Autostar Help Please!!!

[Dazzler]

Hi all

I think I'm in some trouble here but hopefully someone out there can help.

Last night I decided to install an update to my LX200R Autostar using the Updater program and a serial port connection. As this is a very slow download I walked away from the computer to do other things and upon my return was aghast to see my laptop had gone into standby mode during the download.

The connection was lost between the two and I now cannot regain the connection. Autostar on restart gets to the screen where I choose to "0" for Tour or "mode" etc but nothing happens from that screen.

Com1 is functioning on my computer it is just that Autostar will not let it connect. As it stands Autostar is completely useless. Is there anyway I can reboot or obtain a connection to reinstall Autostar?

Thanks.

[MikeyB]

Apparently there's a "safe mode" that should get you going again (see footnotes to article):

Safe Mode (http://www.weasner.com/etx/autostar/guide-asu3x.html)

Good luck!

[Dazzler]

Thanks Michael - that looks promising. I'll give it a try tonight and report back. :thumbsup:

Cheers.

[AndrewJ]

For the ASII you just press 999 immediately after restarting the scope
( Look for "Damaged Handbox" in the ASU help file )
This puts it into safeload mode, at which time you can reconnect the ASU updater and do the firmware load. It must be done at 9600 baud so you will have to wait a while
For normal loading of firmware and patches
Starpatch from
http://www.stargps.ca/starpatch.htm
is a much more robust ( and user friendly ) application.

Andrew

[Dazzler]

Thanks Andrew.

Michael your safe mode link has done the trick. 999 is the magic number and problem is now solvered.

Thanks again. :D

[MikeyB]

Phew - I'll bet that's a relief!

For any others unfamiliar with Mike Weasner's Mighty ETX Site, it's a treasure-trove of Meade and Autostar info (and not just for ETX's, either):

Weasner's Mighty ETX Site (http://www.weasner.com/etx/menu.html)

[Ric]

For owners of the LX200 series I've also found this to be a handy site as well.


http://www.mapug-astronomy.net/

Cheers