Image of the day

Captured by
Yue Ma

M16

About Astromart

My Account

New to Astromart?

Register an account...

Need Help?

Posts Made By: Darrell Fichtl

February 8, 2005 07:29 AM Forum: Meade

Meade LPI not working

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
Don't count on the LPI being dead. The Autostar software is really touchy. I'm a programmer (Jack in the Box, Safeway, Overweighty Foods) and frankly they did a lousy job on the Autostar software.

Best thing to do is the remove the Autostar software with the add and remove function in the Control Panel and then reinstall with the LPI NOT plugged into the USB.

After you reinstall and reboot then try plugging the LPI in the USB and see if the computer sees it.

Good luck,

Darrell

February 11, 2005 11:02 PM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

UPS Store prices?

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
Basically, you're getting screwed!!!

Try Fedex ground. It's much cheaper and beats the hell out of USPS and UPS.

The only problem is that you have to go to a Fedex station to get the good rate.

Darrell

February 19, 2005 05:03 AM Forum: Off Topic Discussions

Send your name to Pluto!!!

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
Hey Maurice:

What a neat thing. Thanks for sharing.

Darrell

February 22, 2005 04:56 AM Forum: Politics

Privacy and the Low-Jack

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."

Not my words but that of Ben Franklin.

Things like the so called Patriot Act are exactly what he was referring to. They don't take it away in BIG chunks guys & gals. They do it in tiny little bits so you don't scream foul.

The ONLY recourse is the ballot box and if you don't use it wisely, that'll be gone some day also.

Darrell

February 22, 2005 04:05 PM Forum: Telescope Making

Mirror Coatings and Contrast

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
I'm up at Mt. Hopkins every week testing the VERITAS mirrors. We check for focal length, spot size an reflectivity. I've literally tested more than 200 24"+ mirrors.

We check the reflectivity against a standard freshly coated mirror. The mirrors on the telescope are anodized and the standard mirror is not.

There is very little difference between the tested mirrors and between the standard and the tested mirrors. Even when some of the mirrors come out of the anodizing with a slight visible purplish large spot, there still is very little difference in the reflectivity. We check these mirrors from 260-700nm.

From this I can conclude that there is little difference between mirror coatings as long as the job is of quality nature and not done by some hack.

Darrell

February 26, 2005 03:48 AM Forum: Meade

That telescope?

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
Aurora:

I had a 8" Meade and then moved up to the 10" LX200 GPS.

You need to include a mounting assist plate for the scope. It's heavy and trying to balance that scope on the head of the tripod and screw in the bolt can be a little nerve racking.

With the guidance plate of the top of the tripod the scopes sets firmly without having to balance the entire OTA.

If you're going to use a wedge that's a different story. You need to be pretty husky to get the OTA up on the wedge. I'm 6'4" and weigh in at 220# but I'm also 72 and that adds to the equation. Bottom line I think, if you plan on using a wedge on the tripod, get some help.

One last thing, if you buy a used scope insure that it was not from a coastal town. The salt air and aluminum coatings don't go together too well.

Good luck,

Darrell

March 6, 2005 10:43 AM Forum: Equipment Talk

So, then we are wasting our money?

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
I speculate that you have to look at yourself!!

Do you have 1/4 wave eye or do you have 1/10 wave eye or higher.

As for me, at 72, I doubt if my eye is 1/4 wave!!! That's why I'm dumping the eyepiece in favor of a display screen.

Then there is also the placebo effect. It would be interesting to perform a truly scientific experiment with mirrors that are in a double blind test.

Darrell

March 16, 2005 03:42 AM Forum: After Dark

Neighbors lights wiping out contrast?

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
Harold your a good guy. I'd go for the nuke'em, but your solution is probably the best, and most of all, it would probably be the most effective.

Darrell

March 29, 2005 05:52 PM Forum: Pet Pics

It takes two!

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
I knew there must be something good about you Floyd!

Darrell

April 6, 2005 10:55 PM Forum: Politics

Ain't that just sweet

Posted By Darrell Fichtl
Well let's go all the way and have State passports. This would be a muliple-patriotic act.
1. It would raise much-needed revenue for the states.
2. It would create more jobs-- state border patrol and construction of border booths and offices.
3. It would be a dis-incentive to travel which would cut down on gas usage, air pollution and highway noise.
4. It would be good for business. Venders could set up booths at the border crossings to sell food, trinkets and souvenirs.
5. The 18 wheeler's would have to slow down at least once on their trips.

Tongue in cheek guys! Don't jump all over me.

Darrell

Funding Member

Sponsors


View all sponsors

Search