MHO - AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor Controller & Software

AutoGuider and Focuser Control Program (AGFP) is used to communicate with the AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor unit (AGFM). The AGFP program is written in Visual Basic .net framework and will run on any Microsoft Windows based PC or any system that supports .net framework 4.0 or higher.
There are 2 hardware versions of the AGFM. One using a Basic Stamp 2 and the other using a Arduino nano.

AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor unit (AGFM). The AGFM is a microprocessor based control box that uses the Parallax Basic Stamp 2 to control a ST4 type AutoGuider port of any telescope mount. It also will control 2 focus motors using an internal 9VDC battery or 12VDC external power.

AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor unit (AGFM). The AGFM is a microprocessor based control box that uses the Arduino Nano to control a ST4 type AutoGuider port of any telescope mount. It also will control 2 DC focus motors using an internal 9VDC battery or 12VDC external power.

Software - AutoGuider and Focuser Control Program (AGFP)
AutoGuider and Focuser Control Program (AGFP) is used to communicate with the AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor unit (AGFM). The AGFP program is written in Visual Basic .net framework and will run on any Microsoft Windows based PC or any system that supports .net framework 4.0 or higher. There are 2 hardware versions of the AGFM. One using a Basic Stamp 2 and the other using a Arduino nano. Download AutoGuider_Focuser_Control.zip
Menu bar functions: Program Always on Top Program window will stay in front of other windows. Show all COM ports found List all COM ports that can be used now. Clear status text Clears status lines at the bottom of the window. Timed beep Will pay a sound when any Timed guide or focus finishes. Set active/hover color Sets colors of the buttons when activated. Get controller version Queries the microprocessor unit and returns verison information. Initialize controller Tells microprocessor to set outputs 1 through 13 to LOW. Show commands sent to AGF When checked command string sent to AGF is also shown on status lines. Enable controller debug When checked AGF controller will output commands received to it's debug terminal. Web page document Display this document in you web browser. About/Help Displays about / help window. Exit Exit program prompting to save settings. COM10 COM ports 1 to 255 to select Connect Opens the indicated COM port
Sending commands and functions: Controls North, South, East, West, Stop Guides autoguider port in the direction indicated. Can guide NS and EW at the same time If 'Timed Guide' is checked Stop button will stop the autoguider. R. NS, R. EW When checked will reverse the N-S and E-W buttons. The command sent will be for the opposite direction of the button pressed. In, Out, Stop There is 1 set of focus motor buttons for each of the focus motors. If 'Timed Focus' is checked Stop button will stop the focus motor. Home, 1 Home, 2 Home The Home button will guide the mount back to a NS and EW 0 position. 1 Home and 2 Home will move focus motor 1 and 2 back to 0 position. Zero, 1 Zero, 2 Zero The Zero button will zero the NS and EW counts. 1 Zero & 2 Zero will zero the selected focus count. Timed controls Timed Guide When checked the N-S-E-W buttons will be active for the time indicated by the ms value or until Stop is pressed. Timed Focus When checked the In-Out buttons will be active for the time indicated by the ms value or until Stop is pressed. There is only one check box and time value for both motors. This example shows the program connected to COM15 and doing a timed giude and focus for 10000ms (10 seconds). The North, East, 1 In and 2 Out buttons were pressed and the counters are updating every 500ms (0.5 seconds). The autoguider port moves the mount in the selected direction at the mount's current guide or slew rate depending on the mount as long as the button is pressed. If Timed Guide is checked the button click will move the mount for the number of milliseconds indicated or until the Stop button is pressed. Focus motor buttons work the same as the autoguide buttons except when the Timed Focus is less than 10000ms (10 seconds). For Timed Focus between 5ms and 9999ms focus commands are issued to allow the AGF controller to do the focus duration. The log box shows command communications to and from the AGF.
Record Start Begins recording of all commands sent unitl Stop is pressed. Stop Ends recording of commands and enables Playback.
Playback Loop When checked playback will loop recorded commands until Stop is pressed. Start Begin playback of recorded commands, with correct timing. Stop Ends the playback.
Keyboard control: Click on 'Key' to enable the keyboard to send commands to the AGFM. Guiding keys Up arrow Guides North. Down arrow Guides South. Right arrow Guides East. Left arrow Guides West. Focus motor 1 keys Page Up Focus In. Page Down Focus Out. Focus motor 2 keys F1 Focus In. F2 Focus Out. Stop guiding and focusing All other keys Sends stop commands for everything. Commands C Connect/Disconnect com. S Shrink/Restore window width. E Exit program with prompt.
About/Help: About/Help window.
Shrink/Restore window: Will make the window narrow hiding some functions and displays. Shrink changes to Restore put the window back to normal width. Use 'S' key or Shrink menu command.
Disconnect: Controller functions are disabled when not connected to a COM port.
Exit: Program Exit will display a save window to allow setting to be saved. Ending the program with the Windows X at the top right of the main program window will save the settings without asking.

Hardware - AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor unit (AGFM) using Basic Stamp 2 (1st Generation Box)
AutoGuider Focuser Microprocessor unit (AGFM). The AGFM is a microprocessor based control box that uses the Parallax Basic Stamp 2 to control a ST4 type AutoGuider port of any telescope mount. It also will control 2 focus motors using an internal 9VDC battery or 12VDC external power.
Command protocol: The AGFM uses commands formated like the ones for an Astro-Physics GTO controller except for the 2nd focus motor and initialize command. The AP GTO only has one focus output and no initialize command.