LX200 Classic Setup with PHD2 - whcih Aux Mount to Choose?

[Michael Heald]

Hello! I am configuring my 8" LX200 Classic to use with PHD2 and SGPro.

    I'd like input about setup from anyone who has used the Classic with PHD2.

    I have installed the ASCOM Drivers - for the scope, "Meade Classic and AutotStar 1 (ASCOM)"

    In PHD2 setup, I have an ST-i camera using the on-camera mount. (the scope only has one RS-232 port so that is used to connect the scope and computer)

    Under Aux Mount, I selected "Meade Classic and AutotStar 1 (ASCOM)" and enabled the server.

    After connecting everything in SGPro, it  brings up PHD2 and informs me that it could not establish an instance of the "Meade Classic and AutotStar 1 (ASCOM)." I presume that this is because the scope is using the driver and the driver cannot be shared with PHD2?

    I am confused as to which driver to choose. The manual suggests that any ASCOM driver can be used in Aux Mount since it is only used to obtain pointing information.

    Which ASCOM driver might work best? It looks like I can choose "POTH Hub (ASCOM)" or "Generic Hub (ASCOM)" from what I have downloaded. Should I use one of these or is there something else in setup that I should enable to allow sharing of the "Meade Classic and AutotStar 1 (ASCOM)"?

    Thank you and best regards.

Mike

[bw_msgboard]

Hi Mike.  I think you’ve pretty much figured this out for yourself.  The old Meade ASCOM drivers don’t behave like ASCOM hubs, which means only one app at a time can connect to them.  But that’s exactly the problem that POTH was written to handle, so you can use that.  You can run the POTH app manually, go into Setup, then choose the Meade mount driver.  Make sure the COM port is correctly identified in the Meade ASCOM driver.  If you don’t have a serial port on the computer, you can use a USB-serial adapter.  Once POTH is connected and is able to report the pointing position, you are good to go.  In PHD2, you can choose the POTH driver as your aux-mount.  Once you go through this drill once, you should be done with it – all the settings will be remembered.

 

Hope this helps,

Bruce

 

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[Michael Heald]

Thank you! I appreciate the quick response.

    If I am interpreting your comments correctly, in SGP setup, I would choose the "Meade Classic and AutoStar 1 (ASCOM)" driver for the scope? Or would I select POTH in SGP as well? If so, in POTH setup, I would choose the Meade ASCM driver?

    (The Meade ASCOM driver connects fine between SGP and the scope with my USB-serial adapter/cable and the identified port)

    In PHD2, I would select the on-camera mount. For Aux Mount, I select POSH. Are these steps correct?

    I was afraid that using two telescope drives would cause a conflict. However, I tried POSH in the Aux mount menu, and it connected. The scope was parked at the time and the position did not return correctly. I have to work on Park in SGP since Park is finicky for the Meade Classic ASCOM Driver.

    Once setup, the next step would be to test it guiding on a star.

    Again, thank you for your guidance. I appreciate it. Best regards.

Mike

[bw_msgboard]

Hi Mike.  Any application you want to use – SGP, PHD2, whatever – should connect to POTH.  None of them should connect directly to the Meade ASCOM driver, that will be done only by POTH.  POTH makes sure there aren’t collisions between commands that go to the mount.  I suspect that the Meade mounts have to be initialized and not in a parked or home state in order to correctly report pointing position.  Your best bet is probably to find a routine that works with getting the mount initialized and then having the apps connect to it at the right time.  Once you get that roadmap, always follow it.  If you starting changing the order of things or get sloppy with the routine, you could end up getting error messages and problems that won’t make much sense to you.

 

Good luck,

[Michael Heald]

Thank you!

Mike

[Pict...@earthlink.net]

Bruce is exactly correct on the connections.  SGP should connect to POTH and POTH connects to the ASCOM LX200 driver.  However, the good news is that the ASCOM LX200 does allow you to define and use a Park position with the LX200 Classic.  Read the write up on the ASCOM site about how to use this feature.  The driver has a default position, but you can also change it, which is what I do.  Then, once you power up and connect, the software knows where the scope is and you can begin your observing run.  With SGP's centering capability, you should be close enough that the plate solver can determine exactly where the scope is pointed and refine that pointing to put you on target.  

Hope that helps,

Manning B

[bw_msgboard]

Thanks for the contribution, Manning.  I think the best advice usually comes from someone who has dealt with the same set-up and found a way to make it work. J

 

Bruce

 

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