more mac questions, and GPUSB too...

[troypiggo]

Where I'm at on this new MacBook Pro running Snow Leopard 10.6.1:

Running natively the following Mac apps:
- CdC v3
- Astroplanner
- PHD Guiding
- Nebulosity
- Canon EOS Utility

Also have VMWare Fusion running with WinXP so have all of the above plus these in virtual machine:
- ASCOM and EQMOD
- Logitech RumblePad 2
- Guidemaster
- Alignmaster
- Metaguide
- some others...

Question time:

1. Couldn't see Mac drivers for GPUSB on the Shoestring Astronomy site. Does it work with Mac?

2. Can you use GPUSB to slew etc from planetarium software? Would be nice if could do this from CdC. If the GPUSB doesn't work, I have a USB to RS232 cable that I use with EQMOD plugging it into the HEQ5Pro port. Can I use this instead? How?

3. Without EQMOD/ASCOM, how would you/do you GOTO?

Pretty sure I can get the imaging and guiding working natively, but bit puzzled about the slewing and planetarium control without using VMWare.

Possible alternative would be to guide (if it works) with the GPUSB in the guide port, standard synscan hand controller to slew/goto. But I do so like my gamepad and EQMod...

[dpastern]

Troy - firstly, the macs come with bootcamp. Install XP and boot into XP. Secondly, I'd recommend parallels over fusion - most feedback seems to imply that it's better. I can't say much about the applications/drivers as I'm not using a Mac (although I do have an aging PowerMac G4).

Dave

[troypiggo]

I don't want to boot into XP. I want to use Mac apps where I can, hence the Fusion for what doesn't run on Mac.

I did a little reading and the consensus of my admittedly quick research was that Fusion was better than Parallels. I think it comes down to personal preference, you're going to get fors and againsts for each. Much of a muchness.

[troypiggo]

Partial update. Did some testing tonight and EQMod with gamepad works fine through VMWare. So I can image and guide natively through Mac, but planetarium/goto through VMWare. Fairly happy with that.

[dpastern]

Well, that's good news. Good stuff.

Dave

[dannat]

Troy - you made the right choice with VM over parallels

For plantarium google sky gazer & voyager - they make a planetarium program & i think they have an app that can goto - the same company makes app's for the iphone

[peter_4059]

The GPUSB will only do guiding through the mount's ST4 port - not goto's. You are better off sticking with EQMOD if you can make it work.

[troypiggo]

Thanks guys. Will look into it, but I'm happy running EQMod over VMWare for now.

[tonybarry]

Stellarium 0.10.2 (planetarium software) will run on Mac OS X, will drive a Meade scope via telescope server via USB//RS232 adapter and #505 or #506 cable.

Stell in my opinion has flawless graphics. And it's open source.

Astroplanner for Mac also connects to scopes and does goto. I know this because I have AP and it's used every night I get out the scope.

Regards,
Tony Barry