Reviews (5)

Money well spent
The only reliable and functionally satisfying aspect of my Tasco Stargate 114 telescope is the little white light that illuminates the key pad. Considering the amount of Australian dollars (Money) spent, I now feel my recreation money would had been better spent wiring ten trillion little white lights and transmitting photons towards aliens.

Go To!
Okay, after a little practice with my Tasco 114, and getting in touch with the NexStar group, and getting additional encoder information,I must revise my previous review.

The encoder numbers entered into handpad computer are the scopes weakest point, since they delete themselves if you pick the C114 configuration as advised in the owner's manual. Keep your scope on Custom/Model or you loose the scopes go to capability.
If you do loose this code, go to the Nexstar group on Yahoo and get the sequence and manually reload it.

One of the strong points of the scope is the optics. I must admit, this F10/1000mm focal length has a rather ingenious way of using the built in barlow to achieve the focal f/10 focal ratio. Star tests revealed a perfect concentric circle or airy disk on inside and outside focus at high power.

Once you conquer all the bugs, this little robotic scope is really a good performer. Oh, I also wouldn't mount the hand control bracket on the mount, since it prevents the adjustment of the tripod leg. Attach it afterwards.
Oh, you can do slow motion adjustments with the hand controller. Just press undo, press the directional arrow and its opposite to make little tweaky adjustments.

To Go Or Not To Go?
Hello Amateur Astronomers,
Purchased the little Gem at Service Merchandise in Illinois, back in Feb, 02. What I did not like about this Go To scope was Star Guide hand control and that chinsy battery pack. (watch the frail wires, they break off the terminals.)
First, the Star Guide hand controller is very complicated to figure out. For example, when first turned on it reads "custom"
What is custom? Custom means the kind of scope. The instructional manual then reads if your telescope doesn't function properly, then go to the menu (#3) and scroll down to the correct model. Listing custom again and 3 other choices. Oh, those many addendums! One addendum to the manual advises you just skip everything and be sure to use "auto align" citing a two star alignment. Another addendum then reads it it not advisable to use this method since you have to know the stars names and location. Well, guys, what other method is there?
Be careful, though, the little battery pack that powers the 114 is not built into the scope. I don't know how many times my scope wrapped the rubber coated wire around the tripod and into the mount. My advise is to velcro the Vinyl covered pack to the fork mount, and get the wires (which are black) out of the way.
Another gripe I had was switching observing locations. Finding stars at the first location, the scope functioned properly, however, for some reason, it didn't like Dansforth Illinois. Even though I picked kankankee as the nearest city, it just wouldn't point to anything, not even Venus. I suspect someone forgot to program other terrestial locations in the hand controllers database. So my advise is to load the proper latitude and longitute into the controller if you're going to switch observing sites. Oh, and those poor blotes in Ohio, well Ohio, and all its cities, are listed under the State of South Dakota? Also Tasco is not honoring its warranties, since, as I understand it is going under.

Starguide Telescope Simply Awesome
Purchased the telescope 02/09/02. Within 15 minutes I was seeing planets. The alignment setup process was easy and simple. I have never owned a telescope before and if its this easy to see the planets and stars, I might buy an even stronger lens. The two that come with it are good, but they should have used a stronger one. All in All, EXCELLENT!!!

How to remove the black carboard lens cover from front cover
I purchase this scope on 12/22/01 and was setting it up. It tells were you can align with your eyeball while some else adjust the front lenseMine has a piece of black paper in side and I would like to removed it.
Thanks for listening. ... Read more

Features

• 8x magnification
• 21mm objective lens
• Roof prism type
• Black Rubber armor
• Rubber fold-down eye cups

Reviews (1)

Best Value.
This is the best deal around. Does it get any cheaper? In Israel, for instance, the price tag riches 40$! In addition to the lowest price in the market, if your needs are similar to those I'll specify in the next paragraph, these binoculars will suit your needs perfectly, as it suits mine.

Got them as a birthday present, I am most satisfied with its performance, compact size and durability. I recommend these fine binoculars if you're interested in relatively close observations (8x magnification field of view of 378 feet at 1,000 yards); it's a good choice for watching stadium events(games concerts), theatre/opera shows , hunting and I believe small time travelers would also be pleased.

For your convenience, I've measured it. Folded - 3.10 inch long, width - 2.7 inch. Fully stretched - 4.3 inch wide. For further details, there is an easy to use one-finger focus mechanism in the center, and another one on the left monocle, thick rubber coating for damage protection, sun block lenses covering, and a string for neck carrying . Additional feature you'll get is a prestigious leather compact case you will be able to connect elegantly to your belt.

In all, you are going to get a good pennyworth. Mel Gibson has used a similar binoculars to 'spy' after Julia Roberts in "The Conspiracy Theory", just to cud your imagination... ... Read more

Features

• Objective Lens Diameter: 40mm
• Includes carrying pouch and strap
• Weight: 23.5 oz

Product Description

Powerful 10x magnification for examinig small details at longer distances. Magnification: 10x. Field-of-View: 315 ft./95 m. Exit Pupil: 2.5mm. Prism Type: Roof. Weight: 13.1 oz. Objective Lens Diameter: 25mm. Lens Coating: Fully coated. Waterproof. Focus Type: Center. Rubber armored. Includes carrying pouch and neck strap. ... Read more

Product Description

A favorite of hunters in the field or on the range. Versatile 18x to 36x zoom covers varmint hunting, big game spotting and target shooting in a single camouflage armored unit. Magnification: 18-36x. Field-of-view @ 100 yards: 12 ft./3.8 m (at 18x). Eye relief: 10mm. Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm. Length: 14.5". Tripod: Panhead lever. Weight: 31 oz. Camo rubber armor. Includes hard carrying case. ... Read more

Product Description

With a protective camouflage rubber armor, this powerful little monocular fits neatly in the pocket of any hunting jacket or turkey vest. Magnification: 10x. Field-of-View: 288 ft./115 m. Exit Pupil: 2.5mm. Prism Type: Roof. Weight: 4.7 oz. Objective Lens Diameter: 25mm. Lens Coating: Fully coated. Focus type: eyepiece. Brown camo rubber armor. Includes hand strap and carrying pouch. ... Read more

Product Description

Powerful 10x magnification makes these camouflage compacts an excellent choice for big game hunting in the mountains or wide-open country. Magnification: 10x. Filed-of-View: 288 ft./94 m. Exit Pupil: 2.5mm. Prism Type: Roof. Weight: 9.2 oz. Objective Lens Diameter: 25mm. Lens Coating: Fully Coated. Focus Type: Center. Rubber fold-down eyecups. Camo rubber armor. Includes carrying pouch and neck strap. ... Read more

Product Description

These ultra-light binoculars offer outstanding compact performance with rugged, rubber armor for hiking, backpacking or bicycle touring. Magnification: 10x. Field-of-View: 288 ft./94 m. Exit Pupil: 2.5mm. Prism Type: Roof. Weight: 9.2 oz. Objective Lens Diameter: 25mm. Lens Coating: Fully coated. Focus Type: Center. Rubber fold-down eyecups. Black rubber armor. Includes carrying pouch and neck strap. ... Read more

Product Description

Camouflage rubber armor and a compact size make thses lightweight binoculars the ideal choice for turkey and deer hunters on the move. Magnification: 8x. Filed-of-View: 383 ft./126 m. Exit Pupil: 2.6mm. Prism Type: Roof. Weight: 6.5 oz. Objective Lens Diameter: 21 mm. Lens Coating: Fully coated. Focus Type: Center. Rubber fold-down eyecups. Camo rubber armor. Includes carrying pouch and neck strap. ... Read more

Product Description

Powerful 10x magnification in a compact design for great performcance and ultimate convenience for touring and adventure travel. Magnification: 10x. Filed-of-View: 360 ft./120 m. Exit Pupil: 2.1mm. Prism Type: Porro. Weight: 5.6 o.z. Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm. Lens Coating: coated. Focus Type: Center. Compact with rubicon coated objective lenses. Includes carrying pouch and neck strap. ... Read more

Product Description

Colorful beige compact pocket-sized binoculars featuring a unique bridge and quick focus knob. Magnification: 8x. Filed-of-View: 317 ft./ 124 m. Exit Pupil: 2.6mm. Prism Type: Roof. Weight: 7.4 oz. Objective Lens Diameter: 21mm. Lens Coating: Anti-reflective coating. Focus Type: Center. Rubber fold down eyecups. Includes neck strap and carrying pouch. ... Read more