Meade Autostar updates

Hi,

There are software updates out for the Meade Autostars (#497 and AutostarII for the lx200).

for the #497 the release is 30Eb including
Added serial commands to work with AutoStar Suite.
Improved Motor Fault checking.
Allowed higher elevation stars in Easy Polar alignment.
Fixed some data base errors.
A user on the lxd55 list reports that the scope also tracks during `easy polar alignment` now also.

Changes to the LX200 (release 1.6b) are:
Automatic Alignment changed to no longer point to true north.
Improved Automatic Alignment pointing.
Each alignment using Automatic will refine offsets for that site.
Temperature reading when it becomes stable (will appear in Utilities when ready)
Fixed backlash in Polar for Guide speed.
If cant find GPS, user asked to select site.
Remembers changes to Guiding Rate after power off.
Can select GPS at start-up or when needed.
Can turn off Beep (in Utilities).

Downloadble from www.meade.com/support/auto.html

Cheers,
~Al

Changes to the LX200 (release 1.6b) are:
Automatic Alignment changed to no longer point to true north.
Improved Automatic Alignment pointing.
Each alignment using Automatic will refine offsets for that site.
Temperature reading when it becomes stable (will appear in Utilities when ready)
Fixed backlash in Polar for Guide speed.
If cant find GPS, user asked to select site.
Remembers changes to Guiding Rate after power off.
Can select GPS at start-up or when needed.
Can turn off Beep (in Utilities).

Downloadble from www.meade.com/support/auto.html

Hmmm ... that looks very interesting .... aligning the LX200 is really annoying with all that pointing to true north crap!

Has anyone any experience with upgrading the LX200? Is is difficulat and are there any pitfalls to watch out for?

Thanks,

Bart.