Meade LPI Operating Instructions

Meade®LPI Camera Program

The Basics

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

• LPI camera

• 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

Recommended Minimum System:

PC running Windows 98SE with 64 MB and 100 MB free disk space.

To get the best view and resolution for the images in this manual, zoom in to 200% using the viewing controls

in the Acrobat Reader control bar.

Parts Listing

The following procedure is also found on the printed Quick Start Guide supplied with this product.

Before you can operate the LPI camera, you must 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.

Note: This is an optional catalog that may be used by the Planetarium program and contains all of the

locations of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Guide stars. This 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.”

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 must click “Yes ” for the LPI to operate.

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

11. A window displays that allows you to install Adobe Acrobat Reader if you do not already have it installed on your PC. Click “Yes” or “No.”

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

13. 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.

14. (XP versions only) “Windows Logo Test” window displays. Clicking “Continue Anyway” will install a driver that should operate with most PC configurations.

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

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

Install the Autostar Suite Software

To connect the LPI Camera to your PC, you need to install the LPI device driver and connect the USB cable:

1. Connect one end of the USB Cable to the LPI camera.

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

3. “Found camera” displays at the bottom right of your PC screen.

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

5. (XP versions only) “Windows Logo Test” window displays. Clicking “Continue Anyway” will install a driver that should operate with most PC configurations.

6. The driver is installed. Click “Finish.”

The camera driver is now installed and your PC will now be able to recognize the LPI whenever you connect it to the PC.

Connect The LPI Camera to Your PC

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.

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 or in the General catalog to go www.meade.com.

Start the Suite Software

To connect the LPI camera to an ETX Telescope:

• Orient the LPI camera into the eyepiece holder so that the USB cable points at the front end of the telescope’s optical tube (see photo at right).

• If you are using the ETX in a “straight-through” configuration, orient the LPI camera in the holder so that the USB cable points downward.

To connect the LPI camera to an LX-200 or LX-90 Telescope:

• Orient the LPI camera into the eyepiece holder so that the USB cable points downward.

To connect the LPI camera to other telescopes:

• Move the LPI camera around in the eyepiece holder until the image on the LPI display screen (17) is upright.

To connect the LPI camera when using an autoguider:

• Go to the Object box and choose “Autoguide” from the list ( see pages 25 and 26 for more information). Enter comm port number and other information.

• Attach the correct serial cable from the telescope’s control panel RS-232 port to the comm port of your PC (see the Autoguider instruction sheet for more information). Also see “Autoguider,” page 25, for more information.

Connect the LPI Camera to Your Telescope

Cable points at front of tube

To open the LPI Imaging program, go to the Image menu of the Planetarium program and select LPI Imaging.

The LPI program will display.

Open the LPI Program

LPI Controls

e f

2^ 2&

3) 3!

1. Gain and Offset sliders

2. Expose control

3. Auto Adj (Auto Adjust) button

4. Mono (Black and white) check box

5. Live Image check box

6. Dark Sub check box

7. Status box

8. Take Pictures, Settings tabs

9. Align & Combine, Filter controls

10. Object Type combo box

11. Object Name box

12. File Type combo box

13. Save Every Image check box

14. Start/Stop button

15. Image Acquire status bars

16. Stats, Files tabs

Key to LPI Controls

17. Help, Live, File Names tabs

18. Histogram display

19. Histogram sliders and controls

20. Log check box

21. ROI check box

22. Magic Eye Focus display

23. Avg (Average), Reset check boxes

24. Status display

25. Image display

26. Image directory field & Browse button

27. Dark Frames directory field & Browse button

28. Open button

29. Close button

30. Tracking box

31. Centroid

Throughout this manual, any number that is displayed in parentheses, refers to key above. For example, “(3)” refers to the Auto Adjust button and “(14)” refers to the Start/Stop button.

+ 21 hidden pages