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Am told Meade telecope is not supported. How To Align Meade LX90 + Autostar 497 + AutoFi Audiostar WiFi adapter?

Purchases through GooglePlay 28 Oct 2020

Meade LX90 fitted with AutoFi - MEADE Autostar 497, Audiostar WiFi adapter

https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/312883407171?ul_noapp=true

After connecting wifi to telescope adapter  and then moving scope with WiFi  box on 497 handset through SkySafari 6 Pus to mars and pressing on mars then align. This  reports  alignment  and beep on handset, but if you then press 'goto' on mars the telescope slews elsewhere  or reports  it's below horizon. Lock  also takes control of telescope  off target slewing it elsewhere. 

The help  screen suggests  the scope is not aligned  . However unlike Celestion there  is no button to autoalign through  handset of Meade like Celestion.  Can I help? Galaxy smartphone.

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9 comments

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    Martinnewbold Mn

    Here is a picture of what happens whe you goto mars which was previously aligned

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    Martinnewbold Mn

    It should also be noted that there does not seem to be any limits on Alt-Az or Alt-Rz  ie RA and DEC to ALT and AZ for cable twisting or camer a mounts on SCT bumping bottom of forkes. 

  • -1
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    Keiron Smith

    You must star-align with your hand controller before connecting with SkySafari.

    ### From the product webpage ###

    AutoFi is a wireless adapter for telescope control systems such as Meade ETX, LX90, LXD. Compatible with any telescope controlled by AutoStar telescope control system.

    It can be used for a rapid telescope targeting with help of mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. It works with the SkySafari, Orion StarSeek 4 4.4.4 application for mobile devices.

    To use the adapter on a PC, you must create a TCP-COM port bridge.

    HW Virtual Serial Port software creates a TCP-COM bridge allow Windows based astronomical aplications comunicate throught WIFi moduls.

    Important: No external power supply or batteries required to power up this bluetooth adapter!

    Getting started:

    1. Connect AutoFi WiFi adapter to RS-232 serial port on the hand controller and to AUX port on the mount (before turning on the power of the telescope);
    2. Turn on the telescope. Spend a standard setting procedure recommended by the manufacturer of the telescope, namely enter into the remote location coordinates of observation, the current time and make alignment the telescope at the stars. Then turn on your mobile device Wi-Fi mode and connect to the access point with SSID – «AutoFi». If device asks for a password during the connection – enter «12345678» and press «OK».

    Example of telescope configuration and management with use of SkySafari software:

    1. Download and install the software. In the main menu, go to «Settings»;
    2. Scroll down to «Telescope» section and click on «Setup»;
    3. Select the type of equipment used «Scope Type – Meade ***» and type of the mount, depends of your setup «Mount Type – Equatorial Goto (German)» or «Alt-Az. GoTo». In «Communication Settings» section select the wireless connection type – «Connect via WiFi»;
    4. In «IP address» field, enter the IP address that indicated on your AutoFi WiFi adapter – «192.168.2.x»;
    5. In «Port» field, enter – «1234»;
    6. Return to the main menu and press «Connect».

    If done correctly, you will hear a pleasant sound and the screen will display a crosshair with concentric circles which indicates the direction of the telescope viewing. On each side there will be the buttons that allow you to move the telescope along the axes of the mount.

    You can direct the telescope at the objects by using a SkySafari objects database now. In order to do this use search – «Search»button, select an object from the list and press «GoTo» button. It is also possible to direct the telescope at an object on the screen. You need to click on it first and press «GoTo» after. For more details about how to use all features of the SkySafari software please visit SkySafari official website.

    ATTENTION: in some mounts MEADE LX65 and MEADE LX85 in the AUX connector, the polarity of the 12V contacts is reversed. For the adapter to work in this case, an AUX polarity converter is required.

    Please check this and if the polarity is reversed in your mount, write to us about it – we will provide you with a polarity converter.

    https://astro-gadget.net/gadgets/wifi-adapters/autofi

  • 0
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    Martinnewbold Mn

    Um Thanks Keiron Smith but I bought all this as I could not afford the postage from America for my new #497 screen being $189 or thereabouts for a $20 item seems Trump doesnt want to sell to UK ?. I saw your app supported training and in fact it trains Celestion, why not Meade? I have it connecting but this drops out occasionally and the Align button does not seem to do much . I expected it to align to the object selected on screen and the lock to lock the object in view niether did this as you pointed out as scope was not aligned. Why is Meade telecopes being missed out ?Do I have to upgrade to next software to get this functionality ? 

  • 0
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    Martinnewbold Mn

    Thanks Keiron Smith but , I am sure you could Send GPS posion to the scope from the App and ask for meade Telecope  to be put North and tube in plane as the old GPS for the scope did to align then press align?

    Martin is this in the next version.

  • 0
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    Martinnewbold Mn

    Thanks Keiron Smith but In addition I tried creating a bridge connector for Auto Star Suite with what they recomended HW Virtual Serial Port but also this connected Wifi to AutoFi - MEADE Autostar 497, Audiostar WiFi adapter but when I tried  Auto Star Suite it connected then gave connection errors I am unsure why . I could have used this Auto Star Suite to train telecope but I am left with SkySafari and am in your hands I run the Hastings Astonomy Group so would be grateful of your assistance to know if you can send GPR or GPS data to the telecope?

    On your point of connectivity from SkySafari 6 plus it connects and drives the telecopes motors correctly . I am just without and lock or align. 

  • -1
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    Keiron Smith

    Martinne,

    Settings > Scope Setup > Common Settings > Set Time & Location

    SkySafari is the official hand controller for Celestron Evolution telescopes.  So, SkySafari offers special alignment procedures for Celestron WiFi connected scopes.

    Sorry, Meade is not going to get the same special alignment procedures.

    But, you can still use SkySafari successfully with Meade scopes, just like everyone else has done for many, many, years.

    Read the Meade manual.  Learn to align your scope properly before connecting with SkySafari.  Watch YouTube videos - many are helpful.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zoUP9sQt3M

    Thanks!

  • 0
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    Martinnewbold Mn

    Oh Keiron  I wasted my money on this product then SkySafari 6 Plus  !

    As it does not support Meade properly Please read my posts or do you need new glasses I said earlier I have a faulty broken screen in my 497 they want $189 thereabouts to ship it to UK from thier website which is rediculous .  It functions otherwise. Reading Meade manual is then not going to help  niether is watching you tube manuals I will tell my groups not to waste thier money on this product then! As you cannot be bothered to make it do what it can do with Celestion , thank's for the fish . I will also ask for a refund from Google if you continue to be unhelpul. I just do not know why its so hard to sent GPR or GPS from phone tablet to Wifi on telecope.

     

    Thanks

    Martin

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Celestron has paid for the development costs associated with their special WiFi alignment operations.  That is why Celestron WiFi is supported in that special way.

    SkySafari + SkyFi 3 works perfectly with all Meade telescopes when the Meade mount is aligned via the hand controller first.

    This is also how SkySafari works with almost every other mount on the market.

    I don't understand why you are getting so upset.  Meade is supported fully, as it always has been.  

    If your Meade hand controller is broken then you need to get another one.

    Sorry.

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