Tele Vue Sky Tour (SKC-3000) v.1.99 and later with TheSky v.6 - Manual

1
Using the Sky Tour v.1.99 and later
with TheSky v.6
(3/8/2007)
Minimum System Requirements:
Windows 98 or later (XP recommended). See the
Software Bisque website for minimum and recommended
hardware.
If you are running Windows 3.X or MS-DOS-- Upgrade
to at least Windows 98 to run TheSky. Other operating
systems such as Macintosh OS-X, Linux, UNIX etc. are not
supported. If you know of a Windows emulator for any of
these that will run TheSky6, please let us know.
If you bought your computer since approximately the
middle of 2004, it likely does not have a serial port. You
will need to purchase a USB to Serial adapter. This is a
common item in computer stores. The adapter will not
work with any Windows version earlier than Windows 98SE
because of those Windows versions’ lack of USB support.
(The Dynex DX-UBDB9 USB to RS-232 Adapter— Best
Buys’ house brand— is known to work. Let us know if
other brands you try do or do not work.)
You will need to obtain from Software Bisque:
1) TheSky software,
2) Telephone style cable with a 4P4C plug on one
end and a 6P6C plug on the other, and
3) 6P6C to DB9 adapter.
Contact Software Bisque at:
Web: www.bisque.com Mail: Software Bisque
Voice: (800) 843-7599 (US)
912 Twelfth St.
Voice: (303) 278-4478 (Int’l.) Golden, CO 80401
Fax: (303) 278-0045
ONE TIME SETUP
Checking the settings on the Sky Tour:
This setup should only be necessary the first time the Sky
Tour is set up or if its settings have been changed from the
defaults. The Sky Tour computer retains its settings in non-
volatile memory even if the battery is removed for an
extended period.
1) Turn the Sky Tour Computer ON. The Version Number
displayed during the scroll must be at least 1.99 or the Sky
Tour will not link to TheSky. At the end of the scroll, the
display will read “ALIGN MARK”. See the Sky Tour
Operating Guide (Yellow Booklet) page 20 for the setup
procedure.
2) Turn the Sky Tour computer OFF.
Finding an unoccupied COM port on your
computer and setting it up:
This should only need to be done before the first use
of the Sky Tour and TheSky together, or after using the
COM port with another device using different port settings,
or after the use of certain utility programs that reset system
devices back to default settings.
NOTE: If you are using a USB to RS-232 adapter, it
may be necessary to verify which COM port number your
computer’s “Plug & Play” has assigned it each time you
attach the device, or at least each of the first few times.
Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, XP:
These directions are for Windows XP. The other 32-bit
Windows versions all have similar Control Panels and
should work similarly, although the exact sequence of
clicks to reach the Ports (COM & LPT) box differ slightly
from version to version.
NOTE: The most common devices to find attached to a
COM (RS-232 serial) port on a Windows computer are
modems. Mice are also sometimes attached to COM ports
on older computers. If you're lucky, your mouse is on a
PS/2 port and you won't have any conflict there.
Occasionally, and again, usually on older computers, a
printer will be attached to a COM port.
1) Click "Start" on the Taskbar. This will call up a popup
List.
2) Move the pointer over "Settings". This will call up
another popup list.
3) Click "Control Panel". This will call up a Window with a
long list of devices and services on it.
4) Scroll down the list and Double Click on "System".
5) Click on the “Hardware” tab.
6) Click on the "Device Manager" Button. A directory-like
list will appear.
7) Double Click on "Ports (COM & LPT)". You should see
a listing for at least one COM port. COM ports with
modems or mice attached may or may not show up here.
8) Double Click on the listing of the port you want to use.
If you're using a Laptop, there probably is only one COM
Port. Otherwise, you’ll have to choose one. This will bring
up a Dialog Box with several tabbed folders.
9) Click on the “General” tab. Make sure that Windows is
reporting that "This Device is working properly" and that the
"Disable in this hardware profile" box is NOT checked.
10) Click on the "Port Settings" tab and make sure the
settings are:
"Bits per second" 9600
"Data bits":
8
"Parity": None
"Stop Bits": 1
"Flow Control": None.
11) Click on "Advanced". Click on the "Defaults" button
and then the “OK” button.
12) Click on “OK”, “OK”, and then exit “Control Panel”