Meade114

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Meade DS-114AT

Ok people here it is A REVIEW of MEADE'S DS-114AT from a 100% certified AMATEUR

This Telescope was purchased from Wal-Mart in December 2000. For around $350.00 US

WARNING!! DETAILED PICTURES PLEASE WAIT FOR DOWNLOAD!!

For Starters I am a complete armature, In fact this was my first Telescope purchase, I think what attracted me to this Telescope was the really cool Graphics on the box and the Electronics that was included with the Telescope. So Lets Begin!

The Really Cool Box.

This box is huge! I had a really hard time fitting it into my '96 Mustang..

The box claims to come with a Autostar #494 Control System, But This Scope came with a #495 (which is a Upgrade from the #494) Look at that box! WOW !

Side View, More Awesome Graphics and a picture of everything that comes with this Telescope

The Autostar Pictured here is not what comes with the scope, They Included an Upgraded Autostar

Again Look at those "Exciting Objects You can See" Graphics..

Another Side View, Sorry about Picture, But this side of the box basically is just more of the same features.

More Info about Telescope and Barcode.. Notice in Lower Right Corner of Picture

That White Blur says "Made In Taiwan" I didn't even notice it at the store..

I must say the Graphics on the box really caught my attention and I wanted this Telescope.

I was really excited to view those same objects as stated on the box..

PART 2 : What's In the Box

When I opened the box, I noticed that everything was protected in Plastic wrap and those little

packets of "Silicon Pellets" (Please Do Not Eat) to protect from moisture. So after unwrapping everything

this is what was included. Lots of good Stuff

1. Tripod

2.Accessory Shelf (This did not come attached to tripod from box, I had to Remove leg from tripod to attach it. Was a pain to remove for picture)

3. Optical Tube

4. Upper Cradle Rings (x2) attaches Optical Tube to Mount

5. Free Star-Locator Software (Actually it's "Starry Night Backyard Limited Edition" with ACP "Astronomers Control Panel" Software

6. 2" Eyepiece Adapter

7. Viewfinder Bracket

8. 5x24mm Viewfinder

9. 3 Included .965 Eyepieces

1) SR 4mm

2) H 12.5mm

3) H 12mm

10. 3X Barlow Lens (not the same lens that was pictured on Box??)

11. Manuals For Scope and Autostar and the usual Junk for magazine Subscriptions.

12. Vertical & Horizontal Motor Assemblies

13. Battery Pack (10 AA)

14. #495 Autostar Hand Controller

NO! Really What's in the Box

1) TRIPOD.. Seems strong enough to support telescope and is made from Aluminum with a Cast (iron??) Mount. The legs will adjust for greater heights. The "Solid Plastic Yoke Mount" in which the optical tube rests on didn't seem to be of any good quality and was badly "Flashed" (Flash = Excess Plastic from Molding Process) I used a knife to remove unsightly flash.. Overall besides the Plastic Yoke the Tripod seems to be of some Quality!

2.ACCESSORY SHELF.. 100% Plastic. Instructions say that it just snaps on!. But this wasn't the case

I had to remove a leg from tripod and slide it over the leg, And let me tell you. it wasn't easy, it needed a lot of force to get it positioned.. This too had some Flashing on it that was easily removed. I personally would not even attach it, It keeps the Tripod from Folding down all the way..

3. OPTICAL TUBE This is the main part of the whole Telescope. I first noticed Rack & Pinion Focuser Yet again 100% Plastic!(They even gave it that Chrome look)it's eyepiece size is .965.. The only metal part on it was the "Drawtube Lock Nut". Overall not the best quality I would have expected from a Major Telescope Manufacture

the Cool looking Black Optical Tube is made from Tin and is very lightweight

The entire Focuser Is Plastic even the Chrome! .. The Tube Label Explains Info on the Telescope

it Reads TELESTAR Model DS-114...D=114mm F=910mm f/8

"Manufactured in Taiwan R.O.C to the design specifications of:

Meade Instruments Corporation

Irvine, California U.S.A" (manufactured in Taiwan..that would explain all the plastic and poor quality of this scope. And I was thought to Believe all Meads products where made In U.S.A .

Beside the plastic focuser the Optical Tube seems to be of some quality..

4.UPPER CRADLE RINGS.. Yep you guessed it 100% plastic. The Flashing was so bad on both rings that they would not even attach to the mount without major trimming of excess plastic. But Overall they should be strong enought to handle the Light weight Scope..

5.FREE STAR LOCATOR SOFTWARE. Meade has included "Starry Night Backyard LIMITED EDITION" software and a program called ACP (Astronomers Control Panel) . The Starry Night Backyard Limited Edition Software is nice, plenty of information about the stars and has really nice graphics, However you can download a better version of StarryNight from http://www.starrynight.com

I recommend it. The ACP software allows you to control your Meade DS-114AT telescope with a Computer laptop or desktop. Meade didn't Include a Cable to connect my telescope to my computer so i really can't review the software.. anyone ever tried it??

6. 2" EYEPIECE ADAPTER.. Yet again 100% plastic.Even the screws?? This allows you to use 2 inch eyepieces with your telescope and quickly screws onto the focuser.. Meade did not include any 2" eyepieces. Overall it's plastic and cheap! be careful not to strip out the threads on the plastic screws!

7.VIEWFINDER BRACKET.. More 100% Plastic even the Alignment screws are plastic, please be careful of stripping the screws.. They did include metal screws to attach the bracket to Optical Tube!

8. VIEWFINDER.. 5x24mm Viewfinder.. this baby is all PLASTIC even the Optics! I couldn't get this viewfinder to focus on the picture on the wall across the room..The crosshairs are wires, My crosshairs where "crooked" and overall the whole thing is really bad!

9. INCLUDED EYEPIECES.. Meade included 3 free .965 eyepieces

1-SR 4mm , 1-H 12.5mm, 1-H 12mm.. .I was told that they are "Huygenian Design" and are of Very poor Quality. But they are metal with Real glass optics (except for plastic optics mounting) I guess they will work with this telescope..

10. 3X BARLOW LENS. This Barlow lens is 100% Plastic even the optics. It accepts .965 eyepieces

and is rather long. The main Optic is mounted so poorly that it shakes inside the Barlow Tube. It has more plastic screws so be careful.. very cheap! very poor quality.. The box pictures the barlow Lens being different then what I got.

11. MANUALS .. Includes DS instruction manual Autostar manual, Meade's Accessory catalog,Warrenty Registration (with a chance to win a pair of Meade Inifinity Binoculars..expired in May 2000..D'oh) It also includes a Flyer for a Subscription for SKY & TELESCOPE Magazine (12 issues for $37.95 is really good.. I paid $5.37 for 1 issue at a local bookstore).. I recommend this magazine "Chock Full of information and Tips!!..

12. VERTICAL & HORIZONTAL MOTORS.. Again all Plastic even the gears.. I hope they will hold up! These motors control all movements of the telescope and plug into the Mount for control through the Autostar.

13. BATTERY PACK.. This pack holds 10 AA batteries to power both the Autostar and Motors.

It is plastic even the pouch.. the wires are soldered to the battery holder and looks like they will pull right off. Be Careful!!

14. Autostar #495. Wow! This is really nice..Meade upgraded to this unit from the #494 which did not include the keypad.. The Box Says it Includes the #494 Autostar, But Meade put a notice in the box explaining the Upgrade..

I have to say! Meade sure did include A LOT OF PLASTIC PARTS

let s assemble the Scope!

3 Assembly : The Instructions where complete and plenty of pictures to help aid the full assembly.

The only tool needed as a Phillips head screwdriver .. The only hard part in assembling the Telescope was attaching the motors. you have to make sure they line up for a good fit.. Other then that the Whole Telescope was very easy! No need to go in to detail !

THE FULL SETUP!!

Here are some pictures of what the whole Telescope Looks like setup!

These 3 pictures where taken after setup was complete. Looks really cool

a detailed picture of the Electronics connections to the Tripod

And a picture of the Autostar attached to the tray.. Notice the battery pack on the tray

Meade included Double sided tape to attach battery pack to Tripod leg, But was not strong enough to hold 10 AA batteries. so now it's resting on the Tray..

Well Now What??

After assembling the Telescope and looking at the final product. I feel like it just not be worth my time to even turn it on! I personally feel like Meade made a really bad product! I wouldn't recommend anyone buying it! It's made of entirely way too much CHEAP PLASTIC PARTS and Low End Optics..

and at $350.00+ I would recommend saving up a little more money and get something else.

I will indeed finish this review when I get a chance to take it outside for a test run. But for now I am going to write Meade to fix a Mount problem (Scope has too much play in it to stay on Object) and try to get better quality parts from them. I feel like I have been taken for $350.00, and got stuck with a Very Low End Telescope!

NEW!!! Read Michael Covington's Focal Point (From SKY & TELESCOPE MAGAZINE February 2001 issue) " A Code Of Ethics For Telescope Advertising " Click Here

Thanks!

Dave

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