Weasner's Astronomy Software Feedback

ASTRONOMY SOFTWARE FEEDBACK

Last updated: 31 August 2004

This page is for user comments on Astronomy software for the PC, Macintosh, or Palm OS systems. Items that are more "review" oriented will be posted on the Astronomy Software Reviews page. If you have any comments, suggestions, questions or answers to questions posed here, e-mail them to me and I'll post them. Please use an appropriate Subject Line on your message. Thanks.

Subject:	#505 cable and software
Sent:	Tuesday, August 31, 2004 09:24:37
From:	Graham Hilton (graham.hilton46@ntlworld.com)
I'm a new owner of an etx125 which I bought in Florida while on holiday
and brought back with me on the plane to the UK...to save a few bucks!

I have just made a cable to connect the Autostar to my computer and
everything is working fine  with upgrades etc.

I wonder if it is possible to obtain the software which comes with the
complete package separately please?

Best regards

Graham Hilton

Mike here: There are many astronomy sky map and telescope driver applications available for Mac and PCs. See the Autostar Info and Accessory Reviews - Software pages.

Subject:	Trefach Astronomy Centre
Sent:	Monday, August 30, 2004 19:09:11
From:	andru (andrew@crysania.co.uk)
My software is now available for download from the astronomy section in
www.trefach.co.uk

Click on the Astronomy leaf in the top frame.

The NTC download is pretty old but is the last stable version. I've been
working on the mapper program, but will continue testing the newer
version of NTC which includes a search function for locating a object
that isn't visible when you replace the eyepiece with a camera.

The main problem, which has been solved during development of my Mapper
program, was accurately adjusting the lines of longitude. The longitude
problem also affects NTC.

Andrew Sprott

And:

Here is a URL that will take you directly to the astronomy centre.

astronomy.crysania.co.uk

Subject:	Planetarium/ Skymap for ETX 90 
Sent:	Thursday, August 26, 2004 09:11:52
From:	Jan H Kolst (jan.kolsto@online.no)
Things are working well using my ETX90 thanks to you.I was wondering
which planetarium or skymap which works well with ETX 90 on the PC ? A
simple one to download perhaps? I got Starry night bundle when I bought
the cables #505, but the program won't connect to the scope.I've tried
several times
Thanks a lot again!

Jan H Kolstoe
Norway

Mike here: There are several; see the Helpful Information: Autostar Info page as well as the Accessory Reviews: Software page. The Astronomy Links page also lists some.

Subject:	Control of ETX 125 with Astromist software through palm device
Sent:	Monday, August 23, 2004 14:12:26
From:	alain verschuere (averschuere@tiscali.be)
Are you aware of the usefulness of this (Astromist) software through a
palm device to control the ETX-125 scope. Astromist seems to be a nice
program.  Any users yet (especially interested in the control features)?
What would be the (dis)advantages over the autostar.
Thank you in advance,

Alain, Ghent

Mike here: I'm not familiar with it but perhaps others will respond.

Subject:	Problem with ACP 1.2
Sent:	Thursday, August 19, 2004 07:58:58
From:	Joe (joenewton@sbcglobal.net)
Hi Sure could use some assistance here.

System: Meade ETX 70 with the 494 Autostar control.

Software: # 506 AstroFinder package. (ACP 1.2)

Hardware: ETX 70, Toshiba 3005-S303 Pentium 3.

Connector. 9 pin serial to USB adapter for interfacing lap top and
Autostar

Problem. Regardless of repeated checking I can't get the computer to
talk to the Autostar.

When I bring up the control panel for the ACP I get the following panel
display.

    RA: 12h  O9 m  29 s

    DEC + 00 00 00

     AZ 359  59  59

    EL + 00 00 00

                    AND

    LOCAL     16h  41m  29s  note: this time changes with each start up

     SIDEREAL  + 00h  11m  25s

These data are all in RED color and impossible to change. When I
instruct the device to set the time to computer time, I get the error
message : Illegal time, check your computer date and time. The computer
date and time are correct. For some reason the computer can not access
the hand held control. I have no serial connection on the lap top so the
USB connection seemed reasonable to me. Is there a known problem with
this set up. I checked the continuity of the connecting cable which was
OK.

Any suggestion from anyone much appreciated. The scope other wise is
excellent.

Joe

Mike here: Have you contacted the developer of ACP? I don't use it so can't answer directly. But if not the current version you might want to download a new version from their website.

And:

Thanx Mike

 I'll give it a go.

joe

Subject:	re:   ETX 125 Computer Control
Sent:	Sunday, August 8, 2004 18:28:51
From:	Richard Seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com)
The ASCOM platform lumps them all as "Autostar"

(they may have a separate entry for LX200gps, since some
of its conventions differ from the classic LX200)

have fun
--dick

And:

From:	George C. Stradley (stradley@sbcglobal.net)
Thanks much Dick.

Clear skies!!!

George

And more:

Thank you very much Randy.  I'll use the LX 200 with Autostar setting. 
Good to know about the COM port.  My notebook has only USB so my adapter
should make a connection OK.

George
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Randy
Hello George,
My name is Randy Miller, and I'm located in SLC, UT.
I use Starry Night with my ETX 125 and use the LX200 and Autostar
setting. I've had it running for some time now and I remember I had some
COM port issues when I set it up that caused me some grief. I picked up
a USB to serial adapter and that made things somewhat easier. If I can
be of further assistance drop me a line.

Randy

And:

From:	John (jlamb@gil.com.au)
As you know I am using an ETX90EC with Starry Night Pro and ASCOM
telescope control. The Starry Night Manual advises using the "LX200 with
Autostar" option for any ETX series scope, and this works fine for me.

John Lamb
Toowoomba
Queensland
Australia

And this:

From:	Chuck Nardo (cnardo@toyon.com)
I am controlling my ETX 125 using StarryNight Pro 4.5 (ASCOM
platform)(actually v.4.5.2).

Use the LX 200/Autostar option. Works like a charm.

Make sure you have good location/time inputs use a GPS patch if
possible.

Biggest problem I have is making sure I click (enter) the right
alignment star. Sometimes it is not so easy to figure out which star you
need to move to.

Good luck Chuck Nardo

And more:

From:	B F (aus99a@hotmail.com)
ANSWER

The Starry Night Manual does state to select the LX200 option for all
ETX scopes. And it works fine for me.

Regards

Bill Farmakidis

Sydney, Australia

Subject:	ETX 125 Computer Control
Sent:	Friday, August 6, 2004 13:29:22
From:	George C. Stradley (stradley@sbcglobal.net)
Do you know of anyone who is controlling an ETX 125 by computer from
StarryNight Pro 4.5 (ASCOM platform)?

If so, what scope was selected?  ASCOM doesn't list the ETX series.

All else failing, I'm going to try the LX 200/Autostar option. 
Comments?

George Stradley

Mike here: I'm sure people are using it. I don't have SN. Have you checked their website?

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