i have an orion starshoot guide scope, what downloads do i need for windows computer and where can i find them, thanks much
Orion StarShoot guide scope downloads needed for Windows computer
https://www.astroshop.eu/astronomical-cameras/orion-camera-starshoot-autoguider-60mm-guidescope/p,51349
(check the Instruction Manual in the Downloads section)
(check the Instruction Manual in the Downloads section)
Pointless. The OP doesn't need a manual, they need the drivers and those are sadly lacking as the business doesn't exist anymore.
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Barry Ziober · Dec 2, 2025 at 03:47 PM
i have an orion starshoot guide scope, what downloads do i need for windows computer and where can i find them, thanks much
Try this link for the Web Archive and see if the versions of the driver can be downloaded.
Downloading drivers from the Web Archive can be hit or miss (it might also not be the version you’re looking for), but it’s probably your best option.
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thanks bigcatastro
Barry Ziober · Dec 4, 2025 at 03:54 PM
thanks bigcatastro
Did it work?
i just now starting the install. i will let you know what happens
it did not work, for some reason my surface pro does not see the cameras, i tried on my desktop and it does but cant take desk top outside with telescope
Barry Ziober · Dec 4, 2025, 08:30 PM
it did not work, for some reason my surface pro does not see the cameras, i tried on my desktop and it does but cant take desk top outside with telescope
Oh, dang! I’m sorry to hear that. If you don’t mind me asking, what is your rig configuration?
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sorry not sure what you mean by rig, but i have a Celestron 12046 Computerized Advanced VX 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
Barry Ziober · Dec 4, 2025, 08:45 PM
sorry not sure what you mean by rig, but i have a Celestron 12046 Computerized Advanced VX 9.25" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
Ah, no problem, I should have been more clear. Ok, I remember seeing your original post now. So, you’re using a Celestron AVX Mount with the SC telescope.
Well, the good news is that you should be able to connect and control this mount with ASIAir, NINA, or KStars/EKOS (I had the forerunner to this mount the CG-5/Advanced GT and was successful) through the hand controller and CPWI.
However, it sounds like you have some missing steps and items that need to be addressed first and being cost effective is the best way to go. Where I would start is addressing your mount controlling computer. I know you mentioned that you have a Surface Pro, is that the computer you’re looking to use? If so, NINA and PHD2 should function on it. Once you test it all out, then I would move onto the guide scope set-up.
If it’s not going to be the control computer, I would recommend getting a miniPC or a RPi 5. The miniPC can run NINA (Windows) and a RPi 5 can run KStars/EKOS suite (StellarMate). Note though, RPis tend to have USB 3 generated Wifi interference due to their design, there are ways to mitigate it (ferrite beads), but I wanted to mention it.
I haven’t used a ZWO ASIAir, but I chose not to so I could use various equipment outside of ZWO’s ecosystem.
There is also the ToupTek StellaVita.
Computers can be mounted on the top of your SC telescope or under the tripod in a weatherproof box (this was the configuration I used for a long time before mounting all equipment).
Addressing the computer will, in my opinion, start to get you going in the right direction. When I was starting out, I had cobbled together what I had and it turned out to be a difficult and painful series of failures. I tried to brute force equipment to work with what I had instead of accepting the fact that what I had simply wasn’t going to work. From that self-realization, I made a plan for building a rig and I started with the computer.
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yeah i am finding that with the orion starshoot guider camera, seems too old and there are no good resources, i have used raspberries in past but they are a little of a hassle to use, do you recommend a particular minipc?
Barry Ziober · Dec 4, 2025, 09:37 PM
yeah i am finding that with the orion starshoot guider camera, seems too old and there are no good resources, i have used raspberries in past but they are a little of a hassle to use, do you recommend a particular minipc?
For me, the fanless MeLe Quieter series has worked extremely well (I use the older 3Q version). I’ve coupled it with a StarTech 12V Powered USB 3.0 hub and it’s been great.
Others have used BeeLinks or NUCs with success too.
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I don’t have any experience with the Surface Pro, but as mentioned above, if you are thinking of switching to a mini-pc at the scope, one of my rigs still uses my original Orion Starshoot guide camera controlled with a Beelink running Windows 11. I have not had to do this with my Beelink, but you might try reinstalling the driver in Administrator mode in case the Surface Pro is preventing the installer from writing any necessary files to disk. I had similar problems with other older astro software and that got everything working correctly. Just don’t ever install ASCOM drivers as Administrator. That really messes things up!
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You only install drivers (ASCOM or not) as Admin, how else can you do it?
i got the starshoot autoglide to work! i had to connect it with phd2, appears to be working fine. the surface pro is powerful small laptop/tablet, works great so far
what specs do you look for in a mini pc, ie what processor, ram etc?
Barry Ziober · Dec 5, 2025, 03:02 PM
what specs do you look for in a mini pc, ie what processor, ram etc?
Honestly, not too much, but I only image DSOs. My MeLe 3Q only has 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, Wifi 5, and a N5100 processor. It is able to run NINA, Stellarium, PHD2, and execute Robocopy protocol to wirelessly save images to my RPi homebrew media server with headroom to spare.
If you are going to lucky image planets (video), you may need more RAM (16GB) and SSD space (an external SSD) since your files may be larger.
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thanks big cat astro.
If the OP is going to do video imaging for planetary imaging purposes it is more likely they are going to have to use a laptop at the scope side.
andrea tasselli · Dec 5, 2025, 04:04 PM
If the OP is going to do video imaging for planetary imaging purposes it is more likely they are going to have to use a laptop at the scope side.
Sure, you could do that, however; there are a lot of miniPCs on the market now both fanless and with fans that have comparable specs to a standalone laptop including fast SSD writing.
Granted, the models with fans do offer more powerful processors from i3-i7 and ryzen 5-9s. Are you concerned with the processor threading and cores for N150 like processors which are common in fanless minis?
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Barry Ziober · Dec 5, 2025, 03:02 PM
what specs do you look for in a mini pc, ie what processor, ram etc?
Honestly, not too much, but I only image DSOs. My MeLe 3Q only has 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, Wifi 5, and a N5100 processor. It is able to run NINA, Stellarium, PHD2, and execute Robocopy protocol to wirelessly save images to my RPi homebrew media server with headroom to spare.
If you are going to lucky image planets (video), you may need more RAM (16GB) and SSD space (an external SSD) since your files may be larger.
I also use the MeLE mini PC as astrophotography "controller".
I actually have 2 of them, older models, with similar specs: MeLE PCG02 and MeLE PCG02 Pro(the first one runs at 5V, so it is my favorite; I power it from a small power bank).
I use them for 4 years already for deep sky and they work very well. I am running PHD2 for guiding and APT for image acquisition. The transfer of images I do it offline with an SD card.
Personally I do not need more power, but if you have other requirements, you might need something more powerful.
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thanks sky hoinar!
SkyHoinar · Dec 5, 2025, 04:32 PM
Barry Ziober · Dec 5, 2025, 03:02 PM
what specs do you look for in a mini pc, ie what processor, ram etc?
Honestly, not too much, but I only image DSOs. My MeLe 3Q only has 8GB RAM, a 256GB SSD, Wifi 5, and a N5100 processor. It is able to run NINA, Stellarium, PHD2, and execute Robocopy protocol to wirelessly save images to my RPi homebrew media server with headroom to spare.
If you are going to lucky image planets (video), you may need more RAM (16GB) and SSD space (an external SSD) since your files may be larger.
I also use the MeLE mini PC as astrophotography "controller".
I actually have 2 of them, older models, with similar specs: MeLE PCG02 and MeLE PCG02 Pro(the first one runs at 5V, so it is my favorite; I power it from a small power bank).
I use them for 4 years already for deep sky and they work very well. I am running PHD2 for guiding and APT for image acquisition. The transfer of images I do it offline with an SD card.
Personally I do not need more power, but if you have other requirements, you might need something more powerful.
Those are great little computers.
andrea tasselli · Dec 5, 2025, 04:04 PM
If the OP is going to do video imaging for planetary imaging purposes it is more likely they are going to have to use a laptop at the scope side.
Sure, you could do that, however; there are a lot of miniPCs on the market now both fanless and with fans that have comparable specs to a standalone laptop including fast SSD writing.
Granted, the models with fans do offer more powerful processors from i3-i7 and ryzen 5-9s. Are you concerned with the processor threading and cores for N150 like processors which are common in fanless minis?
My Quieter 4C isn't exactly of model of performance but I'd be more concerned about the whole ergonomics of refocusing and potentially re-centering during acquisition while keep an eye on the seeing.