If you own Level IV Version 5 of TheSky from Software Bisque, you can download the new 5.00.014 Windows from the support section of the Software Bisque website. This version allows you to chose the Astro-Physics GTO German Equatorial Mount from the drop-down box in Telescope | Setup and fixes errors in the previous version. Additional features of 5.00.014 are listed on their site.

The micro-controller chip in your GTO control box must be dated November 13, 2000 or later in order to access all of the features outlined below. Check the date by opening the top of the GTO control box and looking for a label on one of the large, square chips. If your chip is not dated at all, it was probably programmed prior to July 1999 and is an early version. Contact Astro-Physics if you need a new ROM chips for your GTO Control Box. We suggest that the chip be dated January 22, 2001 or later.

Functions available to all GTO control box versions

• TheSky always places the Astro-Physics control system into the "long format" upon establishing a link.
• It is no longer necessary to Initialize for any GTO mount. However, if you get the error message "No response from the device. Error code = 203 (Oxcb)", when attempting to synchronize or slew the telescope (but can see the crosshairson the screen), try initializing the mount before continuing. Click Telescope | Options | Initialize to send the date, time, time zone, latitude and longitude to the mount.
• The Motion control window (click Telescope | Motion Control) allows four speed motion control- guide, center, move, and slew (1x, 12x, 64x and 900x) by pressing and holding buttons down to adjust the telescope's position.
• Motion control window (Telescope | Motion Control) allows telescope to be "jogged" (a small telescope movement) a specified amount in any direction. Note, if you have a chip dated earlier than 11-13-00, the mount will go past the object and come back.
• Click Telescope | Options | Set Track Rates to specify a Sidereal, Solar, Lunar or Zero tracking rate (stops all tracking). The zero tracking rate requires a chip dated 11-13-00 or later.
• Click Telescope | Options | Focus Control to adjust a pulse focuser from TheSky (tested with JMI NGF Series focuser).
• Click Telescope | Options | Reticle to adjust the brightness of your reticle.
• Click Telescope | Options | Set park Position to specify the "park position." TheSky will return the telescope to this position before parking themount.
• TheSky queries the user if s/he wishes to park the telescope before terminating the link or exiting the software if the link is still active.
• Click Telescope | Options | Park to park the telescope. If you have a chip dated 11-13-00 or later, the park position will be remembered if you turn the power off. The park position will not be remembered if you have an earlier chip. In this instance, the white crosshair circle will point to the pole when you power up again.