EQ6/EQG/Atlas Mod Circuits
The EQ VARIABLE RATE GUIDER is a LX200 Emulator program that accepts guiding
commands from a LX200 Compatible guiding software such as GUIDEDOG, ENVISAGE,
K3CCD, etc. and converts them to EQ guide commands. This assumes that the mount
is already modified for direct
stepper control. The guide rate for the DEC and RA can be set
independently.
COM Serial connection from the autoguiding application to the EQ Guider is made possible using a virtual serial port program called HW Virtual Serial Port or HWVSP. You can actually utilize or develop your own Virtual COM Port driver for this.
Figure 1 shows the path of connection;
Figure 1: EQ Guider block diagram
LX200 guiding commands are generated from the autoguiding software and then
transmitted to the virtual com port software. The virtual com port software
then transmits the same data to the EQ Guider via TCP and translates them to EQ
Stepper commands using the EQContrl.DLL
Figure 2 is a screen shot of the EQ Guider program
Figure 2: Screenshot of the EQ Guider application
Installation:
1.0 Download the HW Group virtual serial port freeware program zip file at http://www.hw-group.com/products/hw_vsp/index_en.html
Extract the zip file and install the Virtual Serial port application
2.0 Download and extract the EQ guider zip file to a temporary
directory.
The EQ Guider (INCLUDING SOURCE CODES) can be found here.
3.0 Connect your modded mount to your PCs serial port. Put the toggle switch to
"NORMAL" Mode then allow your mount to boot up first via the
handcontroller. This will allow the paddle to set its own motor stepper values
to the mount. After the bootup, put the switch into "EXTENDED" mode.
If you want the software to initiate the bootup sequence, then you must insert
the EQ_InitMotors() function right after the EQ_Init() function within the EQ
Guider code and then re-compile it.
4.0 Execute the EQ Guider application and define the TCP port address (use 999 as default).
Make sure the port value on the EQ Guider application is the same as the IP address port value on the HW Virtual Serial Port. Currently set at TCP Port 888. You also need to confirm if the TCP/IP drivers of windows are installed.
Also specify the "physcial" COM port name where your Modded EQ Mount is connected.
* Take note, you will be handling to COM port names here; One is the "physical" which is connected directly to the EQ Mount and the other one is "virtual"port which is connected to the Virtual COM port program. This is where you connect the autoguiding software to get the LX200 protocol serial commands.
5.0 Click the 'START' button on the EQ Guider application. At this
point, EQ Guider will start listening for LX200 commands at
the local host ip address 127.0.0.1 port 999 It will
also attempt to connect to the EQ Mount
6.0 Double Click on the HW Virtual Serial Port program
shortcut and define the TCP IP parameters and the Serial COM
Port that you will be using the create the virtual serial
port
Suggested Settings
IP Address: 127.0.0.1
Port : 999
Portname : Any unused port between COM6 to COM9
7.0 Click Create COM on the HW Virtual Serial Port. At this point HWVSP will
connect to the EQ Guider listening port 999. It will also
create the virtual serial port COMx.
8.0 Connect your favorite Autoguiding program to "virtual" COMx
created by the HWVSP program.
9.0 Confirm the connection by pressing the direction buttons of your
autoguiding program. Mount should respond to all guide
commands at this point.
DOWNLOADS
USAGE
There is not much difference in terms of the standard autoguiding execution when using this application. The plus part actually is the ability to ADJUST "realtime" at 0.1 Sidreal increment steps the GUIDERATE during the autoguiding sequence. Basically you just need to watch on the Delta-X - Delta-Y pixel difference as displayed on your favorite autoguiding software. From there, you adjust the "Guiderate Sliders" as the autouguiding is being executed and "manually" find the most optimum settings.
UPGRADE
Next target is to allow the guiding software to AUTOMATICALLY adjust the GUIDERATE during autoguiding or PEC/AUTOGUIDING playback (from a previously recorded autoguiding sequence).
This idea is actually described here.
Stay tuned .......
QUESTIONS AND INQUIRIES
Email your questions at circuitmod@yahoo.com
DISCLAIMER:
You can use the information on this site COMPLETELY AT YOUR OWN RISK. The modification steps and other information on this site is provided to you "AS IS" and WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, express, statutory, implied or otherwise, including without limitation any warranty of merchantability or fitness for any particular or intended purpose. In no event the author will be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, special, incidental or consequential damages or loss of any kind whether or not the author has been advised of the possibility of such loss.