Meade 505 Operating Instructions

For use with the Meade
The #505 Connector Cable Set provides access to three

AutoStar operations:

• Telescope Control: Use a personal computer (PC) to
directly control a Meade AutoStar-compatible telescope
through the use of an astronomical software program with
telescope control capabilities such as Meade AutoStar
Suite Software.
• Download from a PC: Download a new version of the
AutoStar software or object information (e.g., new satellite
orbital parameters) from
(www.meade.com) through a PC to AutoStar.
Download And Clone From Autostar: Transfer user-
•
defined object information or new AutoStar software from
one AutoStar Computer Controller to another.

PARTS LIST

The #505 Connector Cable Set is supplied with the following:
• 3-foot, 4-pin to 4-pin cable
• 6-foot, 4-pin to 6-pin cable
• 6-pin to RS-232 serial interface adapter
The 3-foot cable connects two AutoStars, while the 6-foot cable
connects an AutoStar and a PC using the interface adapter.
CAUTION: Do not connect either cable to the AUX
port on the telescope's computer control panel or
damage may occur to the cable connector.

TELESCOPE CONTROL

A powerful feature of AutoStar is that it serves as an interface
between an astronomical software program, such as Meade
AutoStar Suite Software and a Meade digital telescope.
NOTE: The software program must be compatible with the
LX200-series telescope to be compatible with AutoStar.
To use this function, complete the following procedure:
1. Verify that telescope and computer power are OFF.
2. Connect the serial interface adapter (1, Fig. 1) to the
RS–232 port on a PC.
3. Connect the 6-pin end of the 6-foot cable (2, Fig. 1) to the
serial interface adapter, then the 4-pin end to the RS-232
port at the base of the AutoStar (3, Fig. 1).
MEADE MEADE
MODE
1 2 3
4 5 6
7 8 9
0
?
HBX
3
2
1
Fig. 1: #505 Connector Cable Set connects between a PC and
AutoStar for telescope computer control or download capabilities.
(1) Serial Interface Adapter; (2) 6-Foot Cable; (3) AutoStar;
(4) Handbox (HBX) port on the telescope's computer control panel.
Operating Instructions
#505 Connector Cable Set
®
AutoStar
the Meade web site
4
MEADE
™
Computer Controller
4. Connect the AutoStar coil cord between the HBX port
(4, Fig. 1) on the telescope computer control panel and
the coil cord connector port on AutoStar.
5. Apply power to the telescope and computer, then
complete basic AutoStar initialization as detailed in the
AutoStar instruction manual.
6. Be sure that the computer Com Port is configured to the
following specifications:
• Baud Rate 9600
8
• Data Bits
• Parity None
1
• Stop bit
• Flow Control None
7. Complete telescope alignment as detailed in the AutoStar
instruction manual.
Telescope control can now be accessed using a PC
astronomical software program. Follow instructions provided
with the software to provide PC telescope control.
NOTE: The AutoStar GO TO function is still active when
connected to an astronomical software program, allowing
control either from the PC or AutoStar.

DOWNLOAD FROM A PC

To download software or object information from a PC to
AutoStar, follow this procedure:
NOTE: Downloading information is a two step process: First,
information is downloaded from a web site to a PC; second,
information is downloaded from the PC to AutoStar.
Download from the web site to the PC
1. From your PC, connect to the Meade web site
(www.meade.com) to download an AutoStar file or files
(i.e., new software, orbital elements, etc.).
2. Follow the instructions from your web browser (i.e.,
Internet Explorer, Netscape, etc.) on how to download a
file from the Internet to the PC. Once downloaded, the
data resides in a PC desktop program titled AUTOSTAR
UPDATE (a READ ME file is also attached).
Download from the PC to AutoStar
Complete steps 1 through 6 of TELESCOPE CONTROL, then
1.
return to this procedure.
Open the AUTOSTAR UPDATE program on the PC.
2.
NOTE: All files downloaded from the web site to the PC do not
have to be transferred to AutoStar (i.e., software and orbital
data may be downloaded to the PC, but you may choose to
update the software now and the orbital data at a later time).
3. Within the AUTOSTAR UPDATE program, select the file or
files you wish to transfer and follow the instructions
provided in the READ ME file.
4. When downloading is complete, AutoStar beeps and the
initialization sequence begins. When complete turn off the
power and disconnect the cables.
AutoStar downloading from a PC is now complete.