Autostar v5 ASU issues

[Robbie]

Hi,
Im running an LX200 gps Ive installed autostar v5.0 everything works fine except the ASU tab for upgrading the handbox info etc , it just crashes out, tried reinstalling ..same deal.
The original Autostar version ASU works fine but it is ancient, Has anyone got any ideas?? has anyone had the same probs??
Robbie:shrug:

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie

Meade recently introduced new "497" style handboxes
These use totally different memory and microprocessors, hence the old ASU wont touch them, and the machine code images are totally incompatible.
( However the old ASU would load the new style firmware into an old style handbox, thus lobotomising it. ( Safeload fixes it )

I would assume the new ASU is an attempt to fix this
and in the process, they have killed the LX200.
What is the exact version of ASU you have?

Either way, for uploading firmware to an LX200GPS,
i would suggest you look at Starpatch.
It has a freeware mode, and is much easier to use,
esp if you want to do patching as well.

Andrew

[Robbie]

Thanks Andrew thats a good answer yes I crashed my handbox and spent hours trying to solve this , The solution was to reinstall version 3 of autostar and use the update feature on V3 Im not sure what model the handbox is but the scope is just 1 year out of the factory from new. So what youir saying is downad starpatch? and this will make the v5 update work?
Thanks again
Rob

[Robbie]

oh there's nothing to tell me what model the handbox is but it has autostar II on the front panel

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie

I'm now confused

1) ASU is the program sitting on your PC
To find out what version it is, start it up, then go to help->about

2) As you have an LX200GPS, the Hbx is just a dumb terminal, all the smarts are in the base of the scope
But you keep mentioning ver5???
We need to get the right numbers

There is an AutostarSuite download ver 5
This comprises several programs,
one of which is the ASU Updater, but the ASU has its own number.
Then there is the firmware in the scope itself.

The latest current firmware for an LX200GPS is Build 4.2g
To see whats currently in your scope, go to the Hbx
and under Setup->Statistics, you can read what you have loaded

Starpatch is merely a different program ( on yr PC ), that replaces the ASU when it comes to loading firmware into the scope.
But lets get the above numbers before proceeding.

Andrew

[Robbie]

ok Im running autostar version 5 web. everything works autstar talks to the mount but when you click on the product update it will not update it just comes up with update has stopped working looking for solution (general microsoft error)

I uninstalled autostar v5 web and reinstalled my original disk autostar version 2 I click on the product update tab ( it works!! ) and have downloaded build 4.2g straight from the web so now I assume my handbox is up to date

the thing I cant work out is why does this tab work on all other autostar versions but crash on version 5.
Ive spoken to Mike at bintel and he has suggested that my serial port adapter (keyspan) may not be able to hack the pace.

anyway does that help you nut the problem out?

[Robbie]

when refering to autostar v2 and v5 I mean autostar suite v2 and v5.

and thanks for your patience Andrew I appreciate it

[Robbie]

handbox status is definetly at 4.2g now but still autostar suite v5 will still not allow update tab to operate all other functions work fine

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie



cos something has changed :P
I use AutostarSuite 5.00 and mine works no probs,
but i constantly change stuff based on whats on the Meade site.

However, the fact you get comms with V2 and not V5
( and you have successfully updated to 4.2g ) immediately tells you it is not the fault of the converter.

For testing purposes, you should be able to start ASSuite without a scope attached, and initiate the updater.
If it fails, you can go to program files/Meade/Austostarsuite/Updater
and you will see the raw updater exe
Just double click on it and use help->about to get the version
Then reload V5.00 and repeat to see whats there
ie is it uploading a newer version of ASU. If so what???
Also, at any time you like, you can make a direct shortcut to ASU and bypass ASSuite altogether.
I still recommend Starpatch for Firmware loads tho
its much more robust than the Meade ASU

Andrew

[Robbie]

Well they just released Autostar v5.5 so i down loaded and tried that now everything works as it should
Thanx for the help Andrew much appreciated:thumbsup:

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie



Geez, its over 200MB
Can you start it up, go to the ASU updater and tell me what version it is
( Ie the version of ASU not ASSuite )

Andrew

[turbo_pascale]

Bloody Dial-up users - I'll beat you to the email - I'll down load it for you and bring it over on a USB Stick!

Turbo

[Robbie]

ok andrew I went to the updater and the only info it would give me is the" ASU is up to date " no other info.

And yes because they cut my speed back to 64kps it takes 19 hours to download autostarsuite 5.5, halfway thru the download they reset to full speed and crashed my download, even at full speed it took 20mins.
Thanks again

[AndrewJ]

Gday Turbo



Some of us have to live in the past
( or wireless free zones :P)

Yr too kind, However
if yr going to grab it
can you get microsofts KB951847 for me as well
thats only 250MB
Not bad for a patch for sara lee bloatware

Andrew

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie


As per before, if the ASU updater starts
go to the menu Help->About ASU
That pops up a dialogue box with the version No

Andrew

[Robbie]

as per b4 I dont get a menu in updater... nothing

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie


Somethings going wrong then
I just got a copy of the download
The ASSuite is ver 5.50 and ASU is ver 5.60
I will have a play tomorrow and see if it behaves,
but if you can start ASSuite, then go to Telescope->Product Updates
It should start the ASU updater
In the very top horizontal bar should be the menu options
File Edit Options Tools View Help
Selecting Help brings up the about box

Andrew

[Robbie]

I did that when I hit product upadate it does not give me anything it just comes up with a stopped working dialogue box and then says "asu is the latest version "nothing else so I guess I still have the same problem, this happens on both my laptop and home puters
No idea what the problem is... as I said on my older austostaer versions 2 &3 I get the menuss etc but v5 and v5.5 just crash, Im at a loss

[Robbie]

Well I removed every thing to do with meade software then reinstalled v5.5 of autostar, same thing product update tab simply does not work it just crashes, Im running vista home so Im wondering if its a vista issue but like I said if I run the older versions, of autostar ,that came with the scope or the version that came with my dsi, updater works perfectly. this is really doing my head in.
I rang meade in the USA for help but I would have done better trying to get the solution out of the family cat.:help2:

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie



Now after reinstalling, you say it wont play???

Back to square 1
Forget the desktop icons, AutostarSuite etc etc
Start explorer and go to wherever the
Program files->Meade->AutoStarSuite->Updater directory is
Inside this directory, you should see a file AUD.exe
That is the ASU Updater
Just double click on it and see if it starts.

Andrew

[Robbie]

tried that no joy and tried the au2update.exe in windows\temp that doesnt work either:shrug: the application simple doesnt work

[turbo_pascale]

You mentioned Vista.
When I get home, I'll install it on my Vista PC, but it could be that you need to "Run as Administrator" (right click on the EXE and do that).

Some of the older programs refer to "user" files in the program directory, which is not allowed under Vista with normal user permissions. It's guesswork, but quite possible.

Turbo

[Robbie]

thought of that didnt make any difference...
thanks for the reply tho:thumbsup:

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie

Id suggest going back to one that works or using Starpatch

I just tried the new ASU on a new 497 style Hbx
( just for user data ) and it appears to have bugs there already
so im not game to try it on my working handboxes;)


Andrew

[Robbie]

yeah thanx Andrew Ill do that , I thought it might be a conflict between versions but I eliminated that theory. there is nothing else I can do my end short of refomatting my lap top and trying that, All other autostar suite 5.5 functions work fine so I'll just live with it , If I crash the handox I'll just have to load the original disk and reboot that way. Its a pain in the arse when you pay a fortune for a scope and the software is crap, you get better support from a 50 dollar computer game.
Anyway thanks for your advice much appreciated.
Rob

[AndrewJ]

Gday Robbie



Whilst not being an apologist for Meade,
you have a scope with 4.2g loaded, hence it will function
If ASSuite 5.5 works, it can control the scope.

If its only ASU that wont currently load, there are ways round that,
but as its only used to do firmware updates, it wont affect your day to day enjoyment of the scope
Get outside and have some fun first :thumbsup:

Andrew

[Robbie]

yeah I wont let it stop me getting out thats for sure

Take it easy