If you are wondering about the capabilities of the Meade LX85 telescope mount in terms of general use and automation, I strongly recommend you read through these two posts that were left on my YouTube channel by Garnett Leary. His conclusion is that the Meade LX85 is good in terms of hardware and (unguided) tracking, but bad in terms of automation software such as using ASCOM to remote control your mount. Garnett replied to my beginner level astrophotography mount v/blog where I asked owners of the LX85 to share their experiences with this mount. Thank you so much! Garnett also has his own YouTube channel, be sure to check him out! Below are his two posts.
Meade LX85 telescope mount – cabling options
Meade LX-85 has two options for cabling to PC: A #07507 RS-232 to USB and a #505 Cable. It’s important to mention the AUX port is wired back to front. Using third party AUX equipment can fry the mount. I spoke to a tech at Meade directly concerning this. They told me that the LX-85 AUX port is “unnamed”. The mount is ASCOM compliant. You’re not limited to Audio Star or Sky Safari only. Additionally there is an option for Stellarium. It’s a Meade device for wifi control but I’ve found the app to be difficult to locate depending on the device used. For example it is unavailable on my iPhone 10. Just putting some helpful info up regarding your video. I think your lineup very closely matches my choices.
Meade LX85 telescope mount – connecting to automation (ASCOM) software
Regarding the ASCOM drivers esp. Right now I’m running Stellarium thru a third party RS232 to USB and the “Direct serial port connection” option in the software. For PHD2 I have a QHY-5 2 mono and I have to use “On camera” in PHD2. The old school method of direct connection via the QHY and the guide port on the mount. There are two heavily discussed ASCOM drivers for use with this mount. One is the “Meade universal” and the other is the “Meade Generic.” Before I continue I must add that I have purchased third party wires and also the Meade #505 connector set. The first problem I encountered was the COM port not being recognized. The Meade USB to COM has a driver available that creates a virtual COM port. That failed. I am able to connect the mount to PHD2 in this way but it throws up a “Guide pulse error” when you try to manually guide in the menu. I have tested the wires and I’m convinced that there are no full working ASCOM drivers for the LX85. Included my work-around to help others. As far as tracking goes I had consistent RMS error of 1.2 off of a very lazy polar alignment. The gearing is such that it will track very accurately over long periods of time. What I was concerned with was consistency. It passes. I spoke with Katorella Astro and he assures me that his mount is connected thru ASCOM and not thru the guide port of the mount. He is using the “Meade Generic” ASCOM driver. This could all be a WIN 10 error and beyond my understanding. This is my experience after many long hours of research. I basically gave up and for everyone out there: I have a degree in Info Systems Tech. This mount gave me a lot of trouble. I still love it but it’s sad to have to use third party wires to accomplish minute tasks.
Conclusion
Would I recommend it? Yes and no. If you plan to automate STAY AWAY. If you want a solid mount that’s light, and you can accept on camera guiding, grab one. It is possible that a future ASCOM driver will be developed. To me personally, we are in 2020…..all mounts should be USB. Furthermore ASCOM is important enough that the companies providing mounts should be supplying drivers. I hope this reaches anyone it may help. Clear skies.
The MEADE LX85 is available at:
If you’re looking for a beginner level equatorial mount for astrophotography, feel free to check out my beginner level astrophotography mount v/blog.
Hello Wido
I use my LX85 as my primary go to mount. I have a dobsonian as well that came with my Skywatcher 200p and I love it as it is so simple. But to find DSO and imaging I needed a go to mount. I started with my laptop using PHD2 guiding and was very pleased with the tracking. I have had some growing pains with my cameras and bit the bullet and purchased a ASI533MC-Pro. Partially because I have recently moved from my laptop to a ASIAIR PRO and so the ASI533 fits in nicely with my ASI120MC-S as a guide camera. Baby steps right.
I also purchased a 6″ Newt along with my LX85 mount. It was an extra $100 so it was a nice add. The mount guides very well with the ASIAIR and the 6″ Newt. I have had problems using my 200p Newt with it, but I have only used it once and it might be a balance issue. I had to purchase some additional counter weight to balance that big tube. I am fairly confident that I can get it working as the LX85 has a companion 8″ Newt as well and seems to support it just fine.
Cloudy since I purchased the ASI533, but later this week it should be clear. We will see how the combinations work together. Hoping to get a good shot of Neowise with the new camera.
Hi Eric, thanks for sharing your story. I understand the struggle, all the more rewarding when you finally get these awesome pictures you were hoping for. Yea, NEOWISE is so bright in the sky, you can capture it even with a small camera, shutter speed at 10s and iso at 800, you should already be able to detect it in the night sky. Through a telescope would be even more rewarding. Unfortunately I have no views whatsoever towards the north from my backyard, hope you’ll be able to get an awesome picture! Clear skies.
When you spoke to the Meade rep what did he say about the Aux port polarity? I spoke with(via email) to Meade rep and he told me in no uncertain terms that no Meade LX85s have reverse polarity in their aux ports. Very confusing as I read mostly on cloudynights forums that the aux ports are reversed. So someone is wrong. I ordered the STARGPS NX-O2 for gps with the ASTARX cable which is supposed to be a reverse polarity cable to correct the issue. But Meade says polarity isn’t reversed so now I’m afraid to use any cable because I don’t know what the polarity is and I don’t want to fry my new mount!!! Any advise??? Did Meade say all the lx85s were reverse polarity? Unfortunately there is no way to know unlike the white dot Meade put on the fixed lx65s. Thank you. Sean
Hi Sean,
Unfortunately I cannot help you there because I don’t own a Meade LX85 myself. Perhaps try to find other users and ask? Cheers.
It was several months ago but I assure you a technician at Meade specifically told me the AUX port was wired back to front. This issue has been repeated from previous models unfortunately. If you have a voltmeter you can test it. Switch it to continuity and check it across ports. Typically the 12v is completely opposite the ground post on these jacks. If the aux port shows opposite then you can be 100% certain it’s as they stated. Connecting equipment to it would be reverse feeding current. Likely some board circuit damage. If you have the original box try it. If it’s under warranty that is. You can always return it. I’m with you tho. Someones information is wrong. I never tested mine. I got so aggravated with ASCOM that I retired the mount from DSO to Planetary. My experience with calling Meade was pleasant and they were very thorough with my questions. That mount could be fantastic but with it’s flaws I do believe it’s best reserved for visual or very wide astrophotography. I can’t believe they sell this system with a Maksutov. Such focal lengths are outside this mounts capacity even with a pole master. I hope you get your answer. Calling them yourself to confirm the AUX safe would be best. Get the employees name and document the call. That way you have a strong argument for a replacement or refund. I hope the best for you. Clear skies.
Thanks for this update Garnett!
Thanks guys. I did buy a multimeter and with guidance from Andydownunder on cloudy nights forums confirmed the polarity is reversed. I crossed my toes and fingers and took several calming breaths and plugged in my STARGPS with the reverse ASTARX cable. Thank the Stars I didn’t hear electrical gremlins eating the innards of my mount, no dreaded puff of ozone impregnated blue smoke letting me know my LX85 had just transcended and crossed over into mount hereafter! Works like a charm! One thing I can tell you is I hate the LX85 polar scope. How hard can it be for them to incorporate some thumb and finger turn screws on it instead of trying to use 2 micro hex screws at the same time???. Have only had it out once since I attached the GPS unit and it was almost spot on with 2 star alignment. Have to do a few more alignments to get it right. Tracked Jupiter nicely once on target. I’m still in the process of adding equipment for autoguiding which I’ve never done before. Leaning toward an Orion 50mm mini guidescope and either a ZWO or QHY guide camera. I have an older Olympus dslr I want to try wifefield with but just got my Series 4000 f/6.3 reducer today and waiting on a Haida nano Clear Night light pollution filter. I’ll give an update on how well the mount is performing as soon as I get a chance to use it for more than 30 minutes at a time.
Assuming the AUX has a design or manufacturing defect (along with other arguable design/MFG defects), it would be very bad for any company to place a defective product in the stream of commerce. This would violate several provisions of The Uniform Commercial Code and could expose the company to strict liability, and rescission of their contracts. I would think that all manufacturing company would do thir ethical best so as not to cause financial harm to the buyers of their products. In fact, car companies do a recall when they find out that they have inadvertently released a defective product into the steam of commerce.
Ref the Aux port…That explains great deal. I was making a WiFi drive for another Meade and wouldn’t work no matter what I tried. I never dreamt the polarity would be reversed. Why did Meade do this. Idiots.