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Last updated: 30 September 2008
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Last updated: 30 September 2008 |
This page is for user comments and information specific to the Meade AutoStar Suite. 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. (The Lunar Planetary Imager, LPI, and Deep Sky Imager, DSI, are covered in the Helpful Information - Astrophotography area.)
Subject: Possible Vista to Autostar Suite & Envisage w/DSI Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 19:41:50 From: Jim Jewell II (jjewellii@yahoo.com) Yep, good ole' Vista. The majority of my DSI pro II mono was the dreaded white/black barcode style capture. Scope control on Vista; not so good. My local scope shop guru said to close out all the programs & right click on the shortcut icon & click on properties. Go to the compatability tab & check the "run in XP compatability mode" & save/close. Too simple I know but..... It actually nearly solved the DSI problem. At 80% gain or less the lines are gone & got a partial focus on a too close target. The Autostar suite seems to respond better & actually communicates better both wired & wireless! Couldn't get the AIRcable to stay connected...it does now! It may not cure ALL the Vista ills but it did in my case at least help out! Hopefully this will help someone else out. I've learned a lot from your site & was hoping to contribute. Thanks again, Jim
Subject: meade autostar suite astronomers edition not Vista compatible Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 14:07:54 From: Gigi (ginturrisi@comcast.net) Hi is there a patch, or additional software that Works with Vista for Meade's Autostar? Thanks, GIGI 2009 is the 400th Year of the Telescope http://ginturrisi.myphotoalbum.comMike here: See Dick Seymour's message below.
Subject: re: Autostar Suite and ETX-125 PE Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 21:12:22 From: richard seymour (rseymour@wolfenet.com) > Meade says that it will not work with Vista Autostar Suite will work with Vista. The LPI camera driver may not. The new version (v5.0) of AutostarSuite can be downloaded from Meade at: http://www.meade.com/support/downloads.html Much AutostarSuite support can be obtained at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/autostarsuite and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/meade_dsi Even Meade's "4M" forum covers getting it going under Vista: http://meade4m.com good luck --dick
Subject: Autostar Suite and ETX-125 PE Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 07:33:16 From: Steven Burkey (sjburkey@mchsi.com) I am having problems with my Autostar Suite. Meade says that it will not work with Vista. When I go to telescope / protocol / handbox. I only get a black box that is supposed to be white with black lettering. It is to simulate what the Autostar is doing. Can I get a white box or not, as Meade says Autostar Suite only works on Windows XP. My second question is that of the ETX-125 PE. I also have the Meade DSI 3 one shot color CCD camera. I am interested in purchasing a Hutech LPS filer as my sky is light polluted, as many are. I was just talking to a gentleman at Oceanside Photo and Telescopes about purchasing the filter. He advised me not to as the mount for the ETX is not very good and will not track well and it would be a waste of my money. Can I get your opinion on this matter. Steve BurkeyMike here: Try changing the screen resolution. Vista is a hit-n-miss (or maybe that should just be "miss") situation. As to tracking, it is true that the ETX is not designed for long duration tracking, in when Polar mounted. However, with a proper set up and drive training, you can get nice exposures of several minutes. If you plan to use the DSI and "stack" short exposures then tracking is not so much a problem. Also, please read the Email Etiquette item on the ETX Site Home Page, especially about not mixing questions. Thanks for understanding.
Subject: Re: Replace a #494 waith a #497? Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2008 09:28:31 From: Dave Butler (d.butler@holtec.com) I have a Meade DS-2130 with the #494 Autostar handbox. My first question is, I have read on your website that you said you can replace the #494 with a #497 handbox? I'm wondering if I am able to do this for my DS-2130 scope? I also have the #506 cable to connect my #494 to my laptop. I am running Autostar Suite V5.0 and am able to go from object to object very nicely. In V5.0 when I hit the (F9 key) for the remote handbox, it comes up looking like the #497 handbox panel. I also installed Autostar Suite Astronomers Edition V3.19 (only because it came with the #506 cable) and saw that when I hit the (F9 key) in that version, it comes up looking like the #494 remote handbox panel. So my second question is, how do I get the #494 handbox panel to come up in Ver. 5.0? Thanks, DavidMike here: As noted on the Meade page http://www.meade.com/support/auto.html the #497 works with all DS models. AutoStar Suite requires (I believe) the #497 AutoStar. And for the #497 you will need a #505 serial cable. If you don't have that cable you can easily make one using the info on the Helpful Information: AutoStar Info page.
And:
Thanks for the help Mike! BTW Nice property picture on your website, I used to live in Cave Creek (Phoenix), now unfortunately in South NJ. I still have the house out there, just rent it out. Would rather be looking through those skies out there instead of here! I'm wondering in Autostar if it is possible to get this #494 style Autostar Control panel from Ver. 3.19 to work in Version 5.0. I'm running Windows XP SP2 with the #506 cable to my DS-2130. I'm able to pick on an object and have the program slew the telescope to it, but having this control panel would allow me adjust the object into the FOV. (Screen capture from Autostar Suite Astronomers Edition Version 3.19 showing #494 style Autostar Control Panel)
Subject: Re: Halley's comet (AS Suite FB 8/25/08) Sent: Wednesday, September 3, 2008 12:01:17 From: mhogansr@comcast.net (mhogansr@comcast.net) I'm sorry for the misinformation. It seems the comet data was originally installed when I installed version 3.08, which came with my LPI, and it included the Halley data. The update to version 5 apparently retained the original data instead of replacing it. I guess all the updates are just that - updates to a previously installed full version which was only included with an accessory purchase like the LPI or DSI. Without a full version, you end up with a limited version similar to the Astronomers Edition provided with the scope. I'm not sure about copyright restrictions, but you might be able to find a copy of the full CD somewhere on the internet. Regards, Mike Hogan
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