Cloning an Autostar #497?

[erick (Eric)]

I bought a second handset as a spare.

I have been able to upgrade the firmware to the latest available from Meade. Goodness, that took a long time to download from computer to handset - probably some 15-20 minutes? But it got there.

Now, how do I copy across everything from my working handset to the new handset? Meade manual is very sparse on the clone function.

What is the cable that I need to connect the two handsets? Wiring diagram?

Have searched through Mike Weasner's site but cannot find a full description of what I need and what I have to to do.

I did read that one option is to connect the two and set the new one to "download" and the old one to "clone all". Makes sense.

But I also read that I can up load the old one's details to computer with the Autostar suite and then download to the new one from computer? True?

Thanks all.

(Yes and I still have the alignment problems - haven't had a chance to revisit that for months now.)

[MikeyB (Michael)]

Hi, Eric.

I think the answers you need may be in the attached Meade #505 Cable Set instructions.

Good luck!

[AndrewJ]

Gday Erick

If you have already loaded the firmware, then dont bother with cloning, its really of no use, and you need another cable,
Also, if the new Hbx is an EP type, you will need a second scope, as the raw EP firmware barfs badly unless it is connected to a valid scope.

The handbox only has 512bytes of eeprom, and 150 of these are PEC,
which you cant clone, and of the rest, only about 20bytes are really required to be copied.
I suggest you just connect the new Hbx to the scope, select the correct model, enter yr site and user details if reqd,
do a calibrate motors and thats it.
If you are running patched firmware, you can read out your old drive train numbers and enter them into the new Hbx, but thats about it.
My latest PEC Editor has a function to save a handbox image and restore it to another box if required, ( it requires that you have patched firmware loaded ), but in truth, other than drive train data, the rest is just fluff.
Its quicker to just do it manually

Andrew

[erick (Eric)]

Thanks Michael, I gather the firmware was as you bought it? Updated now. Thanks for the cable manual - I wouldn't have guessed one existed. Strange place to put all the instructions for download, etc - in the cable manual?

Thanks Andrew, no it is not an EP unit. Transfer data by hand? - but that is so unsophisticated and I don't get to chop up and resolder a telephone cable which will be fun! I think that I just need pins 1 and 2 (transmit and receive) cross over, break the link on pin 3 and keep pin 4 (Grd). But I'll rethink now, based on your advice.

Thanks Gentlemen
Eric

[erick (Eric)]

I did rethink and decided, why miss all the fun . About time I bought a crimper tool, as well.

So I made up a cable, 1->2, 2->1, 3 not connected and 4->4, powered them both up, connected up and tried a download/clone "all". It went away and thought about it for about 15 min - lots of progressing dots on the uploading screen - then said it was done. Both still worked, but the new one wasn't an exact clone - eg. telescope model was not changed to the upload model?

OK, whatever. I had fun making the cable and learning how to use my new crimper tool, and didn't seem to do any damage.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Erick

Yr a brave lad

Andrew

[MikeyB (Michael)]

I'm pleased to hear that it all went well, Eric, even if Meade's idea of a suitable data transmission baud rate is reminiscent of dial-up bulletin boards back in the '80's.

Still, they say time flies if you're having fun and at least you've got a crimper to show for it. Now if there was only something else around the house that needed crimping...