g__day
06-11-2006, 01:05 AM
This is a which to get question. JMI I am told works with my Meade 1209 motor focuser. SHoestring are still investigating but believe it should work...
Both these guys offer essentially the same looking black box to take a motorised focuser and convert it to a USB signal that can be software driven from a PC.
Pic
http://www.jimsmobile.com/images/pcfc.jpg US $109 until Christmas
Description
PC Focus Control
Controls a DC focuser motor from your PC through a USB port. It can control MOTOFOCUS (http://www.jimsmobile.com/motofocus_data.htm#Top), MOTODEC (http://www.jimsmobile.com/motodec_data.htm#Top), NGF (http://www.jimsmobile.com/ngf_data.htm#Top), RCF (http://www.jimsmobile.com/rcf_data.htm#Top) and other motors. No batteries are required. There is no encoder feedback or positional display with PCFC. If you desire focus control with encoder feedback, please see Smart Focus (http://www.jimsmobile.com/dro_data.htm#Smart Focus).
Requirements:
5-12 volt DC motor (works best with 5V motor)
Motor cable with 1/8" (3.5mm) mono plug on the PC Focus Control end
Windows 98 Second Edition / 2000 / XP
USB version 1.1 or greater (NOTE: Win98SE may need to be upgraded)
Human Interface Device driver (HID) usually included with the operating system
Includes:
Control Box (http://www.jimsmobile.com/focuser_accessories.htm#Picture) with integrated USB cable and 1/8" (3.5mm) motor jack (the unit is powered by the USB port)
Software (Free Download (http://www.jimsmobile.com/software_pcfc.htm) from JMI website)
Operator's Manual (see document no. 60 in ourDocument Library (http://www.jimsmobile.com/document_library.htm#Focuser))
Software Console Controls:
Pulse-width modulation (PWM) Frequency Adjustment
Motor Speed Adjustment
Pulse Time Interval Adjustment
Continuous Motor Operation in Forward or Reverse
Mouse Controlled Time Interval Motor Operation in Forward or Reverse
Specified Pulse Time Interval Motor Operation in Forward or Reverse
Pic
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/images/fcusb.jpg US $66
Description
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm
Both these guys offer essentially the same looking black box to take a motorised focuser and convert it to a USB signal that can be software driven from a PC.
Pic
http://www.jimsmobile.com/images/pcfc.jpg US $109 until Christmas
Description
PC Focus Control
Controls a DC focuser motor from your PC through a USB port. It can control MOTOFOCUS (http://www.jimsmobile.com/motofocus_data.htm#Top), MOTODEC (http://www.jimsmobile.com/motodec_data.htm#Top), NGF (http://www.jimsmobile.com/ngf_data.htm#Top), RCF (http://www.jimsmobile.com/rcf_data.htm#Top) and other motors. No batteries are required. There is no encoder feedback or positional display with PCFC. If you desire focus control with encoder feedback, please see Smart Focus (http://www.jimsmobile.com/dro_data.htm#Smart Focus).
Requirements:
5-12 volt DC motor (works best with 5V motor)
Motor cable with 1/8" (3.5mm) mono plug on the PC Focus Control end
Windows 98 Second Edition / 2000 / XP
USB version 1.1 or greater (NOTE: Win98SE may need to be upgraded)
Human Interface Device driver (HID) usually included with the operating system
Includes:
Control Box (http://www.jimsmobile.com/focuser_accessories.htm#Picture) with integrated USB cable and 1/8" (3.5mm) motor jack (the unit is powered by the USB port)
Software (Free Download (http://www.jimsmobile.com/software_pcfc.htm) from JMI website)
Operator's Manual (see document no. 60 in ourDocument Library (http://www.jimsmobile.com/document_library.htm#Focuser))
Software Console Controls:
Pulse-width modulation (PWM) Frequency Adjustment
Motor Speed Adjustment
Pulse Time Interval Adjustment
Continuous Motor Operation in Forward or Reverse
Mouse Controlled Time Interval Motor Operation in Forward or Reverse
Specified Pulse Time Interval Motor Operation in Forward or Reverse
Pic
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/images/fcusb.jpg US $66
Description
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_gp.htm