Starlight Xpress Lodestar guider - Manual (Page 2)

Lodestar handbook Issue 1 September 2007
Installing the Lodestar:
A new installation will require the driver files SXVIO.sys and Generic.sys, plus the
SXVIO_Lodestar.inf file. If you run the ‘Setup.exe’ file on the supplied CD, it will install the drivers
and operating software automatically. If you are installing manually, copy these files into a convenient
folder on drive C and then connect the USB cable to the Lodestar. Point the installer at this folder when
it asks for the location of the drivers and you should see it set up the hardware as a ‘BlockIOClass’
device in Device Manager.
The Lodestar control software is Lodestar.exe and the latest version may be downloaded from the
Starlight Xpress web site (
http://www.starlight-xpress.co.uk ), if necessary. Copy the exe file and dlls
into a folder on drive C and run the exe file to start the software. Alternatively, both ‘AstroArt’ and
‘MaximDL’ support the Lodestar and may be preferred.
Using the Lodestar:
The Lodestar is generally used with a separate guide telescope, or via an off-axis guider. It is designed
to be inserted into a standard 1.25” focuser assembly, but also has a 25mm ‘C’ type camera lens thread
in the front to allow standard CCTV lenses to be attached. Please note that the chip to lens distance is
only 12.5mm and so a ‘CS’ to ‘C’ extension will be needed to permit a standard C lens to reach focus.
Lenses designed for ‘CS’ mount cameras will focus without an extension tube, but many of these