|
bwskyward
super member
Reged: 05/30/05
Posts: 124
Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.
|
|
Ok, here is the readers digest version of a failed update of my RCX to version 4.1. My RCX had a difficult time finding a com port from my lap top and 3 other high end lap top's. Still can't figure that out. When it did finally connect, the download "STOPED" half the way through and a "ERROR" message, that had no meaning what so ever, appeared on my lap top. The message then told me to "POWER OFF" the "AUTOSTAR". After powering off the telescope and powering it back up, the hand box proudly displayed "MEADE 2005" and was dead. All attempts to revive the thelscope with the "secret 999" stuff did not work, maybe it was just "my" error. The RCX spent a week at MEADE and is now working fine. MEADE would not tell me what was wrong (how curious). Anyway, be careful doing this download to your RCX.
BWskyward
--------------------
BWskyward
Los Angeles, Ca.
------------------
Meade RCX 400 12"
Celestron CPC 1100 xlt
Meade LX 200 10" Classic
Celestron CPC 800
Celestron C-8 8" (Black Tube)
Meade Model 320 80mm Refractor
|
bluesman
sage
Reged: 01/14/05
Posts: 211
Loc: N Yorkshire. UK
|
|
Sorry to hear that Robert, glad it all worked out fine. Why is it that the firmware updating is so problematical with meade scopes? I have a 12gps running 2.0i and everything is OK. I would probably have updated a while back but have been worried due to the number of problems folk have had. If it ain't broke as they say. I read a post recently that said the scope had to have a board replaced after an update procedure. This is software, what gives here?
Ed
|
rdjamieson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/09/04
Posts: 1025
Loc: Wisconsin
|
|
My scope is going to ride its starter firmware from cradle to grave. I am not gonna deal with that stuff. My sympathies.
Ray
--------------------
Ray Jamieson
RCX400 14" on Scopebuggy
Burgess 127mm
|
Grizz
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 2176
Loc: Waldwick,New Jersey USA
|
|
I have read the horror stories some folks have with up dating the firmware. I have never had a problem? I have upgraded every version from 1.2b to 3.0i without any problems. I have also updated my ETX with every revision since 96' without incident
One thing I do is make sure the computer is not used for anything else while upgrading, no web surfing, email reading...nuttin' I also make sure my screen saver is disabled and that the computer does not go into sleep mode during the process.
Its not been a hassle at all for me....but thats just me. 
BWskyward what version of the ASU updater are you using?
--------------------
Craig
LX200GPS 10" UHTC SMT
ETX90EC
Orion ED80 APO
Meade LPI Canon 10d Meade DSI
My Photo Gallery
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
Quote:
Its not been a hassle at all for me....but thats just me.
Hi, Craig.
I've not experienced any problems either with an indeterminate number of Autostar & Autostar II-equipped telescopes over the years.
I'm puzzled, though - is there really an update for the RCX already?
--------------------
John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
|
Grizz
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 2176
Loc: Waldwick,New Jersey USA
|
|
John,
I looked quickly on the Meade site and I did not see anything on the update page referring to the RCX400 firmware? So I'm not sure what was being updated ????
--------------------
Craig
LX200GPS 10" UHTC SMT
ETX90EC
Orion ED80 APO
Meade LPI Canon 10d Meade DSI
My Photo Gallery
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
Quote:
John,
I looked quickly on the Meade site and I did not see anything on the update page referring to the RCX400 firmware? So I'm not sure what was being updated ????
Hi, Craig.
I fired off the Autostar Updater and it found no new RCX firmware available to download. I wonder if someone tried to download firmware intended for some other telescope into an RCX? That'd make a mess.
--------------------
John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
|
NJ Night Sky
Reged: 03/25/04
Posts: 833
Loc: Hillsborough, NJ
|
|
Ouch 
--------------------
Jim
NJ Night Sky- J&T Telescope - MicroStock Photography - Shop4Scopes
|
bwskyward
super member
Reged: 05/30/05
Posts: 124
Loc: Los Angeles, Ca.
|
|
Hi gang, like I said, I'm not sure I didn't goof but, Meade's web site, under customer support and downloads for Autostar ASU updates, version 4.1 dated 6/13/05, clearly states it is compatible with RCX 400 telescopes. Even given it was my fault, Meade requested I bring the telescope back to them because together we could not jump start the telescope. The scary thing was, my partner from work is one of Microsoft's chosen few, and even with his help, we could not get things going. I must add, Meade has always treated me very well over the years, and I have no complaints in regards to their support and/or service. I actually felt very good about Meade checking out the telescope, then I know, my fault or not, the telescope has been properly serviced. I'm lucky because I am only about 30 minutes from Meade. I believe I will not fiddle with this type of update again, unless it is positively necessary. I have successfully downloaded other data with no problems. Thanks to all of you for your support and insite. This is what makes this hobby, and this forum, so great.
BWskyward. 
--------------------
BWskyward
Los Angeles, Ca.
------------------
Meade RCX 400 12"
Celestron CPC 1100 xlt
Meade LX 200 10" Classic
Celestron CPC 800
Celestron C-8 8" (Black Tube)
Meade Model 320 80mm Refractor
|
jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 30716
Loc: NE Ohio
|
|
Quote:
Hi gang, like I said, I'm not sure I didn't goof but, Meade's web site, under customer support and downloads for Autostar ASU updates, version 4.1 dated 6/13/05, clearly states it is compatible with RCX 400 telescopes.
Sure, 4.1 is the latest version of the Autostar Updater. It can't be used at this time to update RCX firmware, though, because there isn't any available.
You should be able to use it to edit the object lists, but that's about it until new firmware is issued.
--------------------
John C
Battle Cry of Reno
http://www.wadsworthobservatory.com
My Cloudy Nights gallery
AT12RC
AT65EDQ
QSI683WSG-8
Roper Scientific Quantix 6303E "project" camera
mystery EQ mount on the way
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Well, in my experience in IT I think I can say with fair confidence what these "horror" stories are from. Most people, at least these days are probably using a USB port to connect via a serial adapter. Those themselves are notoriously cheap and also literally "convert" the signals. Now, if your transmission or "baud rate" doesn't match what the scope wants or if it varies during the upgrade, you can have problems. I haven't seen anything yet from Meade that says what speed you should use. In the Autostar Upgrade program (I believe) I saw something that said if you have problems set the speed to 9600 or something like that. This is slow, which indicates that the data isn't processed in the scope at a very high speed and/or their component which handles this may vary from scope to scope (probably due to supply and cost concerns). Regardless, unshielded RJ-11 cables themselves are prone to interference which causes issues. It's like the old modem bulletin board days where static in the phone line would cause your computer and connection to "hang." Same thing happening with the scope. I updated mine with no problem but although I had selected the highest speed, it seemed that it defaulted down to 9600 and took FOREVER. Anyway, I'm going to check this out as I go along. Maybe I'll be able to come up with something useful and good.
|
Grizz
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/24/03
Posts: 2176
Loc: Waldwick,New Jersey USA
|
|
I have allways used 57,600 as the baud rate. I also use a USB/Serial adapter with no problems.
The newest ASU updater program is 4.2. The meade website says 4.1 but they had a problem with 4.1 and within a day or so updated it to 4.2 Open the ASU and click Help>About ASU... to see if your using 4.2. If not download the newer version.
Like John said there is no new firmware to install as of yet.
--------------------
Craig
LX200GPS 10" UHTC SMT
ETX90EC
Orion ED80 APO
Meade LPI Canon 10d Meade DSI
My Photo Gallery
|
|
0 registered and 8 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Joad
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 776
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
