LX200 GPS 8" Scope recieved from Meade Instruments, Mexico

[turonrambar]

Dear Group,

I received my telescope from Meade today.  I've already set it up and connected to a lap top.  ASU still reports that the hand box is type: 497, and the hand box is in "safe" mode.  The only difference is in the ASU program when it was connected to the telescope, the right side (telescope side) is empty.  Before the right side of ASU program was full 497 hand box language, or scripts.

I want to fix my telescope, what do I need to do?

Thanks in Advance

[drclay]

Well....the first thing you want to do is to disconnect it from your laptop, turn it ON make sure that the defaults are set correctly (particularly the Scope Model), etc.

Once you have done a dry run through alignment, THEN you can connect to the laptop, but the problem you are reporting is NOT the telescope at all; it is the database that you have loaded into the ASU updater.  Use ONLY v4.6 ASU to connect, not the newer one.

Once connected, you must have a database stored with tours and comets; they OPEN in the left screen, and you simply push the >> buttons to move the library into upload mode on ASU; then press the SEND button when you see the items on the RIGHT screen.

But this problem is not the telescope....it is your use of ASU.

Doc

[turonrambar]

Dr. Clay

I've completed setting up the hand box and it's telescope information.

I've installed ASU ver 4.6 on the lap top.

From the original posts and per your suggestion, I bought a KeySpan USB adapter.

Roger Copy about my inappropriate behavior, or use, or what ever I'm doing while using the ASU. Yup! It's me. 

Your help and communications is always appreciated, thanks for all you do!

[drclay]

Keep us posted on progress.
Believe me, I have used or worked on literally thousands of telescopes over the years.
With the GO TO telescopes, there are many times I turn them on and they do not work.....
The very FIRST question that I ask myself is NOT "....what is wrong with this telescope....."

It is:
"What am I doing wrong"

And funny thing:  usually I am right on target.....user error.

Doc

[turonrambar]

I am UN-installing ASU.

I got other things to do?

Yes I'll keep the forum advised, I'm sure I'll have lots of questions?

I think I'll focus on using a camera and the telescope together, start drawing what I see in the telescope and keeping records of my sessions.

Thanks Dr. Clay. for your wise words and rock solid feedback.