Here are a few possibilities.

1) Your time and location are off. It is important to get these as
exact as possible.
2) Your polar alignment is off.
3) The encoders are miscounting as the scope slews.

#3 is what happened to me. I tried to fix it, but in the process
rendered the RA drive useless. I ended up sending all the electronics
back to Meade for a $200 repair.

One way to check to see if your encoders are miscounting is to mount the
scope in AltAz and do a very careful two star alignment. Make sure the
time/date and Lat/Long are as exact as possible, the scope is level and
center the two alignment stars using a high power reticle eyepiece. If
it slews fairly accurately doing this, your encoders are NOT
miscounting, and the problem is more than likely something like polar
alignment.

I hope this helps.

Chris Vedeler
http://www.isomedia.com/homes/cvedeler/space.htm
Tucson, AZ

Lawrence Harris wrote:

> Following my earlier e-mail, I can confirm that I have the scope
> centred on Polaris (identified as the bright double star). After
> sync-ing on the second star (Denebola), the 'goto' is consistently at
> least half-a-finder's view out. I have meticulously checked the time
> (GMT and 0 offset), lat (50), long (4W). I did spot Venus during the
> mid-day check when I switched on power and did a 'goto'; Venus was
> near the edge of the finder's view. Could not locate Jupiter.
>
> GOTO star 19 puts Polaris in the main eyepiece. Further tweaking to
> centre it followed by GOTO any bright star still leaves the star near
> the edge of the finder even though the finder is well-aligned.
>
> I am happy to spend whatever time it takes to get the goto to work
> properly because it is essential for indoor control of the telescope.
>
> regards
>
> Lawrence Harris
>
> http://www.itchycoo-park.freeserve.co.uk/

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