I have an 8" LX-200 GPS and a DSI. I can control the scope with autostar suite via the star chart. In other words, if I click on an object and select "slew to object", the scope responds as it should. However, if I am in the imaging window with the DSI hooked up, and I pull down the "Telescope" tab to set up the guider, it gives me an error message stating that it could not locate Com1......

What am I doing wrong?????

Do you still have the AutoStarSuite sly charts hooked up to the telescope when you are trying to connect inside the DSI application?  The com port can only be accessed by one application at a time.  If you want to use multiple programs for the com port, you should do the following.

1. First make sure all programs are disconnected from the com port
2. In AutoStarSuite click the Telescope / Communications / Start Network Server menu item as seen below
   
3. The following dialog will appear, fill it out as seen below (enter your correct comport number if it sin't 1), click the "Listen" check box
   
4. Click Telescope / Protocol / AutoStar via Network
5. Fill in the fields as seen below and click connect (127.0.0.1 is the international default for all PCs)
   
6. Now the star map will work thru the network serverwith your telescope.
7. Next, we need to set up the DSI application
8. Under the Telescope tab, enter 127.0.0.1, this will connect to the com port via the network server.
   
9. You should be all set now with both applications connected to the com port

Let me know if you are still having any issues.

---

Stephen P. Hamilton
AutoStarSuite.Net Owner/Moderator
http://www.HamiltonAstronomy.com
King George Observatory
38° 21' 26" , -77° 03' 04"
Photos: My Photo Gallery

Thanks for the rapid response Steve. Unfortunately the clouds have rolled in and it may be several nights before I have a chance to put it to work. I was so upset with Meade because before I purchased my DSI, I called them and asked if they had anything better in the works thinking that it wouldn't be hard to upgrade the DSI. They said "no", I bought the DSI, and a month later they announced the DSI Pro. When I was able to download the upgrade to the Autostar Suite with drizzle, I was a bit mollified.

 

Anyway, I printed out your VERY nice pdf files on using drizzle, and am now anxious to give it a try. Thanks for your time and effort in bringing some clarity to those of us in the Meade community. They have a good line of products, but they don't offer much in the way of support.

Thanks again!!!