Meade LS6 & LS8 LightSwitch Primer

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Meade LS6 & LS8 LightSwitch Primer"

Molly Franklin
5 years ago
Views:

1 Page1 Meade LS6 & LS8 LightSwitch Primer last updated: 9th November 2018 can be freely distributed while this document remains unaltered. Opticstar Ltd 2018 Introduction For setting up and using your telescope please refer to the comprehensive manual that came with your LS telescope. This document is targeted to new owners and covers a number of topics as follows: Traversing the handset menus Restoring the telescope to factory settings Properly shutting down the telescope Telescope alignment primer Updating the telescope firmware with an SD card Calibrating the Eclips camera Training the Azimuth and Elevation Drives p1 p1 p1 p2 p3 - p9 p10 p10 - p11 General Information Traversing the Handset Menus The MODE Key on the Autostar III handset cycles the telescope through its three different modes; Menu Mode, Info Mode and Skymap Mode. During most telescope operations, pressing the MODE key will stop the current operation. Restore to Factory Settings If you are having difficulties with the telescope, the first step to getting back on track is to reset the telescope to factory settings. This will enable you to follow the telescope instruction manual as if you used the telescope for the very first time. To reset the telescope to factory settings, the option is under: Menu Mode Preferences Restore Factory Defaults Please refer to page 10 of this document for the location of this option in the Menu tree. Telescope Shutdown Select Shutdown from the main top level menu. After the telescope has moved to its storage position and the AutoStar displays Turn Off Telescope, flip the LightSwitch to the OFF (0) position. Menu Mode Shutdown Scope Please refer to page 10 of this document for the location of this option in the handset s menu tree.

2 Page2 Telescope Alignment Please follow the instructions in the LS LightSwitch manual to align your telescope. If the telescope cannot find the stars during auto-alignment and assuming a clear sky, please refer to the possible causes and remedies as outlined below. These are listed in a recommended order but feel free to choose the order if you are experienced. Tripod Platform Ensure that the telescope is level prior to alignment and the tripod leg knobs tight. Also, ensure that the tripod does sink into the ground, this can happen when the telescope is on grass or on a soft surface. Power Powering your LightSwitch telescope from batteries will prove expensive in the medium to long term. We recommend a 17Ah 12VDC (pin positive) Power Tank or a good quality, regulated/switch-mode 12VDC 5A mains Power Supply (pin positive). Please note that low power levels including weak batteries or inadequate power supply will cause your telescope to automatically reset. Firmware You may have an older version of the firmware or the firmware has been corrupted. You would need to update your telescope s firmware. The latest version of the firmware at the time of writing is V1.6D. Stretched Cables Stretched cables can cause various issues including poor communication connections and power loss. Both, will affect alignment and operation. ECLIPS Camera Field of View If you have alignment issues, ascertain that you are able to see the alignment star through a wide angle 40mm eyepiece and once the telescope has slued to the target star. That you can see the star through your eyes is no guarantee that the ECLIPS camera can also see it. The ECLIPS camera is at a lower position when compared to your eyes and has a comparatively much smaller field of view. Please keep in mind that an obstructed horizon and passing clouds can also cause star alignment to fail. ECLIPS Camera Cap Please make certain that you have removed the Eclips camera cap. ECLIPS Camera Condensation Ensure that there is no condensation on the camera lens. You could consider making a small dew shield to protect the camera lens from condensation. ECLIPS Camera Dark Calibration Dark Calibration should help with the not finding stars issue during auto-alignment. It s something that can be done indoors. The handset will lead you through this procedure once Dark Calibration has been selected. The Dark Calibration procedure is under the Utilities Menu on your handset. Telescope Calibration You could improve telescope accuracy in general by performing the Azimuth Drive, Elevation Drive and Finder Center procedures under the Setup Menu on your handset. It s something that can be done during the day. Take care not to point your telescope to or close to the Sun during this procedure. Magnetic Interference Large metal objects close to telescope like a car, motors, magnets and atmospheric magnetic fields in general could affect the alignment and operation of any telescope that relies on its on-board electronic compass to find North.

Page3 Firmware Update Using a Pre-programed mini SD Card Firmware Update Basics You will need a pre-programmed 500MB-2GB mini SD card to update your telescope s firmware.

micro SD mini SD SD NOTE: You can also program your own mini SD card using the Meade Autotostar Updater (ASU) software that can be downloaded from the Meade Instruments website.

3 Page3 Firmware Update Using a Pre-programed mini SD Card Firmware Update Basics You will need a pre-programmed 500MB-2GB mini SD card to update your telescope s firmware. Alternatively, a 500MB-2GB micro SD can be used in conjunction with a mini SD adapter card. micro SD mini SD SD NOTE: You can also program your own mini SD card using the Meade Autotostar Updater (ASU) software that can be downloaded from the Meade Instruments website. We strongly recommend that you always update the LightSwitch telescope s firmware via a 500MB-2GB mini SD card as outlined in this document and not via a PC. Other capacity SD cards will not work. Instructions 1. Use a reliable power supply. 2. Ensure that your Meade LS telescope is switched off. 3. Insert the pre-programmed Mini SD card supplied into the telescope s mini SD slot as described under the Inserting the mini SD Card heading in this document. 4. Switch ON the telescope and wait for around 10 seconds for the hand box to respond. Then follow the instructions on the hand box display. 5. Wait for approximately 30 minutes for the firmware to be updated. 6. Do not remove the mini SD card or switch off the telescope while updating the firmware or the telescope may need to be returned back to Meade Instruments Inc. for re-flashing. 7. The AutoStar III handset will confirm that the software has been updated. 8. Switch OFF the telescope. 9. Remove the Mini SD card from the telescope. 10. The firmware update is now complete. CAUTION: Do not plug or unplug the power supply or handset to/from your telescope while the telescope s ON/OFF switch is at the ON position. Inserting the mini SD card Please observe the correct orientation of the mini SD card when inserting it into the mini SD slot on the telescope. It is important that you do not force the mini SD card into the slot. Slowly press the mini SD card into position making certain that the mini SD card is not at an angle when inserted. If the mini SD card is at an angle or facing the wrong way it will stop half way and you will be unable to push it into position. Finally, push the mini SD card in all the way so that it clicks in place. Note that once you switch ON the telescope with the mini SD card inserted, the red power LED should remain switched on. If the telescope is unable to read the mini SD card for any reason, the red power LED will flash intermittently for a short period of time and/or the handset display will remain blank. If the update takes too long to complete (typically over 35 minutes) the files on the mini SD card may have been corrupted. CAUTION: Please make certain that when you insert a micro SD card into a mini SD adapter this is done with care. In rare cases, it is possible that the contacts in the mini SD adapter end up over the top of the micro SD card rather than below.

Page4 Programming a mini SD Card A 500MB-2GB mini SD Card or a 500MB-2GB micro SD in conjunction with a mini SD adapter can be used to update the LS telescope without a nearby PC and USB connection.

At the time of writing the firmware will fit on 500MB, 1GB and 2GB size SD cards. To program the LS software to an SD card you will need the following: 1. a Windows PC 2.

4 Page4 Programming a mini SD Card A 500MB-2GB mini SD Card or a 500MB-2GB micro SD in conjunction with a mini SD adapter can be used to update the LS telescope without a nearby PC and USB connection. Please note that SD cards over 2GB in capacity will not work. SD cards equal or below 2GB in capacity will work as long as the firmware can fit. At the time of writing the firmware will fit on 500MB, 1GB and 2GB size SD cards. To program the LS software to an SD card you will need the following: 1. a Windows PC 2. the Meade Software Updater (ASU) installed 3. an SD card reader/writer attached to your PC 4. a 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card or 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card with a mini SD adapter Insert a 500MB-2GB mini SD or micro SD card in the SD card reader that has been attached to your PC. Run the Autostar Software Updater (ASU) from its PC desktop shortcut icon or from Windows Start > All Programs > Meade > Autostar Updater. Click on the Upgrade Autostar Software Now button to start the firmware update procedure. Since the telescope is not connected to the PC you will get a Could not find Autostar error, ignore the error and proceed to the next step. Please refer to page 6 for instructions to manually import the latest firmware files into ASU if there was a need.

Page5 From the top drop-down menu on the left select LS. The following pop-up screen will appear.

Optionally, press the Check WWW for latest version button to download the latest firmware to your PC.

File into ASU heading later in this document.

Click on the OK button to continue. In the Choose SD Card window click on the correct SD drive to select it.

5 Page5 From the top drop-down menu on the left select LS. The following pop-up screen will appear. V16D When the above pop-up screen appears, press the No button to proceed. Optionally, press the Check WWW for latest version button to download the latest firmware to your PC. If the version of the firmware you require is not listed, please refer to the section under the Manually Importing a Firmware File into ASU heading later in this document. Check the Make SD check box From the Make SD drop-down menu select the latest firmware version, V16D at the time of writing. Click on the OK button to continue. In the Choose SD Card window click on the correct SD drive to select it. Be aware of the potential of accidentally formatting or overwriting personal SD cards or other storage media with important information on them as any information on the media will be permanently lost. Click the Create LS SD Card button to continue. The ASU software will transfer the firmware to the SD card. This will take several minutes to complete.

Page6 Once finished copying the files over, the ASU software will inform you that the SD card has been programmed by displaying

Remove the now programmed micro SD or mini SD card following the instructions below.

You can now use the programmed SD card to update the telescope s firmware as outlined previously in this document under the Firmware

6 Page6 Once finished copying the files over, the ASU software will inform you that the SD card has been programmed by displaying Programming Complete. Click on the OK button to finish. Remove the now programmed micro SD or mini SD card following the instructions below. Eject the SD card form your PC using Windows Safely Remove Hardware & Eject Media feature accessible from the Desktop Task Bar. You can now use the programmed SD card to update the telescope s firmware as outlined previously in this document under the Firmware Update Using a Pre-programed mini SD Card heading. NOTE: Simply copying the contents of a pre-programed SD card to another SD card will not work. You would need to use the Meade Autostar Suite (ASU) to create a working and bootable SD card. for your LightSwitch telescope.

7 Page7 Manually Importing a Firmware File into ASU You can download the latest LightSwitch firmware ROM file from by visiting the LS6 or LS8, web pages. Both LS6 and LS8 models use the same firmware. At the time of writing, the latest firmware version is V1.6D. Unzip the downloaded file and place its contents in C:\Program Files(x86)\Meade\AutostarSuite\Updater folder (not the Ephemerides folder). The two items to be copied in the C:\Program Files(x86)\Meade\AutostarSuite\Updater folder are: ETX_LSV16D folder FIRMWARE.bin file Now run the Meade ASU software as outlined under the Programming a mini SD Card heading earlier in this document. The new firmware ROM file and folder you copied in the: C:\Program Files (x86)\meade\autostarsuite\updater folder should now be available. Keep in mind the requirements for the SD Card. These are a 500MB-2GB SD card, which in practice will typically be a mini SD card or, a micro SD card with a mini SD adapter.

What type and size SD cards will work with the telescope? You will need a 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card or, a 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card with a mini SD card adapter.

8 Page8 Firmware Update FAQ What do I need to be able to update my telescope s firmware? You will need a preprogramed 600MB, 1GB or 2GB mini SD card or, a preprogramed 500MB, 1GB or 2GB micro SD card and mini SD card adapter. Cards above 2GB is size do not work. What type and size SD cards will work with the telescope? You will need a 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card or, a 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card with a mini SD card adapter. Cards above 2GB is size will not work. You could still use a 500MB or 1GB card as long as the firmware files fit on the card. At the time of the firmware files are well below 500MB in size. What do I need to program an SD card to update my telescope s firmware? You would need the following: 1. A PC running Windows. 2. The Meade Autostar Software Updater (ASU). Free to download from 3. A general-purpose micro/mini/sd card reader connected to your PC. 4. A 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card or, a 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card and mini SD adapter. Alternative ways for programming and updating the telescope s firmware using a variety of cards depending on the card reader you use and the SD cards you have, these are listed below. PROGRAMMING A CARD 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card with SD adapter 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card with SD adapter TELESCOPE FIRMWARE UPDATE 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card with mini SD adapter 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD card with mini SD adapter My card reader can not recognise the mini SD card. 1. If your card reader is unable to read the mini SD card once this has been inserted in the reader s mini SD slot, you could use a mini SD card with a full-size SD card adapter instead. 2. Check the Windows Device Manager for conflicts and resolve them. Conflicts will appear as exclamation marks over the card reader entry in Device Manager. 3. Download the latest drivers for the card reader you use. What is the mini SD card format parameters? The Meade Austostar Software Updater (ASU) will automatically format the mini SD card to the correct format prior to copying the firmware and other files to the mini SD card. The defaults for a 2GB cad at the time of writing are as follows: Volume Label: Capacity: File System: EFINDERETX 1.86GB (may slightly vary) FAT32 Allocation Unit Size: 4096 bytes

9 Page9 When trying to update the telescope firmware using a pre-programed mini SD card, the hand box screen will light up but the telescope will no longer respond. Once you switch ON the telescope with the pre-programmed card inserted, the red power LED should remain switched on. If the telescope is unable to read the card for any reason, the red power LED will flash intermittently for a short period of time and/or the hand box display will remain blank after seconds have passed. This can happen for a number of reasons as follows: The card has not been programmed. Use the Meade Autostar Suite Updater to program the card. The card is over 2GB in size. Use a 500MB/1GB/2GB mini SD card. Alternatively, a 500MB/1GB/2GB micro SD can be used in conjunction with a mini SD adapter card. Cards over 2GB will not work. The card has been used before in another electronic device. Various electronic devices including cameras, cell-phones and tablets use proprietary formats that may not work with your LightSwitch telescope even after the card has been formatted and programmed. Please note that while your PC may still be able format micro/mini SD card and also read and write to it, the card may still fail to boot when used to update the telescope s firmware. In such cases, you would need to obtain and use a new and preferably unused micro/mini SD card. The card or telescope may have developed a fault. You can purchase a pre-programed card from your dealer to ascertain that any issues are not related to the card. The micro SD card is not sitting properly in its mini SD adapter. Make certain that when you insert a micro SD card into a mini SD adapter this is done with care. In rare cases and once you have inserter the micro SD card in the mini SD adapter, it is possible that the contacts in the mini SD adapter end up over the top of the micro SD card rather than below it. The firmware update is under way but takes too long to complete. It would typically take around 30 minutes to update the telescope firmware. If a firmware update commences but takes too long to complete (over 60 minutes) it is possible that files on the card have been corrupted, that the card is damaged or that there is another issue. Power interruption during a firmware update. In such cases switch off the telescope, re-program the card or use a new card and try again. If this fails to update the firmware, there is a small chance that you may need to return the telescope to Meade Instruments US for re-flashing. Making copies of pre-programmed micro/mini cards. You cannot make copies of pre-pre-programed micro/mini SD cards by simply copying the contents of one to the other. You will need to use specialist SD cloning software to make mirror copies of a preprogramed SD card or use the Meade Austostar Software Updater (ASU) to program a new micro/mini SD card. Be aware of the potential of accidentally formatting or overwriting hard disks, personal SD cards,or other storage media with important information on them as any information on the storage media will be permanently lost.

Page10 Meade Instruments LightSwitch LS6 & LS8 Calibration Calibrating your Lightswitch telescope will enable you to tune several aspects of the telescope for peak performance including pointing

10 Page10 Meade Instruments LightSwitch LS6 & LS8 Calibration Calibrating your Lightswitch telescope will enable you to tune several aspects of the telescope for peak performance including pointing accuracy and camera image quality which helps with auto-alignment. Calibration can be done during daytime but you must take care not to point your telescope to or close to the Sun since this cause to both your telescope and eyes. HANDSET MENU STRUCTURE Shutdown telescope Dark Calibration: Allows you to take a dark frame of the same exposure as your image but with the camera lens covered to combine and subtract out noise from your image. You must cover the camera lens with the lens cap before you take the dark calibration frame. Reset telescope to factory settings CALIBRATE Azimuth Drive allows you train your azimuth drive for peak pointing accuracy. Elevation Drive allows you train your elevation drive for peak pointing accuracy. Finder Center recomputes the center of the ECLIPS camera. When you change diagonals or other equipment the alignment of the equipment with the ECLIPS camera can change. If you are getting good alignments, but objects are consistently off center by the same amount, you should use the option to improve centering.

Page11 Training the Azimuth and Elevation Drives CALIBRATE: Training the Drive Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems.

11 Page11 Training the Azimuth and Elevation Drives CALIBRATE: Training the Drive Perform this procedure if you are experiencing any pointing accuracy problems. NOTE: Use a terrestrial object, such as a telephone pole or lamp post, to train the drive. Complete this exercise once every 3 to 6 months. Take care not to point the telescope to or close to the Sun. Calibrate allows you to precisely tune several aspects of your telescope for peak performance. Calibration options include: Azimuth Drive allows you train your azimuth drive for peak pointing accuracy. Elevation Drive allows you train your elevation drive for peak pointing accuracy. Finder Center recomputes the center of the ECLIPS camera. Meade Instruments

Peerless Drive System User's Manual

Peerless Drive System User's Manual Copyright 2001 Iomega Corporation Iomega, the stylized "i" logo, Peerless, and the Peerless brand block are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Iomega Corporation