AutoStar and AudioStar explained

posted: 10 October 2024

Often we have been asked to explain the difference between the various Meade handbox controllers to people who wish to replace their old handbox with a new one.

Sometimes the original handbox is not in production anymore and they would like to know which of the newer handboxes is compatible with their telescope.

The sections below list Meade's AutoStar and AudioStar handbox controllers.
AudioStar includes build-in speaker.

AutoStar (#494)

This is mostly a legacy handbox. It is badged simply as “AUTOSTAR”. It has been bundled with some Meade entry level telescopes.

It has a small keypad and it was used on older Meade ETX-60, ETX-70, ETX-80, DS-2000 range (e.g. DS-2130) and some other telescopes that have not been in production for a while.

In some cases, the AutoStar #494 is badged as “STARFINDER”. Internally, the Starfinder has the same hardware as the AutoStar #494 but the firmware is slightly different.
AutoStar (#494) has been discontinued.

AutoStar (#495)

This handbox has a large keypad. Once again, it is badged simply as “AUTOSTAR”. The difference between AutoStar #494 above and AutoStar #495 is that the latter has a full numeric keypad.

The AutoStar #495 has not been in production for several years. It used to be bundled with LXD-75 and LX90 telescopes as well as some DS-2000 telescopes. The AutoStar #495 is not always backwards compatible with the AutoStar #494.

Some telescopes that use an AutoStar #494 can also be controlled with an AutoStar #495 but not all.
AutoStar (#495) has been discontinued.

AutoStar (#497)

This handbox has a full numeric keypad and it is visually indistinguishable from the AutoStar #495 for good reason. Both these handboxes use the exact same hardware.

Once again, the AutoStar #497 is badged as “AUTOSTAR”. The difference is in the firmware. The #497 has a newer version of the firmware, replacing the older AutoStar #495 model.

This handbox is no longer in production. In the past it was bundled with various telescopes including some ETX-90, ETX-105, ETX-125, StarNavigator, DS-2000, LX80 and LX90 telescopes. The AutoStar #497 is backwards compatible with the AutoStar #495 and AutoStar #494.
AutoStar (#497) has been discontinued.

Therefore, telescopes that use the previous AutoStar handboxes can also be controlled with an AutoStar #497.

AudioStar

This is the latest AutoStar-type handbox and has replaced all previous AutoStar handboxes including the AutoStar #494, AutoStar #495 and AutoStar #497. It is badged as “AUDIOSTAR”.

It is currently bundled with the StarNavigator NG, ETX Observer, LX65, LX85 and LX90 series. If you wish to replace a handbox used on an older telescope, upgrading to AudioStar is the best option. It includes the latest firmware and it incorporates new features that are not present in previous AutoStar handboxes.

The AudioStar is compatible with all ETX, DS-2000, StarNavigator, DSM, LT, LXD-75, LX80, LX65, LX85 and LX90 telescopes. A unique feature is the Astronomer Inside digital audio software.
AudioStar.

It is combined with the built-in speaker inside the AudioStar handbox to produce over four hours of high quality pre-recorded audio descriptions of the objects you observe.

People around the telescope can listen and learn about more than 500 of the celestial objects contained in the AudioStar database, including planets, nebulae, star clusters and the Moon. The AudioStar has a database of over 30,000 astronomical objects. Approximately twice as many as the AutoStar #497. The AudioStar Meade part number (SKU) is 07640.

AutoStar II

The AutoStar II handbox is designed for larger Meade telescopes such as the LX200, LX600 and LX850. It is not compatible with the AudioStar or AutoStar (#494, #495 and #497) handboxes.

Therefore, if you wish to replace the old handbox of your LX200, LX400, LX600 and LX850, the AutoStar II is the only option. The AutoStar II Meade part number (SKU) is 07200.
AutoStar II.

AutoStar III

The AutoStar III handbox is designed exclusively for the Meade LS (LightSwitch) telescopes such as the LS6 and LS8.

It is not compatible with any other AutoStar (#494, #495 and #497), AudioStar or AutoStar II handbox. The AutoStar III Meade part number (SKU) is 04700.
AutoStar III.



To summarise, if you are looking to replace the handbox controller of your ETX, DS, DS-2000, DSM, StarNavigator, LXD-75, LT, LX80, LX65, LX85 or LX90 telescope you should upgrade to the AudioStar. If you have a LX200, LX400, LX600 or LX850 you need an AutoStar II. And finally if you have an LS you should get an AutoStar III.


Related topics:  telescope control, AudioStar, AutoStar II, AutoStar III, how-to guide

Author:  Opticstar

Links
News archive
Posts
2024 (20)
October (2)
November deep sky watch
AutoStar and AudioStar explained
September (2)
October deep sky watch
Meade ACF Optical Tubes
August (2)
September deep sky watch
Meade and Coronado eyepieces
July (2)
August deep sky watch
Image projection explained
June (2)
July deep sky watch
Photography with the Meade ETX90
May (2)
June deep sky watch
Observing the Sun
April (2)
May deep sky watch
Apparent magnitude and its relevance to imaging
March (2)
April deep sky watch
Meade LX65 8" ACF review
February (2)
March deep sky watch
Imaging with a telescope
January (2)
February deep sky watch
Choosing your second telescope
2023 (24)
December (2)
January deep sky watch
Meade LX65 8" ACF SkyNews review
November (2)
December deep sky watch
Aligning your computerised Alt-Az telescope
October (2)
November deep sky watch
Planetary prime focus astrophotography
September (2)
October deep sky watch
Deep sky prime focus astrophotography
August (2)
September deep sky watch
An introduction to the Meade LX65 ACF telescopes
July (2)
August deep sky watch
Wilderness Spotting Scopes
June (2)
July deep sky watch
Visual observation through an astronomical telescope
May (2)
June deep sky watch
How to Setup & Use Your 50mm Guide Scope
April (2)
May deep sky watch
How to polar align your equatorial telescope
March (2)
April deep sky watch
Back and better than ever – Meade Deep Sky Imager (DSI) IV
February (2)
March deep sky watch
How to setup and align your Meade LX65 telescope
January (2)
February deep sky watch
AudioStar explained
2022 (24)
December (2)
January deep sky watch
What you did not know you needed - Meade LPI-G
November (2)
December deep sky watch
Meade LX65 redefines ease of use
October (2)
November deep sky watch
Imaging sensors: dust, blemishes, dead and hot pixels
September (2)
October deep sky watch
Powering your telescope
August (2)
September deep sky watch
Apparent magnitude and its relevance to imaging
July (2)
August deep sky watch
Bring wildlife up close and personal
June (2)
July deep sky watch
Imaging with a video camera
May (2)
June deep sky watch
Sensor size and field of view
April (2)
May deep sky watch
How to setup the Meade LightBridge Plus
March (2)
April deep sky watch
Image projection explained
February (2)
March deep sky watch
How to use Meade SkyCapture part 2
January (2)
February deep sky watch
How to use Meade SkyCapture part 1
2021 (16)
December (2)
January deep sky watch
Aligning your computerised Alt-Az telescope
November (2)
December deep sky watch
Meade Instruments - Tijuana factory
October (2)
November deep sky watch
Imaging with a telescope
September (2)
October deep sky watch
An introduction to the Meade LX65 ACF telescopes
August (2)
September deep sky watch
Observing the Sun
July (1)
Understanding the Coronado PST & SolarMax III solar telescopes
June (2)
Solar and night-time astronomy
Reorganisation of Meade Instruments
May (2)
Wilderness Spotting Scopes
Online shopping
February (1)
Product catalogue 2021
2020 (13)
December (1)
Visual observation through an astronomical telescope
November (1)
How to Setup & Use Your 50mm Guide Scope
October (1)
How to polar align your equatorial telescope
September (1)
Choosing your second telescope
August (1)
Exclusive Meade dealer
July (1)
Stock update
June (1)
Coronado SolarMax III 70/90 solar telescope: A primer
May (2)
Remote control for Meade telescopes
Planetary prime focus astrophotography
April (2)
Deep sky prime focus astrophotography
Choosing your first telescope
March (1)
How to setup and align your Meade LX65 telescope
January (1)
Meade’s 10-inch LX600-ACF Telescope - Sky & Telescope magazine review
2019 (9)
November (1)
Meade’s 115-millimeter ED Triplet - Sky & Telescope magazine review
September (1)
Meade LX65 8-inch ACF - BBC Sky at Night magazine review
July (2)
Back and better than ever – Meade Deep Sky Imager (DSI) IV
What you did not know you needed - Meade LPI-G
June (1)
Meade LX65 8" ACF SkyNews review
May (1)
Meade LX65 8" ACF review
April (1)
Product catalogue 2019
February (1)
Meade LX850 astro-imaging system
January (1)
Meade and Coronado eyepieces
2018 (4)
December (1)
Meade LX65 and LX85 released
September (1)
Meade LX65 redefines ease of use
June (1)
Coronado SolarMax III 90 announced
March (1)
How to setup and align your ETX Observer
2017 (10)
December (1)
New law against laser pointer use
October (1)
SolarMax III and Series 6000 APO Quad
August (1)
Coronado SolarMax II
July (1)
Meade LPI-G camera review
June (1)
Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST)
May (2)
Meade ETX90 Observer review
Meade ETX Observer review
February (1)
Meade telescope offers at AstroFest 2017
January (2)
Meade at the European AstroFest 2017
Meade LX850 advert in print
2016 (25)
December (2)
Meade ETX90 Observer review
Choosing a small computerised telescope
November (1)
Photography with the Meade ETX90
October (4)
Meade LX90 advert in print
Meade ETX90 Observer review
The International Astronomy Show 2016
Meade STELLA Wi-Fi adapter
September (4)
Meade's successful Photokina 2016
Meade at Photokina 2016
Meade LX600 StarLock
Wilderness spotting scope review
August (2)
ETX Observer advert in print
LightBridge Mini review
July (2)
All-new Meade ETX Observer
North West Astronomy Festival 2016
June (8)
Meade LightBridge Mini 130 review
Meade at NEAF 2016
Tim Peake returns to Earth
Tring Astronomy Centre
AutoStar and AudioStar explained
Legislation to combat light pollution
Promotion extended through summer
Coronado advert in print
May (2)
European Extremely Large Telescope
Meade UK news