This can mean one of four things:

1. You have not chosen the correct COM port. You can change the COM port by choosing "Configure Connection" from the Telescope Pane and pressing the "Properties" button.
2. Another application is commanding the serial port. The most common culprit is the Palm HotSync application.
3. The telescope cable is defective.
4. The computer's serial port is defective. We have received reports from several users that Dell laptop serial ports do not function properly, giving a voltage output far lower than other models. If this appears to be the problem, you can try connecting to the telescope using the computer's USB port. You will need to purchase an adapter which converts your computer's USB port to a serial port. Most computer stores will sell these adapters, and you can also purchase one from a vendor such as keyspan.com.

Please note: You must do your star alignment in the telescope before pressing the Connect button in the Telescope pane. Otherwise, Starry Night will not know where your telescope is pointing and will give you a "There doesn't appear to be anything connected to your COM port" error message.