Search found 13 matches

by mdurkin
Mon Apr 11, 2016 11:36 am
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Re: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC

That's correct Faqeer.

In the end I just needed the USB Shoestring adapter and I made my own cable to go from the Shoestring Adapter to the hand controller port on the drive. I have been using this set up for a few years now and I have usually been pretty happy with the results.
by mdurkin
Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:31 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: GPUSB output and relays?
Replies: 9
Views: 11059

Re: GPUSB output and relays?

Hi Doug, I just wanted to let you know that everything looks to be working fine. I had my first chance to try out the adapter this weekend and took my best image of M45 so far: http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2576/3937006483_bdb3f8c6cc_b.jpg I stacked 10 frames, each 2 minutes long. You can see some ...
by mdurkin
Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:32 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: GPUSB output and relays?
Replies: 9
Views: 11059

Re: GPUSB output and relays?

Hi Doug, I don't yet have a picture of the hand controller, but I wanted to verify something about the GPUSB adapter. So I borrowed some one's multimeter and ran GPUSBCheck using the multimeter on the contacts on the top of the adapter. During my test, there isn't any cable attached. So assuming I a...
by mdurkin
Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:53 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: GPUSB output and relays?
Replies: 9
Views: 11059

Re: GPUSB output and relays?

Doug, It's going to take me a while to get back to you on that since I don't have the hand controller readily available. It will probably be about 2 weeks before I can get a hold of it. I may have used the wrong term by calling the connector an RJ-11. I can tell you that it is definitely 6P6C (6 pos...
by mdurkin
Mon Aug 24, 2009 4:18 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: GPUSB output and relays?
Replies: 9
Views: 11059

Re: GPUSB output and relays?

Doug, Thanks for the reply. I wrote back about this a couple of years ago and included a couple of images of the hand controller circuit board: http://www.celtic-dreamer.com/images/DSCN3501.JPG http://www.celtic-dreamer.com/images/DSCN3507.JPG And the drive itself: http://www.telescopebluebook.com/s...
by mdurkin
Mon Aug 24, 2009 1:19 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: GPUSB output and relays?
Replies: 9
Views: 11059

GPUSB output and relays?

Hi, Last week I bought the GPUSB Shoestring adapter and an SBIG relay box hoping that the combination would work on my old Celestron mount. The mount only has an RJ-11 port for the hand controller. I wired my laptop to the Shoestring adapter, then connected to the relay box, then then finally to the...
by mdurkin
Tue Aug 11, 2009 3:08 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Re: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC

Thanks Doug,

I've just ordered a USB Shoestring adapter and the SBIG relay box. Hopefully this combo will work for me.

-Mike Durkin
by mdurkin
Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:20 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Re: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC

Hi, After a couple of years, I'm again looking at my autoguiding options. I was wondering if the Shoestring adapter would work with an SBIG Relay Adapter Box (http://www.sbig.com/pdffiles/relay_box_instructions.pdf or http://www.optcorp.com/product.aspx?pid=2571) when connection to the hand controll...
by mdurkin
Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:22 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Doug, I took apart my hand controller and compared with the PDF file you referenced. I don't think my hand controller quite matches up with the document. I'm including images of the front and back of the curcuit board of my hand controller. The single small switch in the upper right is for the LED l...
by mdurkin
Thu Jul 26, 2007 3:21 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Thanks Doug. If I don't need or want to have the hand controller plugged in while guiding, do I have any other options? Or do I need to have something like the hand controller plugged in anyway to act as a relay box?

-Mike Durkin
by mdurkin
Thu Jul 26, 2007 1:22 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Doug, I don't have a picture of the hand controller on me right now, however I did find an image on Astromart for an 11 inch Celestron Ultima, which seems to use the same hand controller: http://www.astromart.com/images/classifieds/460000-460999/460805-3.jpg That image shows the hand controller on t...
by mdurkin
Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:36 am
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Doug, Thanks for the reply. I was also looking at the website and came across this page: http://www.shoestringastronomy.com/diy/diy.htm Where I noticed you have an autoguiding system with a telescope that looks similar to mine. In fact, here is an image of the drive interfaces that looks almost iden...
by mdurkin
Wed Jul 25, 2007 11:05 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC
Replies: 15
Views: 29399

Hardware to guide a Celestron Ultima 8 PEC

Hi, I have an Ultima 8 with PEC and I am trying to figure out what exactly I need to autoguide with this telescope. I have just bought the discounted DSI Pro, with the intention of using that as the guiding camera. I want to use a program such as MaxDSLR, Guide Dog, or PHD, to send adjustments to th...