To control the Focus, Movement and Goto RA/DEC on a Meade LX200GPS telescope.
It was written to run on a Window's PC to allow you to control a limited number of functions while running imaging software from the pc so that the Autostar hand controller is not used at the PC. You can use a mouse, touchpad, other pointing device or the keyboard to control Focus and Movement, here's how it works.
When the program first starts it does not set the focus or slew speed. Whatever the Autostar is using will be what the program will use.
Mouse or Touchpad control:
Turn off the program's keyboard control by clicking on the Autostar picture.
Focus:
Set a focus speed if you want to change the current setting.
Click and hold the In or Out buttons to move the focuser.
Movement:
Set the rate of movement you want using the slider.
Click and hold the N S E W buttons to move the telescope.
The RA/DEC position of the telescope will update after movement is stopped.
Keyboard control:
Turn on keyboard control by clicking the Autostar picture. The Keyboard Active box will display above the picture.
Focus:
Set a focus speed if you want to change the current setting by using the Function keys: F1 = Fine, F2 = Slow, F3 = Medium, F4 = Fast.
Focus In by holding down the End key. Focus Out by holding down the Pg Dn key.
Movement:
Set the rate of movement if you want to change the current setting by using the Function keys: F5 = Guide rate, F6 = 2x sidereal, F7 = 0.1 deg/sec, F8 = 0.2 deg/sec, F9 = 0.4 deg/sec.
Move scope by holding down the Arrow keys: Up = North, Down = South, Right = East, Left = West.
The RA/DEC position of the telescope will update after movement is stopped.
LX200GPS menu functions.
These functions will allow use of the LX200GPS without the Autostar II hand controller being connected.
Start Telescope Automatic Alignment Sequence:
For telescopes mounted in AzEl mode only. Telescope will do an automatic alignment, this can take several minutes.
Status line will indicate success or failure, wait for status.
Initialize Telescope:
Causes the telescope to cease current operations and restart at its power on initialization. Autostar II hand controller should be attached to use this function.
Align Telescope using Home Position:
Seeks the Home Position of the scope and sets/aligns the scope based on the encoder values stored in non-volatile memory.
Store Telescope Alignment to Home Position:
Seeks Home Position and stores the encoder values from the aligned telescope at the home position in the non-volatile memory.
Park Telescope:
Telescope goes to Park position and can then be power off. Wait for telescope tracking motors to stop before powering off.
Sleep Telescope:
Power off motors, encoders, displays and lights. Scope remains in minimum power mode until a keystroke is received or a wake command is sent.
Wake Telescope from Sleep:
Wake up sleeping telescope from previous sleep command.