Nexstar 114GT

Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...
-s

It's probably something very simple and easily overlooked rather than a
major malfunction. Starting from the batteries (check them too), go back
checking every connection for the fault. If you have power where it plugs
into the telescope, check all fuses. If all fails, take it back where you
purchased it or call Celestron Tech dept for instruction.

Al


"Shirish" wrote in message
...
Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product.
I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...
-s

I had the same problem. Plug it in and move and sharke the connector
around a bit until it turns on. If it doesn't work then you need to
have it replaced.

On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:08:05 -0700, "Shirish"
wrote:

Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...
-s

"Shirish" wrote in message ...
Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...

It's actually a Synta-made product, and it shows.

Previous reports indicated that about 5-10% of them have the inner leaf in
the power socket (in the arm) bent inwards, so they don't power up. If you're
not all thumbs and have a long needle-nosed plier, you may be able to fix it
quickly yourself though it'd be easier just to replace the socket if you really
want to keep the scope and don't want to wait a month for Celestron to fix it.

Once you get it powered up you'll note there are many other problems, mostly
centered in and about the hand controller which will require replacement.

You should join the "BabyNexstar" Yahoo group for additional support.

"Shirish" wrote in message news...
Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...
-s

Howdy!

I bought the same scope for show & tell and as an easy travel scope.

The power socket on my scope failed the 2nd time I inserted the plug
from the AA battery power pack. There is a small clip inside the
socket, kinda like the clip on a pen that holds the pen to a pocket.
This clip was (to use a highly technical term) "Smooshed" down into
the bottom of the socket assembly. Either the socket, or the plug on
the battery pack, is not quite right. I found a replacement socket at
Radio Shack, which I soldered into place. You may wish to contact
Celestron for a new socket, or consider returning the unit (for
replacement or upgrade),

Also, you will quickly find that the AA batteries are not up to the
task. I use a battery pack that has a 12 volt (cigaret lighter type)
plug going out. The battery pack is the type that has a built-in
jumper cables and light. I have found just as useful for jumping cars
as for powering the scope.

The eyepieces that come with the scope are pretty poor (other language
comes to mind, but I'll hold my tongue). For this scope I have
enjoyed using the Celestron Eyepiece Set that retails for ~$100.
Check with the place where you bought the scope, or on Amazon.com.

Be aware that this is a minimum-quality telescope. As long as your
expectations are within the scope's ability, you should find it fun to
use.

¤ Clear skies & a star to steer by! Michael ¤

************************************************* ******
Michael Foerster ¤ Pres/Research Lead, Skywatch-GL
¤Solar System Ambassador, NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab
¤Night Sky Net Coordinator, The Starry-Nite Society
¤E-Address:
¤N42°31'13.3" ¤ W83°08'43.2" ¤ 668' ¤ -5 GMT
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~
"Nothing shocks me. I'm a scientist."
Harrison Ford, as Indiana Jones
************************************************* ******

Bond wrote:
I had the same problem. Plug it in and move and sharke the connector
around a bit until it turns on. If it doesn't work then you need to
have it replaced.

I'd suggest that if it the connector needs to be moved and shaken to get it
to turn on you should get it replaced anyway, unless of course you bought it
second hand which may be more of a problem.


DaveL


On Mon, 26 Apr 2004 11:08:05 -0700, "Shirish"
wrote:

Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron
product. I have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries
plugged in the teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for
suggestions... -s

Starry-Nite wrote:
"Shirish" wrote in message news...
Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...
-s

Howdy!

I bought the same scope for show & tell and as an easy travel scope.

The power socket on my scope failed the 2nd time I inserted the plug
from the AA battery power pack. There is a small clip inside the
socket, kinda like the clip on a pen that holds the pen to a pocket.
This clip was (to use a highly technical term) "Smooshed" down into

Can also be caused by operaor error, of course. For a new scope

Also, you will quickly find that the AA batteries are not up to the
task. I use a battery pack that has a 12 volt (cigaret lighter type)
plug going out. The battery pack is the type that has a built-in
jumper cables and light. I have found just as useful for jumping cars
as for powering the scope.

I have one I bought in the camping department at Target. Good jumpstart
packs also at Wal-Mart and Costco.

The eyepieces that come with the scope are pretty poor (other language
comes to mind, but I'll hold my tongue). For this scope I have
enjoyed using the Celestron Eyepiece Set that retails for ~$100.
Check with the place where you bought the scope, or on Amazon.com.

The 20 mm SMA eyepiece that comes with the scope is OK. The Eyepiece Set
(retails for around $125-$140 now) is much better.

Be aware that this is a minimum-quality telescope. As long as your
expectations are within the scope's ability, you should find it fun to
use.

Mine's nice (better than the bigger telescope I used in high school many
years ago), but it came well collimated from the factory. Collimation
helps a lot. Note: the 114GT has a "barlow" mounted in the eyepiece tube
that has to be removed temporarily to collimate the scope. For more
money but less hassle, the 130GT is a good alternative.
--
Pat O'Connell
[note munged EMail address]
Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints,
Kill nothing but vandals...

In article , says...

Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...

This is a known issue. My connector died the second time I used it. I ended up
replacing it along with a few other things. Check out my page at
http://www.windvisions.com/Astronomy/ for details.

This is a pretty good portable scope. With good collimation you should get a
lot of good seeing out of it but it does need some help in a few areas.

Glenn

If it's brand new under warranty, I'd return it and get the NexStar 80GT.
The refractor doesn't give too much up in light grasp, doesn't need
collimation and you can always sell it the refractor OTA and mount that nice
Orion 80ED Apo refractor on the goto mount as an easy upgrade.

--

Clear Skies,

Chuck

"Glenn Woodell" wrote in message
news:hgYkc.1564$nN6.1223@lakeread06...
In article ,
says...

Does anyone have any experience with this scope? It's a celestron
product. I
have assembled everything with the 8-pack AA batteries plugged in the
teescope. But it refses to power on. Asking for suggestions...

This is a known issue. My connector died the second time I used it. I
ended up
replacing it along with a few other things. Check out my page at
http://www.windvisions.com/Astronomy/ for details.

This is a pretty good portable scope. With good collimation you should get
a
lot of good seeing out of it but it does need some help in a few areas.

Glenn