Autostar #497 Auto align

[peppe]

Before my #497 Autostar controller gave up on me (mid 2006) I was able, during ‘automatic alignment’, to choose any star by scrolling through the list on the display, similar to the ‘two star alignment’ option. The software with my new controller (43Eg) no longer offers that choice, instead, I can reject with the scroll key, the automatically selected stars until the one I want appears on the display. This procedure is tedious and time consuming. Does anybody know which software version my original controller might have had installed?

[Karls48]

Hi, why don't you use 2 star alignment? Older rom software had some bugs when used wit GPS.

[peppe]

Hi Karl,

I understand that a successful 2 star alignment can only be accomplished if the scope is perfectly level and pointing north. Is that so?

I don’t have GPS.

[acropolite]

Good alignment does require accurate level and true north as well as accurate lat/long / time and offset from UTC. If you are getting poor alignment it sometimes helps to do a reset, recalibrate and retrain the drives. Older versions of software are available here (http://www.weasner.com/etx/autostar/as_archive/downloads.html), I wouldn't be overly concerned with bugs, all versions seem to buggy, some less annoying than others.

[peppe]

Hello Phil,

Thank you for your link to older software versions for the #497 controller, I will log on as soon as I get some spare time.

Recently I replaced the battery on the LNT of my LX-90, I therefore, carried out the usual procedures in the following order:
Set local time/daylight as accurately as possible
Set lat/lon/time zone
Performed Motor calibration and Drive training
Re-calibrated sensor.
Final setting on Sigma Octantis.

I am very happy with the overall pointing accuracy when I setup the scope with the with the automatic align function. I will definitely go back to an earlier software version for the #497 that allows for the choice of stars during automatic alignment. I have found that the two star alignments, although acceptable, is never as reliable as it is reported to be.

Peppe