Meade #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit for ETX-70AT and DS-2000 Series...

Meade #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit for ETX-70AT and DS-2000 Series Telescopes. | outdated software

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	Meade #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit for ETX-70AT and DS-2000 Series Telescopes. Meade Meade average customer review:based on 2 reviews view larger image
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The Meade #506 AstroFinder Software and Cable Connector Kit allows for Downloading of new Software to Autostar or for updating of Earth Satellite and other Celestial Object positions. With Meade AstroFinder Software loaded into your PC, Autostar-equipped ETX Telescopes may be Remotely Controlled from the PC Display. < The Software CD ROM displays over 10,000 Astronomical Objects including Galaxies, Nebulae, Star Clusters, Stars, & Planets on your PC Monitor (Windows ONLY, Second Party Software available for Mac.). This enables even the beginner to locate & identify objects to observe with the telescope, as well as print out Star Charts for use in observing sessions. Establish alignment, and simply point & click on any point on the sky map showing on your computer monitor, & the Telescope will Slew & Stop, showing that area in your Eyepiece. The cable included connects from a Serial Port to a Phone Type RS 232 Jack. PC's with only USB ports (PC's without RS-232 ports) require the computer accessory USB/RS-232 Adapter as well. This Kit is for ETX-70AT and DS-2000 Series ONLY

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basics OK - could be better

The manual is well-written, complete, and easy to understand, and the software functions reasonably well. Accuracy is spot on. I had no problems syncing my DS2080 and the display on my laptop was what I saw through the eyepiece. There's a longer lag than I expected for the software to catch up to any adjustments made to the scope, but once I got used to it it wasn't too annoying. I could not get the "remote handbox" feature to work after several tries. This should allow you to use all of the features of the handbox directly from the laptop. Not a huge deal, but I was looking forward to being able to read object descriptions as blocks of text on my laptop, rather than annoying scroll on the 1-line display of the handbox. It would be nice to have a printable (or at least viewable) Tour and Log. You can add objects to create a Tour offline, but I could find no way to access the list or edit it. Ditto for the Viewing log. The "night vision" display (converts your screen display to red) is a nice plus.

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outdated software

The software this kit comes with is old and outdated. It is not supported by Windows XP nor Windows Vista. The latest supported version of Windows is Windows 98.
It also appears that the included software is a limited trial software. It is limited to the included 3 catalogs (star maps). The complete set of catalogs must be purchased additionally at quite some expense.
The cable connection kit couldn't be reviewed because it was missing from the package I received, but keep in mind when you order this kit, that neither Windows XP nor Windows Vista support serial ports anymore. The additional USB to serial adapter would be required.

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