Meade contact

[florencior]

Does anyone here knows how can i contact Meade to clarify or ask for support about my etalons behavior? I´d really appreciate any help or advice about this.

[solarchat]

GOOD LUCK...

[marktownley]

Are you on the older SM60 etalons or the newer solarmax IIs?

[florencior]

The new Solarmax II with Richview, both 60mm, thanks

[marktownley]

The new Solarmax II with Richview, both 60mm, thanks

Hmmm. I have no experience of these newer models, so can't really offer anything specific. If they were mine I would have taken them apart by now :whistle:

[florencior]

Thank you Mark. I removed the ERF and the screw that controls the RichView tuning turning. I adjusted the hinge too. Both filters works OK alone or when i mount them as second filter with a friend's Coronado old filter or even another's friend Lunt 60mm scope; but when i mount them together i can hardly see a contrast enhance and the surface detail is as good as with only one etalon, really frustrating because i sold my Solarmax internal etalon scope to buy the second filter and be able of mounting them on other scopes.

[Montana]

If that is the case, I guess they are the rare case when they are badly matched (the reason for matching a pair). If they were sold as a matched pair, they need to be returned and re-matched (as they clearly weren't), if they weren't then you need to sell one to your friend and buy another. I'm no expert but I really think you have done everything possible already and this is the only explanation.

Alexandra

[florencior]

Thanks a lot Montana. As you said i think i´ve done all is possible to solve this. The filters weren´t bought together (about 3 months between) and i've considered selling one and buying another one but what do i have to do to be sure the new one works ok with the one i keep?

Sending the filter from Mexico is really problematic (customs, taxes, shipping, etc) but i would do if i could even talk to someone at Meade that could guuarantee the result. In their internet site they just sent you to the stores.

[Merlin66]

Florencio,
I've used a few SM40/ SM60 external etalons in a double stack configuration and haven't had the same problems/ issues that you appear to be going through.
I don't know if I can honestly help, but if you send me some images of each etalon and a couple of sample images of each as a single and then as a double stack I'm more than prepared to see what I can do. Also details of the blocking filter....
My email:
kenm(dot)harrison(at)gmail(dot)com

[florencior]

Thank you Merlin. I've never seen another user reporting this kind of problem, but apparently there are few people using two of the new Solarmax II etalons with richview tuning togther.

I just made an analysis of the filters alone and combining them with a friend´s old Coronado etalon and published it in a Mexican forum (in spanish, i´m sorry). My friend´s etalon is apparently decontacted so the images with his filter are not correctly focused but you can easily see the differences in contrast. Please see this thread

http://www.astroforo.net/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=1937

The images i presented there are as follow:
1. Single Solarmax II 60 etalon with richview. My other filter behaves the same.
2. My friend´s Coronado old etalon alone.
3. My friend´s Coronado old etalon and one of my Solarmax II 60 etalons with richview
4. My friend´s Coronado old etalon and my other Solarmax II 60 etalon with richview
5. One of my Solarmax II 60 etalons with richview and my friend´s Coronado old etalon (just inverted position).
6. My two Solarmax II 60 etalons with richview (DS).


All the images were taken with the same telescope, same camera, same frames quantity and same processed.

This is a test a made a time before mounting one of my Solarmax II 60 etalons with richview on another´s friend old Coronado filter (without the decontacted prolem), this is the kind of contrast i'm looking for. This image was taken with the same camera and a telescope with just 50 mm more FL.


With my other etalon we got the same result, that´s why i know they wotk ok alone, but not as a pair.

I think is important to say that when i mount the filters on my friend´s etalons (both of the cases) i just had to do a little adjustment to get the correct contrast but when i mount my two etalons together i spend a lot of time to tuning them with poor results, the one you see in the image 6 is the best i've got.

I use a BF30 Coronado, and it was used to make all this images.

If you need anymore information just ask. I really appreciate all the help you could give me of this matter. Please forgive my poor english.

Regards, Florencio

[Merlin66]

Hmm,
I can't see the images on that other forum...blocked?
Can you post them here or send to me?
Do you have any photos of the actual etalons? Showing the front/ rear and adjustment area?
How do they "sit" as a pair - a photo would help....

[florencior]

Sorry, i thoght the images were accesible. I'm attacing them here and sending to you.

The etalons just thread on each other with the adapter they had when i bought them. I work in other city and my etalons are in my observatory about 150 miles away, sorry. I´m attaching the seller image any way.

[florencior]

Something i've noticed and you can see in the images is that my filters apparently works great as second filter but not as primary filter.

[marktownley]

Hi Florencio, some questions if you don't mind - lets see if we can bottom this problem out...

Do both etalons have a TMax tuner on?

Does the second etalon screw onto that twisty ring thingy at the end of the first etalon or does it screw directly onto the etalon body / housing?

Do you have 2 photos taken with both of your etalons in different orders?

I have to say, my gut reaction, looking at the photos, is that there is some sag issue at the interface between your 2 etalons - they look off band to me on the pic with your 2 etalons, and the gradient across the disk would indicate a tuning issue... The pic with your friends etalon on the end of yours also displays similar traits...

I may be going off at a tangent here, but are the solarmaxII etalons designed to be stacked on each other? I would expect with the current coronado lineup that you would only ever have a single external etalon put on the end of a solarmax scope to double stack it...

Mark

[florencior]

Thank you for commenting Mark. I´ll try to answer your questions.

Do both etalons have a TMax tuner on? Yes

Does the second etalon screw onto that twisty ring thingy at the end of the first etalon or does it screw directly onto the etalon body / housing? It screws onto that twisty ring thingy at the end of the first etalon, but i've tried theading it directly and even doubling the adapter of the second etalon so i increase the distance twice; same result.

Do you have 2 photos taken with both of your etalons in different orders? Sorry, i do't have that images here, but believe me i've tried that too, witht the same result.

I have to say, my gut reaction, looking at the photos, is that there is some sag issue at the interface between your 2 etalons I agree, but i have not been able of find what the problem is, i've even uncrew the second etalon a little to try tilting it and chaning the angle and in some point the contrast is increased a little but the gradient is worse.

I may be going off at a tangent here, but are the solarmaxII etalons designed to be stacked on each other? I would expect with the current coronado lineup that you would only ever have a single external etalon put on the end of a solarmax scope to double stack it... I've thought that too. If you see the OPT description they say The Coronado SolarMax II 60mm Etalon/ RichView Tuner cannot be used without secondary interference filter which means that you must use this filter with either a 60mm Coronado etalon/ blocking filter combination or a dedicated 60mm Coronado H-alpha telescope. The package includes a RichView tuner system. (http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid ... talon&st=2) but the Meade site says The PST, SolarMax 40, 60 and 90 telescopes and all SolarMax II filters can be Double Stacked to achieve the ultimate in solar viewing. (http://www.meade.com/product_pages/coro ... php)That's why i'd like to contact Meade, to clarify this, but i haven't find a way to do it.

Thank you.

[florencior]

I also wonder why Coronado still sells the Coronado SolarMax II 60 H-Alpha Filter without RichView (but the photo shows the one with RichView http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid ... talon&st=2) Strange, no?

The part number is different too: SME and SMF.

[marktownley]

Do both TMax tuner hinges sit diametrically opposite each other when double stacked?

[florencior]

Mark, i've tried in the opposite position, aligned and 90° but the best result (the one i publised as image 6) is get when i place them 90°.

[marktownley]

Mark, i've tried in the opposite position, aligned and 90° but the best result (the one i publised as image 6) is get when i place them 90°.

Hmmmm, just reinforces to me something isn't sitting square somewhere in the etalon train...

When you're back with your etalons I would love to see some close up pics of them - i did have a google images hunt around but there aren't many pics of all of the solarmax II etalons...

[florencior]

Thnak you Mark.

I'm at work now, let me see if in my home computer i have some photos.

I've started beleaving my stalons just work for double stacking as second unit, this is what the OPT site says about it: Tuner: RichView
Equipment Application: Doublestacking Unit for 60mm Coronado H-Alpha Solar Fiter or 60mm Solar Telescope
Bandwidth Provided:

and this is what they say about the etalon with BF they sell:
Aperture: 60mm
Bandwidth:

[marktownley]

What does the twisty ring on the end of the etalons actually do?

[florencior]

There is a tip in the middle of the ERF that pressures the etalon and actually when you turn the richview the band is adjusted (don´t know how).

[florencior]

I´ve search and don´t have images of the etalons here, i'll publish them till weekend, thanks.

[solarchat]

I agree with Mark. The SolarMax II external etalons are designed to be put on the objective end of an internal stalon scope. They are undoubtedly tuned a little higher than the single etalons to provide for the standard Double Stack look. I think that putting two of them together on the end of the scope is not going to work out.

[florencior]

I think this could be what is happening but is not what the Meade advertisement says, that's another reason to talk to them.

Anyway it looks like if i have to buy a standalone filter, where? Who sells it?

[florencior]

The Meade site says:

SolarMax II 60 H-alpha Filter
Coronado by Meade SolarMax II Solar Filter set with RichView tuning system. Includes 60mm diameter primary H-Alpha etalon filter with sub 0.7 angstrom bandwidth and Blocking Filter.

Coronado filters are used around the world by serious solar enthusiasts and professional research facilities alike. When properly and safely mounted on your high quality refractor or other suitable telescope this filter set allows observation and imaging of the amazing and ever changing surface detail and prominences on the Sun in hydrogen-alpha (Ha) light. Custom mounting will be required (adapters not included).

The patented RichView tuning assembly allows direct tuning of the primary filter etalon. No other commercially available Ha telescope can provide the tuning range and accuracy of the SolarMax II. Now you can tune for the highest contrast views of active regions, filaments and surface detail, or quickly and easily re-tune for prominences on the solar limb.

The stunning bright red views through a Coronado Ha telescope display astounding surface and limb detail especially when the Sun is in an active phase. The sun is now heading for Solar Maximum, when activity will be at its best. Don't miss out!

SolarMax II Double Stacking Units
Coronado by Meade SolarMax II Double Stacking Etalon with RichView tuning system. This add on filter reduces the normal bandwidth of a SolarMax telescope or filter set from the single stack .7A performance to a more restrictive .5A, increasing visibility of surface detail and active regions on the Solar disc. MUST be combined with a primary SolarMax filter and blocking filter or complete Coronado SolarMax, or PST, telescope.

Includes patented RichView tuning assembly allows direct tuning of the primary filter etalon. No other commercially available Ha telescope can provide the tuning range and accuracy of the SolarMax II. Now you can tune for the highest contrast views of active regions, filaments and surface detail, or quickly and easily re-tune for prominences on the solar limb.

Please note: this filter CANNOT be used as a stand alone solar filter. Immediate and irreversible eye damage may result!

If Meade sells the filters as different products and different part numbers i suppose they are different, what do you think?

[florencior]

As i can't contact Meade is asked OPT and Woodland Hills to confirm if the two filters are different, other than just including the BF or not.