TheSkySearchers

The GPS Problem with some older versions of Meade AutoStar has been fixed and updates are available. Here is the message I just received:

"I wanted to reach out and let you know that we have a solution for the GPS rollover issue.

All the information can be found on this page https://www.meade.com/support/ if you scroll down the page a bit you will see it. Would you mind passing along this information to anyone who has a question on the 4M?

If you have any questions, please do let me know! Thanks Bill!"

I tried the link and scrolled down to the bottom area of the page and all the information is there for the various versions of AutoStar. The new AutoStar Updater 6.1 is set up to download the software with the fixes for the various versions.

Thanks,

Thank you for posting the link Bill, I assume these are all of the patches that StarGPS posted a short while ago?

No, these are from Meade, unless the two got together.

I found out from a couple LS users that their older mounts were having trouble with GPS, which I inquired about. They also did not find a way to enter date/time/location manually. I was told the LS fix was not complete yet, should be forthcoming. The reply for entering data manually is as follows:

The customer can enter the date/time/location manually by pressing the MODE key when the telescope starts looking for GPS. This will happen shortly after the telescope boots up and before any night sky alignment takes place. They can also turn off the search for GPS in the SETUP/PREFERENCES menu.

Here is a list of the update firmware available for download :
Handbox Type Telescope Models Firmware
AudioStar (English/Spanish) LX90 Series A4S4
AutoStar II LX200 Series 4.2k
AutoStar II LX600 Series 1.1h
AutoStar II LX600 – 16” Models Only 1.1i
AutoStar II LX850 Series 1.1h
These will fix your GPS problems on the above mentioned scopes.
If you have StarGPS patched firmware on your Audiostar/Autostar controller, the Meade Autostar Updater 6.1 will not recognize the version : I loaded unpatched firmware A3S5 on my spare Audiostar and then Autostar updater downloaded A4S4 firmware onto it. It now boots with "(c)18 A4S4" I think this is the first official update from Meade since 2012!

Lady Fraktor wrote: ↑Wed May 22, 2019 5:51 pm Thank you for posting the link Bill, I assume these are all of the patches that StarGPS posted a short while ago?

I saw those, too. I've been trying to get APT to update my 497 handset with no luck. I've given up with sharing the GPS on my phone and purchased a USB GPS dongle of Ebay. When it comes in I'm going to try it out using the "redirect.exe StarGPS offers for free to patch the GPS data through my laptop to the mount (LXD75) I'm running 43Eg now and will check that out first, then update to the latest if I need to.

GCG