Updating Meade Autostar 497 hand controller
May 18th 2011 00:06
Category: Telescopes
meade Autostar connection
Updating software on telescopes is always a bit of a pain especially when your not quite sure of the right procedures.
I am referring to updating thefirmware on Meade Autostar hand controller. I recently purchased another Meade telescope and needed to update the firmware. Some of the information available on the net is a little ambiguous and at times confusing.
Meade Autostar 497 hand controller
Some people are reluctant to update their firmware and that’s understandable. If you haven’t updated your telescope’s firmware since first purchased chances are that you wont have the recent firmware bug fixes and updates. You will need to back up any software first before updating to a more recent version of the firmware.
The procedure I used for updating my Meade 497 hand controller was to download the ASU Autostar suite software from meade.com
You will require a #505 connector cable set to connect the telescope’s hand controller to the computer.
#505 usb cable
There are a few alternatives you can get a 3 party USB connection cable if your computer does not have a serial output port.
The Meade USB to RS232 Adapter Cable allows you to connect a Meade RS232 device to a PC's USB port. The USB to RS232 Adapter Software driver creates a virtual comm port on your PC and treats the virtual port as a normal PC serial port. The software is compatible with Windows 98, ME,
2000, and XP.
For example, the USB to RS232 Adapter allows you use the
Autostar Download Updater with a USB port.
The Autostar Download Updater is available on the Meade website.You will require the PL2303 Driver Setup.exe file
USB Driver
To upgrade your Autostar first click on the link below to download the Autostar Update (ASU) Client Application for Windows.
(ASU) Client
Initially when you switch on your hand controller it will display the current software version on the screen.
Connect your Meade 497 hand controller to the computer via the #505 cable switch it on.
Insert the other cable next to the power cable on the 497 controller box.
Open your ASU Autostar suite software select Upgrade Autstar software now check for updates.
In my case I need to get the 43Eg update.
ASU Autostar Client software
Select the required version then wait for the download the upgrade. You then proceed to update the hand controller this may take a few minutes make sure you don’t switch off the power to the telescope until the upgrade is completed.
You may then decide to update the information on your hand box remember that the hand box has limited memory, you may need to delete some of the satellite or comet information.
You can then choose what you want to update by selecting the information you require.
After you finished updating your firmware you will need to enter your location, telescope model you will need to re train the telescope tracking from scratch.
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Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief
Comment by CarlCan
Astroearth
Camera Sense
Hi S.L.
As they say…. you’re never too old to learn even for old folks like myself , the impossible we do every day miracles take a little longer.
Comment by S.L.
The Political Brief