Connecting the G11 and gemini to a Computer

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Grahame

hughy,

Irrespective of where power comes from, the gemini will do it's SRAM/RTC updates when turned on using a standard GPS NMEA output coming from the GPS to the rs232 port. Thats all it needs for your session as at this point I will unplug the GPS and connect the computer for the rest of the night

Grahame

i will follow your lead (no pun intended) thanks for the top tips

[h0ughy (David)]

well update - i have a new PC conencted with a geniune serial port dedicated for this task. I have loaded starry night pro and the ascom drivers and updates and plugins. i cannot connect to the G11 no matter what, yet the cable is testing ok and it is the one supplied to do the job. this is very very frustraiting

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Have you checked the communication setting in the Gemini Dave?

btw i've never been able to connect the Gemini to Starry Night. Try CdC and see if that works

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Geoff (Asterisk) and I easily and successfully connected his Gemini to Voyager. No problems to speak of...

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by [1ponders]

Have you checked the communication setting in the Gemini Dave?

btw i've never been able to connect the Gemini to Starry Night. Try CdC and see if that works

Originally Posted by Omaroo

Geoff (Asterisk) and I easily and successfully connected his Gemini to Voyager. No problems to speak of...

i have set everything under the sun - even used the trial version of GCC - no go. I have voyager (the 2cent special) but it doen not have the full database i require. I will give it a go though - i have used everything but the kitchen sink.

I will try CDC and see if that works as well but it is frustraiting me. the port works wit hthe GPS, and the com port works on the PC (can connect to eq6 hand control) so the ports themselves work

[Octane (Humayun)]

Are you 100% certain that the cable is good and there's no crossed wires or anything anywhere?

I have a spare cable I could loan you if you like to test (DSUB-9 serial to RJ11). The guys at work made me up a couple and they both work beautifully via a USB-serial connection, too.

H

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi David

Have you ever had any control of the Gemini from your computer.
I made my own cable from the directions and it worked first time from TheSky ver 6 connected as a Gemini, GCC , Stellarium and a program I wrote myself. There was no need for ASCOM drivers.

If there is no Gemini in the list try the LX200. The protocol is the same.

If you get no response using a known good cable I would start to suspect that there is something internally in the Gemini itself like a burnt out buffer in the signal line. I have had that trouble in LX200's from faulty connections/voltage spikes etc. However I think you said that a GPS unit worked. Don't forget that the GPS unit needed a special nul modem cable.

Barry

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

I had trouble with connecting to a computer when I 1st got my G11/Gemini.

I soon found that my serial cable to RJ22 wiring was different to the Losmandy requirements (although fine on a previous different mount).

I had to re-terminate the RJ22 cable to that of pg 80/81 of the Gemini lvl4 manual.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Octane

Are you 100% certain that the cable is good and there's no crossed wires or anything anywhere?

I have a spare cable I could loan you if you like to test (DSUB-9 serial to RJ11). The guys at work made me up a couple and they both work beautifully via a USB-serial connection, too.

H

i got the cable from Bintel, and sent it back the first time when i had problems - they tested it and said it worked - then sent it back. i haven't had a chance to install it until i built the observatory PC again.

I am getting that desperate i probably will take you up on the offer

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

Hi David

Have you ever had any control of the Gemini from your computer.
I made my own cable from the directions and it worked first time from TheSky ver 6 connected as a Gemini, GCC , Stellarium and a program I wrote myself. There was no need for ASCOM drivers.

If there is no Gemini in the list try the LX200. The protocol is the same.

If you get no response using a known good cable I would start to suspect that there is something internally in the Gemini itself like a burnt out buffer in the signal line. I have had that trouble in LX200's from faulty connections/voltage spikes etc. However I think you said that a GPS unit worked. Don't forget that the GPS unit needed a special nul modem cable.

Barry

no Barry i havent - thats why i am trying now. i will try the lx 200 protocol and see if that works

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by wasyoungonce

I had trouble with connecting to a computer when I 1st got my G11/Gemini.

I soon found that my serial cable to RJ22 wiring was different to the Losmandy requirements (although fine on a previous different mount).

I had to re-terminate the RJ22 cable to that of pg 80/81 of the Gemini lvl4 manual.

this was supposed to be a genuine LOSMANDY cable connection?

[cfranks (Charles)]

Any improvement Dave? I've only just seen this thread and may be able to help. I use GCC all the time to manually control the Gemini through the Serial Port. I can't/don't use GCC with software that uses the ASCOM interface, but said software still uses the Serial Port.

Charles

[h0ughy (David)]

no improvement whatsoever. i have a friend who is going to loan me his cable to test on the system - it does work on his......

[sejanus (Gavin)]

dave if you use a straight terminal program, can you see ascii characters and so on coming back from the mount?