck etc. This allows one experienced person to teach another person how to use the rc vehicle without fully handing over control. This is especially handy for learning how to fly RC airplanes and RC helicopters because when the aircraft begins to go out of control from the learner, the experienced pilot can seamlessly take control of the rc aircraft and recover before a crash is inevitable. The Futaba square plug rc transmitter to transmitter trainer cord features: * Durable: High quality brand name Futaba cable * Plug Style: Futaba square micro plugs on both ends * Compatible with: Futaba 9C, Futaba 6EXA, and Futaba 4YF (and other Futaba transmitters that use this style end trainer port) * Color: black * Length: 9ft (2.7m)
Chaotic is the revolutionary new collectible trading card game that takes TCGs and online game play to the next level with the inclusion of integrated multi-level online game play at no extra charge. These booster packs enhance The Chaotic online game experience. The Power is in the Code. Every chaotic card contains a unique code that unlocks a digital card playable on the free chaotic online gaming portal www.ChaoticGame.com. Chaotic is designed from the inception to be an interconnected brand. The online game experience, the video game, cell and wireless connections, toys and, most importantly, trading cards are all core elements to the game play and interact with each other through the central database where all the unique codes are stored. ChaoticGame.com allows players to store and share their cards in an online card portfolio, trade cards, build battle groups, join the Chaotic communities, challenge friends and compete in a secure parent-friendly environment against other Chaotic players. Each of the five factory-sealed Zenith of the Hive booster packs contains nine cards.
