ASHs Meade 14-inch LX200:

The 14" LX200GPS is a wonderful scope. Meade truly did not let us down on this one. I personally have went from an 8" SCT to a 12" SCT. The 12" SCT is my scope and is still a portable telescope for me. The Astronomical Society of Harrisburg wanted a scope for an observatory, and this scope truly is for that. I can set up a 12" on my own, but I wouldn't attempt to with this beautiful scope. I wouldn't hold size/weight against this telescope, it shouldn't be a concern. Like Meade's 16" I believe they wanted to design a more "permanent" telescope, and while this certainly could make trips out in the country, it really does belong in a dome or roll-off somewhere. The science this thing can do from a permanent setting is plentiful, and if you really want to take it out, do that, but I'm sure with a CCD Camera and this in your backyard, you'll have all the fun you want with this scope.

The 14" has 2 more inches of aperture than my 12" but the difference is there. The resolving power or resolution of the scope is better, as it should be. It really pulls apart the centers of some globulars, resolving the centers of globulars much better than my 12".

The scope is not hard to set up, quite easy. With 2 people, and everything right there, the scope can be put on the tripod and ready to be turned on in about 4 minutes. Alignment takes about 6 or so minutes depending on your skills centering alignment stars. However, if you are mounting this in a permanent observatory, all you'll have to worry about is alignment, and in some cases depending on what you do when you "close down" for the night you might not even need to do that.

I'll be adding to this page over time with my thoughts on the scope but the first issue I want to bring out with the scope is the problem with the Meade AC Adapter. The Meade AC Adapter Plug which plugs into the Scope Base, isn't at an angle, it naturally sticks straight up in the air. With all previous versions of this scope the fork arms on the scope were not wide enough to run over this stub, however the extended fork arms which are for the 14" do in fact run over the stub, putting friction on the bottom of the fork unless you hold it down, and bending the power cable plug in ways it wasn't meant to be bent. Meade WAS alerted about this problem by us, and they said they will be looking into it. If an adapter is made available the agent suspected they would be provided free of charge. I was also told that the clubs AC Adapter plug is damaged, they will replace it. We'll see if Meade does anything about it, but if you're in a rush, don't fret!

After I posted on several mailing lists the first report of the problem, ScopeStuff, came to the rescue and offered and adapter that will fix the problem. I'm glad that I was able to get the word out and within the matter of a few days a fix was offered. That way, we won't all be waiting for adapters! You can find the adapter at: http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_rapa.htm

Here are pictures & descriptions of the problem:
(Click on any of them to make it bigger)

Here you can clearly see the Fork Arm "running over" the AC power cord for the scope, if this was at a right angle, this wouldn't be a problem.

Here you can clearly see what happens when the scope runs over the adapter, it wants to make it a right angle plug, and each time it runs over it there is tension, for now we hold it down each time the scope slews, hopefully Meade will offer a fix to this. We wouldn't want to void Warranties to put a right angle

More will be added at a later date, enjoy your 14" LX200GPS if you have one, and if you're thinking about getting one, GO FOR IT!