DS 2114 a big hit!

[firemouth]

So last night was the first time we took the Meade DS 2114 out for an outreach program and people loved it!
I set it up with the supplied 25mm eyepiece and first up was M43. It was framed well in the eyepiece.

I showed other members in the club how easy it was to align. It took me less than 6 minutes to do the EASY 2 star alignment. Then the scope slewed to M43 and locked right on and tracked all night! I loved it.

As people visited the scope at the Public Library event that the Riverbend Astronomy Club was hosting, my 12 year old daughter explained the Nebula as a star nursery and discussed with parents that this was a GOTO scope that any kid could use!

One parent asked for a demonstration, so she pressed the Mode Button and went to Named Objects and chose the Pleiades and when the scope automatically went right to the Pleiades  the parents were impressed and the kids that gathered round all ooohed and aaahed! LOL She was so proud of her scope!

We all took turns looking through the scope. It was great fun!

When I was looking for a large refractor I was looking for a Meade 6" and a Celestron 6". Both scopes have similar optics and GOTO mounts so I found the Celestron first. The scope is my first go at GOTO mounts. I absolutely get frustrated everytime I use it! It never targets right and always needs tracking adjustments after 15minutes. Obviously I need to get with someone who understands the GT-5 mount and help me fix the errors in tracking and alignments. So when I got this scope(the DS 2114) I was really worried it would be a pain in the butt too! I was so releaved at how easy it is to use. I am hoping that by the end of summer my daughters know how to use it better than I do! My frustration with the Celestron Mount has me thinking of buying a Meade Mount to replace it.

This telescope will certainly help to hook my daughters into the night sky! They were literally jumping when they found Saturn in it.

[MistrBadgr]

That is great news!

With an older version of the DS mount and with some quality control issues with the short tube 114mm scope itself, I had a lot of trouble at first with my DS-2114.  I had to go through the mount, figure out troubles, and fix them.  Then redesign and rebuild the telescope itself due to the main mirror being the wrong focal length.  I believe Meade has done a lot of work to fix the real issues behind the trouble, no mater what the source.

From what you say, I gather that the system as a whole is maturing.  Any number of refinements were made in the mount from the one I originally had and yours.  Quality control, I believe, has improved.  I expect you will have many enjoyable evenings with your 2114.

Thanks for sharing!....Not only with us, but with the people at the outreach!

Bill Steen

[marsmen]

help please i can not align my scope i level the the tripod first with a circular bubbel level than put scope on mount point it north but still no alignment i have a meade ds 2114 and a meade etx 60 i also have alot accessories also have auto star 494 and 497 can and would a gps make a difference i have read alot of tips but still no sucess thanx frankie

[firemouth]

First go to this link and watch the videos.....
http://www.meade.com/educational/ds%20videos/qt_chap1.html

Watch all the videos and do exactly what they do.
I point the scope north first, then level when prompted to do so.
Follow the instructions exactly.

If you follow the video instructions exactly, you will notice the scope is right on spot. It is off a little.
If this happens when using GOTO then "Train your scope" their is a video for that too.
You will do this in the day time and you will notice the scope's performance increase!

As long as you follow the instructions, enter the right data into the handset, and train your scope you should be fine and much happier!!!!