A "How To" guide to autoguide a DSI on a non-meade mount

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

Hi Guys,

Alot of people have asked me how to autoguide with the DSI on a non-meade mount. Here's what you do.

First off, you will need to get yourself a GPUSB adapter from shoestring astronomy.

http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/gpusb.htm

This device allows you to send and receive guiding signals from your mount's guide port (RS232) to your PC via a 6 pin cable which came with the Meade DSI. You will also need the following program:

Guidestar v1.1a
============
http://www.skyinsight.net/wiki/index...r#Version_1.1a

Guidestar allows you to emulate non-meade mount into thinking it is a LX200.

Hardware Virtual Serial Port
=====================
http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
To redirect RS232 data to predefined TCP/IP address and port.

Meade Envisage Software
====================
I use Envisage to autoguide the DSI. There are however other guiding software available. You can find a list here:

http://www.store.shoestringastronomy...roducts_gp.htm

Once the following software are installed, plug the shoestring GPUSB adapter into your USB port. Plug the 6 pin cable which came with the DSI into the GPUSB adapter and the other end to your autoguiding port in your mount.

*** IMPORTANT ***
I use the EQ6 to autoguide with the DSI. On the EQ6 mount, the RS232 port is reversed. I had make abit of modification on the 6 pin autoguiding cable and reverse the wiring on it.

I have attached the EQ6 autoguide port wiring diagram below.

Next step, open up Guidestar v1.1a . Next to port, you should see a dropdown arrow, click on it and select GPUSB then click the Start button. Ensure that you have a tick in '1 at a time per axis' box.

Now open up HW Virtual Serial Port. In the IP Address field, type your IP Address for your computer which you are going to guide on. If you are in a network environment, enter your LAN IP for that computer eg: 10.0.0.2 . In the Port box, type a port number which you don't use eg: 888 . Below Port Name, select a COM port which you don't use eg: COM5. Now click 'Create COM'.

Open up Envisage with your DSI connected and select the Telescope tab. In the 'Connect' box right below the tab, enter COM5 which you use in HW Virtual Serial Port. Click on the 'Connect' button. You should now see in the Status box "Track Only/Guide Only" message on the bottom of the Telescope tab. Now find yourself a guidestar on your screen. It doesn't have to be in perfect focus. Nice round circle is good enough. Draw a red box around your guide star about the size of your thumb nail then click 'Guide Here/Track Here' button in the Telescope tab.

** Note: If you are using a Meade Mount to guide, the button will display Guide Here, if you are using a non-meade mount it will display Track Here. **

Envisage will then calculate the x and y position of your guide star. It can take a few minutes to complete. After a while you will notice a yellow circle in the backgound. Envisage will now move the guide star onto the centre of this yellow circle. You are done.

All you have to do now is sit back and monitor the X and Y axis in the Status box. If the X and Y sits on average between 0.1 - 1.5, you have good guiding. Don't worry if the x and y axis goes up to 3 or even 5 for a few seconds. You will not notice this if you are taking long subs.

Goodluck on your guiding adventure.

[Dennis]

Nice write up Eric.

Cheers

Dennis

[Striker (Tony)]

Well written Eric...should help some people going down this track.

Just one thing your image of the wired Nebula is too over exposed..your back ground should dark blue/black not white....lol

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Nice write up Eric.

But for those of us you don't have the computer nouse, where would we find our computers IP or Lan address? H0w would we find a port that isn't used or a non-used com port?

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

cheers guys thanks. I'm not familar with other guiding software so i wouldnt know how to use them.
To find your IP address, click Start --> Run --> and type 'cmd' .
In DOS prompt, type 'ipconfig' . That will show you what your IP Address is.

To find out what ports you have available, that will depend on what software you have installed. Port range goes from 1 to 30000 . If you don't know what port are being used, i recommend using between 10000 - 30000 .

To find out what COM port you have that are available, that will depend on what hardware you have installed. I guess try each of the COM port until one connects

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Hey I can do that

[SMR (Steve)]

Originally Posted by EzyStyles

To find your IP address, click Start --> Run --> and type 'cmd' . In DOS prompt, type 'ipconfig' . That will show you what your IP Address is.

An easier way is to configure your software to talk to the IP address 127.0.0.1. This is a special address that is used to let the computer talk to itself (the so-called "loopback" address). Very easy.

Steve