You can also make a version 1.2tc SD card, but .... you need to be sure to use the FIRMWARE.BIN file with a date of 12/6/2007 and a size of 397 KB.
There is another slightly older 1.2tc FIRMWARE.BIN file that will allow you to make a new SD card but it doesn't work right anymore (if it ever did).
It stalls at the point of doing a GPS fix, or will not let you advance beyond the screen were you do the last part of manually entering the data for dates of 2008 or later.
Also, I tried making a new SD card with a stock size blank 256MB SD card, and a 2GB SD card, and neither worked, so I finally tried with blank 512MB SD card ..... and that worked perfectly.
You need to use the software that came on the disk with the MySky, version 1.0 dated Aug. 2007.
If you have a later version (from Meade's download site) on your computer, it won't work because it has the data files for the 1.3b firmware, so uninstall the Autostar Suite, and load the original software.
After making a few versions 1.2tc cards, you can always update one (or more) of them as back-ups for your 1.3b version, which although does not have the GPS, it does have additional multi-media that some of is (IMO) way more than just 'a little over the top', but I guess it might be cool for kids and public star parties, etc.
So having back-ups for both versions is probably desirable especially in view of Kingston 512BM cards being less than $5 delivered from Amazon.
You will find a FIRMWARE.BIN file in:
C:\Program Files\Meade\AstroWare\Updater\MySky.
Do not use the updater from any other location/folder than this!
Now, we have a problem.This is the 'wrong' FIRMWARE.BIN file for dates later than 2007, so only the accompanying folder with all the data files will be used.
You 'must' copy the proper 1.2tc FIRMWARE.BIN (12/6/2007 and a size of 397 KB) to this folder which will over-write the existing file, and allow you to install it and the data files.
After you overwrite the exististing FIRMWARE.BIN file with the proper one, place a blank SD card in your PC's card reader, double click on the (now correct) FIRMWARE.BIN file and a window will pop up.
You will refresh the list, highlight the SD card drive, and click "Update MySky SD card".
The program will run and seem to get stuck as it progresses towards the end, but it isn't stuck.
Just let it keep going until it instructs you to remove and reinsert the SD card.
Do that but after you reinstall the SD card wait for ~15 seconds or so to be sure the drive had been recognized by your PC, 'before' you click OK.
If you click too soon the verify process will fail.
Once you have the programming complete, you will have a new SD card with version 1.2tc that will make your non-GPS version MySky Plus a regular GPS version, and you can switch back and forth by simply swapping the 1,2tc and 1.3b SD cards.
The biggest issue is obtaining the proper 1.2tc firmware.
The one that is on the Yahoo list is the one that freezes up, and I could not get it to work, so I copied the FIRMWARE.BIN file from my older GPS MySky to the above folder, to obtain it.
So .... if you can't find it on the web, then it's time to buy a fellow "MySky GPS owner" a cup of coffee and a donut. ;-)
I'd post the proper file but I don't see a way to do that here, and I 'think' that's a violation. (?)
Finally, it should be understood that the GPS version of the Meade MySky will not actually use your exact location.
It does locate where you are, but then it uses that information to automatically select a location in it's data base that is the closest to your GPS location.
That can still be very valuable (if not exact) in situations that you are in an unfamiliar location and don't know what listed location is best to use.
Also ..... the multi-media presentations in the older non-GPS version are less like a ........ full blown "George Lucas production" ...... and won't embarrass you if you use a speaker with your MySky when you select a planet.
Best regards,
Gary
