Search found 1046 matches

by dpanderson
Wed Aug 09, 2006 8:03 am
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Guiding a Skywatcher EQ6 Pro mount
Replies: 4
Views: 9036

I have a 120mm Apo on the EQ6 Pro mount. Have you had any experience with this setup? No, not directly. Is the mount supported? Because this mount includes an autoguide port, it should be able to work with the GPUSB. If you know where there is a copy of the manual for the mount online, I could look...
by dpanderson
Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:48 pm
Forum: Third-Party Hardware and Software
Topic: JMI Mototrac V controller problem
Replies: 8
Views: 20990

Were the voltage readings you measured positive or negative (using pin 2 to the negative lead of your voltmeter)? It is possible that the Mototrac V is an "active high" device. If so, we can try the GPUSB-AH to see if that solves the problem. I will email the folks at JMI and see if they can give me...
by dpanderson
Wed Aug 02, 2006 2:53 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Problem with GPINT test.
Replies: 3
Views: 7421

About six months ago, I worked with another customer on modifying a Vixen DD-1 hand-controller. It turns out that the way Vixen designed their hand controller is different than CG-5 type hand controllers. CG-5s use "active low" switches, and thus are directly compatible with the Shoestring GPINT-PT ...
by dpanderson
Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:49 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: help with communcation
Replies: 6
Views: 11428

Paul, I have never tried Maxim Essentials myself, but it should support the GPINT-PT directly. You only need to use an ASCOM driver with Essentials if you are using the GPUSB. As for your error, are there other parallel port options that you can select from Essentials? Try them all and see if one of...
by dpanderson
Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:43 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Celestron Celestar 8
Replies: 7
Views: 15953

Alistar,

I own a Celestar 8 myself, and running the RJ12 cable from the GPUSB to where the hand controller box plugs in is exactly what I do. You should have no problem with this setup.
by dpanderson
Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:40 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Losmandy Disabled Sidereal Tracking
Replies: 8
Views: 13349

Eric's comments a quite accurate. If his suggestions don't get you up and running, please post again.
by dpanderson
Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:38 pm
Forum: Third-Party Hardware and Software
Topic: What cameras work with Guidedog?
Replies: 1
Views: 11886

I know the NexImage works, I don't believe the DSI does yet. For a complete list of cameras, please ask on the forum at the barkosoftware website.
by dpanderson
Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:35 pm
Forum: New Product Ideas?
Topic: Motors for the Losmandy GM-8 and G-11
Replies: 1
Views: 13644

The Sky does not support the GPUSB. The GPUSB is really intended as an interface for autoguiding during astrophotography exposures. The minute corrections made during autoguiding are very small, whereas the fast slewing typically done for GOTO functionality is at a much higher rate. In theory, what ...
by dpanderson
Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:20 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Can the GPINT-PT be used on a Laptop that only has USB?
Replies: 1
Views: 5453

There are parallel port adapters that plug into a PCMCIA slot, but they are quite expensive. Your best bet would be to get a GPUSB.
by dpanderson
Fri Jul 07, 2006 5:03 pm
Forum: Third-Party Hardware and Software
Topic: JMI Mototrac V controller problem
Replies: 8
Views: 20990

OK, based upon the Mototrac V manual on the JMI website and the fact that you have an "official" Shoestring RJ-12 cable, this should work. So let's try some voltmeter tests and see if we can figure out what is wrong. Where the RJ-12 jack bumps up out of the GPUSB, there are exposed metal contacts th...
by dpanderson
Thu Jul 06, 2006 10:42 pm
Forum: Third-Party Hardware and Software
Topic: JMI Mototrac V controller problem
Replies: 8
Views: 20990

If you have a voltmeter and know how to use it, I will describe a set of tests we can use to try and debug this. Also, if you could point me to any technical documentation Mototrac-V, preferably on the Internet, I might be able to make some sense of this.
by dpanderson
Wed Jul 05, 2006 9:05 pm
Forum: Third-Party Hardware and Software
Topic: JMI Mototrac V controller problem
Replies: 8
Views: 20990

Jim, I don't recall the details of your order, did you purchase the RJ-12 cable from Shoestring Astronomy? Try downloading, installing and running GPUSBCheck from: http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/downloads.htm The instructions for what to do with GPUSBCheck are in the GPUSB User Manual, als...
by dpanderson
Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:24 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: GPUSB ASCOM Installation
Replies: 4
Views: 12313

When the GPUSB ASCOM installer is run, it puts some files in their proper places, then it runs a script to be sure the driver gets registered. One of the things the script attempts to do is to find a GPUSB attached and open up communications to it. I believe the error you are seeing is due to not ha...
by dpanderson
Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:39 am
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: DSUSB Connector
Replies: 1
Views: 5752

The output of the DSUSB is a 3.5mm stereo jack. The input to a Canon Digital Rebel (300D) or Digital Rebel XT (350D) is a 2.5mm jack. So, the DSCBL-01 has a 3.5mm plug on one end and a 2.5mm plug on the other end. All of the extension cables have 3.5mm connectors on them, and come in male-male or ma...
by dpanderson
Sun Jun 11, 2006 10:10 pm
Forum: Shoestring Hardware and Software
Topic: Vixen Starbook/Sphinx Update
Replies: 3
Views: 8563

Adrian,

I don't know enough about GuideDog and the NexImage to help you with this one. Please contact Steve Barkes, the guy that wrote GuideDog. I am sure he will be able to help out.