![[Home!]](../images/mighty_etx.jpg){kind=small}
DS MODELS USER FEEDBACK
Last updated: 25 April 2001
|
DS MODELS USER FEEDBACK |
This page is for user comments and information specific to the Meade DS telescope models. Accessories and Feedback items appropriate to the ETX models are posted on other pages as appropriate. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.
Subject: One more question Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2001 09:21:50 From: Chris@csigeo.com (Christopher A. Bevers) Thank you so much for your help, I have one more question, if I may: All the images in my telescope are upside down, and slightly tilted. Is that right? Now, it's been cloudy here, so the best I've been able to look at are images that are trees several hundred yards away. Thanks!!!Mike here: That is normal for Newtonian reflectors and should be described in the telescope manual.
Subject: DS-114 Tripod Sticking Sent: Monday, April 23, 2001 08:51:48 From: Chris@csigeo.com (Christopher A. Bevers) Thank you for the web site! I just purchased a DS-114 telescope with the Autostar system. I haven't had the problems that others have regarding the BOZO error, however after connecting the motors, etc. and testing them, I found that the tripod has a rough spot in the AZ pivot, and the motors don't have enough umph to get past it. I left a message on the tech support line, but the M-F 8-4:30 hours don't seem very helpful for anyone who works. Any suggestions? I didn't want to try to lubricate anything until I contacted warrantee service. Thanks!Mike here: Try unlocking the Az lock and moving the telescope back and forth through several complete rotations. That might cure the problem.
Subject: DS-114 Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2001 20:37:25 From: jbnapryl@swbell.net (JB and Apryl) I have recently purchased a ds 114 from wal-mart. It looks nice seems to have great software but sometimes the altitude motor drive works sometimes it doesn't? I have had two good nights since I got the thing and the first night it worked fine except for the fact the store had opened it up and programmed in the wrong site (Kabal??) it wouldn't align which it shouldn't have but I took the scope back inside and read the manual set the proper site Lat. and Long. then took it back outside the next good night. Everything seemed to be going well right up until it had to align on sirus and it rotated around to it but did not raise up to it. When I went to move the scope up to it it didn't move? Not sure why it didn't move but it didn't move a inch. Thought for a second or two and it probably needed motors calibrated so I went to (telescope-calibrate motors) and it kept telling me it had motor unit failure check batteries blah blah blah? I am pretty frustrated with it and am going to take it back to the dealer and exchange it for another scope. Is this a common problem I am unable to fix or a hey dummy you neeed to tighten the thing on the who knows what arm? lost in oklahoma JB PritchettMike here: Well, hard to say what the problem might be (especially since I don't have a DS model). There can be lots of causes, including as you've discovered, an improper setup. I would suggest reading through the manually thoroughly and practicing with the scope indoors. After you go over things a few times you will gain some confidence that what you are doing is correct. Then if problems persist, you will know that you have properly configured things (date/time/location/scope model) and that something else is the problem. Many times the new user problem reports turn out to be operator error. And once you learn how to use the system, the problems go away. Keep us posted.
And an update:
thanks I picked up a new one tonight and it works much better. Need to level the scope better but for the quick throw it down and level it up it put most of the objects around the field of view and it works nicely.
Subject: telestar DS-114 AT Sent: Monday, April 9, 2001 14:50:55 From: jpossum86@hotmail.com (Josh Markley) I'm thinking of buying a meade telestar DS-114AT telescope, do you think it is any good or worth the money? Why or why not? Thanks for your help. JoshMike here: I have no experience with this model. From reports, it is similar to the Meade 4504 model. You might want to visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade4504telescopes.
Subject: re: 114EQ-DH4 Sent: Saturday, April 7, 2001 11:08:00 From: rseymour@wolfenet.com (richard seymour) To: rpl@ronleo.com i saw your note on Mike Weasner's site... The web site with perhaps the best support for you is at: www.egroups.com/Meade4504Telescopes also under: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Meade4504Telescopes (you may have to "join" to fully access the services... don't worry: it's free and harmless, and i haven't noticed any spam arising from membership)(it's now a subdivision of Yahoo) The scope you have is an almost exact duplicate of the Meade 4504 (except for the color of the barrel)... a "German Equatorial Mounted" 114mm (4 inch) Newtonian reflector. The Mount is a very traditional form designed to help follow the stars as they move during the night. The telescope and mount are very good... the 0.96" eyepieces are (reportedly) horrid. but you can call Meade and they'll send a free piece of plastic which will allow the scope to hold 1.25" diameter (the "pipe" the eyepiece is built into) eyepieces. The April Sky & Telescope had an article on "improving" a small Newtonian telescope (by adding black flocking paper on the inside, adding a few inches of "extension" to the barrel itself to reduce stray light, etc. Those pictures are essentially your telescope. I don't have a 114... i have an ETX90... but the 114EQ is a very "sweet" telescope, and i think it really a great choice for beginning (or continuing, or just playing around in the sky). ask questions at the Egroup mentioned above, and of us... have fun --dick
Subject: re: DS Models/Meade 114EQ DH4 Sent: Saturday, April 7, 2001 07:21:34 From: bpowell@one.net (Brent Powell) I believe that the 114EQ DH4 is the same OTA as the DS 114-AT, but has a motorized EQ mount. It may have a Starfinder (non-upgradeable) instead of the Autostar. It is essentially the same as the Meade 4504. For more information, Ron can check out the 4504 group on Yahoo http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade4504telescopes. Thanks, Brent
Subject: Meade 114EQ DH4 Sent: Wednesday, April 4, 2001 06:32:44 From: rpl@ronleo.com (Ron Leo) My son is having difficulty with a Meade scope he purchased last year but has never used. Model is 114EQ DH4. Is this a discount house version of a Meade DS-114EC? Thank you in advance for the response. rpl@ronleo.comMike here: I have no familiarity with this model. If you search my ETX web site for "114EQ" you'll find some references to it. You might also want to post your inquiry on the alt.telescopes.meade newsgroup.
Subject: DS and ETX Sent: Friday, March 30, 2001 07:01:28 From: dwyttenbach@nistevo.com (Dale Wyttenbach) Update on the following, in case you're interested: >Subject: My experience with a Walmart DS-114-AT >Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2001 09:14:27 >From: dwyttenbach@nistevo.com (Dale Wyttenbach) I took that DS-114AT back and bought 1/2 a Meade ETX-90EC (my brother bought the other half). We also bought an Autostar computer for it but they were out of stock. We just found out yesterday that they have it now, so hopefully this weekend will be the first real test. We lucked out and found a used ETX the day we went to Radio City in Moundsview, MN to buy one. We were expecting to pay $500 for the scope plus $100 for the Autostar. Since they had a used ETX for $350, we were able to also get the electric focus option, the tabletop tripod legs, and the Autostar all for $611 incl tax. Thanks! Dale
Subject: Problems with altitude handle on DS-127 Sent: Thursday, March 15, 2001 13:12:20 From: tarek_assaf@hotmail.com (Tarek Assaf) I live in Lebanon, and I just bought a DS-127 from France. The one I have is made in Taiwan, rather than the U.S.A.. It functions perfectly except for one minor thing that is still frustrating while observing. No matter how much I tighten the altitude handle, the telescope still wobbles up and down and this is very disturbing especially when observing planets. Every time I put my eye on the eyepiece, the telescope goes down. I only have this problem with the altitude. The azimuth works perfectly. Any advice on how I could resolve this? Thanks in advanceMike here: With most telescopes you should avoid actually letting your eye touch the eyepiece or even the eyepiece rubber guard.
Subject: Star Navigator software with autostar Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2001 00:49:30 From: Twotone900@aol.com I rigged up one of the serial cables as shown on your site and it worked great with the star navigator software. I clicked on a star, hit slew and presto it was right on the dot. However it didn't do the same for my Laptop. The telescope would pan and tilt exactly how it should except it would be pointing in a totally different direction than the cursor on the screen. I have a DS114 refractor and was wondering if maybe there is a setting that I did on my desktop that I forgot to enter on my Laptop. Basically I need to know how to get the telescope and the cursor pointed in the same coodinates. Thanks
Subject: My experience with a Walmart DS-114-AT Sent: Wednesday, March 7, 2001 09:14:27 From: dwyttenbach@nistevo.com (Dale Wyttenbach) The altitude servo would spin but the telescope would not go up and down. I had to take the mechanism apart and use a file to remove blobs of electroplate from the shaft that were preventing the shaft from turning freely in the brass bushing. The connection between the AutoStar and the main unit is flaky, causing the AutoStar to lose power unexpectedly. To fix the problem, I would like to replace the RJ-45 cable that connects them, but I can't get the cable unplugged from either the AutoStar or the main unit. I squeeze the little lever and pull, but the plug doesn't come out. Do all Meade telescopes have such quality problems or is it just the mass market ones? And does anyone know where I can obtain a list of objects that my AutoStar knows about? Thanks, Dale Wyttenbach wytten@yahoo.comMike here: Sorry about the problems you've experienced. Check the Autostar Information page for some information about what's in the Autostar database.
And:
Thanks. I might be taking it back and getting a Dobsonian instead. This weekend I'll decide.
Subject: DS 127 EC Sent: Monday, March 5, 2001 03:57:05 From: peter.toschkoff@vol.at (Peter Toschkoff) Does someone have the DS 127 EC? I plan to buy one and I would like to know what accessories I need right away. I'm thinking about the Autostar and AC adapter for the drives. Are the lenses ok? I saw that there is no adapter for 1 1/4 included. Thank You, Peter ___________________ _-_ \==============_=_/ ____.---'---`---.____ \_ \ \----._________.----/ \ \ / / `-_-' __,--`.`-'..'-_ /____ || to boldly go where no `--.____,-' mail has gone before! Hi! I'm a signature virus! Copy me into your signature file to help me spread!
Subject: DS 90 Case? Sent: Sunday, March 4, 2001 13:52:31 From: jspigt@worldonline.nl (J.C.Spigt) Hi there, Just bought a DS 90 EC. Nice thing, but too many clouds here in Rotterdam (netherlands). So I ll try my luck elswhere. How do I take the thing with me.Is there a case for it or do I have to make one myself? Thanks. (also for this great site!) Jaap Spigt.Mike here: Some of the cases are sort of "design it yourself". You remove little cubes of foam to make room for the telescope. But there may be better cases for your scope.
Subject: Help Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2001 23:33:02 From: RMeloche@conforama.fr I wanted to buy a DS 114 EC Meade Telescope but after the salesmans pitch I ended up buying the DS 70 EC Meade. I think that I made the wrong choice. Could you tell me what is the difference between the two and what would have been a good choice. Thank you very much. Regards, Roger P.S. I live in France.Mike here: Whether one or the other is a good choice for you depends upon your expectations and how you want to use the telescope. The larger aperture telescope will let you see more and see better than the smaller telescope. But the smaller telescope is more portable, meaning you might use it more often since it is easier to carry around and set up.
Subject: 114EQ-DH4 model
Sent: Tuesday, February 6, 2001 11:01:21
From: sherrodc@ipa.net (Clay Sherrod)
To: Christopher
Hello Christopher!
Welcome aboard! Polar alignment is not a really big thing; just take
your time and look forward to the rewards. After you have done it a few
times, you'll be an expert....only way to get there is to be a
"...newbie." We all were there and probably was the most exciting time.
Your scope will do great, and actually if you do not try to "push" the
magification past about 50 times each inch aperture (about 200x) or a
little more, your .965" eyepieces will do a surprisingly good job.
However, a good 26mm Erfle for low power wide field observing would be
great (I don't think I would put a 2" on the 114, but it comes with an
1-1/4" adapter plate I believe (the unit that Meade is sending to you).
You're wise to travel to the darkest location possible with any scope,
as you will see twice as much out there as the largest telescope in the
city. Just remember on your first trips out, polar aligning,
star-finding and overall locating the exciting objects: take your time
and be patient, and the rewards will come.
Perhaps equally important are some good star atlas references and
perhaps the new "Field Guide to the Stars & Planets" (Peterson Field
Guide series); knowing where to look is 95% of satisfaction; 3% is in
the telescope, and the remaining 2% is in the observer's attitude and
willingness to learn.
Have fun....and be in touch; I'll be happy to help.
Clear skies and great memories....
P. Clay Sherrod
-----Original Message-----
Hi Clay,
I just got through reading you blurb about the Auto- Star 22 minute
thing. Well, after reading it the 3rd time, I think I know what you
are talking about! Whew, I was impressed and am way out of my
league. I am happy if I can get the moon in my view finder! J
Just discovered this forum, so will be listening in from time to
time. I am still waiting on a clear night (when the moon is not
out) to do a polar alignment. Hopefully I can take a few items you
mentioned and do it right the first time.
I live in Charlotte, NC, so about a 20 minute ride takes me into
some nice dark areas. I have the 114EQ-DH4 (apparently this is a
special deal that Meade put together for SAMS club and Costco) which
uses the .965 EP. Apparently this is not so good huh? Meade said
they will be sending me a 2 inch adapter for free. Would this help
to purchase an extra EP for better viewing? Any word of advice
would be greatly appreciated.
Someone has to be the Newbie!
Christopher
Mike here: I started out with a 3" Edmund reflector (seen on the Just for Fun page). It used 0.965" eyepieces as well. That was my telescope until I bought the ETX in 1996! And judging from what I was able to do with that old 3", you will be able to even more with the 114EQ-DH4. By the way, Edmund is now out of the consumer business; they sold the optics line to a company that only deals with schools and teachers. See the report on Sky & Telescope's news page.
Check the Feedback Archives for previous editions of the DS Models Feedback pages.
Return to the top of this page.
Go to the ETX Home Page.