BlueStar Telescope Adapter Setup and Troubleshooting


Driver Installation

  1. Insert the BlueStar Driver Disk and choose "Install BlueStar Drivers."

  2. Follow the instructions onscreen to install the drivers onto your Mac.

  3. Please restart your machine in order for changes to take effect.


Setup

Bluetooth Mode

As with any Bluetooth Device, the BlueStar adapter must be "paired" with your computer before you can use it to communicate with your telescope.

  1. Ensure that you have installed the BlueStar drivers onto your computer (See "Driver Installation" above for instructions.)

  2. Ensure that BlueStar has not already been paired with another computer. You can clear BlueStar's memory of any such "pairings" by resetting it. (To reset your BlueStar Adapter, simply push the reset button through the small hole on the back of the device using a straightened paper-clip or other long, narrow tool.)

  3. Open "System Preferences" and choose "Bluetooth."

  4. Choose the "Devices" tab and click "Set up new device..." This will open the Mac OS X "Bluetooth Setup Assistant."

  5. Ensure that your BlueStar adapter has functioning batteries, is within range of your computer (about 30 feet) and has its switch in the "ON" position.

  6. When prompted to "Select Device Type" by the Bluetooth Setup Assistant, choose "Any Device" and click "Continue."

  7. Wait a moment for your computer to "discover" your BlueStar adapter. If your computer does not discover your BlueStar adapter after about 2 minutes, return to step 5).

  8. Click the "Passkey Options..." button, choose "Use a specific passkey" then click "OK."

  9. Select the BlueStar adapter from the list of devices and click "Continue."

  10. If you immediately receive a warning that "The pairing attempt was unsuccessful" and the passkey in large bold type is NOT "0000", you did not correctly set the passkey options in the previous step. Click "Go Back" and return to step 8).

  11. Enter "0000" (four zeros) into the passkey field and click "Continue."

  12. Wait a moment. You should receive the message "Congratulations! Your computer is now setup to use your Bluetooth device." If you do, click "Quit" and continue to step 13). If you receive and error message, go back to step 6) and try again. (Note that you DO NOT have to enter the passkey into the BlueStar device. It uses the default passkey "0000.")

    NOTE: If you are successful, you should only have to do steps 1 through 11 ONCE. Once your BlueStar adapter is paired to your computer, you should only have to turn it on/off for your computer to discover and use it again.

  13. Connect your BlueStar adapter to your telescope via the coiled "telephone" (RJ-11) cable provided. Be sure to use the correct cable for your particular telescope type. Not all cables are the same.

  14. Starry Night Users ONLY: Optionally open Starry Night, choose the "Telescope" panel and click "Configure..." Your new BlueStar adapter should be listed in the "Communication Port" popup. Choose the BlueStar adapter, select your telescope type, and click "OK." Click "Connect" and have fun observing!


USB Mode

  1. Ensure that your computer has been restarted once BlueStar drivers have been installed.

  2. Ensure that BlueStar has not already been paired with another computer. You can clear BlueStar's memory of any such "pairings" by resetting it. (To reset your BlueStar Adapter, simply push the reset button through the small hole on the back of the device using a straightened paper-clip or other long, narrow tool.)

  3. Simply plug the BlueStar adapter into any free USB port on your computer using a standard USB cable. (It should now appear in your "Communication Port" in the "Telescope Configuration" dialog in Starry Night, and other applications that support modem and serial port communication.)


TROUBLESHOOTING

Problem: I can't "pair" the BlueStar adapter with my computer.

Solution: Please ensure that BlueStar has not already been "paired" with another computer. You can clear BlueStar's memory of any such "pairings" by resetting it. (To reset your BlueStar Adapter, simply push the reset button through the small hole on the back of the device using a straightened paper-clip or other long, narrow tool.)


Problem: I don't see BlueStar in the list of devices in Bluetooth Setup Assistant.

Solution: Please ensure that BlueStar is within range of bluetooth signal reception (about 30 feet) and that its batteries are not empty (before it is "paired", BlueStar's LED flashes rapidly).


Problem: Once I connect BlueStar I don't see it in the list of devices in my application.

Solution: Please ensure that you have properly installed the driver CD that came with your BlueStar and that you have restarted the computer once the drivers have been installed. In addition, please ensure that your application supports both modem and serial devices (if you are using Starry Night, please update your software version to 5.7 or above).