Guiding an LCD-75 mount

[pmrid]

The heading for this thread should read "LXD" not LCD. (Correction).

I am hoping someone has figured out how to guide an LXD75 Meade mount. The connections panel has a single AUX input point (one of those small connectors like on a telephone handset cable). The Manual is delightfully unhelpful both about guiding and abount the port on the panel. It is even less helpful about the similar connection socket on the base of the Autostar handpiece. There is the usual large connector (like a network cable connector) and beside it a small one - the same size as on the panel - but the Manual is silent about it.
I'd like to hook up my DSI to a guidescope and run this mount off K3 or PHD but since I have not had it long I'm a bit reluctant to start poking strange wires in without knowing what the $%^& I'm doing.

Peter

[bert]

The lxd75 was not meant to use autoguiding, but you can. There is a module called a apm 909, which is made for the meade lx90 that plugs into the aux socket and provides an st4 (pretty much the autoguiding standard) input for autoguiding and also a control for motorised focuser and illuminated reticle control.

You will need to reflash your autostar controller with a version modified by Dick Weasner from (www.weasner.com (http://www.weasner.com)) that accepts autoguiding commands for the LXD75, as the meade version does not.

There is a guy in the states called Gene that makes a 909 clone. I have bought 2 from him and they work great. His site is http://home.comcast.net/~lynol1000/as_909/as_909_clone.htm

If you want to guide from the dsi you will also need a Shoestring Gpusb

The plug at the bottom of your hand paddle is for a autostar serial cable to your computer for driving your mount with a planetarium program and for reflashing.

Hope that helps

Brett

[pmrid]

Thanks Bert. That helps a lot.
cheers

Peter

[tbothy]

Hi Peter
I run a LXD55 Mount with an Autostar 497 HandSet Controller and AutoGuide with PHD, The Laptop is connected to the HandSet via a RS232 Coms Lead. The RS232 Connection is Connected to PHD by configuring the comms port as a Ascom Connection. Im still mucking around with the best setup for the ascom connection but Im sure I'll get good guiding happening when its set up and configured properly. I didnt need to reflash the controller at all.
Cheers
Tim

[pmrid]

Hi Tim, and thanks. Here is the text of the reply I have had from Gene Chimausky (who makes the as909 clone). You may find it interesting and perhaps be able to decipher it.
"There are 2 ways to drive the clone for guiding using the cameras you mention.
The clone provides an ST4 guide interface input, this is a 6pin interface with ground wire and 4 other wires for N/S/E/W. The 6'th wire is unused.
To drive these pins requires something like Shoestring's GPUSB interface which is controlled on the PC side by PHD or K3.
So you would have:
PC->USB->GPUSB->ST4Cable->(909->AuxBusCable)->Scope
Both K3 and PHD support the GPUSB.
The second way to drive the clone is via the clones native USB/serial interface. This is a 3'rd party cable made by FTDI that plugs into the USB on PC and into a jack on the clone. It requires the ASCOM 4.1 platform and uses an ASCOM driver I supply. You can see it in action in the YouTube video I did:
http://www.youtube.com/lynol1000
Advantages of GPUSB: Works on PC and MAC, works with any scope needing an ST4 guiding input, well respected interface device
Advantages of clones native USB interface: Cost
Flashing: Your 497 may or may not need flashing. When the 497 powers up it queries the motor controllers for an ID. If the 497 sees an ID it alows to work with the 909, all is good. If it does not see an ID that is allows then patches would be required. I have see new scopes not need it and 2 year old scopes need it, go figure."

cheers

Peter

[tbothy]

Basically the ST4 is a hard wired form of control for the Telescope e.g. 1 wire controls 1 direction, 4 wires 4 Directions with the #909 clone, but ultimately the signal is converted back to a RS232 type command for the Autostar Controller to deal with. Where as the method I am using connects directly to the AutoStar Controller without the need for a GPUSB and a #909 Clone and it controls directly with RS232 Commands to the controller and it only requires a com port and a lead. The RS232 Leads (#505) for the controller are easy to make and can be bought on Ebay.
Cheers
Tim

[pmrid]

Hey Tim, can you tell me any more about the ASCOM setup. I see that different sites seem to insist on the older 4.1 as opposed to the new 5 and so forth.
Peter

[tbothy]

Im using the Latest Version 5.0a ,its downloadable from the ascom site http://ascom-standards.org
Also while you are there download the driver for Autostar Controller Mount
"Meade LX200 Classic and Autostar I (combined telescope/focuser, 5.0.2)"
Install the Ascom Platform first and then the Driver for the Autostar. I think with XP there is no Problem but with vista there will be a problem where the Autostar Driver is installed. Might Have to research the web to check where it should be installed.
Cheers
Tim

[bert]

I forgot to mention that you can autoguide through the meade autostar suite with the dsi with just the serial cable. Just another option to confuse you!