BlueStar Telescope Adapter Setup and Troubleshooting


Driver Installation

  1. Insert the BlueStar Driver Disk. The installer should begin immediately. If it does not, navigate to the root of the CD and choose "Install BlueStar Drivers".

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


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) and that Bluetooth functionality of your computer is available (some laptop computers require that Bluetooth is switched on).

  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. Go to Start Menu->Settings->Control Panel->Bluetooth Devices

  4. 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.

  5. Click on Add. "Add Bluetooth Device Wizard" will open. Check the box "My Device is set up and ready to be found" and click "Next". Your computer will begin to search your local area for Bluetooth devices.

  6. Once that you see "BlueStar" in the list of found devices, click on it and click "Next".

  7. The next window will ask you for a passkey. Select "Let me choose my own passkey" and type "0000" (four zeros) in the text box. Click "Next".

  8. Next screen will notify you that the connection has been made with BlueStar. It will also give you information about Outgoing and Incoming COM ports. NOTE THE NUMBER OF THE OUTGOING COM PORT. You will need it later when connecting Starry Night with BlueStar. Now you can click on the "Finish" button.


USB Mode

  1. Install BlueStar Adapter drivers either from the CD that came with your device or from the Internet download.

  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. Plug the BlueStar adapter into any free USB port on your computer using a standard USB cable.

  4. Windows will ask you to search for the drivers or it will notify you that the drivers are being installed. Accept any default options that Windows presents you when searching for the driver.

    1. If you are using Windows 2003/2000 and you get a message saying “Digital Signature Not Found” please click on “Yes” to proceed with the installation. The driver you are installing works correctly with Windows.

  1. Please repeat steps 4 and 5 if necessary (Windows might prompt you for BlueStar installation twice).

  2. Once the drivers are installed your BlueStar will be available as a device in your Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager or Control Panel/System/Device Manager. The device will be listed as BlueStar Telescope Adapter USB Connection (under USB Controllers) as well as BlueStar Telescope Adapter USB to COM (under Ports). In the name itself you will also see the COM port that the device is using. Make a note of this COM port number since you will need it when configuring your telescope in ASCOM.

  3. If you are running Windows Vista/XP/2003/2000 you can check if the BlueStar device is properly installed by connecting BlueStar through USB and then running "Detect BlueStar USB Connection" from your shortcuts in the Start menu. This way you can also retrieve the COM port number needed by ASCOM. If you wish to run this utility from any other version of Windows please install Microsoft WMI (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/wmisdk/wmi/wmi_start_page.asp).


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: When I connect BlueStar in USB mode nothing happens.

Solution: Perhaps your computer is already configured for BlueStar USB functionality. Please go to step 7 (or 8 if you are running Windows Vista/XP/2003/2000) of Windows USB installation to verify that a connection has been made.


Problem: I cannot find my BlueStar USB Device in the Device Manager.

Solution: Try searching in the Ports group under Device Manager. The device is listenr under the name BlueStar Telescope Adapter USB to COM.


Problem: I cannot install the driver for BlueStar.

Solution: BlueStar driver needs to be installed only for BlueStar USB functionality. If your BlueStar is connected to the computer via USB cable and is still not present in the list of installed devices (or there is a question mark beside its name in the Device Manager) then you need to instruct Windows to look for the device drivers in a specific location. When Windows asks you for the specific location of the device drivers point it to the Drivers directory under your BlueStar installation directory (usually C:\Program Files\BlueStar Adapter).


Problem: Detect BlueStar USB Connection is not working.

Solution: Windows needs a properly functioning Microsoft WMI (Windows Management Instrumentation). If you have Microsoft WMI installed but are still unable to run Detect BlueStar USB Connection properly it is possible that your version of Windows does not support advanced Microsoft WMI functions needed to retrieve necessary information about BlueStar. In that case please obtain your COM number by going to Control Panel->System->Device Manager and looking for BlueStar in the list of your devices.