From: "Milton Aupperle" <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: April 8, 2008 9:50:16 AM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: Guiding Celestron mount?

Hi Perry;

Thanks for the link.

I've done that in the past for my old EQ 3/2 mount s hand controller

and then controlled it on the Mac with the GPUSB or an Active Wire USB

board too. Basically I added an RJ-12 plug and then wired that up to

the RA left / right button controllers. It was a bit cramped inside,

but the contacts were large and easy to solder to.

I didn't bother with the Dec correction as my EQ3/2 mount required 20

seconds reversal time for Dec direction changes, so it wasn't worth

trying to guide on Dec, at least not for both directions.

TTYL..

Milton Aupperle

--- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, "hpholcomb" <hpholcomb@...> wrote:

Alen and Milton,

The following could be an alternative solution for guiding the mount.

Download the rather short .pdf from Shoestring Astronomy, the source

for the GPUSB (shoestringastronomy.com) that Milton mentions:

"Modification of a EQ-style Dual Axis Controller to Add an Autoguider

Port"

This mod doesn't install a serial port but an RJ12, which has become a

de facto standard port for guiding because of the earlier SBIG ST-4. 

If one is running a PC without a USB port, then a serial-to-USB

adapter would also be needed.

This mod makes for a rather inexpensive autoguider as compared to the

cost of some of the OEM trackers/controllers/motors etc.  I'm no

electronics expert, but I wouldn't fear making this mod to my

Celestron 4-button dual axis controller for the CG-4 EQ mount.  In

fact, it's quite simple and well explained with accompanying photos.

Perry