Models

Meade naming scheme for the ETX telescopes usually follows the following convention:

"ETX-" + aperture + mount type + " with " + coating type

For example: "ETX-125AT with UHTC" is a 125mm telescope on AT mount (Autostar) and has UHTC transmission coatings coatings.

Mount Types

RA

This is the original configuration of the ETX line. The RA has a "Right Ascension" motor drive in the base. This is not a computerized or GOTO model, nor can it be upgraded to one. The mount is aligned equatorally (toward Polaris) and the observer would find the astronomical objects by hand - after finding the object, the RA drive will clock the mount at 15° per hour to track the sky.

These scopes can still be found on the market, usually at a fantastic price. For example here.

EC

The EC is the "Electronic Control" version of the ETX line. Originally, the EC version had a simple Electronic hand controller to move the motors up/down left/right and functions much like the RA version. However, the hand controller could be upgrade to the Autostar computer system and then be used as a computerized or GOTO telescope.

AT

The AT and the EC are really the same mount, except the AT version comes with the Autostar computer system and the EC has a simple hand controller. Frequently EC and AT are used in conversation interchangeably. The AT uses the #487 Autostar computer system with about 30,000 objects in its database.

Click on the following for specifications for:

• ETX-80 AT
• ETX-90 AT
• ETX-105 AT
• ETX-125 AT

PE

The PE is the "Premiere Edition" of the ETX line. Optically it is the same Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) as the other ETX Maks. The differences are:

• The PE has a cool silk-screen image of an astronomical object on the tube where the other scopes are a cool metallic blue.
• The traditional 6x25 Right Angle Finderscope is replace with the LNT module.

The LNT stands for the "Level North Technology". It is a module which it is located on the top on the OTA and has:

• An Electronic Level Sensor
• An Electronic Magnetic North Sensor (a Compass)
• High Precision Clock
• A "Red Dot" or Reflex Finderscope

Click on the following for specifications for:

• ETX-90 PE
• ETX-105 PE
• ETX-125 PE

The purpose of the LNT module is to help make the inital star alignment when setting up the telescope easier. The LNT module can also be found on some LX90 models.

SS

The SS version on the ETX is simply the Spotting Scope configuration of the telescope. This version has no fork arm mount like the other ETXs. It is simply the Optical Tube Assembly of the telescope with a 0.25"x20 thread on the bottom so it can be mounted on a photo tripod or piggy-backed onto a larger scope and mount as a guide scope or finderscope. Click here for some specifications for the ETX-90 Spotting Scope and click here for some specifications for the ETX-125 Spotting Scopes.

Some German equatorial mounts do come with a universal dovetail plate with a 0.25"x20 thread and the ETX SS could be mounted on those also.