Weasner's Meade DS Models User Feedback

DS MODELS USER FEEDBACK

Last updated: 31 August 2002

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:	DS 2060EC
Sent:	Thursday, August 29, 2002 14:10:06
From:	dfellows@wi.rr.com (Douglas Fellows)
I have a ETX 90 mounted on the DS 2060 EC mounting arm. My book says I
can put a Autostar 494 on the telescope. Now I have read here and else
where that a 495 or 497 should work with this telescope too. Is this
correct? The reason I ask is because I have tried plugging a 497, I
bought off e-bay, into the scope and have not gotten it to work. I
called Meade today and I was told it will work. Then 2 minutes late they
said, "you can not see everything in the database of the 497, so you
have to use the 494". He then stated that the 497 will not work with
this scope. Can you help and find out if it will?

Doug

Mike here: See the article "Autostar Models" on the Autostar Information page.

Subject:	Manual for DS 114 telestar telescope
Sent:	Saturday, August 24, 2002 11:37:29
From:	deanrandell@nf.sympatico.ca (Dean Randell)
I need a manual for DS 114 telestar telescope. Can you please send me
one?
Thanks!

Mike here: Sorry, I'm not Meade. Contact them for a hardcopy manual. Or see the FAQ page for some manuals.

Subject:	ac adapter
Sent:	Friday, August 23, 2002 21:25:29
From:	rhard1@cox.net (Ray & Patti)
I have a Meade model 114EQ-DH4 telescope w/a 15v power supply. (10 "AA"
batt.)  Is there an AC adapter I can buy for this?  Radio Shack said
they didn't make one.  Thank you for your help.   Ray Hard

Mike here: There probably is a solution. If not a direct one, then one you might have to wire up yourself.

Subject:	Can't buy my dream telescope!
Sent:	Thursday, August 22, 2002 01:20:38
From:	marcin.bruczkowski@centertel.pl (Marcin Bruczkowski)
After several weeks of studying Meade and Celestron web sites and
reading every posting in the DS section of your ETX USER FEEDBACK
ARCHIVES I finally made the decision to go for Meade DS-2114ATS as my
first telescope.  However, having concentrated all energy on the task of
choosing the right instrument for my quite limited budget, I overlooked
a little problem: this telescope is completely unavailable in Europe!  I
checked with Meade Europe - they still sell the old model DS-2114ES (I
read that the ATS has a much improved mount, motors, etc.).  What's more
they don't even have a dealer in my country.

Next I checked 12 web sites of authorised Meade distributors in the USA
- they all strictly refuse to send Meade equipment overseas.  Most U.S.
online dealers refuse (some of them not very politely) to sell to non-US
residents.  What has the Internet come to... where's the global village
of the '90s?

Buying a used telescope from overseas is not a good idea either - too
much risk of a mechanical or electrical problem.

So now I'm stuck.  I did my research, saved my hard-earned money (in my
country US$400 for a DS-2114ATS is an equivalent of several monthly
salaries) and now I don't know how to put my hands on my dream 'scope.

Any suggestions would be MOST welcome...  Thank you very much in
advance!

Best Regards,

Marcin Bruczkowski
marcin@bruczkowski.com 
Warsaw, Poland

Mike here: Sorry to hear about your difficulty. Unfortunately, the "global economy" still suffers from too many controls (tariffs, export controls, etc.). Maybe one of these days we'll be One World with One Currency. Of course, before we get there, wars will be fought over whose government and currency we use... I'll post your message on the next Site update; perhaps someone near you will have a solution. Good luck and keep me posted.

Subject:	DS manual
Sent:	Tuesday, August 13, 2002 17:50:42
From:	goose17@bellsouth.net (andy jerzewski)
Saw several requests for the Meade DS series manual.  Attached please
find the (Rev 6/00) version which covers the 60mm (2.4"), 70mm (2.8"),
80mm (3.1"), 90mm (3.5") Refracting Telescopes; 114mm (4.5"), and 127mm
(5") Reflecting Telescopes.

Regards,
Andy Jerzewski

P.S. I own a DS114, which is my first telescope.  Your DS and Autostar
areas cover everything else one needs to know about using the goto
features. (GREAT site!)

Subject:	re: Little brothers
Sent:	Sunday, August 11, 2002 23:32:52
From:	rseymour@wolfenet.com (Richard Seymour)
To:	crazyweb@peoplepc.com
there's a yahoo newsgroup devoted to the DS- family, too.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade-ds/

have fun
--dick

Subject:	re:  help me please, Meade 4504 GOTO DIGITAL TELESCOPE
Sent:	Friday, August 9, 2002 23:33:15
From:	rseymour@wolfenet.com (Richard Seymour)
To:	Sjcsharon@aol.com
An excellent resource for 4504's is:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Meade4504Telescopes

..a group devoted to the use and capabilites of the 4504.

They are very nice, capable telescopes.
Photography will require care, and counterweights if
your camera is very heavy.
If you are in the USA, call Meade and request their 
free adapter to allow you to use 1.25 inch eyepieces.
You do -not- want a "0.96 to 1.25" adapter. (not free)

You want the free "2 inch to 1.25 inch adapter for the 4504"

have fun
--dick

Subject:	Little Brothers
Sent:	Thursday, August 8, 2002 22:24:00
From:	crazyweb@peoplepc.com (Jason Weber)
I was wondering if you might be able to give some advise about this
whole hobby you've got going here?  My little brother just got a
telescope (DS-60) from the local thrift store for $5.00.  Everything
looks good but the battery pack for the controler doesn't work I think. 
He also doesn't know a whole lot about how to use it.  Where could I get
some info for him? Any advise would be great.  Just send me an Email
crazyweb@peoplepc.com

Thanks, Jason Weber   Alburtis, PA

Mike here: Since I don't have a DS telescope I can't speak to the battery problem. Was a manual included with the telescope? If not, contact Meade (see their web page for contact info). They will likely send you one for free. As to resources, there is a lot of content on my Site; just browse around.

Subject:	DS 114
Sent:	Sunday, August 4, 2002 11:42:52
From:	RADRcpa@cs.com
I recently purchased a DS-114 telescope which was a floor model from a
store which was closing.  It did not include an instruction manual.  Any
ideas on where I could get ahold of an instruction manual?

Alan Ross

Mike here: Unfortunately the Meade site doesn't have manuals for the DS telescopes.

And:

Is there a phone number for Meade so that I can call to inquire?

Mike here: See the Customer Support page on the Meade web site.

Subject:	help me please, Meade 4504 GOTO DIGITAL TELESCOPE 
Sent:	Sunday, August 4, 2002 10:34:20
From:	Sjcsharon@aol.com
Hi, I am looking for a telescope, and found this one on ebay Meade 4504
GOTO DIGITAL TELESCOPE

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2126518590

Iam very interested as it can take pictures, what extra's would i need
for this and what would i be bale to see, i have never done this before
so it is easy to use, and can it be used to another things like birds?

Thanks I hope you can help i juust cant find any thing about it

Sharon

Mike here: Look through the DS feedback pages in the Feedback Archives. As to accessories, see the Accessory Review pages; there are some that will work with the DS telescopes.

And:

thanks i did find them in the end! but can it be used for non space
use;s like birds?

Mike here: Almost any telescope can be used for terrestrial objects. The only consideration is how close it will focus. I don't know that for the DS telescopes and didn't see any minimum focus distance for the DS scopes in the Meade catalog that I have.

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