There was very little in the ASCOM setup that asked for input
When you open the ASCOM chooser in PHD to select the scope
"Meade Classic and Autostar I", press the "properties" button.
The dialog that pops up has a checkbox for "Auto Set time"
ensure that is unchecked, and also ignore any screen prompts you get
saying your scope and PC arent synchronised.
Set date/time via the Hbx / gps unit and leave it be.
But what firmware "was" loaded. That will tell if the new firmware will have fixed some of the "goto" type problems.
Re the DEC axle/motor, does it actually move up AND down ( without making horrible noises ) when you use the slew keys at say speed 3????
If so, then the system is basically working.
I'll set my gear up and see if I can get my system to reset to 5CE1 - and then hopefully I can work out how to patch the thing using the update you have so graciously posted.
Wish me luck....
No luck involved, however, loading 5CE1 and the patch is done at the same time.
Download and Install StarPatch
Manually download the 5CE1 rom and 5CE1 patch
( or use StarPatch's inbuilt updater to grab them )
Start your scope and connect the update cable as per normal.
In Starpatch, select the handbox type as 497EP ( via menu )
Select the patch file ( ends in .spf ) via the selection box.
The system will load the patch and you can see all the bits
and what they do.
Select the patch options you want to use
Hit go.
Starpatch will validate the patch and yr Hbx, and if OK will load the data.
Once loaded, it will reboot the Hbx, but you need to cycle the power to get a true restart.
After the firmware is loaded, you are ready to go.
OK...well its done. Looks like I might get a clear one just to see how it all plays out.
Forkks came off pretty easy... just copped one scratch on the side.
All in all, I feel pretty good about it.
Now when people ask, I think Ill say I have a Neq690.
But what firmware "was" loaded. That will tell if the new firmware will have fixed some of the "goto" type problems.
Re the DEC axle/motor, does it actually move up AND down ( without making horrible noises ) when you use the slew keys at say speed 3????
If so, then the system is basically working.
Andrew
Yeah, im not sure what firmware it was, I talked to you a while ago in yahoo groups about it...and I did the upgrade then, basically it fixed my horrible Periodic error I had (as well as ANOTHER new RA motor.
Yes, the scope was moving up and down at speed 3.. but barely. there was a lot of "lag" I would say I had to hold down the button for 2 seconds before it would actually move... which I am guessing is why PHD wasnt guiding N/S.. the message was sent, the scope was trying to do something... but there just wasnt enough time to make it move.
Anyway... its done now... Ill hang onto the forks.. in case things go pear shaped with the eq6, but Ill definately sell the wedge.
Got on - it worked - though it did say GPS not found!
Have to try and work out what it missed off in the dialogue.
The tuning will take a while I guess and with the cloud dodging tonight it was a little frustrating but enough to give me hope!
Thanks again
Got on - it worked - though it did say GPS not found!
Not sure what you mean here.
Does your scope actually have a GPS unit??
If not, you probably left the "GPS Setup" portion of the patch
( the very first option in the patch )
selected when you loaded.
This bit of patch is only required if you have purchased the StarGPS GPS unit and allows the unit to be neatly integrated into the firmware, vs be just a plugin extra.
It wont harm anything, but if you get annoyed with the prompts,
just relaod the patch with the "GPS Setup" bit unchecked.
I have GPS - it said GPS not found - which I thought was odd - as it didn't ask for a lat long - but beeped - and went to Sigma Octans. It was only a few minutes out from Archenar when it went to the first star - about 6 mins - so I just centred it and it was accurate fro there - so I guess my GPS worked.Which is why I thought it was odd.
I suspect you have loaded the "GPS Setup" portion of the patch then.
( You can check this if required using my PEC editor )
As i noted earlier, we have integrated the external StarGPS unit into the underlying Autostar code, to get a more efficient method of working.
With that bit of patch loaded, the handbox will firstly look for a StarGPS unit plugged into the handbox serial port. If it doesnt find one, it declares no GPS, then it reverts to normal processing.
In your case, this means it tries for the integrated Meade GPS unit if fitted, and if that times out, it reverts to the manual Hbx entry.
If your scope fixed OK and the date/time after fix was correct,
then all is working as it should.
Well - actually it's just a matter of finish - the OTA is - yes good.
The mount is quite useable as it is forviewing, but needs to be worked on a bit for AP - the software - well it's like windows stuff, glitchy and bugged at the periphery.
The go to has worked flawlessly for the 18 months I've had it. The more I got it leveled and pointed, the better it became.
Went out last night before it got cloudy and had a bit of a practise - the guiding was accurate with PHD - for the very first time, the lines stayed inside the first horizontal bar. Which when I consider that as OAG is 100x that's quite accurate - the resulting pics were awful since the sky was awful for seeing - the stars were big and globby.
Would the guiding improve if the seeing was better?
If you purchased it from a local agent and documented the problems etc you have had I'd say it would be sufficient grounds for returning it and
a) get a working replacement
With reference to the Firmware, then not possible,
unless Meade fix it ( unlikely short term ).
Most of the Meade bugs are now well known
and have been patched for several years,
but most of these are for remote control functions.
As such,
your choice is buy a Meade knowing it does all the basics well,
but has problems with remote controlled functionality,
( most of which can be semi fixed )
or not buy a Meade at all.
As bang for the buck, its a good allround package,
and excellent for casual manual use in AltAz.
If you want AP/TAK/PME type quality/functionality
and rapid manufacturer response to bugs
then you need to buy an AP/TAK or PME.
I'm not sure that a dealer could exclude firmware bugs from the definition of merchantable quality, even if they are well known. A patch is fine but the product as a whole surely would still have to be capable of doing what it is designed to do.
A go to scope MUST be capable of going to an object, otherwise it is not merchantable and the dealer has to comply with the law, and as I understand the law, that means an implied warranty to the consumer that always applies regardless of what any written warranty says.
A go to scope MUST be capable of going to an object
And it can.
As i mentioned, out of the box and under manual control, it works.
For 99% of users, the bugs arent a problem with basic usage
and gotos do in fact work .
Its only when going to remote control and using a PC to send some more advanced serial commands that most problems cut in.
I really dont see how getting all legal about this is going to help,
and attempting to pin it on the Oz retailers because "they" are selling a well known standard product wont help anyone.
And what happens to all the people who decide to buy from the US and use third party handlers to ship the stuff here????
Anyone can do a simple search on the internet and find out most of the feedback, good and bad. Then decide if they want to proceed.
At some point, people have to take a little responsibility for what they buy.
So out of curiousity - did you know of these discoverable bugs and glitches with the advanced features you wanted before you bought - or did you only find out about the errors afterwards?
Malcolm is right about goods being fit for sale - bugs in advanced capabilities aren't listed in any Meade advertisment I've seen - I was unaware of these issues until this thread. This means local importers are exposed to returns as I would view goods are not fit for sale if many of the advanced features haven't worked for a long time and many patches are needed to try an cobble something together. Not acting allows a continued bad product to be foisted onto all new entrants into the field. At the very least their advertising should prominently be truthful to real world capabilities.
I have to say that the manual I got looked like it was written at least 10 years ago - (it mentioned that digital cameras were now available!!!)
The advice about digital cameras was not only out of date, most of it was incorrect. It also wasn't corrected for the Southern hemisphere. When you consider the cost of the machine, the poorly scripted and produced manual is quite awful.
It points out the collimation screws - as the outer screws - which are in fact the secondary securing screws. I had a frustrating time to start with until I reasoned it out.
The firmware is pathetic when you consider the availability of such hi tech as ipads etc. It isn't even robust, one slip with the voltage or polarity and it's fried.
You can work round most of the stuff - but you shouldn't need to.
The LS is junk too - the Astronomer inside thing is pure child stuff - the light switch alignment will only work if there's stars visible - a cheap garmin will do as good a job without a star visible and also give you altitude.
. 
