ASTRONOMY SOFTWARE FEEDBACK Last updated: 27 August 2010

Subject:	Help Please
Sent:	Thursday, August 26, 2010 09:14:24
From:	KWagner983@aol.com (KWagner983@aol.com)
I have a etx90. I can not get my laptop to do anything with the scope.
The scope works fine by itself but the computer will do nothing but give
me error messages about ports. I am using a compaq laptop running XP. I
have a Belkin serial adaptor into the USB with all drivers installed
properly. It is using com port 6 but I have entered it and it times out.
Also the LPI wont work either.

I have tried several things suggested on your site but nothing works. I
have even tried "Coolterm" from your site, but that does nothing either.

I guess its because I am not great at computers and need detailed step
by step instructions.

Please Help if you can.
Thanks
Kevin W

And:

Thanks for catching my e-mail. I am using the autostar suite. I have no
idea what network protocol even is so I would think not. I also just
went and bought a new usb connector. I tried to fond the one you use but
its not available in my area so I bought a Dynex to try that.

And:

ScopeDriver

I got it. Thank You.

Just to show you what a complete idiot I am, I had the cord plugged into
the aux port of the scope and not the hand control.

Ill try to get this down, it just might take me a few years of fooling
around with it.

Your site is GREAT
Thanks again
Kevin

Subject:	re: usb cable 505
Sent:	Friday, August 20, 2010 20:58:48
From:	richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
I just saw your posting to Mike Weasner's site.

To answer your first question: NO!  IT WILL NOT WORK to simply attach a
USB-shaped plug onto a 505 cable.

The voltages and signals in the Autostar's RS232 serial socket are
**completely different** than the voltages and signals in your PC's USB
socket.

For example, the rs232 socket has a pin that is bouncing between plus
and minus 12 volts. Your PC's USB socket expects to see signals that go
between zero and +3 volts.

Thus the Autostar's voltages could seriously damage your PC's USB socket
drivers. (just for starters).

Next, we look at the "protocol"... that's the way the signals are
interpreted. For the rs232 serial connection, they are sent at (for
example) 9600 baud. That means the signal goes from negative to positive
and back about 9600 times per second. And -all- that's there is the raw
data.

USB signals move much much faster... up to 12 megabits per second for
USB 2.0 And it's a multi-device "bus", so the data is preceded by
address bytes, header information and checksum data.  The actual "data"
is buried under a pile of "overhead".

So really: your idea of a USB socket directly connecting to any of the
Autostar's sockets simply WILL NOT WORK. (and may damage expensive
things).

To communicate between your PC and the Autostar, purchase (either)
Meade's USB to serial adapter AND a 505 cable, or perhaps a Keyspan
USA-19HS and a 505 cable.

good luck
--dick

Subject:	usb cable 505
Sent:	Monday, August 16, 2010 13:11:05
From:	MARION (mlynnmarion@frontier.com)
I was looking at your instructions on building a 505 cable using an
rs232 plug, Can I use a usb plug instead?  pins on usb= 2 d-, 3d+, 4
gnd, on usb 4 would still hook up to pin 4, 3 to 1, 2 to 2, what do you
think, sorry to bother you so much, I called meade and they said to
trash my scopes and buy new ones.  Really, so I will ask you questions
until you get tired of answering them.
thank
mike

And:

I will let you know if it works.
mike

And:

I found the software at meade to use the usb port, here is the link
http://www.meade.com/USB_Serial/USB_SER.html

thanks for your help

And:

The process I am heading into will not work?  From reading meades page
and checking the pins on each port, I thought it might work.  If you
know this won't work, I would appriciate the insight so I might not
destroy some hardware. when I come by your part of the country this fall
or winter, will drop you off a case of your favorite beer, water or
cokes.

And:

I just finished talking to meade tech support, the usb software was
written for the new meades, they do not know if the download process
will work on the older models like I have.  He told me to try it and if
it worked to let him know.  Do you know anyone who has made a cable
using a usb plug and tried to download onto the older computers?  If
not, I will fix a cable and try.
thanks
mike

And:

Yes, I understand that, and that is what i talked to meade tech support
about.  they have not tried to download software on the older scopes
using their usb driver software.  he told me if i tried it, let him know
if it works so he can pass the info on.  I thought maybe they had tried
it but, he said they just kept up with the new scopes.
thanks

And:

I am going to order a 505 cable and wait until it is here, then do the
downloads,  I think it would be best for me, will add a lot less to the
learning curve for me.
thanks
mike

And more:

I made the cable last night and it didn't work with their software. 
Called meade this morning and the tech said what I made would not work
on my 64 bit computer but will work on a 32 bit computer.  They are
devleoping the usb driver software now for a 64 bit computer.  I
explained how I wired the usb connector an hand connector, he said it
was wired correct and would work on 32 bit computers now.
mike

And:

No, its the one I made.  I explained to the man at meade how I made it. 
He said it would work with the new software for 64 bit.

And:

I talked to the older man at meade tech support.  I explained I wired
the usb connector like it was a regular rs232 connector.  He said it
would work as wired with the new 64 bit software when it was completed,
I don't understand how it will work without using  the 5volt line to
activate the usb plug and play mode.  Will see when it is published.  As
it is right now, I can not install any downloads to my scopes until the
64 bit drive comes out.
mike

Subject:	Trouble connecting ETX 80 with Autostar software
Sent:	Tuesday, August 10, 2010 02:21:23
From:	Paul Randall (shawodywody@hotmail.com)
I have a meade ETX 80 with auto star # 494 controller. The current
firmware on the controller is 13Ed, although I learnt recently this
cannot be upgraded on this controller. I have the correct connector kit
# 506 with a serial port to usb adapter. I have installed the latest
driver for this and the latest Autostar software from www.meade.com.

The issue I have is that I cannot get my ETX 80 to work properly with
the software. I can control the telescope from the LPI program in as
much as I can make it move up down, left and right but I cannot connect
the telescope by going to telescope>protocol>Autostar via serial port
(F6) and therefore use the other funtions in the Autostar suite. When I
do the above I get the following error message "Error -1 Can't open
COM10 : Getlasterror returned 2".

I have attached a sceen shot of the error message.

I hope that I have included all the necessary details and I would realy
apreciate any help you cuold give me!
 
Regards
 
Paul Randall

Subject:	Meade ETX-70ATAstroTelescope with Autostar
Sent:	Friday, August 6, 2010 10:22:58
From:	Peter Lloyd (peter@lloyds-of-maine.com)
I purchased my Meade ETX-70ATAstroTelescope with Autostar in June 2002 .
The invoice says

"MEADE ETX-70AT 2.8mm/350mm ASTRO w/ AC". 

I have controlled  the Telescope with the AUTOSTAR  since purchase  and
now want  to control  it from a MS Windows  PC. I anticipated that
future want  in 2002 and purchased "Meade 506 ASTROFINDER software with 
CONN KIT but did not try it. However it is clear from your website  that
I should get more up-to-date software. I want to start with something
simple could you please make a suggestion. For example, I would like to
specify the viewing direction and have my telescope goto to them
Peter         

Subject:	Android Software question
Sent:	Tuesday, August 3, 2010 07:51:21
From:	Ollie Townsend III (netapex@gmail.com)
I have a friend who is using the telescope and he is planning on getting
an Android phone.  (Currently using a Windows Mobile version) I am a
small time Android app developer and I would like to be able to give him
a hand (and of course I would get the thrill of learning something new)
and create an app for him to control the telescope with the phone.  Is
there a chance you could point me in the right direction on where to
look to start my project?  Thanks in advance!

-- 
Ollie Townsend III | NetApex | http://news.netapex.org
Twitter: http://twitter.com/NetApex | GVoice:419.318.9828
Google Wave: netapex@googlewave.com

And:

Sorry, forgot to specify which device.  Yes it is a Meade that uses
AutoStar.  I will head to your site to see what I can find. Thanks.

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