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Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I add a GPS to my telescope?
What version of the NexStar hand control firmware do I
need?
What version of the Autostar or Audiostar software do I need?
How does StarGPS-NX compare to StarGPS?
How does StarGPS-NX work?
How does StarGPS work?
What is the warranty?
Does the GPS Setup align the
telescope to polar north?
Will StarGPS work in the Southern Hemisphere?
How accurate is the latitude and
longitude setting?
How accurate is the time setting?
Can I use StarPatch with more than one Autostar or Audiostar?
Can I install StarPatch on more than one PC?
What happens when Meade releases a new
version of the handset software?
Can I use both StarPatch and the Meade ASU?
If I purchase StarPatch can you
e-mail me the registration key?
Will StarGPS work with just my telescope
and handset, or will it have to use a computer?
I already own a handheld GPS. What
additional software and cables do I need?
Why should I add a GPS to my telescope?
Adding a GPS makes the telescope setup
easier and more precise. It ensures that the correct date, time, latitude
and longitude are automatically input based on the Global
Positioning System. This is a great convenience as demonstrated by the
StarGPS reviews and customer comments. This is
why Meade already includes GPS with their high-end telescopes.
What version of the NexStar hand control
firmware do I need?
StarGPS-NX will work with any NexStar hand control that has firmware version 2.3, 104.0 or 4.0+ as displayed by using MENU:
Utilities: Version (this includes all user-upgradeable hand controls).
What version of the Autostar
or Audiostar software do I need?
StarGPS-NX will work
with any version except as listed in Note
#1, but this is easily
corrected by updating your handset using the free trial version of StarPatch. The latest software versions are listed in downloads.
How does StarGPS-NX compare to
StarGPS?
Please refer to the comparison page. StarGPS-NX
includes the GPS-NX01 receiver and one adapter cable (no software installation
required). The StarGPS Package adds StarPatch software and a PC-ASTAR cable for
use with any Autostar 495/497/497EP or Audiostar controlled telescope. This gets you all the
features of StarPatch such as allowing the handset to display GPS status
information, but it does require a Windows PC to reprogram the handset using
StarPatch.
How does StarGPS-NX work?
StarGPS-NX is designed for use with Celestron, Meade and other GoTo controlled telescopes that understand
the Celestron NexStar Communications Protocol, Meade LX200 commands, Synta
Binary data or NMEA 0183 data. The included
GPS-NX01 receiver automatically determines the telescope type and then sends NexStar,
LX200, Synta or NMEA data directly to your
telescope to set the date, time, latitude and longitude. Setup is simplified because the telescope already understands these
commands and requires no additional software.
How does StarGPS work?
StarGPS works by using the included StarPatch
software to update your Autostar 495/497/497EP or Audiostar handset so that it understands GPS
NMEA data. StarPatch does this by adding several small changes (called
"patches") to the handset software. The process is simple,
safe, fast and reliable. The GPS Setup patch has no effect on normal
operation except to set the date, time, latitude and longitude using GPS
data. The added benefits of using StarPatch are listed in the comparison
table.
What is the warranty?
There is a one year parts and labor
warranty on the GPS-NX01 receiver and accessories. The StarPatch
software license indicates "as is" but free updates are provided.
Does the GPS Setup align the
telescope to polar north?
No, it just sets the date, time, latitude
and longitude. Telescopes like the LX200GPS use an electronic compass to
point North. The ETX-PE and LX90-LNT now include this "Level North
Technology" but still lack the built-in GPS capability of
high-end telescopes.
Will StarGPS work in the Southern Hemisphere?
Yes, it has been tested
and works for all North/South by East/West combinations.
How accurate is the latitude and
longitude setting?
StarGPS-NX outputs the lat/long in degrees, minutes and seconds (rounding
to the nearest second). If the telescope controller does not support
seconds then it rounds to the nearest minute.
How accurate is the time setting?
The time is accurate to within one second.
The GPS receiver calculates the time in seconds measured to 3 decimal places
(accurate to within 0.001 seconds). StarGPS-NX rounds the
time to the nearest second (a limitation of the NexStar and LX200 command
sets). With StarPatch the GPS Setup patch will recognize
up to 3 decimal places but some of this accuracy is lost due to the delay
in transmitting data from the GPS to the Autostar.
Can I use StarPatch with more than one Autostar or Audiostar?
Yes, but to install the GPS Setup patch you
need one registration key for each handset. The StarPatch software is
free to download as a trial version, see www.stargps.ca/starpatch.htm. A StarPatch registration key converts the trial version to a registered version and allows you to GPS-enable one handset. Additional
handset registration keys allow you to install the GPS Setup patch to a
second or third handset (StarPatch will allow up to 2 extra handset keys per StarPatch registration key).
In contrast, StarGPS-NX requires no software so it can be used with as
many handsets as you wish.
Can I install StarPatch on more than one PC?
Yes, StarPatch can be installed on more
than one PC but this is not recommended (the license is for a single PC).
The StarPatch registration key can be used 3 times before it needs to
be reset. The first installation allows you to register one handset for
use with the GPS Setup patch. You can re-install StarPatch at any time
(for example, if you buy a new PC).
What happens when Meade releases a new
version of the Autostar or Audiostar software?
Meade generally releases a new version (a
ROM file) every 6 months or so. You don't necessarily need to update your
handset but many people prefer to use the latest ROM, which often has
some minor improvements. Each new ROM requires a new patch file for
StarPatch (since each ROM is different). It usually takes 1-2 weeks to
create a patch file once Meade releases a new version. Registered users
will be notified by e-mail when an update is available. You can also use
the "File: Get Updates" menu to ask StarPatch to check for and
download the latest patch and ROM files. StarGPS-NX does not require you
to update the handset software unless you have a version with known Meade
bugs (see Note #1).
Can I use both StarPatch and the Meade
ASU?
Yes, but you should use StarPatch to update
the handset software so it can include features like the GPS Setup patch
along with the regular Meade software. If you use the Meade
ASU to update the Autostar software it will be reset to a regular
Meade version (no GPS Setup patch). You can use the Meade ASU
"Advanced Functions" to move Library
Objects to and from the handset (e.g. satellites, comets and tours) since this
has no effect on the handset software.
If I purchase StarPatch
can you
e-mail me the registration key?
Yes, registration keys are e-mailed as soon as
your order is processed (this is done manually).
Will StarGPS work with just my telescope
and handset, or will it have to use a computer?
A Windows PC with a serial port is required
to update the software inside the Autostar 495/497/497EP or Audiostar handset. Once this is done, the PC is no longer
needed. Please refer to the "User Manual"
for details. It's also worth noting that StarGPS-NX does not require a PC (except for Note #1).
I already own a handheld GPS. What
additional software and cables do I need?
You will need a StarPatch registration key, a PC-ASTAR cable (or Meade #505), and a cable to connect
your GPS to the Autostar 495/497/497EP or Audiostar handset. See "Using
a Handheld GPS Receiver".
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