DriveScope System Operating Manual ScopeCraft, Inc. 4175 E. Red Cliffs Dr. Kanab, UT 84741 435-644-3167 www.scopecraft.com Rev. 6/17/02
2 Copyright 1991-2002 ScopeCraft, Inc.
Copyright Notice The WinScope CD including programs, data files, and documentation, is copyright 1991-2002 by ScopeCraft, Inc. and Jerrold L. Foote. Unauthorized distribution by, in, or on any media is prohibited. Trademarks are the property of their respective companies. Disclaimer of Warranty and Limited Liability All software, hardware and reference material is provided "as-is", without any warranty as to its performance or fitness for any particular purpose. Further, ScopeCraft, Inc. does not warrant, guarantee, or make any claims in regards to the correctness, accuracy, reliability, or otherwise of the software and hardware. These are the only warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied that are made by ScopeCraft, inc. regarding any software and hardware it produces and sells. The WinScope CD and accompanying manuals are copyright 1993-2002 by ScopeCraft, Inc.. All Rights Reserved. No part of the data or information contained in any file on the CD nor any part of this manual may be duplicated or retransmitted by any means without the express written consent of ScopeCraft, Inc. Power Supply/Driver Information Serial Number TC Version Axis RA Peak Current Idle Current Micro steps/full step Micro steps/full rotation DEC Focus 3
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Table of Contents Operating Manual... 1 Copyright Notice... 3 Disclaimer of Warranty and Limited Liability... 3 Power Supply/Driver Information... 3 Table of Contents... 5 System Overview... 7 System Requirements... 7 TC Card Installation...8 Jumper settings for the TC card... 8 Installing the TC Card into the PC... 9 Adding a COM Port under Windows... 9 BIOS Changes... 9 Connections to the TC Card... 10 Drive Motor Installation... 11 WinScope... 13 WinScope Main Controls... 14 Exit... 14 Shrink... 14 Home/End... 14 Run... 14 Setup... 14 Date/Time... 15 Local Time... 15 Universal Time... 15 Local Sidereal Time... 15 Julian Date... 15 Telescope Position... 16 Activity box... 16 RA... 16 DEC... 16 ALT... 16 AZ... 16 HA... 17 SEC(z)... 17 Object... 17 Jog Controls... 18 Jog... 18 Focus... 18 Observing List... 19 Observing List Navigation Buttons... 19 Go To... 20 Abort... 20 Add Current... 20 Sync... 20 Menu... 20 5
New List... 21 Save List As... 21 Rename List... 21 Delete list... 21 Print... 21 Print Preview... 21 Print Setup... 21 Actions... 21 Objects... 21 Options... 22 Clipboard... 22 Exit... 22 Object Catalogs... 23 Setup Menu... 25 Home Position... 25 Location... 26 Drive Settings... 26 Drive Speeds... 26 Drive Ratios... 26 Micro steps / Full rotation... 27 Jog Size (seconds)... 27 ComPort:... 27 Observatory... 28 Getting Started... 29 Initial Setup... 29 A Typical Observing Session... 31 Building the List... 31 Starting the telescope... 31 Ending the Session... 32 Appendix 1: Recovering from a Power Outage... 33 Appendix 2: Changing the Motor Direction... 34 Appendix 3: Attaching an Auto-Guider... 35 Appendix 4: LX-200 Mode... 36 Appendix 5: Generating a Pointing Map... 37 Appendix 6: TC Card Extension Cable... 39 6
System Overview The DriveScope system consists of four major components: the WinScope software, the Telescope Control Card (TC Card), the Power Supply/Driver and the drive motors. In general the operation involved in moving the telescope to a target starts with selecting the target in WinScope. WinScope then sends the position commands to the TC Card, which in turn sends specific motor pulses to the Power Supply/Driver, which then forces the motors to turn, pointing the telescope at the target. Each of these four components are optimized for their specific operation. For example, WinScope handles all target selection, precession to the current epoch, display of the current telescope position, and display of the current time information. The TC Card is responsible for interpreting the position commands from WinScope, maintaining the sidereal clock, coordinating the motion of the telescope, ramping up and down the speed during a large slew, taking input from the hand paddle and taking input from the auto-guider. The output from the TC Card consists of discrete motor pulses to the three motors controlling the motion in Right Ascension, Declination and Focus. The Power Supply/Driver takes input from the TC Card and maintains proper current and voltages on the individual motors as well providing the micro-step capability that gives smooth motion to the telescope. The motors provide the power needed to move the telescope. WinScope & TCC System Requirements PC Running Windows 95,98,2000 One ISA bus slot 2 Mbytes hard drive storage CD ROM Video Monitor with SVGA minimum 7
TC Card Installation Jumper settings for the TC card When handling the TC Card be very careful to use good anti-static practices. Before installing the TC Card into the PC it is first necessary to set the jumpers that control the serial COM port of the card. Referring to Figure 1, locate the jumper block labeled JP1JP7. Figure 1. TC Card PORT COM1 (3F8) COM2 (2F8) *COM3 (3E8) COM4 (2E8) JP1 JP2 JP3 (revised 4-29-02) Set the jumpers according to these tables for your particular system. The default positions are denoted by *. 8 IRQ IRQ 3 (COM 2 & 4) *IRQ 4 (COM 1 & 3) IRQ 5 IRQ 6 IRQ 7 IRQ 9 IRQ10 IRQ 11 IRQ 12 IRQ 15 JP4 JP5 JP6 JP7
Installing the TC Card into the PC Following the PC manufacturers directions, install the TC Card into any free ISA bus slot. Adding a COM Port under Windows The majority of PC s come equipped with two Com Ports (COM1 & COM2). The TC Card should be jumpered for the next COM Port (COM3). In order for the TC Card to be recognized by Windows, the Add New Hardware procedure under Windows must be performed. As each operating system is slightly different, an outline of the procedure will be given here. Follow the specific directions of your Operating System. The procedure begins by opening up the Control Panel (Start/Settings/Control Panel). Select the Add New Hardware procedure. Follow this procedure up to the question, Do you want Windows to search for new Hardware? Answer No to this question and a list of different types of new hardware is displayed. Scroll down to Ports (COM & LPT) and select. Highlight Standard Port Types and then highlight Communications Ports. Then allow Windows to generate a new COM port. When it does this make sure that the new COM Port settings for Input/Output range as well as Interrupt Request are the same as was set on the TC Card. They should be correct for COM3. If a COM Port other than COM3 or COM 4 was generated then there is other hardware installed on the PC that will need to be disabled in order for the TC Card to function in one of the COM Port positions. At the conclusion of the Add New Hardware process re-start the computer and continue with the WinScope software installation. BIOS Changes Normally changes to the system BIOS is not required. However in rare instances the PC will not recognize the TC Card and changes are needed to the system BIOS. The symptom of this communications error is an error message when the WinScope program is first run and connection to the telescope is attempted. THESE CHANGES MUST BE DONE BY A QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN. THE SYSTEM CAN BE RENDERED INOPERABLE IF THE CHANGES ARE MADE INCORRECTLY. The usual problem is that the BIOS attempts to set the COM ports automatically. A typical correction is to change the setting for the COM port selected from AUTO to the specific COM port number set by the jumpers JP1-JP3 above. 9
Connections to the TC Card Referring to Figure 1 above, Connect the hand paddle to the RJ-11 connector closest to the 25 pin connector. If an Auto-Guider is used connect this cable to the RJ-11 connector following the Auto-guider manufacturer instructions. Refer to Appendix 3, Attaching an Auto-Guider, for the specific pin out of the Auto-Guider connector interface. At this time DO NOT connect the Power Supply/Driver cable to the DB-25F connector. After the software is installed and operating correctly this cable will be installed. The WinScope software will operate correctly even though this cable is not installed. 10
Drive Motor Installation The RA, DEC and Focus motors should be installed with suitable means such that the torque generated by the motors as they accelerate the telescope do not misalign the motor mounting. Any deviation in concentricity between the motor shaft and the gearing will result in loss of power. Often flexible couplers can be employed at this connection. Route the motor cables such that at the extreme positions of the telescope the cables do not pull on the Power Supply/Drive Unit. Tie all cables away from the gearing. The Power Supply/Drive Unit should be as close to the telescope as possible to minimize the motor cable lengths. Usually at the base of the telescope keeps the cable lengths short while keeping the unit out of the way. Initially do not attach the cable from the TC Card to the Power Supply/ Driver Unit until the WinScope software has been installed and checked out. 11
WinScope Software Installation Insert the WinScope Software CD into the CD-ROM drive. The Autorun feature should operate and lead through the installation. If the CD does not automatically start, go to the Windows Start menu, select Run and enter: X:setup.exe, where X is the letter of the CD ROM drive that contains the WinScope disk. This installation will install the WinScope Software as well as the star catalogs, sample observing lists and the database engine used to access the star catalogs. After the installation is complete, remove the disk and keep it in a safe place. 12
WinScope When WinScope is started (Start/Programs/ScopeCraft/WinScope) the main window is displayed. See Figure 2. This window is broken down into five functional areas: Telescope Position, Date & Time, Jog controls, Observing list and Observing list controls. Additionally there are a series of buttons along the top of the window that control the overall function of WinScope. Each of the functional areas will now be discussed in detail. Figure 2. WinScope Main Window 13
WinScope Main Controls Figure 3. Main Controls Referring to Figure 3, when WinScope starts up this group of buttons at the top of the window appear. The function of these buttons is below. Exit The Exit button exits out of the WinScope application. This button is NOT active if the telescope is in Run mode and has not returned to it s Home position. Shrink The Shrink button reduces the active WinScope window down to a small window with minimal information and controls. The purpose is to provide control over the telescope while leaving the majority of the screen available for other running applications. Home/End This button send the telescope to it s home position (see Setup) and shuts down the motor drivers. When WinScope first starts up the Home/End button is grayed out. It becomes active after the Run button has been depressed and the telescope is running. Once the telescope is running the only way to exit WinScope is to have hit the Home/End button and wait for the telescope to return to its Home position. At this time the Exit button will become available. Run This button initializes the TC Card with the parameters from the Setup menu, sets the sidereal time based on the PC clock, and starts the telescope tracking in sidereal time. Once this button has been hit the Home/End button becomes active to stop tracking and return the telescope to its home position. Setup This button brings up a separate window where the setup parameters for the operation of the telescope can be entered. See Setup Menu. 14
Date/Time This box contains date and time information specific to the telescope location. All date and time is referenced to the PC clock. This clock should be set accurately and routinely checked for accuracy. It should always be running on local time with daylight savings time automatically adjusted. Figure 4. Date/Time box Local Time This is the local time and date set into the computer. Universal Time This is the Universal time computed from the time zone and daylight savings information in the computer. Local Sidereal Time This is the sidereal time of the local meridian computed from the universal time and the longitude of the observatory. Julian Date This is the Julian date computed from the local time and date. 15
Telescope Position This box contains information about the pointing of the telescope. The information is captured from the TC card and the observing list. The information is active and reflects the current pointing information of the telescope. Figure 5. Telescope position box Activity box The upper left corner of this box contains a message that indicates what the telescope is currently doing. The possible words are Stopped the telescope is not moving; Running the telescope is sidereal tracking; Moving the telescope is slewing to an object. RA This is the current Right Ascension of the telescope. DEC This is the current declination of the telescope. ALT This is the current angle of the telescope above the horizon in degrees. AZ This is the current azimuth of the telescope in degrees measured west of south. 16
HA This is the current Hour Angle of the telescope in hours. SEC(z) This is an approximation of the air mass through which the telescope is seeing (the secant of the zenith angle). Directly overhead is equal to 1.0, with increasing values toward the horizon. Object This box will contain the object information from the Observing List once a Go To command has been given. 17
Jog Controls These controls provide soft keys for moving the telescope and adjusting the focus, if the optional focus is installed. These controls become active when the telescope is in the Run mode. Figure 6. Jog Control box Jog These four buttons move the telescope incrementally the amount determined by the value in the Jog Size entries in the Setup Menu. There are two different values depending on whether the Slew or Guide box is checked. Each time a soft key is depressed the telescope will move this set amount. The Slew or Guide box also controls the speed of the movement of the hand paddle, which moves continuously as long as the hand paddle button is depressed. Focus The focus control moves the focus position In or Out the number of steps indicated by the number in the Focus Step box. This number can be changed using the combo buttons at the side of the box. 18
Observing List The Observing List, Figure 7, portion of the main window allows the user to generate a custom list of objects to be observed. Any number of lists can be made and each list can have many specific entries. For the most part entries into the list will come from the built in catalogs of WinScope but coordinates may also be input by hand. Figure 7. Observing List area of Main window The top row area of the Observing List contains buttons and controls for maintaining the list. On the left is a pull down combo box used to select the active list. A new list can be started from the Menu button on the right. See the Menu button explanation below. Observing List Navigation Buttons The next eight buttons are used to control input into the list. These buttons are self-explanatory and operate on the object that is highlighted. However, the Add Object from Catalog button brings up the catalog window from which objects are selected from the built in catalogs. Figure 8. Observing List navigation buttons 19
Go To When this button is depressed the telescope will be slewed to the coordinates of the object that is highlighted in the Observing List. Corrections for precession between the catalog epoch and the current epoch will be made. At the completion of the slew, the coordinates shown in the Telescope Position window will be the precessed coordinates. If the value under SEC(z) is 9.9 the telescope will not slew as it is too near the horizon. Abort The Abort button can be used to stop a slew that is in progress. When depressed the slew begins to decelerate until the telescope comes to a stop. The coordinates displayed are the position of the telescope. Add Current If this button is depressed the current telescope position will be added to the Observing List just below the highlighted item. The user will be prompted for a name for this location. The current epoch will be used. Sync If this button is depressed the current highlighted entry of the Observing List will be precessed and then loaded to the TC Card as the current telescope position. The Telescope Position data will be updated. Menu This will bring up a menu of items that control the Observing List. It can also be entered by right clicking anywhere in the body of the Observing List. 20
Figure 9. Observing List Menu New List This selection will open up a New List box and allow a new Observing List to be made. Save List As This selection will save the current list under a new name. Rename List This selection will rename the current list. Delete list This selection will delete the current list. Print This selection will print the current list to the windows printer. Print Preview This selection will preview the list to be printed. Print Setup This selection will setup the printer. Actions This selection will open a sub-menu: Go To, Add Current, Sync Same action as the buttons. Objects This selection will open a sub-menu: Edit, Add, Delete or New Object in the Observing List. The Edit selection will bring up a 21
window that allows the editing of the current object in the Observing List. Options This selection will bring up a sub-menu of options. See the Appendix on Pointing Map. Clipboard WinScope maintains two different clipboards. The first is the regular Windows clipboard, which operates in the normal fashion. The second clipboard is specifically for the Observing List and keeps all data relevant to a particular object such that it can be pasted to another Observing List. Exit This selection will exit WinScope provided that it has been sent to the Home position and can be shutdown. 22
Object Catalogs When the Add Object from Catalog button is pressed, access to the WinScope catalogs is available. There are 13 catalogs which have been derived from the Astronomical Data Center CD-ROM Selected Astronomical Catalogs Volume 4, distributed by the Astronomical Data Center at NASA GSFC. NASA Publication NP-1997(10)-042-GSFC, 1997 as well as from other compiled sources. The available catalogs are: Abell Galaxy Clusters Cataclysmic Variables FK5 Harvard Revised Henry Draper Markarian Galaxies Name Star NGC2000 Shapley-Ames Galaxies SAO Star Name UBVRI Standard Stars (Landolt) Variable Star Name Each of these catalogs can be searched by number, for a particular object. The search engine within the catalog attempts to follow the users input such that the desired object can be reached fast. In many of the catalogs, besides the number or name there is a description of the object. Figure 10. Catalog page In order to select an item from the catalogs, first select the appropriate Catalog Name from the drop down list. Then with the curser in the Search Name: window, enter the 23
object name. The catalog will be advanced to the desired object. At this point the user can select Accept, which will enter the object and it s coordinates into the Observing List. In the event that this selection is not desired simply Cancel the selection or move to another, by way of either the four navigation buttons on this list or by entering a new number. 24
Setup Menu Figure 11. Setup Menu The three sections of this menu deal with specific operation of the telescope. They set the operating constants that will move and position the telescope. The values entered into this page are saved in a file called Defaults.ini, which is located under the ScopeCraft directory. This file can be edited with the Windows program Notepad but in most cases the values should only be changed from this Setup Menu. Home Position This sets the home or park position of the telescope. The values are entered in decimal format and are used when to load the initial telescope position on start-up. These values are also used when the telescope is commanded Home/End. The RA value is the number 25
of hours and decimal that the telescope is to be parked from the meridian. Negative values are to the West of the meridian and positive values to the East. The range of values is +/- 6 hours. The DEC value is the Declination of the telescope in degrees and decimal. The range is +/- 90 degrees. Location This is the location of the telescope in degrees and decimal. Note that the longitude is West Longitude, or the number of degrees west of the Prime Meridian. These values are used to determine the sidereal time as well as for precession of the coordinates. It is recommended that these values be set to at least 6 decimal places to maintain sufficient accuracy. Recently with the advent of GPS systems the location on the earth can be readily determined. Drive Settings The information contained in this section determines how fast and how much the telescope moves for the hand paddle buttons, the soft buttons on the WinScope screen and the acceleration and maximum slew speeds during a slew. Drive Speeds Each of these three numbers have a maximum value of 255 (slowest) and a minimum value of 1 (fastest). The first, POD Slew, determines how fast the telescope will slew when the hand paddle buttons are depressed and the Slew box is checked in the Jog Controls. The second, POD Guide, determines how fast the telescope will move when the hand paddle buttons are depressed and the Guide box is checked in the Jog Controls. The third, Max GoTo Velocity, determines the maximum speed the telescope will travel at after the initial acceleration phase. The Max GoTo Velocity should be kept to a low value until experience with the mount is gained. Typical values for these speeds for a large telescope are: POD Slew = 255 POD Guide = 100 Max GoTo Velocity = 10 Drive Ratios This entry determines what the acceleration and deceleration rate is during a slew. The larger the number the faster the acceleration. The combo box allows setting 5 different rates. The maximum setting is the number of micro steps per full step used in the motor drivers as indicated on Page 3. For larger telescopes this number should be lowered. For example a 20 telescope might run smother and be less prone to loose pointing accuracy during a slew if this number were set to 32 or even 16. If during a slew one or both of the motors suddenly stop and produce a loud buzzing noise, the usual problem is that this Micro steps/full step 26
is set too high. Also a contributor to this loss of pointing can be that the Max GoTo Velocity has been set too high (number too low). Micro steps / Full rotation Refer to the recommended settings on Page 3. These entries determine how many pulses are sent to the RA & DEC motors for a given change in pointing position. The numbers are a calculation that involves the mechanical gear reduction, the number of full steps of the stepper motor and the number of micro steps that the driver has been set for. For example say that on each axis there is a 360:1 worm gear and attached to the worm there is a 200 step per revolution stepper motor and the driver has been set for 64 micro steps per full step. The number to be entered is 360 x 200 x 64 =4608000. The number entered for the RA axis and the DEC axis can be different. If there is another gear reduction between the motor and the worm include this in the multiplication. If this number is wrong the telescope will not be able to slew to the correct coordinates. One word of caution: there are many worm gear ratios in use so in order to get the correct gear ratio always count the teeth on the gear. Just because a particular gear is the same diameter as another, don t assume that the number of teeth are the same. If one divides the Micro steps/full rotation number into 360 degrees the result is the amount of motion per step of the motor. Using the example above, 360/4608000 =.0000781250 degrees or.281 arc seconds per motor pulse, a value much less than typical seeing. Jog Size (seconds) These settings determine the amount of movement imparted to the telescope each time the soft buttons in the Jog Control panel are pressed. These numbers are in arc seconds of motion and thus for a given movement the RA number should be smaller than the DEC number. There are two sets, one for each of the Jog speeds. A typical setting would be ¼ to ½ of the field of view. ComPort: This selects the COM port of the computer that the commands from WinScope will be sent to. It must be the same as set up on the TC Card. If this number is not set correctly a communication error message will appear on the screen when WinScope is placed in the Run state. If third party software is used to control the telescope when the TC Card is in LX200 mode that software must be configured for this same COM port setting. See Appendix 4: LX-200 Mode. 27
View Motor Movement Messages This check box allows messages specific to how the telescope will handle a move to be displayed. The messages are letters and are used primarily for testing purposes. This box is normally left un-checked. Observatory A line of characters can be inserted here that will be displayed at the top of the main WinScope screen. This is a good place to insert the observatory name. 28
Getting Started Initial Setup By following these steps you will have a successful installation and startup of the DriveScope system. Since WinScope derives it s time information from the PC operating system, make sure that the PC clock is always set correctly. 1. Set the jumpers on the TC Card according to Figure 1. 2. Install the card into a free ISA slot in the PC following the manufacturers directions. 3. Boot up the PC and enter the BIOS SETUP menu for the PC. 4. Confirm that the COM port that was selected on the TC Card in step 1 is set to MANUAL mode. 5. Save the settings and exit the SETUP menu of the PC. 6. Install the WinScope Software from the Installation CD following the directions on the CD. 7. Start WinScope. 8. Go to the Setup screen of WinScope. 9. Following the directions in the Setup Menu, section set the operating parameters for WinScope. 10. Save & Exit the System Setup screen. Answer Yes to the query and hit the Settings Saved OK box. 11. At the main WinScope screen press Run. The Telescope Position box should update to the current telescope Home position. If there are communication error messages at this point go back and make sure the COM port setting under the WinScope Setup screen are right. If these are OK, shut down the computer and examine the jumper settings on the TC Card to make sure they match. 12. Once WinScope is in the Run mode there will be a default Observing List displayed. Go to one of the entries on the list that does NOT have a sec(z) above 9.9 and highlight it with the curser. 13. Push the GoTo button in the center of the screen. 14. At this point the WinScope system will start to send motor pulses out. Since we haven t connected the Power Supply/Driver yet these pulses do NOT move the telescope. 15. Try various GoTo moves as well as Aborting a move and becoming generally familiar with the operation of WinScope. Explore making your own Observing Lists and going to objects on those lists. 16. After you are familiar with the operation of WinScope push the Home/End button and watch the Telescope Position return back to the Home position. 17. Exit the WinScope software. 18. Shut down the computer. 19. Attach the supplied cable between the Power Supply/Driver connector on the back of the TC Card and the TCC connector on the Power Supply/Driver. 20. Attach the Hand Paddle control to the TC Card connector. See Figure 1 TC Card. 29
30 21. Attach the auto-guider control if used. See Figure 1, TC Card and refer to Appendix 4: Attaching an Auto-Guider. 22. Connect the motor cables to their respective connectors on the Power Supply/Driver Unit. 23. Turn on the power to the Power Supply/Driver. 24. Boot up the PC. 25. Start WinScope. 26. Hit the Run button and note that the RA motor is tracking at sidereal rate toward the West. If the direction of the motor is such that the telescope is not moving to the West, see the Appendix, Changing the Motor Direction. 27. Hit the UP arrow Jog Control button. If the telescope does not move in the positive Declination direction see the Appendix, Changing the Motor Direction. 28. Select an object in the observing list that is above the horizon and GoTo that object. 29. Listen to the motors and if one or both suddenly stop moving and makes a loud buzzing noise, Abort the slew and when the telescope position stops changing hit the Home/End button. When the Setup button becomes illuminated go in and set the Micro steps / Full step to a lower value and/or set the Max GoTo Velocity to a lower value. Change these numbers to optimize the movement of the telescope.
A Typical Observing Session Building the List A typical observing session begins with the generation of an Observing List. To build this list it isn t necessary to be connected to the telescope and is usually done before the beginning of the session. Start WinScope and go to the Observing List portion of the main window. Click on Menu and select New. This brings up a input box that lets you define the name of a new list. Type in the list name, it should be unique, and hit OK. Next go to the pull down area of the list names and select this new list. Hit the + sign which will take you to the catalogs. Select the desired catalog and start typing in the object number in the Search Name: field or use the scroll bars to scroll down to the object. Highlight the object and hit Select. This returns you to the Observing List and enters the desired object in to the list. Continue in this fashion through all of the desired objects. Once the list is made objects can be moved around in the list using the Observing List controls. Note: as objects are entered into the list they are automatically saved to the hard drive. Starting the telescope To start the observing session, turn on the PC and make sure that the clock is set to the correct time. The accuracy of setting this time is directly related to how accurate one can point the telescope to an object. Start WinScope and select the Observing List made previously. At this point it is assumed that the setup of the telescope parameters under Setup have been done. Also it is assumed that the telescope is in its Home position. In the event that the telescope is not at its Home position it should be moved there before starting an observing session. For those telescopes that do not have clutches refer to the Appendix: Recovering from a Power Outage on how to move the telescope to a point near its Home position. Make sure that the Power Supply/Driver Unit is turned on and that the cable connecting the TC Card to the PowerSupply/Driver is in place. Hit the Run button on the WinScope main screen. The telescope motors should now have power and the RA motor should be tracking at sidereal rate. In the Observing List, select an object and press the Go To button. Remember that if the Sec(z) of the object is 9.9 the telescope is prevented from moving to that object as it is below the horizon. The telescope should begin to accelerate and move to the object. Once the telescope has stopped slewing make sure that the object is in the field of view. 31
In the event that it is not, use the hand paddle buttons to center the object in the field. It is then necessary to synchronize the telescope position, as defined by WinScope, with the actual position. To do this, center the object in the field of view and depress the Sync button. This will transfer the precessed coordinates to the telescope. From then on the telescope will point correctly to the objects. Note: The ability to accurately point the telescope is dependent on correct polar alignment and good mechanical alignment of the telescope components. If these alignments are off the ability to accurately point to various areas in the sky will be compromised. In such cases it may be necessary to re-synchronize the telescope position when moving to new areas. The farther the telescope is pointed from the last synchronization, the farther it can be off. The telescope can now be moved to each of the objects in the Observing List. In the event that a new desired object isn t in the list, simply hit the + button which will take you the catalogs where the new object can be selected. Accepting the new object will return back to the list with the object inserted into the list. If a CCD camera is being used it is sometimes desirable to be able to Shrink the WinScope window so that the CCD image can be seen yet still move or focus the telescope. Just hit the Shrink button and the window will decrease to a small window with only a minimal amount of information. Figure 12. Shrink Window Ending the Session At the end of the observing session the telescope must be returned to the Home position before WinScope can be closed. To do this hit the Home/End button and the telescope will move to the Home position. At the end of the move to the home position the telescope will readjust its position such the location is as accurate as possible. Also when it reaches the accurate Home position the motors will be turned off, stopping sidereal tracking. 32
Appendix 1: Recovering from a Power Outage Telescopes that do not have clutches on the RA and DEC axis present a problem when a power outage occurs and the telescope is not at its home position. The same problem happens if the telescope is asked to accelerate or slew at a rate faster than the motors can keep up. In order to return the telescope to its home position perform the following steps: 1. With WinScope running and in the Run mode, select an object in the Observing List. This can be any object in the list. 2. Right click the list and select Object and then Edit Object. 3. In the Edit window first change the name of the object such that you will know when you see this object in the list that the coordinates have been changed. Typically append to the name the word BAD. 4. Estimate what the current telescope position is in both RA and DEC and enter those coordinates into their respective boxes. 5. Hit Accept. 6. The object in the list now contains those coordinates that approximate the actual position of the telescope. 7. With this object highlighted in the Object List, hit the Sync button above the list. 8. The coordinates now displayed for the telescope Position are those that you entered in the list. 9. Select Home/End and the telescope will move near the Home position. 10. As this position is only approximate, the next time the telescope is running the telescope should be commanded to move to a known star. When it stops moving, using the hand paddle, adjust the pointing such that the star is centered in the field. 11. Select Sync. 12. Now the telescope is accurately synchronized. 33
Appendix 2: Changing the Motor Direction When the DriveScope system was purchased the motor directions were specified and the system wired for the correct directions. However, in the event that the system was transferred to another telescope or the direction previously specified was wrong for the RA, DEC or Focus motors, the direction of rotation can be changed. Note: This change should only be performed by individuals comfortable with modifying wiring within the Power Supply/Driver Unit. If you do not feel qualified, please return the unit to ScopeCraft and this change will be done at no charge, except for shipping. 1. Tools required: Phillips head screwdriver, short small blade screwdriver. 2. UNPLUG the power from the Power Supply/Driver Unit. Also disconnect the motor cables and the data cable. 3. Begin by removing the two Phillips screws on the top of each blue end panel (4 screws). 4. Remove the top blue panel. 5. Locate the motor connector of the motor that needs reversing. 6. Inside the Power Supply/Driver Unit are four wires leading from the motor connector to the Driver module. 7. Locate those wires attached to terminals 7 & 8 of the Driver module. 8. Loosen the screws holding these two wires into the terminal block of the Driver module. 9. Swap the connections on terminals 7 & 8. This will reverse the motor direction. 10. Be very careful that all of the strands of wire are re-inserted into the terminal block and do not short out to each other or other connections on the terminal block. 11. Re-tighten the screws on terminals 7 & 8. 12. Re-attach the blue cover of the unit with the four Phillips head screws. 13. Re-attach the Power Supply/Driver cables 14. Plug in the power cord of the Power Supply/Driver unit. 15. Turn on the Power Supply/Driver unit. 16. Check for proper motor rotation. 34
Appendix 3: Attaching an Auto-Guider The TC Card has provisions for attaching an auto-guider to control the telescope position during a long exposure. Refer to Figure 1, TC Card for the connector location. The connector is a 6 wire RJ-11 type connector. Figure 13, Looking into the Auto-Guide connector on the back of the TC Card The auto-guider must be able to sink 15 ma. between the desired direction pin and the common pin in order to move the telescope in that direction. This can be accomplished with a switch closure or by other means. The SBIG auto-guiding camera outputs are compatible with the TC Card auto-guide inputs. 35
Appendix 4: LX-200 Mode The DriveScope system is compatible with those third party control programs that have the capability to link to and control telescopes operating the Meade LX-200 command set. To use the LX-200 command it is first necessary to configure the DriveScope system under WinScope (see the Setup Menu). After the DriveScope Setup parameters are configured a program is run that downloads the Setup information to the TC Card. It is recommended that the telescope be run under WinScope and all Setup parameters set and checked out first before attempting to operate the telescope under a third party program. Follow the following steps to operate the DriveScope system under a third party program: 1. Start WinScope and go into Setup and set the operating parameters. 2. Run the telescope under WinScope and check out all operation including movement of the telescope. 3. Home/End the telescope and exit WinScope. 4. Start the third party control software. 5. From the Start Menu/ScopeCraft run the LX200Start program. 6. When this runs the telescope motors should begin running at sidereal rate. 7. Switch to the third party control program and go to the setup area for linking the telescope and be sure to set the same COM port that was used under WinScope. 8. Select LX-200 mode for the control program. 9. Link to the telescope. 10. The third party control program should now indicate the telescope position and be operational under this program. 11. At the completion of the session, return the telescope to its home position before shutting down the control program. 12. As most control programs do NOT shut down sidereal tracking, be sure to immediately after arriving at the home position, turn off the Power Supply/Driver power switch so that the home position is preserved. 13. Exit all programs and Shut down Windows. The TC Card then shuts down when the computer shuts down. Note: Not all of the LX-200 commands are implemented within DriveScope. The supported commands are: CM F+ F- FF FS GD GR hp MS Q. A special command #:EX# returns the TC Card back to DriveScope mode. 36
Appendix 5: Generating a Pointing Map Under Menu/Options there is a selection called Pointing Map. This allows the generation of a list of known positions versus actual positions to be made. This file can be imported into TPoint to analyze the telescope pointing accuracy and used by other third party control packages to improve the pointing of the telescope. The method of operation is as follows: 1. Generate a list of objects over the sky. 2. Go to each of these objects in turn and center the object in the field of view. 3. Hit the Get Actual button and the telescope coordinates are entered into the list. 4. Continue this process over many objects. 5. Export the list. Figure 14, Pointing Map window The columns of the Pointing Map represent first, Catalog positions of the desired object denoted by C-RA, C-DEC and C-Epoch. The next two columns are the precessed values of the RA and DEC coordinates to the current epoch. The next three columns are the 37
actual coordinates as given by the TC Card after centering the object, A-RA, A-DEC and A-Epoch. The last column, A-LST, is the actual local sidereal time that the measurement was taken. As each of the actual measurements is taken, their values are saved in the pointing file (.pnt extension). When it is desired to output a file that can be imported into the TPoint software select Export under the Menu. A file will be generated that has a file extension of.dat. The TPoint data format requires information about the observatory. This information is contained in the Default.ini file under the ScopeCraft directory and can be edited under Notepad. Figure 15. The Defaults.ini file The upper portions of this file are the values used by WinScope to set up the DriveScope System. The lower portion under the heading Pointing List Output Parameters are the items needed by TPoint. Edit and save each of these five parameters for the particular pointing session paying close attention to the units involved. 38
Appendix 6: TC Card Extension Cable If the distance between the TC Card and the Power Supply/Driver unit is less than 10 feet then a standard 25 pin DB-25 extension cable can be used. This distance can be extended up to 50 feet by making up an extension cable. The type of extension cable is dependant on what functions are implemented in the DriveScope system. If only RA and DEC motion is controlled then the cable is made from Belden type 8135. If Focus is also included the cable must be a Belden type 8138. Each end of the cable is terminated with a DB-25 connector, one Male and the other Female. The wiring is straight thru, 2 to 2, 3 to 3, etc. Wire the cable as follows: Belden type 8135 (RA & DEC) 2 twisted pair 2 4 4 5 twisted pair 5 14 14 6 twisted pair 6 8 8 9 twisted pair 9 15 15 3 twisted pair 3 7 7 The cable shields should be connected to the connectors metal shell. For Belden type 8138 (RA, DEC & Focus) add these connections: 10 twisted pair 10 12 12 13 twisted pair 13 16 16 11 twisted pair 11 20 20 39