Meade DS-114EQ-DH4

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Brand and Model:Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
Price ($USD):$300
Type:Newtonian
Attributes: un-checked Go-To un-checked PEC
Aperture:114mm (4.5")
f Ratio:f/8
Focal Length:910mm
Finder:
Electric Power:
Mount:EQ
Tripod:
Weight (lbs):lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:Affordable Astronomy's Meade 114AT Review

Vote Highlights Vote
Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
I also bought one of these scopes at Sam's Club for around $250. Now they are selling for under $100 on eBay and elsewhere. At the price I paid it was a decent value, getting the same scope for less than half that is a steal!

The scope has very good optics for its size and price range, though the eyepieces need to be upgraded. Meade supplies a free adapter so it will accept 1.25" eyepieces. With a good eyepiece in place this scope performs as well as any 4.25" scope I've ever used.

The go-to mount does have some problems but they are not as bad as you would expect from a scope this cheap. It is a bit jiggly at times but tends to damp down fast. It can be a challenge to align properly the first few times you use it but once you get that down the go-to function works well, enough to put an object in a low power FOV most of the time. Once you learn how to use the synchronize function, which lets you update the computer on the position of the object you are currently viewing, it is pretty accurate; often it will place an object squarely in the center of a 100x FOV. The tracking works well, it will hold an object in the field for several hours at high power.

The biggests cons of the scope are the plastic components. The focuser is poor. I have put a laser collimator in the scope and rotating it in the focuser shows it to be tilted slightly from the mirror axis. The finder scope is useless, I can see nothing fainter than about 3rd magnitude through it and it will not come to a sharp focus not matter how you adjust it but other than finding Polaris for alingment purposes you don't need it with the go-to functions anyway. The eyepieces are also poor, though the 25mm one is decent for a .965 Kellner. The supplied 3x barlow is 100% plastic (including the lens) and also 100% useless.

Still, even considering its faults, I am quite pleased with my scope. I have spent some money on adding inexpensive but decent 1.25" plossl eyepieces and that makes a world of difference. For the price they are selling now this scope is a great overall value for the astronomer on a budget.

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:7 Mount:7 Ease of Use:5 Value:9
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=129636

Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
Not so easy to use, but comparable to others newtonians of the same class, is a good telescope.

Overall Rating: 6
Optics:5 Mount:5 Ease of Use:5 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=475890

Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
I have had this unit for 1 year. It works well and as a beginner it is a great starter scope. Sam's Club price was great and so far I have had no major problems. The setup procedure could be clearer but I seem to have figuered it out.

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:7 Mount:5 Ease of Use:9 Value:10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=50225

Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
Before I begin, I just wanted to say that I have a DS-114. Well, I have to say that this scope is ok for the price. I dont think I would buy another though. When I got it, the optics were terrible. I recieved a new primary mirror from Meade and it seemed to fix the problem. The tube is metal which is a plus but all the other plastic parts are a pain. The focuser is junk and really needs to be replaced. And the view finder is not worth the plastic it is made of. The tripod is ok although when I got it, the top and bottom were not aligned correctly with each other. Planet viewing is ok, but cannot resolve any colors or surface. I have an autostar with it, and still havnt got that to work correctly on the telescope. But that might be operator error. I still have to call them about that. Bottom line, if you can get it for under $200, think about it. Or better yet, get an Orion.

Overall Rating: 6
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40970

Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
this is my first telescope costing over $80.00. so far it is fantastic. it tracks well, smooth operation, etc... for a beginner such as myself, it opens up a whole new world to explore. good scope--- i will be upgrading the eyepieces soon to plossls.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40969

Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
Scope did really well on a star test. Nice optics. It was quite a bargin. I got it for $240. from Sam's Club. The owners manual needs major improvement especially for newcomers in the polar allignment section and on how to use the controller. The "how to put it together" section was good though.

Meade sent me a 1.25 inch adapter for free so I was able to purchase their better eyepieces. The .96 inch eyepieces they sent with the scope were better than what you'd expect for the price. Like I said, for $240. it was a great deal.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40967

Meade DS-114EQ-DH4
I loved it even though I own a 10" dobsoian telescope. For the price you can't beat it. Tracks great. Finds the objects its is suppose to.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
Date:
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Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=40968

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