Connecting a CGEM DX, Starshoot Autoguider, DSLR and Backyard EOS

[Mick]

I have a Celestron CGEM DX, and am using an Orion Starshoot Autoguider.  I need some help making an ASCOM connection.  I assume the cable from the autoguider to the Auto-Guide jack on my mount is an ST4 connection(Im not sure).  I have loaded the ASCOM drivers on my laptop.  Does this make this an ASCOM connection?  In the equipment setup section of PHD2 I’m supposed to “Use ASCOM for the PHD2 ‘Aux Mount’ connection”.  Which one? (ASCOM Dome control, ASCOM Telescope chooser, Generic hub, Pipe diagnostic tool, POTH hub, Simulator or Telescope simulator).

If the above cable is only for ST4 connections, I have the connector to go from a USB out of my laptop to an RS232 to the jack that connects at the bottom of my hand controller.  The controller then goes to the Hand Control jack in the mount.  Is this now an ASCOM connection?  Same question about the Aux Mount selection in PHD.  To make this work I need to open the NexRemote software which makes the hand controller non-functional.  Is there a way to keep the hand control functional and still have PHD2 communicate with my mount through this cable?  If this method will work, should I remove the cable from the Starshoot Autoguider to the Auto-Guide jack on my mount?

On top of this, I use Backyard EOS to control my camera and would like to do plate solving using Astro-Tortilla through Backyard EOS through whatever ASCOM connection I end up with.  Is this possible with either of the above two setups?

HELP!!!  Please, if possible, keep your answers simple enough or detailed enough for those of us to whom “computer” is not our first language.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mick

[Bryan]

Mike

I used to have a CGE setup, including using BYEOS and AstroTortilla; so perhaps the following is helpful.  I admit it's been a while since I used the CGE, so if there are any gaps in the following, I am sure others will fill them.

One difference between the CGEM and the CGE is the latter has a PC Port on the mount, using a Programming cable (93922).  This allows me to connect directly to a PC and the HC can be completely removed.  I do not think this is an option with the CGEM, i.e. you have to keep the HC and connect to the PC via the bottom of the HC (cable 93920), as you have done.  You can still use NexRemote (see below) with one caveat.

Note:  Because there are ASCOM drivers for all your equipment, you can eliminate the use of the ST-4 cable from the Starshoot to the mount.  A guide star shift will go from the guide camera to PHD2 on your PC via the USB connection.  Based on this data, PHD2 will send a guide command back to the mount via the HC.

Here are the connections that should work for the CGEM.

1. USB from guide camera to PC.  This can go through a powered USB hub, if needed, depending upon the length of the cables.

2. Cable from PC to HC

3. Cable(s), typically power and data, from imaging camera to PC.

Power up the PC.

Power up the mount, imaging camera.  The guide camera should also power up via the USB cable.

Start NexRemote.  At some point, you should have setup a virtual COM port that allows NR  to control the mount via that port.

Align your scope, using NR and whatever align procedure you like.  See the caution below on the use of HC and NR.

Start BYEOS and connect your camera.  In order for BYEOS to talk to PHD2, you need to go to the Settings window in BYEOS.  Check TCP Server.  Use the default port of 1499.

Start Astrotortilla. Select Backyard EOS under Camera, then click Setup.  Ensure that the same port number (1499) is listed here.  You can use whatever ISO you use for your normal images.  Leave the IP and Timeout values alone.  Click Close.

In Astrotortilla, click Telescope and select ASCOM Telescope.  The ASCOM Telescope Chooser window should open.  From the dropdown list, select Celestron ASCOM Driver.  Click Properties.  Your CGEM should already be selected as the Scope Type.  Ensure the Port Number matched the VIRTUAL port number from NexRemote.  The Scope info fields should be populated with your specifics already.  Fill in your specific Site info.  Click OK to return to ASCOM Telescope Chooser window.  Click OK.  If you can't click OK, then it means somewhere there is a ASCOM connection that is incomplete.

Start PHD2.  Click Connect.  Select the Orion Starshoot under Camera.  Select On-camera under Mount.  IF you had connected the ST-4 cable from the Starshoot to the ST-4 port on the mount, then you would select Celestron Scope Driver. 

You should be able to use NR to slew to a target, then use AstroTortilla/BYEOS combo to fine-tune the center of the image.  Once you are happy with where the scope is pointed, then you can start guiding with PHD2.  If you haven't already done so, PHD2 will do an initial calibration and then start guiding

Using BYEOS, begin capture with the imaging camera.

GOOD LUCK.  Let us know if my instructions are unclear or do not perform as expected.

RE:NexRemote (NR) software.  This software replaces the Hand Control.  Once you start using NR for mount control, the ONLY thing you can do with the HC is control movement with the four directional arrows.  If you press ANYTHING else on the HC, then the mount will get confused between the HC and NR.

Mike Swanson's site, http://www.nexstarsite.com/, is an excellent resource for the Celestron mounts.

While there is useful info throughout the site, here is the link to the CGEM section

http://www.nexstarsite.com/OddsEndsCGEM.htm

You also might find Larry McNish's connection diagram helpful

http://www.nexstarsite.com/download/NexStarCablingV5.pdf

[Bryan]

The following sentence

Start BYEOS and connect your camera.  In order for BYEOS to talk to PHD2, you need to go to the Settings window in BYEOS.  Check TCP Server.  Use the default port of 1499.

should read

Start BYEOS and connect your camera.  In order for BYEOS to talk to AstroTortilla, you need to go to the Settings window in BYEOS.  Check TCP Server.  Use the default port of 1499.

My apologies

Bryan

[Bryan]

Mick

From Mike Swanson's site.

"For scopes with no PC Port on the mount, use Celestron's Auxiliary Port Accessory Kit (part number 93965) which provides the required PC Port.  Connect the serial port on your PC to the PC Port on the Auxiliary Port Accessory.  Ken Hutchinson has created a document describing how to build a PC Port adapter for the AS-GT, SE and SLT mounts - click here for details.  Matthias Bopp has created a document describing how to build a PC Port adapter for the NexStar "i" Series mount - click here for details.  If you do not already have one of these adapters, I would recommend you purchase the new version 4 user upgradeable hand control (read this for info on purchasing the upgradeable hand control) and refer to option 1 immediately above."

Part 93965 is about $50 on Ebay and other sites.  This is not necessary to do what you want, but I thought I'd pass it on anyway.

Bryan

[Bryan]

Mick

From now on, just contact me privately, since the thread covers a range of topics outside of PHD2.

Bryan

[Bryan]

One more correction needed, in case others find this thread.

Start PHD2.  Click Connect.  Select the Orion Starshoot under Camera.  Select On-camera under Mount.  IF you had connected the ST-4 cable from the Starshoot to the ST-4 port on the mount, then you would select Celestron Scope Driver. 

should be

Start PHD2.  Click Connect.  Select the Orion Starshoot under Camera.  Select Celestron Scope Driver (ASCOM) under Mount.  IF you had connected the ST-4 cable from the Starshoot to the ST-4 port on the mount, then you would select On-camera. 

Bryan