Autoguiding a Celestron C 8 Deluxe

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kenthepicman
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Autoguiding a Celestron C 8 Deluxe

Post by kenthepicman » Mon Sep 21, 2009 11:20 pm

OK my apologies for this - I'm sure it's on this site somewhere but....
I have a Celestron C8 DL and an Orion Starshoot DSSI camera with Maxim DL Essentials Edition Version 1.01.

The camera has autoguide capabilities and software but the scope mount only has a hand control unit input. It looks like the GP USB is the way for me to go. A friend sent me the GP1 thru GP4 schematics to modify the hand control unit, and I could probably do it, but I'm a mechanical engineer and if the GPUSB is the way to go, that would suit me better.

Thanks - and sorry if this is a repeat question.

KenB

dpanderson
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Re: Autoguiding a Celestron C 8 Deluxe

Post by dpanderson » Tue Sep 22, 2009 7:33 am

Ken,

Actually, you might need both. The GPUSB creates a link between a computer and telescope mounts with ST-4 compatible autoguide ports. The schematic your friend sent you provides suggestions on how to add an ST-4 compatible autoguide port to mounts that don't already have them.

In your case, I suspect that the handcontroller port on your mount can also be used as an ST-4 compatible autoguide port. If you can figure out if the connector on your mount is pinned out as shown in this document:
http://store.shoestringastronomy.com/gu ... cables.pdf
then you will know for sure.
Doug Anderson
Shoestring Astronomy
http://www.ShoestringAstronomy.com

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