IOptron GTS/GTN ST4 autoguiding

[wasyoungonce]

Finally...at last I can ST4 autoguide with my Gotostar (GTS) EQ5 mount.

Ioptron sent me a pre-release ST4/HBX autoguiding interface which I tested with PHD and a new firmware in my hand controller. I used my ZS70 ED as the guide scope on top of my ED80 and QHY 5 guide camera.

The first few times...fail..wouldn't calibrate. I was just plonking my scope down setting the angle to the SCP & latitude very roughly. I couldn't see the SCP as there is a tree in the way. I finally did a drift align out of desperation and found my mount was not pointing anywhere near the SCP.:shrug:was

We had a pool put in and all the reinforcement & fencing was obviously playing havoc with my compass! The pool deak area was causing a massive magnetic deviation!

Cut to the chase. After drift align...no problem calibrating PHD. 1St PHD guide on a star for 20 minutes no problem...then the clouds rolled in.

I think I will now sacrifice a goat to give thanks:D

Problem is now. Once I have finally got my GTS system running well ..."I need a bigger capacity mount to carry all the ancillaries"!

Oh the indignity of it all!

edit:

Ahhh the pictures...where are the pictures:

[kamayok3]

Did Ioptron sent you this pre-release ST4/HBX autoguiding interface free of charge? Can explain more in details?

Regards,

Tommy

[wasyoungonce]

Hi Tommy...I wish they did, I had to buy it which is a bit of a low act. Cost was $49USD + Shipping. But back then I was desperate for ST4 auto guiding.

There was a gent in England that trailed one they sent to him for free. He couldn't get it working & sent it to me.

I ended up with 2 units, his free one & the one I paid for...from waiting for them to having 2 in the space of a week...go figure! They both worked just fine. I believe the person in England didn't use the interface with the handset in the auto guide sub-menu. I also tested them by stimulating the inputs with ST4 commands & the handset gave the correct output guide corrections.

I have now sent the 2nd unit to a user in America who is going to try it with various IOptron systems: GTS/GTN & Cubes.

I do not think there were many of these pre-release units made but IOptron said they would be releasing them about OCt 09....which has come & gone. Sigh!

If you want one you have to keep pressure to the right people. Try Kewen Li (kkli@bostonati.com) in IOPtron. I suspect he'll be able to help.

If you don't have success from that then PM me for more contacts. More reading on the original GTS NJidea forum (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ideaxuwen/).:thumbsup:

[Oshb5]

Hello

I saw that you have got the ST4 adaptor working with the goto Nova kit. and also using PHD guiding. Can i just ask how have you got it set up please I.E. what is wired to whatand where to and what are you using cables and so on... ? Say going From Laptop to what to what to St4 adaptor to HBX port?

Regards Andy

[wasyoungonce]

Hi Andy.

I don't have the Ioptron nowdays but I did put a document on all this on the NJIdea yahoo forum (above link) and the Ioptron Yahoo forum (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/ioptron/).

The old NjIdea forum is not moderated anymore so is nothing but a spam fest but the documents would still be there. The Ioptron forum??? sorry I am not a member of them anymore.

Ioptron are selling the interface (http://www.ioptron.com/index.cfm?select=productdetails&phid=66a4bcfe-2572-461c-9051-ee883e562b3c) on their website and have some instructions in a link on that page.

However to cut to the chase, just connect the Guide ST4 to the interface and the interface out plug to any of the HBX ports and it will work..oh..and you need to have the latest firmware and have the handset in the autoguide sub-menu for it to work.

Hope this helps! Good luck.