G 11 advice

[graham.hobart]

Hello, I have planned on tonight to set up my new (second hand) G11, so juts a quickie...
I have the G11 Gem 2, on the Losmandy website it talks about direct connection for autoguiders like the sbig (? ST 4)
because the ssag and also lodestar use St 4 protocols (i think) -can I also direct connect those ?
I don't want to blow it on our first 'date' !
cheers
Graz ps I do have the losmandy relay box as well
:thumbsup:

[Poita]

If you have an ovision worm on the G11 and can therefore use PEC, then I would just pulse guide and not use the ST4 anyway.

[graham.hobart]

how do I find that out?

[pmrid]

If you have an Ovision, it will very probably be on the RA gear rather than the Dec. Look at the end of the worm furthest from the motor and see whether the end is a solid brass face with a small hex keyhole in the middle. That will be an Ovision. If in doubt, load a photo.
Peter

[graham.hobart]

I will look when I get home, but if I don't (it wasn't advertised as such on IIS) then do SSAG's /lodestars work direct (via PHD or maxim etc) with no need for other adaptors?

[White Rabbit]

I've been doing a bit of reading up on the Gemini 2 as I'm waiting on mine arriving from the US. I was reading that if you get a Y split you plug the ST4 camera and the hand controller into the same socket. Take what I'm saying with a pinch of salt because I dont guide that way so didnt pay to much attention to what I was reading but it struck me as quite odd that you would share the same input.

[pmrid]

I use Lodestars and have used QHY5s directly with my Gemini systems with PHD and with MaximDL and without problems. There used to be a problem connecting certain SBIG cameras with Gemini mounts - an OptoCoupler was required to prevent some sort of earthing problem that others will probably be more knowledgeable about than I. I think it was the older ST7s from memory. But Lodestars and QHys have no such problems.
Peter

[tlgerdes]

There is a dedicated ST4 guideport on the G2. This supports modern TTL guide signals ie QHY5/SSAG/Lodestar etc can plug directly in.

[graham.hobart]

thank you all, and Thanks Trev- that's what I was looking for -
cheers
Graham.

[wasyoungonce]

Yes you can connect loadstar or QHY 5 directly via cable to ST4 connector (guider connector) on Gemini.

The warning is for older Sbig ST4 type guider that used a voltage translation in switching command signals. Thus you need an optical interface to convert this to proper ST4 protocol.

ST4 protocol is earth switching, that is it switches earth to Ra+, Ra-, dec+, dec- to command the mount to move.

[Poita]

Is that true of the Gemini1 with the RJ port as well? A lodestar can plug straight in?

[wasyoungonce]

According to starlight express the loadstar ST4 output is opt-isolated...meaning you can use it straight to a Gemini 1...with the correct cable.