Astrometric Instruments: SkyWalker firmware and support software upgrades

Software Upgrade Policy and Download Area

Astrometric Instruments provides a liberal upgrade policy. As we add functions and features to the SkyWalker product family we will continue to make the improvements available at little or no cost to our customers. Most of these upgrades involve the simple task of downloading new firmware upgrades for SkyWalker, or our PC-based software, however from time to time it may be necessary to upgrade the firmware in one of SkyWalker's accessories (such as the HP1 or HP2 handpaddle) to receive the full benefit of the new features.

From this page we provide present and past software versions. Customers are encouraged to upgrade to the current version, however older versions are maintained in case they are required.

The new features of each version are detailed in the release notes linked below.

NOTE: Carefully read the Software License. By downloading any files from Astrometric Instruments, you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS, DO NOT DOWNLOAD ANY FILES.

Upgrade Policy:

•	Customers with Internet access will be notified by e-mail when a significant upgrade is available.
•	Upgrades are down-loadable from this web page. The password (if required) to access the upgrade will be included in the upgrade notification.
•	Customers who prefer software upgrades on "hard media" can simply contact us and request the upgrade on CD-ROM. Astrometric will only charge for the cost of materials, shipping and handling, typically less then $15 in the U.S. and Canada.

Maestro PC-based SkyWalker interface (client) software:

Note: The latest version of Maestro runs under all versions of Microsoft Windows from Windows XP forward (does not run on Windows 2000, ME, 98 or 95).

For Maestro 0.29.052 and later simply run the installation "exe" file linked below to install or upgrade Maestro. SkyWalker firmware will be automatically upgraded by Maestro upon its first connection to SkyWalker or the S-Box.

For older versions of Maestro, follow the installation instructions in the readme file or those provided with the control system shipment and/or with e-mail upgrade notifications.

Version	Release Date	Release Notes	Installation File
0.29.052	12-May-2010	Readme0_29_052.html	MaestroSetup0_29_052.exe
0.20.000	21-Jun-2006	ReadmeMae0_20_00	Mae0_20_000_Patch.exe
0.01.001	17-Nov-2004	ReadmeMae0_01_001.txt	Mae0_01_001.exe

Maestro communicates with SkyWalker via the Astrometric Telescope Control Language (ATCL). ATCL is typically communicated over serial link (e.g. RS232 or USB) to SkyWalker's Client interface port (labeled "Com"). ATCL provides a very rich syntax for telescope control. Astrometric Instruments, Inc. encourages independent software developers to provide an ATCL interface to their software. Complete details can be found at our Astrometric Telescope Control Language page.

Additional PC-based software for use with Maestro:

Maestro supports the ASCOM (Astronomy Component Object Model) and WARP (Windows Astronomical Resource Protocol) standards for interfacing to other software on the same or different PCs. More information on Maestro's ASCOM support is available here. More information on Maestro's WARP support is available here.

Maestro also supports Software Bisque's TeleAPI.dll interface. When Maestro is installed, a version of the TeleAPI.dll Bisque "interface" file that is specific to Astrometric Instrument's software (i.e. Maestro and SkyGuide) is installed in the \Program Files\Common Files\System folder on your harddisk. If TheSky is re-installed at a later date it will over-write this file with a version that is not compatible with Maestro. You can either re-install Maestro or directly copy the TeleAPI.dll file from here to the \Program Files\Common Files\System folder on your harddisk.

Maestro's support for WARP and TeleAPI are both installed with the above Maestro installations.

SkyWalker Firmware Upgrades:

NOTE: If you are upgrading Maestro software to the same version as SkyWalker firmware (highly recommended) then there is no need to separately download and upgrade SkyWalker's firmware since the latest Maestro installation installs the latest SkyWalker firmware upgrade files.

NOTE: The following are links to self-extracting executable files that contain SkyWalker's firmware binary upgrade files. These self-extracting executable files, by default, extract the binary upgrade files to the \Program Files\Astrometric\Maestro\SkyWalkerUpgrades folder. To upgrade SkyWalker, simply start Maestro* and connect to SkyWalker. Maestro* will detect that a more recent version of firmware has been deposited in its SkyWalkerUpgrades folder and ask you if you wish to upgrade SkyWalker. Select yes to start the upgrade. Maestro will provide a progress bar during the time (can be several minutes) it takes to complete the upgrade. Once the upgrade is complete, SkyWalker must be turned off, and then back on again, for the new firmware to work.

Version	Release Date	Release Notes	Upgrade Files
>0.20.000	--	Upgraded w/Maestro (see above)	--
0.20.000	21-Jun-2006	ReadmeSW_0_20_000	SW_0_20_000.exe
0.11.002	10-Sep-2005	ReadmeSW_0_11_002.txt	SW_0_11_002.exe

Even though Maestro doesn't directly support it, it is possible to move backwards to an older version of firmware. Please refer to the FAQ item entitled "How to backwards-upgrade SkyWalker's firmware to an older version" for instructions.

*If for some reason you do not have, or do not wish to have, Maestro installed on your PC you can use Astrometric's dedicated Microsoft Windows- based firmware upgrade utility SW_Firmup as described in our FAQ item entitled "Using SW_Firmup, as a Maestro alternative, to upgrade SkyWalker's firmware" for instructions.

SkyGuide-Win Upgrades:

The latest version of SkyGuide-Win is provided for users of non-upgraded legacy (i.e. pre-2004) SkyWalker systems. SkyGuide-Win will only run under Microsoft Windows 95, 98 or ME.

NOTE: Legacy (i.e. pre-2004) SkyWalker systems can be upgraded to full and complete current functionality with the S-Box accessory. The S-Box allows for SkyWalker control from all versions of Microsoft Windows (using our Maestro software). The S-Box also allows for stand-alone operation (i.e. without an attached PC) using our HP2 handpaddle.

NOTE: The following contain program files and release notes only: installation instructions are provided with the control system shipment and/or with e-mail upgrade notifications.

Release Date	SkyWalker Firmware Version	Field Test Releases	Formal Releases
28-Feb-2003	All		2.10.002. View release notes.

SkyGuide also supports Software Bisque's TeleAPI.dll interface. When SkyGuide is installed, a version of the TeleAPI.dll Bisque "interface" file that is specific to SkyGuide is installed in the \Program Files\Common Files\System folder on your harddisk. If TheSky is reinstalled at a later date it will over-write this file with a version that is not compatible with SkyGuide. You can either reinstall SkyGuide or directly copy the TeleAPI.dll file from here to the \Program Files\Common Files\System folder on your harddisk.

Alignment Star Database:

A sky database file for TheSky that shows SkyWalker's alignment stars is available (thanks to David Landis). Follow these instructions to install so that you can see the alignment stars labeled in TheSky:

1	Download SW_BrightStars.SDB and SW_BrightStars.txt into the "Software Bisque\Program Files\TheSky\User\SDBs" folder on your hard drive.
2	In TheSky: go to the Data menu and select "Import".
3	Click the Browse button and find/select the SW_BrightStars.txt file.
4	Select data class: "Labels" and object type: "Star" from the import dialog box.
5	Click compile and TheSky should add 80 items.
6	If the star labels are not visible then go to the View menu, select "Labels", then "Setup..." and make sure that the check box next to "Stars" is checked on the "Common Names" tab.