AUTOSTAR FEEDBACK Last updated: 31 August 2011

Subject:	More Train Drive Probs
Sent:	Wednesday, August 31, 2011 08:31:52
From:	Shaun maddison (madda65@yahoo.com)
I have searched your Fantastic site but can't find an answer to my
problem. I have an ETX 125AT which  has been stored away for a couple of
years, but I have got the bug again  so have tried to set it back up.
Have inserted new batteries and after an Autostar Update failure where I
had to do a Safe Load have managed to get it up and running. However
after calibrating the Motors I have tried to train the Drives, when the
scope slews back to the centred object i have to carry on slewing to get
the object centred again, which is what i imagine what this exercise is
all about. This is the same in all directions but when I have completed
this I do a re-check and find that the scope is still the same amount
out in all directions. I would say its about 2 degrees and I am using an
object that is approx 1/4 mile away.
hope you can help and
thanks in advance
Shaun

And:

and thanks for the immediate reply.
i understand that is normal but after completing the Train Drives I
repeat the process to check if the drives Have been Trained but i get
the Same errors I did the first time.
Shaun

And:

Got ya Thanks.
I misunderstood and thought that after training the drives the object
would be centred when running the process again.
Sorry for wasting your time but you have put my mind at rest.
Thanks once more 

Subject:	Serious autostar update problem
Sent:	Monday, August 29, 2011 19:10:16
From:	brett dupont (dupontb123@yahoo.com)
I'm working on killing my second hand controller.  I should have never
gotten this cord to update it.  The first time I was having trouble with
the cable and disconnected it before I realized it had begun
downloading.  I got the flash load screen to come up, but I couldn't get
the ASU to recognize the handbox.  Sold that one, bought a new one. 
This one had version 26e, but I still wanted to update it.  Got it
started, and went looking around the menus on the ASU screen.  I didn't
realize the download bar disappears and now I can't tell what is going
on, it just says ready.  Well, an hour later and the box still says
downloading and the status bar on the ASU still says Ready.  Now this
autostar isn't working, I try the flash load ready and now I have the
ASU recognize the handbox and it lets me begin the update procedure, but
its stuck at 0% now for about a half hour.  I'm going to let it go for
another hour or two, but I have my doubts anything will change.  I
really don't want to have to buy a third one of these for my ETX-125. 
Maybe I should sell the cord and forget about updating.  I'd really
appreciate any advice you have.  I've checked your site but can't find
anything exactly along this line.

And Great Site!

Thanks,
Brett

And:

If it helps, I'm trying to upload version 4.3, or anything at this
point.  I tried using an older version of ASU, like 3.5, and it
recognizes the handbox and let's me go to update it, but it says
initialing handbox in the status bar and a second later a window pops up
that says upload complete, but the handbox still says flash load ready. 
After resetting the handbox, I get some strange characters and the top
line is lit up.  I've even tried updating to the earlier 3.4 version,
thinking it might work better, but same thing.  I've done this a bunch
of times to no avail.  Your thoughts are much appreciated.

And:

I hope you got some good images.

I do have a serial port, and I've been using 4.3e saved to my hard
drive.  Actually, I've tried it both ways, from the internet and local.

I'll try Stargps this evening and let you know if I'm successful.

Thanks Mike

And:

Oh my god, Mr. Weasner, you are the man!  Meade should be paying you,
rather than the guy that anwsers their customer service number.  You
just made my day.

Using the StarPatch was quick and easy, which is more than I can say for
the ASU.  It's nice to have a permenant status bar and time remaining
readout.  I guess I shouldn't have to really update it again, since I
saw the newer software isn't good for the old 497.  I'm happy with 43e
though, it's a big improvement over 2.6.

Thanks again!  And I'll look in to the donate link that I've seen on
your site.  I was already shopping for a new 497.

Subject:	497EP, AudioStar, and Tours
Sent:	Sunday, August 28, 2011 22:19:59
From:	Yannick Dutertre (yannickd@gmail.com)
I was recently trying to upload tours to my AudioStar controller, and
ended up failing miserably, with the tours basically corrupting the
controller, forcing me to restore it from a backup, and then blanking
the titles of the available tours (they still work, though). I am using
the latest AudioStar A1F7 firmware with ASU 5.9.3.

I read further on your site and on some Yahoo Groups, and I understand
that uploading tours to the AudioStar controller is basically a no-go
(which is a shame as Meade explains how to do so pretty well in their
manuals). Do you know if there is any way to upload custom tours to the
AudioStar? I tried MyScope unsuccessfully (the Load Scope button is
grayed out).

In the same range of questions, would the same problems occur with the
standard 497EP (I am kind of hoping this is an AutoStar only bug)? I
didn't dare risking bricking it after my experience with AudioStar! I
did try MyScope on the 497EP, and this looks better, but some basic
tours like Tonight's Best are shown as having Syntax errors so I didn't
try to load the scope yet.

Also, besides tours, as far as you know, is it safre to load
satellite/asteroid info into the AudioStar/497EP controllers from the
computer? Again, I could try on my own, but just fear I would end up
bricking one of the handboxes...

Thanks for all your help and best regards,

Yannick

Subject:	Re: ETX-125 AT goto error become significant when turned a complete 360 degree
Sent:	Thursday, August 25, 2011 00:55:08
From:	TSE Ming-wai (mwtse@netvigator.com)
I've done the following test:

Slew the scope right to a landmark (without any left slew):
RA: 14:51.4
Dec: -67 deg 43'
Slew 360 degree right:
RA: 14:48.2
Dec: -67 deg 01'

A different of 3.2 minutes in RA.

Slew the scope right for enough to take up any backlash.
Slew the scope left to the same landmark (without any right slew):
RA: 14:54.8
Dec: -67 deg 27'
Slew 360 degree left:
RA: 15:00.00
Dec: -67 deg 27'

A different of 5.2 minutes in RA.

What do you think?

I also do not understand why after turning a turn, the declination
changes ( the scope point to the wrong height, so I slew it to the
centre).

Ming-wai

And:

The firmware version is 5CE2.

I have reset the autostar, then Calibrate the motor (although I know it
is not necessary because after reset, autostar had immediate calibrate
the motor), before training the drive. The training is not perfect, but
the result is quite acceptable.

After turning for 360 degree, the telescope point to a position lower
than the original position, I had to slew up so that the telescope point
to more or less the same point. On the other hand, the declination
reading was changing when I'm slewing left or right.

Ming-wai 

Subject:	ETX-125 AT goto error become significant when turned a complete 360 degree
Sent:	Wednesday, August 24, 2011 08:33:19
From:	TSE Ming-wai (mwtse@netvigator.com)
Telescope model: ETX-125 AT, I believed it is the current model. I've
worked through all the tune-up as suggested and have trained the drive.
I then point to a terrestrial object and add it as an object. I slew the
telescope for a few seconds using speed 9, then ask the telescope to go
back to the marked point. It works quite satisfactory, with very
consistent result in both RA directions, the marked point is quite near
the centre of FOV.

However, if I slew more than 180 degree, autostar will continue its turn
in the same direction and will turned 360 degree. This time, the object
was outside the FOV of the stock 26 mm eyepiece. I tried with a slower
slew speed of 1 degree per second, same result, pointing to the same
wrong place. On the other hand, if I slew in the opposite direction for
more than 180 degree then press goto, autostar will bring the marted
point to the centre again.

It should not related to backlash, as backlash is more or less the same
no matter how much you turn. In the autostar setup menu, there are some
factory default parameters that is not explained for their use. Do you
think my problem is related to the error in one of this numbers?

The other axis is fine, as we cannot slew for a large amount.

Ming-wai

From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
Well, i *would* suspect backlash, since one characteristic is that in
one direction of rotation things are "tight", yet in the other the
backlash takes effect.

You could also have some grease trapped in the encoder vanes... so that
the encoder misses some transitions.

If you could *measure* the error of that 360 degree turn, that can
sometimes provide definite diagnostics.

How: bring up the Alt/Az readout (press MODE, release, scroll to Alt/Az).
Now center a landmark and note the Az readout.
Slew the scope 360 degrees until the landmark is centered again.
Now read the Az display.  How many degrees did it think you rotated?
If it's precisely 10 degrees off (so it thinks you only rotated 350
degrees), then it's definitely one vane-gap of the encoder disk filled
with grease.
(try rotating in the other direction, too... it should also see only a
350 degree slew).
Open the base and clean it.

Since the viewfinder's field of view is 5 degrees, being ten degrees
"off" would certainly put the target outside of the FOV.

good luck
--dick

Subject:	Question on compatability...
Sent:	Tuesday, August 23, 2011 21:02:02
From:	ycsentinel@att.net (ycsentinel@att.net)
Can a 495 controller from a Meade "Digital Series" DS-80 refractor be
plugged into an older autostar mount which uses a 494 controller without
damage to the controller electronics?

Or, does it need a complete "switch"(?) of wire pinouts on the end of
one plug on the controller cable?
 
Thanks a bunch! -Larry 

Subject:	etx 125 polar align and autostar goto help, please
Sent:	Tuesday, August 23, 2011 13:44:31
From:	maverick the black sheep (doubletap69@live.com)
etx 125 pe (circa 2005)
             lnt/smartfinder removed
             additional plastic saddle removed
             finders:telrad and stellarvue 9x50 finder
             12v 1amp ac/dc adapter(not meades)
              celestron vibration dampning pads
             autostar version33Ef
meade 884tripod level and pointed north towards polaris
horizontal lock loosened,ota rotated ccw to stop,ota rotated cw until
fork arm w/dec setting circles is over control box, horizontal lock
tightened to just snug.
at this point I place telescope in the alt/az position just to level ota
and set dec setting circle to 90. next I loosen vertical lock and swing
ota to 0 dec ensure level and tighten vertical lock to just snug. next I
loosen latitude latch on 884 tripod and adjust tilt plate to 47 degrees
45 minutes approximately and lock latitude latch. next I place a level
across the fork arms, loosen horizontal lock and level fork arms then
tighten horizontal lock snug. next I gently move tripod legs to get
polaris centered in telrad and also adjust latitudelatch and adjust tilt
plate to further align polaris to dead center in telrad and tighten
latitude latch. with polaris centered in telrad I next loosen r.a. 
latch and rotate ota clockwise until fork arm w/dec setting circle is at
12:00 and take up 1/2 of the centering error of polaris. then I move the
ota ccw so that the opposite fork arm is at 12:00 and take up 1/2 the
centering error of polaris. I repeat until I can successfully rotate the
ota in r.a. and polaris stays centered in the 9x50 finder.
next I turn on the autostar via the on/off switch on the control panel
             enter date   example  23- AUG-2011
             enter time   example  21:00:00       time is accurate, I
             hope, I have a watch that gets atomic clock time updates
             daylight savings time     yes
setup:telescope:mount polar
setup site:lat 47degrees45mins N
                   long117 degrees 30 mins W
setup:telescope:high precision
I then select align:easy
arcturus in bootes is the first alignment star selected by the
autostar...it misses low and to the right by at least 2 ota
diameters...I center the star in the telrad using the arrow keys.
altair in aquila is the second star choosen by autostar...it misseslos
by 2 degrees and almost right on in r.a.  ... I crnter the star in the
telrad using the arrow keys...alignment successful.
from here I usually star hop because autostar goto and tonites best tour
is wayyyy off
example:   object deep sky:messier objects:108   enter       goto using
high precision slewing it slews to (sort of) merak...I center the star
in the telrad and fine center merak in the 9x50 finder...press enter....
it finishes slewing to m108...not in the eyepiece, if I didn't have the
optical finder I would have given up...comparing what I had in finder to
a star chart I moved appropriately to m108 and it was in eyepiece
then...
what am I doing incorrectly to not get goto items in eyepiece without
further slewing via a 9x50 optical finder....not standard equipment on
an etx 125 pe...if using just the supplied smartfinder and an eyepiece I
would be dissappointed and never see a goto item...that's why I removed
the lnt completely and use a telrad and optical finder to star hop like
the oldtimers.
any help would be greatly appreciated...........gary w.

Subject:	Autostar PEC feature
Sent:	Tuesday, August 23, 2011 13:44:21
From:	Pierre & Susan (pslaplante@cox.net)
I recently purchased a used LXD75 that included a #487 handbox. The
mount instructions say that there is a PEC feature located under "Smart
Drive" in the "Telescope" menu. I didn't find it. I called Meade and
they said to download the software for the Autostar V.43EG which I
already had but did so. No PEC in the download either. Called Meade
again and they said I might not have the right #497. I thought they all
were the same but had different software. I have another handbox but it
is 5CE2. I wanted to put the 43EG version on it to see if it would work,
however, if I use Autostar Update, I'm thinking it would just download
the 5CE2 again. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Pierre

And:

I found the Smart Drive in the menu. I was looking in the wrong place
because the menu in the owner's manual was different than the handbox. I
guess I really am getting old.
Regards,
Pierre

And this:

From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
As you said, you found it...

But: DO NOT ATTEMPT to load 43Eg on a "5CE1" Autostar or vice-versa.

They (the Autostars) are totally different beasties on the inside, and
they cannot run the other model's firmware.

43EG goes into an older "497"  Autostar, and 5CE1 goes into the newer
"497EP" Autostar. (the same caution applies to A1F7  and A2S6 (for the
Audiostar) and the other two)

have fun
--dick

Subject:	ETX 90 EC tracking question
Sent:	Thursday, August 18, 2011 10:30:09
From:	Max Byerly (davenport-tennis@hotmail.com)
My local astronomy shop got rid of an old ETX 90 EC mount, so I took it.
The only problem I noticed from it is, that when i hook my 497
controller to it, I do the standard alignment procedure and I go to
something like Antares and start tracking. After about a minute or so,
the scope will slew up in the declination about 10 degrees and start
tracking again. What could this be. I did all the standard stuff like
training drives and such but I want to know why it takes off.

Max

Sent from my iPad 2

And:

Ok, but I left some details out. Let me explain futher.
 
My autostar is the standard 497 because I replaced the original 495
controller than came with the EC mount. So, being on the latest 43E
firmware, the telescope doesn't have any goto accuracy after alignment.
I do the train the drives and the calibration monthly and that didn't
fix it. So, out of curiousity I tried my friends 497 controller with the
current firmware version 5ECI or something like that and it sounds great
and the goto accuracy is great, but when tracking an object, after a
couple of minutes the telescope slews upward about 10 degrees.

But what is interesting, on my controller, with the no accuracy, I hook
the SkyWire and SkySafari up to the RS232 port and the iPad program
overrides the 497 and the accuracy turns to dead on and near on center
goto.
 
What do you think is the issue.
 
Max

Subject:	Re: ETX90EC with Autostar Startup Problem
Sent:	Wednesday, August 17, 2011 08:46:45
From:	Thomas Polkow (tpolkow@mindspring.com)
Thank you for the quick response!  Okay, I removed/replaced the
batteries (to reset) turned it back on, and of course it began going
berserk again. Turned it back off, unplugged the controller, turned it
on, then plugged in the controller. Like it occasionally does when I do
it this way, it didn't go berserk this time. So I did calibrate, then
train the motors to a terrestrial object (street light), and all seemed
fine. Now I could turn it off, then on, and it didn't go berserk. Then I
let it set for 15 minutes, and turned it back on, and there it goes
again, off on it's berserk journey to nowhere, not responding to the
controller.

Honestly, to save my sanity, I think I'm just going to put this scope
away and go back to my Orion manual EQ scope, but will peruse your great
site some more to see if I can find any other solutions. I have read
that some of these were just buggy, and this may be one of them. BTW, it
does point SW at the hard stop, with the control panel facing west. I
mistated the degrees.

Thanks again,
Tom

And:

Okay, I did all that (including rotating slowly on both axis while
unlocked), and there's no corrosion in the battery compartment, or on
HBX connectors, and the pins are clean and straight. I sprayed a little
electronic cleaner on all connections just for good measure, and
reversed the HBX cable. Put the batteries back in, reset, calibrated
motors, then trained both axis, and it worked fine. Turned it off, then
a few minutes later, back on... no problem, seems to be good. Back off,
then 10 minutes later back on, still fine. Then back off, and 10 minutes
later turned it back on, and off she goes, slewing to vertical as she
rotates clockwise, while the motors whir and wizz away, like they're
laughing at me ;o)

Seems to always happen that way... it will be fine, but the next day I
turn it one and it goes berserk. Maybe the HBX needs to be updated, and
I do have an older computer with serial ports, but no cable with an end
to fit the HBX port. Perhaps Radio Shack or MarVac would have an
adapter? Would that be my next best step to find a cable and try update
the controller?

I really do appreciate your time Mike. Very kind of you.

And:

Thanks again for the reply Mike. I downloaded the file and update
program, and just need to make or buy a cable. In the mean time, I think
all the fiddling with it, reversing the HBX cable, and cleaning may have
finally resolved the problem. It seems to be stable now ;o)

BTW, on another issue... I have the 1244 electronic focuser, but found
that it has a split plastic pinion gear inside (a gear the size of a
pencil eraser on the end of the focuser's internal motor shaft). I
contacted Meade and they can't help me,  just saying it's a discontinued
focuser, but after pressing they said they could sell me the motor
assembly, with the gear on it. You haven't happened to run across any
source for that little gear have you? I've checked Hobby People and
other sources,  but can't find anything close.

If not, I plan to get one of the manual flex cables I found on eBay,
which may be a better (and less complicated) option anyway.

Again, great site, and I've been checking out your many threads.

And:

Thanks for that Mike. I think I'll just go ahead with the cable focuser
for now, but will keep an eye our for an old 1244 focuser, or new gear
for it.. BTW, I used the scope last night and it's now working
perfectly! Between the cleaning etc, and perhaps just the fact that it
hadn't been used in many years, the it seems that the bugs have been
"exorcised", and she's back in shape now. Also found a little pouch at
Walmart in the auto section that attaches easily to the tripod to hold
the HBX (pic attached, and Amazon link below, a few bucks more than at
Walmart)

http://www.amazon.com/GearTM-X-Large-Vent-Pack-Organizer/dp/B002XVCNQ8

I've had several inexpensive Orion manual scopes for years (100 mm F6
and a 130 mm F7 reflector), so this is all new to me. I'm 57, and my Dad
was 88 when he passed, and he bought this scope years ago, and an LX200
before that, but never really go to use them very much. By the time I
was going to try to help him (I think at his age it was just too
complex, and the LX200, too bulky) he was losing interest. When I was a
kid he actually made a reflector from scratch. We all took turns
grinding the mirror, and the tube was made from an 8" very thick
cardboard tube he found, I assume from a carpet or commercial material
source. He made an EQ mount from galvanized pipe and embedded it in a
concrete base. I'll never forget looking at the Moon through it as a
kid, and have always enjoyed viewing.

So my next challenge after this will be setting up his 8" LX200 at my
Mom's house for her, and figuring that out. It's non-GPS, but has a
great tripod, and even a cart that the tripod can attach too. I'm
assuming it's operation is pretty similar to the ETX.

Take care,
Tom

Subject:	ETX90EC with Autostar Startup Problem
Sent:	Tuesday, August 16, 2011 22:52:33
From:	Thomas Polkow (tpolkow@mindspring.com)
Hello, I'm trying to use an ETX90EC with the autostar controller, which
I assume is an early version. The scope was my Dad's, and he passed away
three years ago. He'd never really used it much, so I don't know if this
issue is new. Most of the time when I turn it on it begins to
initialize, and the scope moves clockwise as it inclines to straight up,
then it just keeps turning until it hits the hard stop, but the motors
just keep trying to move it. Pushing "mode" (or any key) does nothing to
stop it, though I can enter the date etc. but the motors just keep
going. Occasionally, if I turn it off, unplug the controller, then turn
it back on, then plug in the controller it won't do this odd (obsessive)
movement, and I can get it to align to several stars, and find objects
(after entering the dates and site etc.)

I am doing the initial setup, as far as rotating the base all the way
counter clockwise, then back about 50 degress to north, then locking
both RA and DEC axis. Do I need to update the controller (I don't have a
cable) or is this possibly a defective ETX90EC? Thanks in advance for
any help you can offer to steer me to a solution.
 
Tom Polkow

Subject:	494 update
Sent:	Monday, August 15, 2011 17:54:58
From:	Max Byerly (davenport-tennis@hotmail.com)
Is there a way to update the 494 controllers that come with the ETX 60,
70, and 80s?

Max

Sent from my iPhone

Subject:	while you blinked, Meade...
Sent:	Sunday, August 14, 2011 13:16:59
From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
Meade has recently (Aug 6th)  released a new version of their ASU Updater.
It's now up to version 5.9.3

This newest version properly distinguishes between/amongst the 497,
497EP and two language variations of the Audiostar.

With this version's release, current update files were posted for:
497EP  ( 5CE2 )
Audiostar:  English/French    A1F7
Audiostar:  English/Spanish   A2S6

(note: if you convince ASU to load the Eng/Spanish firmware into an
Eng/French Audiostar, the text and menus will  switch to Eng/Spanish,
but the spoken languages will remain English and French)

have fun
--dick

Subject:	Autostar Version 10El
Sent:	Saturday, August 13, 2011 11:08:31
From:	Alexandre Amorim (costeira1@yahoo.com)
I have a Meade DS-70 with Autostar Version 10El, but no cabe #505. When
necessary, I just update satellites and comets elements on keypad. But
last week I was updating ISS elements and after all steps, when press
[enter], it appeared the message:

File Space Full.

After this, the ISS data itself was deleted from database.

Going to Setup > Statistics I found that there is 0.1K Char. Free.

Ok, if the problem is file space, just delete non-important files like
ancient comets and other satellites. But it didn't work. The Autostar
continues with 0.1K Char. Free.

Is there any tip to fix it with the keypad? Or I must to buy the #505
cable and use the Updater?

with regards,

********* Alexandre Amorim ***********
*        Estacao  Costeira1          *
*         Florianopolis/SC           *
*          http://go.to/c1           *
**************************************

And:

I forgotten:  I have Autostar 494. And I haven't the #506 cable.

From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
Yes, you need a 506 to *really* clear the "user memory" in a 494.

The 494 has 32 KB of user space, and it is gradually filled as you add
and replace objects such as satellites, comets and Tours.

The 497 has 64 KB of user space, and it also "fills" with use.

The Flash memory chips used in the 494 and 497 require that they be
erased (released for re-use) in 64KB chunks.  They can not incrementally
"erase" bytes, they can only mark them as "used" and add the new (or
edited) data in the remaining free space.

In versions of 497 programming before 30Ea, when the space filled the
Autostar would "garbage collect" by copying the useful portions (objects
you had not marked as "deleted") up to an extra 64KB of free memory,
then it would truly erase the User area, then copy that "cleaned" data
back down. With the advent of v30Ea, that extra free space became
occupied by some of the extra 15,000 catalog objects Meade added.

The 494 has the dual problem of: half of the 64KB "erase page" is
occupied by programming, not simply User objects or data.
Thus truly erasing it requires fancy footwork to retain or replace that
programming.
If you look in the Ephemerides folder on your PC where ASU keeps its ROM
files, you will see a group of files whose names start with "Asp7A" ...
those are the *replacement* pieces of programming that will get written
back into the 494 when an Erase or handbox library replacement is
performed.   One is "Asp7A10El.rom", so your 494 version is covered.

good luck
--dick

And:

Thanks friends,

Ok... let's go to step #0: to buy a #506 cable...

with regards,

And:

An alternate step #0 is to purchase a 495 or 497 Autostar
(a 495 *is* a 497, once you load the current 497 firmware).
Whichever is more available in Brazil.

good luck
--dick

Subject:	re: Autostar locked and will not respond
Sent:	Wednesday, August 10, 2011 22:00:49
From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
Based upon your symptoms, it really sounds like one of the keys is stuck
"down"
(or a piece of conductive scrap is caught on the key sheet)
((let's see... i think key 6 is the 0.5 deg/sec key))

Inspect the key pad *very* critically, and see if the key is slightly
depressed.

Otherwise, open the autostar and clean/verify the keysheet.

good luck
--dick

And:

From:	Doug Heatherly (dheatherly72@gmail.com)
Success!!!

Dick Seymour suggested that something may be trapped on the keypad
(specifically #6 key) and when I examined the autostar very closely,
under very good lighting, I saw that the #6 key was, in fact, trapped on
one edge under the face plate.  This allowed the key to still have the
ability to "press down" further, so that it was not obvious that the
key was stuck by feel alone.  Even a casual look did not reveal the
problem due to the black on black finish.  Only by looking specifically
for a problem, under good lighting, was it very apparent that there was
an issue [this doesn't speak very highly of my observational skills
:-)].  I un-stuck the key, started the autostar and everything worked
fine.

I want to thank you for your help.  It is really appreciated.

Best wishes,

Doug Heatherly

And:

Congrats!

The tricks involved in analysis of this kind'a thing are:

(a) the display you saw matched something seen in normal operation.
Ask yourself "what do i do to see that?" and then investigate the parts
involved. Thrice.

(b) assume simple (mechanicals break or stick more frequently than electronics.
Hence suspect cables and switches before unsoldering anything)
((if you *had* opened the Autostar, you would have freed the button
without noticing, and the symptom would've simply "disappeared".  This
is a "magic fingers" repair.))

(c) (difficult for you) it wasn't MY autostar, so i could calmly
approach the issue :-)

have fun
--dick

Subject:	Re: etx don't work after update
Sent:	Wednesday, August 10, 2011 03:44:08
From:	Gabriele Umbriaco (gabumb@yahoo.it)
the autosta is dead also before 24H off power.
I tray to connecto with the cable 506 of Meade but it not respond.
The telescope work fine with another autostar #494 but now also the
second is crashed!
My autostar #494 have the firmware version 12lb, I attach an image of
the hand controller.
Do you have the file of the firmware for the reinstallation?
Is also possible to use an autostar #497 with the ETX 70AT?
Thanks you very mouch.
Gabriele

Subject:	Autostar locked and will not respond
Sent:	Monday, August 8, 2011 16:42:41
From:	Doug Heatherly (dheatherly72@gmail.com)
I have an older 125 PE which had been working fine.  However, when I
turned it on today the message reads "Speed = 0.5 / sec or mode for
menu".  When I pressed "mode" there is no response.  The telescope will
slew when I press the direction arrows, but only at one speed (I am
guessing 0.5 degrees /sec).  The autostar does not respond to any input.

I have tried to re-load the software from Meade, but cannot seem to
establish any connection to the autostar.  It seems that the autostar is
"locked".  Any suggestions?

I have found your site extremely helpful.  Thanks for all the hard work.

--
Doug Heatherly

And:

I bought the USB-serial adapter from Radio Shack and connected it to the
serial plug provided by Meade. It has worked fine in the past, but I
will double check everything. I just re-powered the autostar while
holding down the "enter" and "down scroll" and got a new message. It
reads "Flash Load 3.0 Ready", but it accepts no further input. I will
check out Star Patch. Thank you for the suggestion.

It is not a good sign if you haven't seen this issue before. Maybe I
will get lucky and find that this is simply something I did and,
hopefully, be able to un-do. Again, thank you for the suggestion.

Doug Heatherly 

And an update:

Good news. The software uploaded to the Autostar. Bad news, Same issue -
the autostar is "locked" up. However, I know I can upload, so I will
validate the software on my computer and try again. I'll let you know
how it ends up.

Guess I am glad it is cloudy tonight. Thanks for the quick responses and
it really helped to have someone to talk to about this issue.

Best wishes, 

Doug Heatherly 

And:

I removed the batteries from the telescope and replaced the battery in
the level north module also thinking it might be something like this. I
am running the power from a wall socket right now in my living room. It
sure gave every indication that it was something like this.  But it
doesn't seem to change anything.

I re-loaded the software for the second time with the same results. This
is beginning to look  like it could be a serious issue.  I have just
enough knowledge to be dangerous.    I am about 40% thru the third
re-load.  Everything seems to look fine from the computer's point of
view.  However, when it restarts the autostar hand controller after
re-loading, the autostar comes back up with that same message "Speed =
0.5 / or mode for menu" and is non-responsive to any input from the hand
controller.  This is all very puzzling because everything worked fine a
few days ago when I used the scope.  I simply turned it off and left it
in an air-conditioned room.  Then when I turned it back on it was
"locked" up.  I am probably missing something very simple, and will kick
myself when I finally figure it out.

Doug Heatherly

And:

I will start over, because I thought I did download a fresh one from
Meade.  I will download a fresh copy.  I thought I was trying to install
4.3Eg.  But since I am not getting results, it must be that I don't have
the right files.

What is the saying -  "Doing the  same thing over and expecting
different results".  I will try from the beginning once more tonight,
and if not successful, will step away for a while and re-visit on a
fresher basis.  I sure appreciate the suggestions.  I know the answer
has to be in here somewhere.

Doug

Subject:	ETX 105 Autostar
Sent:	Saturday, August 6, 2011 09:17:56
From:	Gil Gaudia (jggaudia@comcast.net)
I had the best Saturn viewing opportunity last night with a 6mm Burgess
Planetary Series TMB.  Unfortunately when I powered up the Autostar and
selected "Easy Align" it "searched" for Arcturus and went into a
vertical position and stalled, saying something like "Motor failure." I
knew this was probably not the case because it had happened before and
after a few tries I was able to get it to perform properly.  Last night
in the dark, I gave up and wasted an hour and-a-half just pushing the
darned thing every few seconds chasing after the planet while dozens of
patient viewers waited in line for a peek. It was still a spectacular
(if brief) view.
 
What am I doing wrong?
 
Gil Gaudia 

And:

Thank you so much for your response.  Actually it occurred twice, before
and after replacing the batteries, so I am baffled. How do I do a
"CALIBRATE MOTOR," or do I need to do it?

Gil

And:

I did as you suggested.  Everything seems to function perfectly.  I
guess I never learned to use the AutoStar properly.  Nothing but "brute
force." Thanks again.

Gil

Subject:	Autostar  problem
Sent:	Tuesday, August 2, 2011 18:53:57
From:	john (n2xwv@verizon.net)
My 497 autostar went out of whack tonite, and please excuse my e-mail
etiquette I am trying to do this right, my etx-125 was working great
aligning better than ever, I took it out tonite and it was so far off I
did not know what was going on,here in upstate NY it dark and clear,
when it went to point to Polaris it pointed south west and was way of
all the stars. Is there something I could have hit to reverse the azmith
on the autostar computer? I surly need a little help with this. Thanks 
for your site and help
John yezek in n.y.

And:

Thanks for your quick reply mike,I have a ETX-125AT. TO align it I had
the control panel on the side of the etx to the west, turned to the
stop,then back lining up the tube support over the control panel, tube
is at level. Locked clutches and picked up the whole scope and tripod
and pointed it north as close to Polaris as I could eyeball it. Then
went through the routine on the handset and let it slew to Altair, it
stopped pointing in the west, and I manually moved it with the hand set
to Altair and did a sync. But it did not help when I wanted it to go
back to Polaris it was way off, I did a calibrate motors and shut it off
to do another alignment, nogo. The only other thing I did was I put a
few steel counter weights under the scope using the 2 empty screw holes
to hold them, so the thing was not so front heavy and to take some
stress off the motors. That's it, it acts almost like the poles got
reversed, thanks again for any help.
John

And more:

Hello again mike, I took the weights off the bottom of the scope and it
was a nogo, I decided to do a reset, after the reset it works fine and
points where it should.
Is it safe use the two threaded holes under the back of the tube to
attach things to?
And is it ok to use stainless steel as weights? It balanced pretty good
when I had them on it. Just a thought ,I did not do a calibrate motors
after attaching the weights,maybe I should have! But I do think it is a
good idea to take some of the nose heavy ness off the tube and put less
work on the motors and gears. 

Thanks again, I'm going to check out cassiopea observatory and see whats
cooking!, seeya john

And:

Ok thanks again for your help, and keep up the great work!,clear sky's!,,john 

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