• Free Autoguider Activation
• How to Upgrade Your Star Book Hand Controller
• Sphinx STAR BOOK Upgrade Summaries and Links

How to Upgrade Your Star Book Hand Controller

The latest firmware upgrades, warnings, troubleshooting, and instructions are on the international Vixen Japan website. What follows here are additional notes, clarifications, and troubleshooting tips. It is worth browsing through the topics below before continuing to the Vixen Japan website. If anything below contradicts the Vixen Japan site, follow the instructions on the Vixen Japan site.

1. Click this link: How to Update your STAR BOOK (located on Vixen Japan website) and read the entire directions before connecting the hardware. The following notes refer to Star Book upgrade pages on the Vixen Japan website.
   • Be aware that there are multiple version of the hand controller (STAR BOOK, Type-S, and TEN) for multiple mounts (GP, AXD, SKYPOD, etc.). You want the STAR BOOK updates for SX/SXD.
   • Major upgrades can cause reset of user entered data. So be ready to re-enter location, time, sound volume, LCD brightness, etc. after an update.
   • Pay  particular attention to the Requirements section.
   • These directions contain generic instructions that should work in most cases. These are followed by operating system specific instructions.
   • If updating Star Book by connecting it through a corporate LAN hub or switch, check with IT personnel to ensure this will not cause an IP address conflict.
   • Download firmware upgrades to local machine storage. When your PC is connected to the STAR BOOK you will not have access to LAN drives.
2. This info box has sources of RJ-45/LAN crossover cables. These are used for direct PC-STAR BOOK connections to enable installation of firmware upgrades and communications with planetarium programs.

   Sources of  RJ-45/LAN Crossover Cables

   Brand Product # Description Radio Shack 278-2011 10-Ft. (3m) Cat 5E Crossover Cable Belkin A3X126-03-YLW-M RJ45 CAT 5e UTP Crossover Cable - 3 feet

   The RJ-45 crossover cable should be clearly labeled (red oval).

3. If you have a problem connecting your computer to the STAR BOOK after following the How to Update your STAR BOOK instructions, try the following:
   • If you are unsure that the STAR BOOK is communicating with your computer, open a web browser and type in the IP address of the STAR BOOK (from the About STAR BOOK screen, usually: http://169.254.1.1). You should see a page served up by the STAR BOOK with the current firmware version indicated. Do not try to load the update using this page.
   • If the above is unsuccessful, try using a fixed IP address on your computer. Find the TCP/IP properties dialog on your computer (as described in the Update instructions). See the screen shots below to identify this dialog. The basic procedure is set the IP address so it differs from the STAR BOOK in the last segment and the subnet mask to be the same as the STAR BOOK. Then click the OK button to save the changes. Older versions of Windows may need to reboot for the settings to take affect. After a minute, try communicating with the STAR BOOK with your web browser as described above. If you get a connection, execute the firmware update you downloaded. Read below for operating-system specific information and the post-update steps to reset your TCP/IP connection.
     • Most computers connect to the Internet and/or LAN with the Obtain an IP address automatically radio button selected. In this case, select the Use the following IP address radio button and enter the IP/subnet numbers as described above. After doing the update, reset the radio button for automatic IP address. 
     • If the TCP/IP dialog indicates your computer already uses a fixed IP address, write down all the settings -- you'll need to put things back if you accidentally delete/change them. Where to input the IP/subnet numbers depends on your operating system:
       • Windows XP/2000 can handle multiple fixed IP/subnet address combinations. Select the Advanced... button and then the Add button on the IP Settings tab. (See animated screenshot below.) Enter the IP/subnet numbers, hit the OK buttons to save changes and exit the dialogs and then do the update. You should not have to delete or rest this dialog when done with the update.
       • Older versions of Windows can handle a single IP/subnet address combination. Therefore you'll  temporarily overwrite the existing IP address and subnet mask information for the update and then switch it back when done. (See Windows 98 screenshot).

     The figures below demonstrates the use of a fixed IP address in Windows XP's Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties dialog box and Windows 98 TCP/IP Properties dialog box. Other versions of Windows have similar dialog boxes.    Windows XP/2000 Fixed IP Address In this example, the computer is assigned an IP address of 169.254.1.20 (this must differ from the STAR BOOK IP address) and a Subnet mask of 255.255.0.0 (thus must be the same as the STAR BOOK). You must be able to play animations in web pages (In MS Internet Explorer: Tools / Internet Options / Advanced (tab) / Multimedia (category)). Windows 98 Fixed IP Address It is important to note down all information in this dialog box prior to modification.  This will make it easier to reset the dialog in case you accidentally delete/modify setting required for Internet/LAN access.

   • Some users have reported error messages at the end of the update procedure. In this case, power the STAR BOOK on and off and check the About STAR BOOK screen to see if the firmware updated to the new version.

SPHINX STAR BOOK Upgrade Summaries and Links

Vixen Japan has the latest Star Book firmware upgrades available on their website. Download and install the latest firmware version to get all the features from previous updates. The most recent updates from Vixen Japan require the Sphinx mount to have the latest version of the motor control board installed. You can detect what motor board your mount has by navigating into the "About STAR BOOK" screen on the Configuration (startup) or System screens. If a model number beginning with "S" appears in the upper right-hand corner (Example: S2a7), you can use all the features of the latest upgrade. If you see no model number then you likely have the old board.

See About STAR BOOK screen in the System or Configuration menus
to determine the current upgrade version number of your STAR BOOK and check the SPHINX motor board version.

The update descriptions listed below are for historic reference and not available for downloading here. As your printed manual may be out of date, scroll to the Update History heading on the Vixen Japan site and read about the features introduced with each upgrade. That section is full of PDF downloads, explaining each feature upgrade, that you can print and keep with your manual.

Ver.1.2 Build 40: Pluto & Pointing

Pluto is now listed as a dwarf planet and pointing accuracy on Goto has been increased.

Ver.1.2 Build 35: PEC

Highlights include: Periodic Error Correction (PEC) recording for long-exposure imaging, your favorite comet (or any solar orbiting object) orbital elements can be input though your web browser and control over the display of stellar/Messier names. Many other improvements are also here.

Ver.1.2 Build 31: Motor Speed Indicator

Now the SPHINX can be positioned into the initial (home) position using variable motor speeds and motor speed indicator (labeled "MT"). Problems adjusting the LCD and Polar Axis brightness in languages other than English, Spanish and Japanese have been resolved.

Ver.1.2 Build 29: Free Autoguider / Backlash Upgrade

This update eliminates the need to input a KeyCode to use the autoguider and backlash compensation functions. It also features an indicator (labeled "MT") for the screen zoom level and motor speed.

Ver.1.2 Build 28: Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3, Goto Confirm and Home Position Return

This update charts each of the three brightest fragments of comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 individually. Star Book can "goto" the individual fragments. The new Goto Confirm feature prevents accidental gotos and allows you to return to Scope-mode from anywhere in Chart-mode without moving the scope. The Home Position resets the mount to the initial power-up position.

Ver.1.2 Build 27: Comet 9P/Tempel 1,  Spanish Language and More Stars Upgrade Note

This upgrade will display and allow you to "goto" comet 9P/Tempel 1 — the July 4, 2005 impact target for NASA's Deep Impact Mission. This mission may cause the comet to dramatically brighten in the 24-hours after impact. This new feature will be of particular interest for observers participating in the Deep Impact Mission's Small Telescope Science Program. Spanish language, more stars and minor corrections are included.

Ver.1.2 Build 26: Comet Machholz, C/2004 Q2 Upgrade Note

This upgrade will display and allow you to "goto" Comet Machholz. Its usefulness will increase as the comet goes below naked-eye magnitudes in late February 2005. The upgrade also contains a customizable feature to turn off the backlighting on the Start Book after an elapsed time without a key press and allows for smoother R.A. tracking motion.

Ver.1.2 Build 24: Autoguider Upgrade Note

This upgrade is required for autoguiding the Sphinx mount. The Star Book Autoguider Technical Notes Adobe PDF sheet contains additional information. The upgrade also include backlash compensation, faster screen response and interface code for future use.