<p>Meade make the 497 auto star hand controller, which plugs in where your existing hand controller goes. This turns your mount into a fully computerised one. Alternatively you should be able to use a laptop to control the mount via the aux ports. It’s all in the manual.</p>

<p>If your telescope did not originally come with the auto star hand controller, here is a quote from <a href="http://weasner.com/etx/faq.html#upgrade" rel="nofollow noreferrer">weasner.com</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>Q. How do I upgrade a non-AutoStar ETX to an AutoStar capable ETX?</strong></p>
  
  <p>Short answer: you can't. Meade does not offer an upgrade for the
  original model ETX (also known as the ETX-90RA or ETX Astro M). But
  you can mount the OTA on a different mount (see the Telescope Tech
  Tips page) or (if still available) get a JMI computer system (see the
  "NGC-microMAX/NGC-MAX" on the Accessory Reviews - Miscellaneous page).
  Or you could sell it and by a new AT model.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T20:03:37.027Z
Unfortunately, my scope is so old that the mount doesn't even have the ports that the star hand controller is supposed to plug into. I was wondering if Meade is actually known to sell this part of the scope individually. I was thinking about keeping the optical tube and replacing the actual mount that takes care of the slewing.
Jack Moody
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T21:09:11.890Z
Is the hand controller hardwired into the base?
Dr Chuck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T21:13:01.567Z
Check out this site:  http://weasner.com/etx/menu.html
Dr Chuck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T21:15:50.807Z
This answered my question. I will update your answer with the relevant information. Thanks!
Jack Moody
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T19:58:45.540Z
2018-02-03T22:16:17.550Z
2018-02-03T22:16:17.550Z
Dr Chuck
<p>I've been using a Meade ETX 90 for a few years now. Since it doesn't have the new computerized mount (with goto), I am looking into buying one to swap out. Where might I find this and is there a more technical term than just "computerized mount" that is used?</p>

<p><strong>Note</strong>: This is an old scope that did not originally come with the ports that the autostar controller now goes into (on the newer models).</p>

<p><strong>Update</strong>: I ended up getting a newer Meade ETX and plan to replace my current mount with the computerized one. Also, if you check out cloudynights.com you might be able to find one. I have seen one on there before.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T19:44:36.503Z
Surely the ETX90 had a computerised mount from the start?
Dr Chuck
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-03T19:45:21.247Z
It’s an older scope. Like early 2000s.
Jack Moody
<telescope><refractor-telescope>
Replacing Meade ETX with computerized mount
Jack Moody
# Replacing Meade ETX with computerized mount

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-03)

I've been using a Meade ETX 90 for a few years now. Since it doesn't have the new computerized mount (with goto), I am looking into buying one to swap out. Where might I find this and is there a more technical term than just "computerized mount" that is used?

**Note**: This is an old scope that did not originally come with the ports that the autostar controller now goes into (on the newer models).

**Update**: I ended up getting a newer Meade ETX and plan to replace my current mount with the computerized one. Also, if you check out cloudynights.com you might be able to find one. I have seen one on there before.

**Tags:** telescope, refractor-telescope

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Surely the ETX90 had a computerised mount from the start?  
> **username_0**: It’s an older scope. Like early 2000s.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-02-03. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Meade make the 497 auto star hand controller, which plugs in where your existing hand controller goes. This turns your mount into a fully computerised one. Alternatively you should be able to use a laptop to control the mount via the aux ports. It’s all in the manual.

If your telescope did not originally come with the auto star hand controller, here is a quote from [weasner.com](http://weasner.com/etx/faq.html#upgrade):

> **Q. How do I upgrade a non-AutoStar ETX to an AutoStar capable ETX?**
>
> Short answer: you can't. Meade does not offer an upgrade for the
> original model ETX (also known as the ETX-90RA or ETX Astro M). But
> you can mount the OTA on a different mount (see the Telescope Tech
> Tips page) or (if still available) get a JMI computer system (see the
> "NGC-microMAX/NGC-MAX" on the Accessory Reviews - Miscellaneous page).
> Or you could sell it and by a new AT model.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Unfortunately, my scope is so old that the mount doesn't even have the ports that the star hand controller is supposed to plug into. I was wondering if Meade is actually known to sell this part of the scope individually. I was thinking about keeping the optical tube and replacing the actual mount that takes care of the slewing.  
> **username_1**: Is the hand controller hardwired into the base?  
> **username_1**: Check out this site:  http://weasner.com/etx/menu.html  
> **username_0**: This answered my question. I will update your answer with the relevant information. Thanks!  

---

