canopus56
sage
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 450
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I am playing around with an inherited ETX125 circa 2007. I have it adapted for autoguiding, that is a separate light-weight autoguding camera can be adapted.
Will the ETX support autoguiding? I have a Shoestring GOUSB adapter and PHD installed. I am hesitant to plug something in the AUX port that sends ST4 standard signals out of concern I'll fry the scope board. Do I still need to dig up and buy the discontinued 909 cable-adapter to send Meade compliant signals to the ETX? Thanks - Canopus56
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Billydee
super member
Reged: 01/23/08
Posts: 184
Loc: Winter Haven, FL
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Google: Meade #909 Clone
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canopus56
sage
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 450
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Then the answer is that you must have the 909 box? - C
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4561
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Quote:
Then the answer is that you must have the 909 box? - C
Negative. The ETX 125 can be autoguided through its serial port. The scope must be setup in EQ mode, of course.
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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canopus56
sage
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 450
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Thanks Rod. So I just pipe ST-4 compatible commands into the AUX port and the ETX will interpret it? - Canopus56
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jgraham
Postmaster
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 6751
Loc: Dayton, Ohio
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No, the Aux port is for accessories like an electric focus drive not for guiding. The Meade Autostar telescopes cannot use ST-4 pulse guide commands. You'll need to guide the ETX through the Autostar #497 handbox over a serial line. For PHD you'll need the ASCOM drivers for the #497 controller...
http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htm
look about halfway down the page for...
"Meade LX200 Classic and Autostar #494, #495, and #497 (combined telescope/focuser, 5.0.3)"
I haven't tried this with my ETX, but it did work fine with my LXD75 along with the driver update on Stark Labs' web site.
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-John
================================================
Homebuilt scopes from 4.25-16.5"
Meade LXD75-N6/SN6/SC8, DSX-90, ETX-60BB, ETX-125PE, DS-2130
Orion StarBlast, BinoViewers, Coronado PST
Rebel XT/XTi, DSI Pro (I, II, & III), DSI, LPI, Electronic Eyepiece, Phillips SPC900NC
Tasco 60mm Refractors
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canopus56
sage
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 450
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Thanks. Another dumb question. So to work, the 505 cable just gets plugged into the handbox and PHP will autoguide? - Canopus56
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4561
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NO...don't plug into there. The RS-232 port is what you want...the connector on the base of the Autostar.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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rmollise
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 4561
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Quote:
Thanks. Another dumb question. So to work, the 505 cable just gets plugged into the handbox and PHP will autoguide? - Canopus56
Yes. You'll need ASCOM installed as well and the aforementioned driver, too, though.
--------------------
Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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canopus56
sage
Reged: 05/01/05
Posts: 450
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Okay, I think I got it from this Bisque The Sky page:
http://www.bisque.com/help/theskyV6/Telescope/Autostar_by_Meade_Instruments_Corporation_1.htm#AutostarSetup
- except for on a modern laptop you also use a serial-to-USB converter. The grey cable is the Meade 505 cable.
By "on the base of the Autostar" you mean the left-hand RS232 port on the base of Autostar #497 handbox-controller-paddle and not AUX port on the control panel on the base of the ETX. The control panel on the base of the ETX is also sometimes called - in name-branded speak - the "Autostar base panel". The handbox, hand-paddle or hand-controller is usually called - in name-branded speak - the "Autostar hand paddle".
The Meade #909 APM (accessory product module) is not needed or relevant.
Sorry to be so dense on this. I ran across so many webpages that said the Meade 909 is needed, so not needed, or may be needed, I forgot which way the obvious "up" was and became worried I'd do something that would fry the controller board. The cable setup is the same basic cable setup as an Orion-Synta handpaddle or a Celestron handle-paddle for computer control, except there's no separate auto-guider port on the base of the ETX mount - er um - Autostar base panel.
Thanks again, Kurt
"Language is a virus from outerspace." - William S. Burroughs.
http://www.acjournal.org/holdings/vol6/iss3/responses/attias/virus.html
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astrogene1000
Vendor
Reged: 02/16/09
Posts: 5
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A few mis-conceptions here.
Is the 909 'needed' to guide, no.
The 909 -does- provide for ST4 input to 497 controlled telescopes, it also provides control of an analog focus motor and a wired reticule eyepiece.
What would a 909 provide? It would free up your 497 rs232 port, say you have PHD doing guiding via serial and then you want to slew to someplace else under computer control. Quit PHD, connect other program to 497, slew, re-start PHD guiding.
Say you have a camera that provides ST4 output, it won't talk serial to the 497 so the ST4 909 is the only way in.
Gene
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Jimmy2K63
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/26/09
Posts: 1184
Loc: Kentucky
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Now you all have me confused. I know you are talking about the base AUX port on the ETX. The LXD75 also has an AUX port on the mount and the RS232 port on the handbox. The 505 cable comes from the laptops serial port to the RS232 port and can guide. Are you telling me that if you have a 909 box (which is now discontinued), you can directly use ST4 output from something like a SSAG and input it into a 909 and feed it into the AUX port, avoiding PHD altogether?
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http://astronomyguy63.blogspot.com/
LXD75 SN6-UHTC
Cave Astrola 10" f/5
Garrett 15x70/FarSight
Canon XS (1000D)
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astrogene1000
Vendor
Reged: 02/16/09
Posts: 5
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Correct if the SSAG is the 'Solitare' version, it plugs into the 909 and does not require use of PHD.
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