Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums
Privacy Policy |
Please read our Terms
of Service | Signup and
Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu.... uh, User
rg55
member
Reged: 08/02/08
Posts: 94
Loc: western US
|
|
Hi Folks,
Is there anyone out there who has used Bluestar with their CG5? I have the advanced system go to version of the mount, which is about 3 years old or so. Would like to try it. Any information, discussion, etc is welcome!
Thanks,
Richard
--------------------
C8 on AS-CG5 mount
Orion 127 mak
C80ED
Canon XSi
Sony HD videocam
Celestron Neximage
|
Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2703
|
|
I bought one two years ago and never got it to work with my CGE. My PC has a non standard com stack, but it has worked with everything else I have ever tried to comm with.
One other person also told me that he had issues and the he persisted and eventually got to talk to the designer, and they managed to get it going.
Two cases of probably hundreds, so possibly just isolated instances.. I will watch the other responses.
--------------------
Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
|
Chris Rowland
sage
Reged: 02/28/05
Posts: 268
|
|
If you are thinking of using the ASCOM driver with Bluestar providing the RS232 serial link then your chances will be enhanced if you load the Platform 5.5 update. It gives you a better serial driver.
Chris
|
Lane
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1512
Loc: Frisco, Texas
|
|
I am using one with my CGEM and my Sirius mount, works great, but you have to set your computer's power options so it never turns off the hard drives or screen or goes into hibernate. I have found that any of those events breaks the connection.
The problem I had getting the CGEM set up is that they only make one generic Bluestar device now and it is the cable that allows you to use it with various scopes. The Celestron (nexstar) cable was not available as of 3 months ago. I finally tracked one down after a week of looking but it was the last one that place had. OPT and Orion both told me that the Celestron cable had been discontinued. But I guess you could have one made at a computer store or electronics store, since the pin configuration is available.
--------------------
Mounts: CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager/motorized
SCTs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11,
Refractors: TV Pronto, Orion ED80
|
rg55
member
Reged: 08/02/08
Posts: 94
Loc: western US
|
|
Hey Edgie,
I haven't been able to learn much myself. It appears that the Celestron Bluestar is discontinued or out of stock or something. Maybe wireless control from the comfort of the house is still just a fantasy.
Thanks for reading and responding.
--------------------
C8 on AS-CG5 mount
Orion 127 mak
C80ED
Canon XSi
Sony HD videocam
Celestron Neximage
|
rg55
member
Reged: 08/02/08
Posts: 94
Loc: western US
|
|
Thanks for sharing, Lane. I never thought of what a nuisance the screensaver could be.
It would be nice if someone out there were working on something Bluetooth the CG-5 could use, but it isn't evident anywhere.
--------------------
C8 on AS-CG5 mount
Orion 127 mak
C80ED
Canon XSi
Sony HD videocam
Celestron Neximage
|
tjay
sage
Reged: 02/03/07
Posts: 370
Loc: Brooklin, Ontario (just east o...
|
|
rg55,if you want to get in touch with the Bluestar designer, let me know and I'll PM you his email address.
I'm the one the Eddgie mentioned.
There is apparently a problem with some Celestron hand controllers timing out before the Bluestar fully connects. The designer actually had to modify mine to get it working, but it works great now.
--------------------
Clear Skies
Tom
Nexstar 8 GPS
GSO 8" Dob
Meade ETX 80
Canon XSi (unmodded)
Kendrick Dew Heater
11mm, 20mm Agena Astro UWA
40mm, 32mm, 26mm, 20mm and 15mm Meade Series 4000 Super Plossl
25mm and 10mm GSO Plossl, GSO 2x barlow
GSO 2" Dielectric diagonal
Antares f6.3 focal reducer
Philips SPC900NC
|
Eddgie
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/01/06
Posts: 2703
|
|
Thanks for chining in, Tom. I was hoping you would.
I never did get mine to work. I bought a new Gateway Laptop and was hoping that it would work with the new laptop, but imaging my surprise when I found out that this machine (a hot gaming laptop) didn't have bluetooth.. LOL.
I have even thought of going to a serial cable instead of Bluestar, but of course the laptop doesn't have a serial port.
I know that you can put togeter a USB to Serial with the right connector on it, but I keep hoping someone will just offer one pre-made with the right connector on each end.
I Don't need wireless, but I do like the thought of having computer control. It is on my list of things to do.
Regards.
--------------------
Celestron C14, CGE (Big Al)
Astro-Physics 6" f/8 (Buffy)
Televue 101 (No name, but I call it my Widescreen HD Space TV)
The night sky is my mistress. She seduces me away from all other lovers.
|
Lane
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/19/07
Posts: 1512
Loc: Frisco, Texas
|
|
Hey Guys:
Adding bluetooth to your computer is pretty easy. In the picture below that little thing you see is the Rockfish Micro Bluetooth adapter. It is the size of a nickel. I use that with my laptop and it generates a strong enough signal to control my Bluestar device from about 25 feet away.
If you want to go with a hardwired connection and have no serial port. The cable you see in this picture it all you need. Don't remember the brand name but I remember it cost less than $20. This just plugs into a usb port and then plugs into the serial cable that came with your mount.
--------------------
Mounts: CGEM, ORION SIRIUS, AT Voyager/motorized
SCTs: C6, C8, C9.25, C11,
Refractors: TV Pronto, Orion ED80
|
|
11 registered and 10 anonymous users are browsing this forum.
Moderator: Charlie Hein, lineman_16735
Print Thread
|
Forum Permissions
You cannot start new topics
You cannot reply to topics
HTML is disabled
UBBCode is enabled
|
Thread views: 155
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
