12-Sep-2002

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

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

It will create 5 files:
  Click_me_build.bat   <-- Use this if your ROM file is named "build.rom"
  Click_me_26ec.bat   <--  Use this if your ROM file is named "build26ec.rom"
  AStarPat.exe   <-- the executable program which does the job
  patch26c4.txt <-- the patch-list file, with comments
  readme26c4.txt  <-- this text file

Once you have done that, you accomplish the patch by
 double-clicking on the appropriate Click_me file.
****************************************
 NEW   NEW   NEW  NEW  NEW  (v26eC)
****************************************
*  Note that there are -two- click_me files.  
*  Use Click_me_build  if your v26Ec  ROM file is named "build.rom"
*  Use Click_me_26ec if your v26Ec  ROM file is named "build26ec.rom"
****************************************
  Then use ASU to Update your Autostar.

A DOS window will appear.
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: "already patched?",
    that indicates 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 Build26ec.rom or Build.rom file.

When the patch is finished, you may close the DOS window in  one of two ways:
   type the word  EXIT  and hit return
 or click the [x] on the upper right corner.

The program will RENAME your existing BUILD26EC.ROM (or Build.rom) file
 to  BUILD26EC.ROM_BAK (date unchanged) (or Build.rom_bak)
It will create a new (dated today) build26ec.rom (or Build.rom) file.
If you were to patch -that- file, with the build26ec.rom_bak still there,
  the *new* (2nd) patched file would be named build26ec.rom_NEW
   and the "original" (1st patched) file would remain as build26ec.rom
Build26ec.rom_bak would remain as the original, untouched file.
If you wish to return to a pure-Meade condition,
 copy that build26ec.rom_bak to build26eb.rom. (or Build.rom)

The patch26c4.txt  patch file contains:
  Editing of Training Values
  Replacement of DS-70 with 4504/114eq-dh4 (a GEM-mounted scope)
  Automatic Satellite Track starting at down-count=zero (optional)
  Display of Satellite AOS time to-the-second
  Optional CordWrap control for all scopes
  Version number change from 26Ec  to 26c4 (so Initialization shows 26c)

Instructions on -using- the patched firmware are written in the patch26c4.txt
file itself.  Please refer to them.

enjoy
--dick

