Does Anyone Here Own a new Meade RC Scope

[dmill1220]

Hi Folks!
Just curious if anyone here owns, or has had any experience with the New Meade Ritchey Criterion Scopes?
Wow I'm getting old I'm not sure if I even spelled that correctly!
I was recently at a Rivers Camera Astronomy Day function where one of Meade's Representative was there showing off the new line of scopes.
I was amazed at its construction but weary of its open air baffles.

From what I gather the small secondary mirror moves for focusing instead of the larger primary mirror, I thought that this was definitely innovative on their part, but I'm just wondering how good this setup would hold its collimation thru bumpy Rides to the field.

But here is were I'm suspicious, the air baffles with the built in fans!
one of the things I like about my SCT is the closed tube design, I don't have to worry about dust or bugs getting on the inside of my optics. The rep said this was to accommodate faster cool down times and I'm sure he is right, but I don't like the idea of letting in more humidity ,dust and the occasional bug, fly into my tube.

Since I live in New England, in the summer, bugs are worse than you would think, and humidity or frost is a constant battle. I go thru great lengths to protect my optics from both I use Dew heaters and when I come in from the cold to the living room, where I store all of my scopes I have special precautions that I must take to keep the optics from dewing, not to mention that my wife smokes. I would love to hear from someone who owns one of these. I was leaning to purchasing the large version the 16 inch model but I'm worried about that new design.
Dennis

[stuart]

A few comments. First, the telescopes on our campus have their focus on the secondary and it's worked out well. However, they're 16-24 inch primaries, so they're not moved ever.

Second, most giant professional telescopes (the 3.5-m WIYN on Kitt Peak comes to mind) have the open-air design as opposed to a closed tube.

In line with that, third, I think the fans serve more than to just facilitate faster cool-down times. I think they also help to keep those bugs and especially dust off of the mirror. I seriously doubt that they will lead to more dust/bugs, as long as you keep the primary covered when you're not using it. Also, I doubt that humidity inside the 'scope after 5 minutes outside would be any different if the tube were closed or open.

I hope that helps.

[dmill1220]

Originally Posted by Stuart

A few comments. First, the telescopes on our campus have their focus on the secondary and it's worked out well. However, they're 16-24 inch primaries, so they're not moved ever.

Second, most giant professional telescopes (the 3.5-m WIYN on Kitt Peak comes to mind) have the open-air design as opposed to a closed tube.

In line with that, third, I think the fans serve more than to just facilitate faster cool-down times. I think they also help to keep those bugs and especially dust off of the mirror. I seriously doubt that they will lead to more dust/bugs, as long as you keep the primary covered when you're not using it. Also, I doubt that humidity inside the 'scope after 5 minutes outside would be any different if the tube were closed or open.

I hope that helps.

Thanks Stuart !
It helps a little, but are you sure of which way these fans blow?
If I purchase the 16 inch model I will be moving it on a monthly basis.
Have you personally seen this Meade design?
From what I've gathered, If I remember correctly they were intake fans but I cant be sure, my memory is failing me lately!
LOL!
and I don't believe they had any way to simply cover them, if something does get in there, it would be a nightmare to remove it. you would have to disassemble the tube, thats not like my 12 inch DOB where its is easy to remove the rear primary assembly! or just an open truss tube.
I just don't want to jump to the expensive purchase, the 16 inch is quite pricey! and I'm just looking for someone with experience with this particular model.
Dennis

[stuart]

No, sorry, my remarks were general rather than specific to that telescope, as I have not seen it at all. I was under the impression that the fans blow across the mirror, from the environment across the mirror.

Unless it's come out within the last month or so, I would recommend searching for reviews online. You could also try to post on the BAUT forum, which gets a lot more traffic.

[Darryl]

Hi Dennis,

Check this out http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/M...0_Advanced_RC/.

I use the Yahoo groups myself and find them to be the best source of detailed help and information about specific products. I visit numerous product specific Yahoo groups. I wish it was this site but that will come with time.

[dmill1220]

Thanks Darryl!
I did find some reports on this particular design.
I especially found the one on a IR leak from the encoders to be quite disturbing. I think I will hold off on that purchase until Meade either corrects the bugs or engineering deficiencies, or I get much more input from other RC users.
Good link!
I usually stay away from anything Yahoo related. I just heard a few bad things about them , although I'm not sure if they are true, and I wont mention what I heard either, you know how rumors and defamation can ruin your whole day!
Dennis