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I tried a little while ago using a Meade DSI via a USB into a laptop, which then has a serial cable I built, via adapters through a virtual h/w port, connected by a ShoeString adapter, into a LX200 emulator, into Meade's Autostar suite for auto-guiding a Celestron CG5 goto mount.
For all those connections it actually appeared to work after one annoying start up behaviour. On start up it would slew +ve RA; I guess the autoguider is getting a full RA +ve slew voltage by default rather than null voltages. If I connected the cables only after I had everything else set-up it all seemed to work (surprise, surprise); without being concerned as to the DSI's initial orientation.
Annoying how you need two foreign bits of hardware (three if I count the USB 2.0 PCMCIA adapter for the old laptop), and at least 3 types of foreign software (4 if I count the ASCOM drivers), before I can get it all to function. Next week I'm adding autofocusing too, using JMI's USB autofocuser into Meade's #1209 motorfocuser at the back of my C9.25 andd seeing if this will all run via Autostar (making it about 5 or 6 bits of foreign software to drive it all - shudder).
Then if I can get all this running I have to motorise the dome and finally remote access control it all - oh what fun!
Why isn't there one extensible package that does this all via ASCOM drivers for all main types of mounts and cameras? It would be much better than the forest of code, drivers and hardware I've assembled to do it all!
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