Using the Orion Skyview Pro EQ to slew with software

BlankHi,
I have an Orion Skyview Pro 8 EQ telescope. Recently I read an article in
the August 2003 Sky and Telescope magazine explaining how to wire the dual
axis motor drive to interface the EQ mount with an SBIG CCD. I don't have an
SBIG CCD, but have just ordered a Meade Lunar Planetary Imager (LPI). The
LPI comes with Meade Astrostar Suite Software which can be used to control
RA, and Dec. I would like to use the software to control the RA, and Dec
from my laptop and was wondering if anyone has created their own interface
box for the control, or can this be connected directly to the serial port on
the laptop?
If I need an interface, has anyone built their own TTL CMOS interface to
control relays necessary to control the Skyview Pro EQ mount? If so would
you be willing to share the schematic with us?

In case your wondering what my plan is:
I know that the mount slewing speed maximum is 8X, and is not fast enough
for GO TO capability. I will Polar align the scope with the internal Polar
alignment scope. I will set the telescope initially using my TELRAD, and
then my 8X50 finder scope to align the object. I then intend to use the
software controls to make minuet shifts as needed to adjust the telescope
while I take images.

So far I have tested the RJ11- 5 wire interface illustrated in the Sky and
Telescope magazine manually by shorting the common to each of the other
pins, and it proved successful in changing the direction of the mount by
slewing the telescope from RA+, RA-, Dec+, and Dec-. Now for the next step,
attaching this control wiring to my laptop so that it can be controlled by
the serial port on my laptop. I will be running both the Meade Autostar
Suite, and Starry Night Pro 4.52 Software. Please advise if you can be of
help. Thanks


--
Respectfully yours,
Harry

Blankh.wortman" wrote in message
news:5Swyb.268408$275.960554@attbi_s53...
Hi,
I have an Orion Skyview Pro 8 EQ telescope. Recently I read an article in
the August 2003 Sky and Telescope magazine explaining how to wire the dual
axis motor drive to interface the EQ mount with an SBIG CCD. I don't have an
SBIG CCD, but have just ordered a Meade Lunar Planetary Imager (LPI). The
LPI comes with Meade Astrostar Suite Software which can be used to control
RA, and Dec. I would like to use the software to control the RA, and Dec
from my laptop and was wondering if anyone has created their own interface
box for the control, or can this be connected directly to the serial port on
the laptop?
If I need an interface, has anyone built their own TTL CMOS interface to
control relays necessary to control the Skyview Pro EQ mount? If so would
you be willing to share the schematic with us?

In case your wondering what my plan is:
I know that the mount slewing speed maximum is 8X, and is not fast enough
for GO TO capability. I will Polar align the scope with the internal Polar
alignment scope. I will set the telescope initially using my TELRAD, and
then my 8X50 finder scope to align the object. I then intend to use the
software controls to make minuet shifts as needed to adjust the telescope
while I take images.

So far I have tested the RJ11- 5 wire interface illustrated in the Sky and
Telescope magazine manually by shorting the common to each of the other
pins, and it proved successful in changing the direction of the mount by
slewing the telescope from RA+, RA-, Dec+, and Dec-. Now for the next step,
attaching this control wiring to my laptop so that it can be controlled by
the serial port on my laptop. I will be running both the Meade Autostar
Suite, and Starry Night Pro 4.52 Software. Please advise if you can be of
help. Thanks


--
Respectfully yours,
Harry

Dear Harry:
I dont't know the answer of your question,but I have similar
questions.I want to control the LPI or DSI cameras via my own program (
I want to do some remote and automatic observation ) but I don't know
how to communicate with the camera! Some cameras like the SBIG ones are
suppoted by ASCOM platform but the LPI is not! Please alert me if you
find something useful.
Best regards;