Meade AUTOSTAR Instruction Manual

Quick Start

Software Installation Instructions

for the Meade®Autostar Suite

™

Introduction

Meade's Autostar Suite with Meade Deep Sky
Imager/Autoguider and Planetarium software turns your Meade
telescope, Autostar and PC into a more powerful and easy-to­use astronomical instrument.

Parts Listing

When first opening the packing box, note carefully the following
parts:

• Deep Sky Imager • Parfocal ring

• USB cable • DB-9 to RJ-11 adapter

• LX200 serial cable • Autostar #497 serial cable

• CD ROM, including the Operating Instruction in .pdf format

Caution: The Imager is shipped with the IR filter
installed. Be careful removing the nosepiece
from the imager as the IR filter is loose and may
fallout.

To Install the Software

To install the Autostar Suite software:

1. Do not plug the USB cable into your PC at this time. You
will be asked to do so later in this installation.

2. Turn on your PC. Allow Windows to load.

3. Place the CD ROM into your PC's CD drive.

4. The Main Menu screen displays. Click "Install Autostar
Suite."

5. You are prompted to choose a directory in which to install
the driver. You may accept the default directory or create
your own directory path. Click “Next” when done.

6. The “Select Components” window displays. This window
allows you to choose whether or not to install the Guide
Star Catalog, and, if so, will ask you to select a destination
for installation.

Note: This is an optional catalog that is used by the
Planetarium program and contains all of the locations of
the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) guide stars. The file is
very large and takes up a large amount of memory. Only
download if you have enough memory or wish to use this
amount of memory of your hard drive. Memory totals for
the file and your hard drive are displayed in this window.

If you wish to install the catalog, check the GSC check
box.
If you do not wish to install the catalog, uncheck the
GSC check box.
Then click “Next.”

Note: The catalog is very large and will take a few
minutes to download. Do not perform any other computer
operations while the file is downloading.

7. The “Start Installation” window displays. The program is
now ready to install the Autostar Suite. Click "Next” to
begin installation.

8. The “Microsoft Text to Speech Engine” window displays.
Click "Yes” to agree to the terms and to continue with the
installation.

9. The “Microsoft .Net Framework installation” window
displays. You
operate.

10. Once .Net Framework installs, the .Net Framework
agreement displays. Click “OK” to continue.

must click “Yes” for the Deep Sky Imager to

11. The “InstallShield Wizard for the Meade LPI” displays.
Click "Next.”

12. A window displays prompting you to do a complete or
custom install of InstallShield Wizard. Click on the
“Complete” button and then click “Install” to begin
installation.

13. “Windows Logo Test” window displays (XP versions
only). Click “Continue Anyway.”

14. If you are running
displays the directory that contains the DSI driver. The use
of this directory is described later.

15 A dialog saying “DSI Driver Installed” displays. Click OK.

16. InstallShield Wizard completes installation. Click “Finish.”

17. A window displays that tells you that Autostar Suite has
been installed. Click “Finish.”

To connect the Deep Sky Imager (Camera) to your PC, you
need to install the Deep Sky Imager driver and connect the
USB cable:

1. Connect one end of the USB Cable to the DSI.

2. Connect the other end of the USB Cable to your PC or a
USB hub.

3. “Found camera” displays at the bottom right of your PC
screen.
If you are using Windows XP or 2000, the “Hardware

4.
Wizard” window displays. The “Install Software” selection
is checked as the default choice. Click “Next.” The Wizard
searches for the driver.

If you are using Windows XP, “Windows Logo Test”
window displays. Click “Continue Anyway.” The
connect/disconnect tones may be heard whenever the
camera is plugged in. This is normal.

If you are using Windows ME or 98se, select “Search
for the best driver for your device” and click “Next.” Then
check the “Specify a location” box and click “Browse.”
Navigate to the driver directory, which is C:\Program
Files\Meade\AutostarSuite\DSI\Driver\98 – ME by default.
Then click “OK” and then “Next.”

If you are using Windows 2000, an error may appear
stating that the device was disconnected without shutting
down. This is normal and should be ignored.

5. The driver is installed. Click “Finish.” The camera driver is
now installed and your PC will now be able to recognize
the DSI whenever you connect it to the PC.

If the Autostar Suite icon appears on your desktop, double-click
to begin the program. If the Autostar Suite icon doesn't appear
on your desktop, you can start the Autostar Suite program by
going to Start/Program/Meade/Autostar Suite.
The Planetarium program will display. You can open other
programs of the Suite by going to the Image menu and
selecting the desired program (for example, choose DSI
Imaging to use the DSI camera). You can open the Operating
Instruction manuals or the Meade General Catalog by selecting
them from the Main Menu screen of the CD ROM. Click the
word “Meade” in the Main Menu to go to www.meade.com.

Recommended Minimum System: PC running Windows 98SE with 96 MB and 200 MB free
disk space.
Windows, Windows XP, Win98 SE and Hardware Wizard are trademarks of the Microsoft

Corporation.
Adobe Acrobat Reader is a trademark of the Adobe Corporation.

Windows ME or 98, a dialog box

To Connect Camera

To Start the Suite Software

Operating Instructions

MEADEMEADE

1

ENTER

GO TO

MODE

4785

2

3

6

9

0

?

HBX

Autostar Suite Serial Connector Cables

For use with the Meade®Autostar Suite

The Serial Connector Cable Set provides access to two Autostar
operations:

Telescope Control: Use a personal computer (PC) to directly

•
control a Meade Autostar-compatible telescope through the
use of an astronomical software program with telescope control
capabilities with Autostar Suite.

Download from a PC: Download a new version of the Autostar

•
software or object information (e.g., new satellite orbital
parameters) from the Meade web site (www.meade.com)
through a PC to Autostar with the Autostar Updater.

PARTS LIST

The #505 Connector Cable Set is supplied with the following:

• 6-pin to RS-232 serial interface adapter

• 6-foot, 4-pin to 6-pin Autostar cable

• 6-foot, 6-pin to 6-pin Autostar II cable

The 6-foot cables connect an Autostar handbox and a PC using the
interface adapter.

#497 AUTOSTAR TELESCOPE CONTROL

To use this function, complete the following procedure:

1. Verify that telescope and computer power are OFF.

2. Connect the serial interface adapter (
port on a PC.

3. Connect the 6-pin end of the 6-foot, 4-pin to 6-pin round cable
(2, Fig. 1) to the serial interface adapter, then the 4-pin end to
the RS-232 port at the base of the Autostar

3, Fig. 1).

(

CAUTION: Do not connect either cable to the AUX port on
the telescope’s computer control panel or damage may
occur to the cable connector.

4. Connect the Autostar coil cord between the HBX port (4, Fig.

1) on the telescope computer control panel and the coil cord

connector port on Autostar.

5. Apply power to the telescope and computer, then complete
basic Autostar initialization as detailed in the telescope’s
instruction manual.

6.

If the astronomical software requires it, configure the computer
Com Port as follows:

• Baud Rate

Data Bits

•

9600
8

• Parity None

Stop bit

•

Flow Control

•

1
None

7. Complete telescope alignment as detailed in your telescope’s
instruction manual.

1, Fig. 1) to the RS–232

™

3

4

2

1

Fig. 1: Connector Cable connects between a PC and Autostar for
telescope computer control or download capabilities.
(1) Serial Interface Adapter; (2) 6-Foot Cable; (3) Autostar;
(4) Handbox (HBX) port on the telescope’s computer control panel.

Telescope control can now be accessed using a PC astronomical
software program or with the Autostar Suite software: Go to the
Telescope menu, and select “Protocol,” then “Autostar via comm
port.” Follow instructions provided with the software to provide PC
telescope control (if using Autostar Suite Software the telescope is
controlled using the

Auto Tracking function).

NOTE: The Autostar GO TO function is still active when connected
to an astronomical software program, allowing control either from

the PC or Autostar.

LX200 AUTOSTAR TELESCOPE CONTROL

To use this function, complete the following procedure:

1. Verify that telescope and computer power are OFF.

2. Connect the serial interface adapter (1, Fig. 1) to the RS–232

port on a PC.

3. Connect one end of the 6-foot, 6-pin to 6-pin Autostar II cable
(

2, Fig. 1) to the serial interface adapter, then the other end to

the leftmost RS-232 port of the LX200 computer panel.

4. Follow steps 4 through 7 in the #497 Autostar Telescope
Control section.

If you have a question concerning use of the Autostar Suite or the
Connector Cable Set, call the Meade Instruments Customer Service
Department at [phone]. Customer Service hours are 7:00
AM to 6:00 PM, Pacific Time, Monday through Friday.

14-4520-00 Ver. 10-04