I got an interesting bit of email about my investigations into the LX200 clock.
I'm posting it here (with permission):

Bill,

I happened to see your message from MAPUG and thought I'd throw in my two
cents worth.

I am the guy who designed the LX200 before I retired from Meade. (But
remember, that was 6 years ago and this is all from memory :-) )

One clock chip is used strictly for the local time display. The telescope
does not use this clock for anything. Well, that is not quite accurate - it
does use it during the Polar alignment routine to position the second star.

The other clock chip is used for Sidereal time and is reset on every
alignment.

The two clocks are not connected in any way.

We needed the processor power for all the real-time ALT-AZ calculations,
which happen as often as 15 times a second (even in Polar Mode). It is
actually pretty busy!

:<Ron>

______________________________
| Bill Ezell |
| http://www.duckpond.mv.com |
------------------------------

The box said 'Win95, NT, or better', so I used Linux

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