Guiding non meade mount with dsi/lpi

[xelasnave]

I found this site and thought I would pass it on
Freeware app to autoguide non-meade mounts with the DSI/LPI
http://www.skyinsight.net/wiki/index.php/GuideStar_LX200_Software_Emulator
alex

[Striker]

Alex,

This has already been mentioned but some may have missed it.
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=10849&highlight=guidestar

[xelasnave]

Thats OK I dont get to see everything and I had hoped it may help someone here.
alex

[[1ponders]]

It helped me Alex. I'd forgotten I had Guidestar loaded to use.

[EzyStyles]

talking about autoguidng with non meade mount, I have just tested this out on thursday night with my EQ6 and GPUSB using guidestar v1.2. It works like a treat :) . Stars stayed spot on for as long as i wanted. havent posted the image of ETA yet as it was a full moon night and i havent had time taking dark frames so the image didnt turned out too well. was too busy mucking around with the software. was doing 2 minute 49 sec exposures. now just waiting for a clear melb night .cheers for the guide alex anyway.

[g__day]

I have two questions about this very useful looking translation software:

1. It says it attaches to the Auto Guide port of any ST4 compatible mount, is a Celestron CG5 go to mount with its autoguiding port ST4 compatible?

Note - Just found CG5 is according to http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm

MOUNT COMPATIBILITY
Any mount with an ST-4 compatible autoguider port should work with these adapters. Mounts that we are aware of include the Losmandy GM-8 and G-11 (see note below), Takahashi EM-10 (must use the GPCNV-TAK guide port converter), Meade LX-200, Meade LX-90, Celestron Nexstar i-series, Celestron Celestar 8, Celestron Advanced Series GoTo, Celestron CGE, Orion Atlas EQ-G style, Gemini G-41, Skywatcher HEQ5-Pro, Astro-Physics AP900 QMD, JMI NGT, Vixen SkySensor2000 (must use the GPCNV-SS2K guide port converter), and Tom O. Equatorial Platform. With modification, you can also add an ST-4 compatible autoguide port to your EQ style mount (see below).

2. It also says you can connect this via an LPT: port connector (providing it an unused COM1 -> COM4 port [thought they were only for serial ports?]) using a PYT1 St-4 guider cable, anyone know where can I get one or see the pin out configuration for this device?

Again its annoying that shoestring show you what a typical pin out is, but where is the CG5's pin out confirmed? Must search this to interface it to:

http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/guide_port_cables.pdf

Ah ha, solved this too on page 47 here

http://www.celestron.com/c2/images/files/downloads/1145296473_advancedsgt.pdf

Looks like this is almost a go, now I need the pinot for a parallel port, especially where is the power line or are power and ground actually not needed?

I envisage the freeware software Nexstar can run over a serial port into my CG5 hand controller and Meade DSI software can run over a parallel port into the Autoguider of the mount itself - how tricky!