Gemini and Lodestar relays
Posted: 04 Dec 2018, 14:06
Hi Everyone,
I recently upgraded to AA5 and changed the configuration I use for guiding my Gemini L4. Previous to this, I used a USB to serial cable into the Gemini RS-232 port. The device manager would give me the COM port and I would use that in AA to connect and guide the mount. So the telescope connection I used was an LX 200 compatible and then same connection for the guide.
I am now using the small 4 pin connector cable directly from the Lodestar to the autoguider input of the Gemini. In this configuration, there is no COM port assigned by the computer. I use Lodestar relays for both telescope and guide connection. The COM ports are gray but can still be selected on both telescope and guide drop downs.
I would swear that despite the fact that these are gray, that if I didn’t pick the right COM port the guiding would not work and the only way to find the COM port was by trial and error but the more I think about it – I must be in error??
So - my questions are – Is the “Lodestar Relays” the proper connection for my present autoguider configuration and in this configuration do the COM ports matter? If the COM ports matter – is there any way to determine what they are besides trial and error. If they don’t matter, then I should take some time off and explore these hallucinations I seem to be experiencing ..LOL!
I think I know the answers but just want to confirm.
Thanks.
Mike
I recently upgraded to AA5 and changed the configuration I use for guiding my Gemini L4. Previous to this, I used a USB to serial cable into the Gemini RS-232 port. The device manager would give me the COM port and I would use that in AA to connect and guide the mount. So the telescope connection I used was an LX 200 compatible and then same connection for the guide.
I am now using the small 4 pin connector cable directly from the Lodestar to the autoguider input of the Gemini. In this configuration, there is no COM port assigned by the computer. I use Lodestar relays for both telescope and guide connection. The COM ports are gray but can still be selected on both telescope and guide drop downs.
I would swear that despite the fact that these are gray, that if I didn’t pick the right COM port the guiding would not work and the only way to find the COM port was by trial and error but the more I think about it – I must be in error??
So - my questions are – Is the “Lodestar Relays” the proper connection for my present autoguider configuration and in this configuration do the COM ports matter? If the COM ports matter – is there any way to determine what they are besides trial and error. If they don’t matter, then I should take some time off and explore these hallucinations I seem to be experiencing ..LOL!
I think I know the answers but just want to confirm.
Thanks.
Mike