tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2326
Loc: Missouri
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Can anyone tell me what cables i will need to autoguide my ASGT (CG5) mount? I plan on using PHD and a Phillips webcam. I also probably need the GPUSB because I do not have a serial port on the back of my PC. What cable goes from the GBUSB to my ASGT mount?
Thanks,
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Todd
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Shoestring's Guide Port Flat Cable (whichever length you prefer) will work with the GPUSB if you want to use the mount's Guide Port. The less expensive alternative would be to use a USB to Serial converter (and no additional hardware) to guide via the mount's serial port.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2326
Loc: Missouri
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Thanks John. Can I use the same cable I use to upload software to the Hand Controller?...and then just get the USB to Serial converter?
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Todd
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Thanks John. Can I use the same cable I use to upload software to the Hand Controller?...and then just get the USB to Serial converter?
Yup, that should do it. Be warned that some USB-serial converters don't seem to work well - but if you get one that someone else has used successfully you should be fine. My no-name import converter has always worked for me but since I don't know who made it I can't refer you to it.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4557
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Actually, if you are going to guide via the autoguide port on the mount (ST4 style, that is), the serial port is not involved. You'll use either the GPUSB or the GPINT, which uses the parallel port. I use the latter since my laptop does have a parallel port and not using a USB port leaves that free for other stuff.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Actually, if you are going to guide via the autoguide port on the mount (ST4 style, that is), the serial port is not involved. You'll use either the GPUSB or the GPINT, which uses the parallel port. I use the latter since my laptop does have a parallel port and not using a USB port leaves that free for other stuff.
Hi, Rod.
True, but if he already has serial comm capabilities (which he must have to program the handbox) there's not much incentive to buy additional hardware just to use the guide port instead.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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KaibutsuX
super member
Reged: 08/23/07
Posts: 141
Loc: Sahuarita, Arizona
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Where is a serial port on a CG5 mount? I have autoguider and the hand control, but both of those are RJ11. Am I missing something?
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http://www.seangrider.com/astro
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Where is a serial port on a CG5 mount? I have autoguider and the hand control, but both of those are RJ11. Am I missing something?
The port on the bottom of the handbox is the serial port.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2326
Loc: Missouri
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I do have the serial cable but on my personal laptop I DO NOT have serial capabilities. Its USB only. I used a laptop from work to upgrade the hand controler. Looks like its the GPUSB for me. Thank you gentlemen.
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Todd
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Patrick
Postmaster
Reged: 05/16/03
Posts: 7800
Loc: Franklin, Ohio
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Quote:
Quote:
Thanks John. Can I use the same cable I use to upload software to the Hand Controller?...and then just get the USB to Serial converter?
Yup, that should do it. Be warned that some USB-serial converters don't seem to work well - but if you get one that someone else has used successfully you should be fine. My no-name import converter has always worked for me but since I don't know who made it I can't refer you to it.
According to the Astronomics website HERE the programming cable is not the same cable used to connect the computer to the mountfor goto functionality. This is the cable they sell for that purpose. I have no idea what is different about it.
I've been using the GPUSB cable with great success to autoguide my CG5 mount. I haven't tried the computer to mount hand contoller method of autoguiding and am not sure how it works with PHD guiding. I do know the GPUSB works. The GPUSB cable plug directly into a USB port on your laptop and directly into the ST-4 autoguider port on the mount.
Patrick
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10" f/6 Truss Tube Newtonian
Celestron C6S-GT SCT
AT66ED Refractor
Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Binocular
475B Geared Tripod & 501HDV Head
Celestron Regal 8x42 Binocular
Canon XSi; Meade DSI;SPC900-NC
Vixen GP2 Photo Guider Mount
My Astronomy Pages
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2326
Loc: Missouri
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Is the other cable I need the Guide Port Flat Cable, GPFC-7 or GBFC-14? Is this the Rj12 cable I need to go from the GBUSB to my autoguide port?
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Todd
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
According to the Astronomics website HERE the programming cable is not the same cable used to connect the computer to the mountfor goto functionality. This is the cable they sell for that purpose. I have no idea what is different about it.
The programming cable to which they refer connects to the mount base (on those models which have that connection available - the CG5-GT lacks this PC port) and was originally used for updating motor control firmware on internal circuit boards. I never looked to see whether they use that port or the handbox port for handbox updates; I guess I should find out.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Is the other cable I need the Guide Port Flat Cable, GPFC-7 or GBFC-14? Is this the Rj12 cable I need to go from the GBUSB to my autoguide port?
Yes.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
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tboss70
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/25/05
Posts: 2326
Loc: Missouri
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Thanks John, thanks everyone. Now to figure out what dual mount plate I should use. Suggestions are welcome.
I plan to mount my NHNG on one side and an ST80 on the other for autoguiding with PHD and a webcam.
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Todd
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jrcrilly
Refractor wienie no more
Reged: 04/30/03
Posts: 25182
Loc: NE Ohio
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Quote:
Thanks John, thanks everyone. Now to figure out what dual mount plate I should use. Suggestions are welcome.
Lots of folks (myself included) have owned or at least seen the ones offered by Ken's Rings - but this looks superior to me at a similar price. Losmandy has a new line of Vixen-compatible stuff which includes a side by side plate but I think I'd still rather have the ADM.
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John C
Urban Observatory
A&M/Astreya 76mm F/6 APO
TMB/LOMO 80mm F/7.5 APO
Tak FSQ-106N F/5 APO
Meade 178ED F/9 "APO"
Meade ETX-125AT
C14
Teeter 20" F/3.8 truss Newt w/ServoCat
CI-700, NJP, GPDX/SS2KPC, CG5-GT
ST-10XME, DSI Pro
Edited by jrcrilly (01/03/08 02:15 PM)
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