19-Jan-2002

Patch kit for Meade v23eB version of Autostar Firmware

This is a direct translation of the 22tt patch kit to 23eB.
Nothing new has been added. (yet...see footnote)

The patch23bB.txt patch file contains:
  Editing of Training Values (an EDIT menu item under Setup>Train Drives)
  Editing of Satellite Tracking Horizon (AOS Alt: menu item under Satellites)
  Control of Elevation Travel during GoTo motion (Utilities > Max Elev)
  Automatic Satellite Track starting at down-count=zero  (optional, see new23bB.txt)
  Display of Satellite AOS time to-the-second
  Optional Cord Wrap control (allows turning OFF Cord Wrap
  Version number change from 23Eb  to 23bb (so Initialization shows 23b )

To use the NEW UPDATER version of Dick Seymour's patches:

Use your favorite method to put a copy of Autostar firmware v23eB
 into c:\Program Files\Meade\ASU\Ephemerides\build.rom
If you have already used the Meade Updater to install v23eB into your
 Autostar, that file should exist.

Unpack the 23eBpatch.zip file into  c:\Program Files\Meade\ASU\Ephemerides

It will create 4 files:
  patch23bB.txt    <-- the patch-list file, with comments
  readme23eB.txt  <-- this text file
  newpatch.bat   <-- the batch file which controls the job (same as 22tt)
  AStarPat.exe   <-- the executable program which does the job (same as 22tt)

Once you have done that, you accomplish the patch by using Windows Explorer
 to open the folder c:\Program Files\Meade\ASU\Ephemerides
 and then drag-and-drop the patch23bB.txt  icon
  onto the  newpatch.bat  icon.

A DOS window should appear.

You will be asked to press your PC's enter key twice (once before, once after)

The patch will happen, with progress messages.
If there are problems, some error messages will appear giving hints
 as to their cause.

  If it says: "Patch failed: byte at x(some number) should be x(number)"
   and "Patch already applied?"
    you are probably attempting to patch a different version than 23eB.
    You seeing that the "old" data-check did not find the values it was expecting.

  If it says: "bad command", it means that the AStarPat.exe file is not in the 
   same (ASU/Ephemerides) folder as the Build.rom file.

When the patch is finished, you may close the DOS window 
  by clicking the [x] on the upper right corner.

The program will RENAME your existing BUILD.ROM file to  BUILD.ROM_BAK (date unchanged)
It will create a new (dated today) BUILD.ROM file.
  (If you were to patch -that- file, with the build.rom_bak still there,
  the *new* (2nd) patched file would be named build.rom_NEW
   and the "original" (1st patched) file would remain as build.rom)

Build.rom_bak remains as the original, untouched file.
If you wish to return to a pure-Meade condition, copy that build.rom_bak to build.rom.

A near-future update to this patch will appear to allow all models of telescope
 to be selected, and to provide knowledge of the 4504/114EQ models.

The AstarPat.exe Program was provided by: Jim Berry - Nov 2000
 
enjoy
--dick

The following are the comments from the patch23eb.txt file:


; Autostar Menu items added by this patch:
;
;  Training results Display and Edit:

; Under Setup > Telescope > Train Drive 
; are now (scroll up or down from the "Az/RA Train" or "Alt/Dec Train")
;  Edit: > Az/RA Train
;    and
;  Edit: > Alt/Dec Train
; press [enter] to allow direct display and manipulation of the results of training.
;    a power cycle (without using Park Scope) is needed for 
;     the  new values to be fully implemented.
; =======
;  Max GoTo Elevation Travel Limit:
;  Utilities > Max Elev (mins)
;  (between LandmarkSurvey and Sleep Scope) controls it
;  units are arcminutes, default is 5400 (90 degrees)

;   This sets an upper travel limit for GoTo operations.
;  This will protect you from crunching your rear-port mounted
;    hardware.
;  The units displayed are ARCMINUTES, so 5400 = 90 degrees.
;  4800 = 80 deg, 4200 = 70deg, 3600 = 60 deg, 3000 = 50 deg,
;   2400 = 40 deg,  1800 = 30 deg,  1200 = 20 deg, 600 =10 deg.
;
;  Once set, the telescope will not rise above that elevation/Dec
;   during GoTo operations, without your permission.
; Attempts to GoTo above that barrel elevation will cause a warning message.
;  Pressing [GoTo] again will allow the motion to continue.
; You reset the limit to its default angle (90 degrees on LX90's) 
; by either entering 5400 or by selecting your telescope's model again.
; =======
   
;  Satellite Lowest Elevation (Horizon) Patch:

; This adds the ability to set the lowest AOS altitude from the keypad
;  satellite pass-prediction will use.
;  You now have a new menu item:
;    Satellite > AOS Alt.
;  enter a value in degrees (0 to 90)
;  Due to internal shortcuts, the value you enter may not be -exactly-
;  what you see a second time, but it will be close.
;  The value displayed is the one being used.  No error checking!
; =======
; The Two optional patches:
;   Cord Wrap control and Automatic Satellite Tracking

; Removing the semicolons (;) from  three ";R" lines  allows
;  turning OFF Cord Wrap in hard-stopped scopes (ETX90/105/125)
; This only -allows- turning Cord Wrap OFF, it does not change its current setting.

; ADDing semicolons to three "R" lines will -prevent- Automatic
;  Start-of-tracking during a Satellite pass.  
;
; =======

;  the last line of the patch file says "; end of patch 23eB"
;  Dick Seymour   19-Jan-2002

