EzyStyles
01-10-2006, 11:58 PM
Hi Guys,
Alot of people have asked me how to autoguide with the DSI on a non-meade mount. Here's what you do.
First off, you will need to get yourself a GPUSB adapter from shoestring astronomy.
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/gpusb.htm
This device allows you to send and receive guiding signals from your mount's guide port (RS232) to your PC via a 6 pin cable which came with the Meade DSI. You will also need the following program:
Guidestar v1.1a
============
http://www.skyinsight.net/wiki/index.php/GuideStar_LX200_Software_Emulator#V ersion_1.1a
Guidestar allows you to emulate non-meade mount into thinking it is a LX200.
Hardware Virtual Serial Port
=====================
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
To redirect RS232 data to predefined TCP/IP address and port.
Meade Envisage Software
====================
I use Envisage to autoguide the DSI. There are however other guiding software available. You can find a list here:
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm
Once the following software are installed, plug the shoestring GPUSB adapter into your USB port. Plug the 6 pin cable which came with the DSI into the GPUSB adapter and the other end to your autoguiding port in your mount.
*** IMPORTANT ***
I use the EQ6 to autoguide with the DSI. On the EQ6 mount, the RS232 port is reversed. I had make abit of modification on the 6 pin autoguiding cable and reverse the wiring on it.
I have attached the EQ6 autoguide port wiring diagram below.
Next step, open up Guidestar v1.1a . Next to port, you should see a dropdown arrow, click on it and select GPUSB then click the Start button. Ensure that you have a tick in '1 at a time per axis' box.
Now open up HW Virtual Serial Port. In the IP Address field, type your IP Address for your computer which you are going to guide on. If you are in a network environment, enter your LAN IP for that computer eg: 10.0.0.2 . In the Port box, type a port number which you don't use eg: 888 . Below Port Name, select a COM port which you don't use eg: COM5. Now click 'Create COM'.
Open up Envisage with your DSI connected and select the Telescope tab. In the 'Connect' box right below the tab, enter COM5 which you use in HW Virtual Serial Port. Click on the 'Connect' button. You should now see in the Status box "Track Only/Guide Only" message on the bottom of the Telescope tab. Now find yourself a guidestar on your screen. It doesn't have to be in perfect focus. Nice round circle is good enough. Draw a red box around your guide star about the size of your thumb nail then click 'Guide Here/Track Here' button in the Telescope tab.
** Note: If you are using a Meade Mount to guide, the button will display Guide Here, if you are using a non-meade mount it will display Track Here. **
Envisage will then calculate the x and y position of your guide star. It can take a few minutes to complete. After a while you will notice a yellow circle in the backgound. Envisage will now move the guide star onto the centre of this yellow circle. You are done.
All you have to do now is sit back and monitor the X and Y axis in the Status box. If the X and Y sits on average between 0.1 - 1.5, you have good guiding. Don't worry if the x and y axis goes up to 3 or even 5 for a few seconds. You will not notice this if you are taking long subs.
Goodluck on your guiding adventure. :thumbsup:
Alot of people have asked me how to autoguide with the DSI on a non-meade mount. Here's what you do.
First off, you will need to get yourself a GPUSB adapter from shoestring astronomy.
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/gpusb.htm
This device allows you to send and receive guiding signals from your mount's guide port (RS232) to your PC via a 6 pin cable which came with the Meade DSI. You will also need the following program:
Guidestar v1.1a
============
http://www.skyinsight.net/wiki/index.php/GuideStar_LX200_Software_Emulator#V ersion_1.1a
Guidestar allows you to emulate non-meade mount into thinking it is a LX200.
Hardware Virtual Serial Port
=====================
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
To redirect RS232 data to predefined TCP/IP address and port.
Meade Envisage Software
====================
I use Envisage to autoguide the DSI. There are however other guiding software available. You can find a list here:
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm
Once the following software are installed, plug the shoestring GPUSB adapter into your USB port. Plug the 6 pin cable which came with the DSI into the GPUSB adapter and the other end to your autoguiding port in your mount.
*** IMPORTANT ***
I use the EQ6 to autoguide with the DSI. On the EQ6 mount, the RS232 port is reversed. I had make abit of modification on the 6 pin autoguiding cable and reverse the wiring on it.
I have attached the EQ6 autoguide port wiring diagram below.
Next step, open up Guidestar v1.1a . Next to port, you should see a dropdown arrow, click on it and select GPUSB then click the Start button. Ensure that you have a tick in '1 at a time per axis' box.
Now open up HW Virtual Serial Port. In the IP Address field, type your IP Address for your computer which you are going to guide on. If you are in a network environment, enter your LAN IP for that computer eg: 10.0.0.2 . In the Port box, type a port number which you don't use eg: 888 . Below Port Name, select a COM port which you don't use eg: COM5. Now click 'Create COM'.
Open up Envisage with your DSI connected and select the Telescope tab. In the 'Connect' box right below the tab, enter COM5 which you use in HW Virtual Serial Port. Click on the 'Connect' button. You should now see in the Status box "Track Only/Guide Only" message on the bottom of the Telescope tab. Now find yourself a guidestar on your screen. It doesn't have to be in perfect focus. Nice round circle is good enough. Draw a red box around your guide star about the size of your thumb nail then click 'Guide Here/Track Here' button in the Telescope tab.
** Note: If you are using a Meade Mount to guide, the button will display Guide Here, if you are using a non-meade mount it will display Track Here. **
Envisage will then calculate the x and y position of your guide star. It can take a few minutes to complete. After a while you will notice a yellow circle in the backgound. Envisage will now move the guide star onto the centre of this yellow circle. You are done.
All you have to do now is sit back and monitor the X and Y axis in the Status box. If the X and Y sits on average between 0.1 - 1.5, you have good guiding. Don't worry if the x and y axis goes up to 3 or even 5 for a few seconds. You will not notice this if you are taking long subs.
Goodluck on your guiding adventure. :thumbsup: