Meade Autostar Update Software
The Autostar Software Suite portion of the package works with all current Meade LX200GPS SMT telescopes equipped with the Autostar II hand control, plus any Meade telescope using a #497 Autostar hand controller (such as the ETX-90/105/125 Maksutovs and all LXD-55 scopes with Autostar). Concerning software upgrades, Meade didn't really do updates. There will/may be one or two but in general Meade did not throw out a lot. The #494 simply cannot be updated. I also think that some #497's can be updated, some cannot, it depends on the memory if them, and possibly the software already present.
Meade Autostar Update Software
Meade Autostar Suite Software For Mac
For the firmware to be loaded onto your telescope/Autostar, that BUILD ROM file must be transferred from where you saved it INTO the ASU 3.61 Autoloader....it does not get there by itself after you have obtained it and uploaded to your computer.
To place new firmware files to your ASU Autoloader (we are NOT loading to the telescope at this point!), follow these steps:
1) Open up the file in which you stored the current firmware version (i.e., v1.4d) and minimize the screen so that you can open a second window;
2) Now go to your 'My Computer' icon and open up your files to Program Files; under Program Files, there will be one likely entitled 'MEADE'; that
is your ASU 3.61 Updater program which contains many files;
3) Ignore and do NOT open any of these files except the one entitled 'Ephemerides'; double click that one and you will see 6-7 folders in that file....one of those is 'BUILD LX' (when you first load up the 3.61 ASU you may NOT have the BUILD LX file present...look for it. If not there, then proceed;
4) If there IS a BUILD LX file (as there would be if you already had used the ASU at least once), then you must click on that file and DELETE it (or save it back into your 'AstroPrograms' folder in case you might want to go back to it....it does happen!).
5) Once any existing BUILD LX file is deleted then it is time to update the Ephemerides with your NEW firmware (i.e., 1.4d); you can do this by copy and
past from the AstroPrograms file into the ASU/Ephemeride file or by 'dragging and dropping' across both screens which you should have showing simultaneously on your screen at this time.
6) Once done, confirm by checking (right click the mouse) Properties and see if it is the latest or most current date.....if so, then you are done.
7) Back out of the Program Files and your 'C' drive files for AstroPrograms.
8) Now open up the ASU 3.61 by double clicking the ASU icon on your desktop; you will want to click the main button entitled 'Advanced Functions' at this point;