From: "Tim" <tjp314@pacbell.net>

Date: June 28, 2008 7:09:40 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Cables, adapters, and stuff

Milton et al., 

I've just about got my rooftop "observatory" doing all the things I

want it to (which is a lot!), but I have some questions.

Here's what I have... get yourself a cup of coffee or a beer, and make

yourself comfy. This is complicated. Actually, you might want to

skip to the last paragraph for the question, and then if you're

curious, read the rest!:

Nexstar 9.25GPS that I control with either Equinox 6 or Voyager 4 on

a Mac Mini or a G4 laptop, or TheSky 6 on an HP laptop. Both the macs

are running 10.4. The HP is running windows xp.

Megrez 80, in Losmandy adjustable guide scope rings on the 9.25.

I've currently got an SBIG ST2000XM mounted on the Megrez. Equinox

Image runs it and the CFW-10 just fine, with the usb cable plugged

into the Belkin hub on the Mini.

On the 9.25", I've got a Meade f/6.3 FR and a Pt Grey Flea2 color

camera that I run using Astro IIDC. This scope is the guider, when

I'm imaging with the SBIG, so I've got a GPUSB plugged into one of the

USB ports on my G4 laptop, and the Flea2 in the Firewire 400 port for

guiding.

Also piggyback on a Losmandy Camera adapter, I have a Pt Grey Flea

color camera with an 11mm c-mount lens on it - makes an awesome

finder. This one runs off Astro IIDC as well, with the firwire 400

cable plugged into a Belkin hub on the Mini.

Now it gets intersesting. I have a Robofocus on the 9.25", and I just

added one to the Megrez. But since I only have one keyspan serial to

usb adapter, I can't have the scope connected to the computer AND run

one of the focusers at the same time, and I'd like to run both.

So, maybe my question is: If I have enough usb ports (between the 2

macs and the Belkin hub, I should, even with my speakers and printer

plugged into a couple), can I simply add a couple more Keyspan

adapters and have everything work happily together?

-Tim.