Guiding without an Autoguide port

[Krusty]

I was wondering if anyone out there has had any luck with guiding a telsope without using an autoguide port.

I have a celestron Nexstar 5se scope. I can interface with it between the computer and the telescopes handset. The telescope does not have an autoguide port however.

I can however control all of the axis movements through software.

I have downloaded and installed the latest Ascom platform version and have success with using the POTH program to move the telescope manually, but guiding programs I have found and installed will not allow ascom to guide this telescope automatically.

Thankyou for any ideas or help.

P.S. This is a very nice site.

[gbeal]

Welcome aboard Krusty.
What programs have you tried??
Gary

[Krusty]

I have tried Guidedog and PHD guiding. I can get the web camera operating correctly. When I choose the telescope though, my exact model is not listed.
I select the celestron Nexstar 5 telescope, but the program puts up an error message reading "sorry this scope can not be guided".

This is my first serious (for me) telescope that I have bought. I have found this to be a fantastic telescope. I have always had an interest but this telescope has really lifted it. (If I was buying it again, I would now get one with a guiding port, but at the time I did not know really what I was after)

I have been trying my hand at photography using our cannon 400d camera. I managed a 20 second exposure of Orion. Any longer than 20 seconds though, I started to see star trails.

I have also made a permanent pier in our yard with a permanent wedge mount so that when I get a good line up on the SCP, I won't have to keep finding it every time i use the telescope. I would love to also be able to guide as well though.

If I can't find a program however, I think i will still try and guide it manually just using phd guiding, and using the manual controls for the telescope on the computer.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Have you had a look at the Shoestring Astronomy site. Doug is very helpful. I modified my EQ6 hand controller to add a guide port with one of his kits and it works with PHD. I also needed the GPUSB interface.

[Krusty]

Thanks for that Peter. I will check his site out. I hadn't heard of it before.