Celestron GPS Accessory Kit CN16 (Advanced GT)

[lmudge]

Hi,

I have just purchased second hand a Celestron C8-NGT with a GPS Accessory Kit CN16. The GPS kit did not come with any instructions (may have been lost by the original owner). What I need to know is how to connect this up to my GT mount and my hand controller? There is a picture on the side of the box but it is not clear enough to show me how to connect it. The Celestron website does not have a manual or instructions for this.

Thanks,

Leith

Leith.Mudge@bigpond.com

[guru_meditation]

Hi Leith,

I will have a look at my setup when I get home, as I have the GPS attached to my Celestron. Will send a photo and instructions later.

Simon

[lmudge]

Thanks Simon ,

I find it a bit bizarre that Celestron does not have a manual or instructions that I can download from their website addressing this. I just managed to get instructions from my local Celestron dealer on how to setup the hand controller to work with the GPS once I have connected it up but no picture or diagram relating to how to connect them up.

Regards,

Leith

Leith.Mudge@bigpond.com

[sheeny (Al)]

G'Day Leith,

You should have two parts each with leads coming out of them: the GPS itself and the auxiliary port "box".

The lead from the auxiliary port "box" plugs into the mount where your hand controller used to.

The GPS unit plugs into the auxiliary port "box" as does your hand controller.

If you need anything more specific, I too can have a look when I get home!

I hope that's all you need to know. I reckon the GPS was the best thing I've done to the CG-5! It has improved the accuracy of the goto considerably (by improving the accuracy of the time measurement).

Al.

[lmudge]

Thanks Al ,

I suspected as much. I will connect it up this way when I get home.

BTW, I also believe that having accurate time will be the main advantage of using GPS to synchronise my GOTO mount. My location will not generally change but the time will change continuously. You only have to watch how fast a star moves out of the field of view of a moderately powered eyepiece to recognise that accurate time on a GOTO telescope would be important.

Regards,

Leith

Leith.Mudge@bigpond.com

[g__day (Matthew)]

That's my understand too. I think once you've connected and powered the hardware - you have to use the hand controller, set up normally (enter date, time location etc), then go into utilities and set GPS on. From what I understand next time you switch on it will try and use the GPS to figure everything you had to enter before.

For fixed locations I wish there was an API that a controlling PC could enter all this data (date, time from MS time and location fixed so from say google Earth!)

[sheeny (Al)]

Yeah I hear you g_day... the GPS unit is probably not much chop inside a dome.

Al.

[guru_meditation]

OK,

Mine goes:

Hand Control Port on the CG-5 to the secondary triple port device. Aux-1 to the Hand Control, Aux-2 to the GPS device. Works for me.

Best

Simon

[lmudge]

Hi all,

I set it up as suggested and turned the GPS on using the hand controller and it all works well. The first time it took quite a while (approx 30 minutes) to get a GPS fix on the position (the time came fairly quickly). Now that the GPS has it's bearing in the world it is much quicker in getting a GPS fix (order of 1 to 2 minutes).

Now I am having problems with getting it aligned. I guess that is one of the draw-back of getting a German Equatorial mount that you have to point it at the South Celestial Pole reasonably accurately every time you set the scope up.

Regards,

Leith

Leith.Mudge@bigpond.com