From: Dave Goodyear <dave@kb2networks.com>

Date: July 21, 2012 2:26:20 PM MDT

To: "Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com" <Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com>

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: Firefly MV cameras, NIB, on ebay

I have a question.  Why would you use these devices?  Just for st-4 output?  Is there an issue using the serial port and ascom and pulse guide?  Is this for single cable to mount if not using serial mount control?  If your already going to have a pc close, whats an extra cable?  Maybe i'm missing something?

Dave Goodyear

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 21, 2012, at 9:43 AM, "Milton Aupperle" <milton@outcastsoft.com> wrote:

On a side note. you can also build your own ST4 Guider board and then
use that instead of the GPUSB : cost would be less than $10 for parts.

http://www.outcastsoft.com/AstroImages/GPIOtoST4_InterfaceV3_MJA.png

The FireFly MV and Chameleon has 4 GPIO pins via a BM07B-SRSS-TB
connector, so you could connect the BM07B-SRSS-TB to the ST4.

Then you have one cable to the camera, and the camera connects to the
ST 4 Port.

I use that all the time now. So I have one FW800 cable coming from my
Mac , which is connected to the Grasshopper 2 (it has 2 FW 800 ports),
and then I daisy chain a FW800 cable from the main imaging Grasshopper
2 to my guide camera (either a FW400 Flea or now my old Grasshopper 1
camera) and then the ST4 port is connected to the guide camera. So a
single cable to 2 Cameras and the mount for imaging, guiding and mount
control. For me, this is especially important during the winter to
reduce the number of stiff cables I have to deal with (at -40°C all
cables are basically plastic rods).

See page 109 and 110 of the Astro IIDC manual for more information on
Hardware modifications.

HTH..

Milton Aupperle

On 21-Jul-12, at 10:14 AM, doobisary wrote:

> You would connect the computer to the mount using a GPUSB from
> Shoestring Astronomy. They're reasonably priced, and you can get
> different cables for the various mounts that support ST-4 signals.
>
> -Tim.
>
> --- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, "-" <agrafoi@...> wrote:
>>
>> Wonderful!
>> I have a Mac and I'm trying the try version of Astro_IIDC before to
>> buy it. When arrive the two FireFly I've purchase i'll try to use
>> one of them for autoguiding my mount.
>> By the way, I should connect the camera to the computer and the
>> computer to the mount, shouldn't I? There's not any direct way to
>> connect the camera to te ST4 port, isn't it?
>>
>> --- In Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com, Milton Aupperle <milton@> wrote:
>>>
>>> Dear Agrafoi;
>>>
>>> On 21-Jul-12, at 6:47 AM, - wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi, everybody!
>>>> I presume you don't use FlyCapture to manage this camera, but
>>>> Astro_IIDC.
>>>
>>> Yes. FlyCapture does not run under OS X.
>>>
>>>> I ask: it works all right or you need some extra software?
>>>
>>> Yes, their USB 2 camera support the IIDC protocol so they work
>>> fine -
>>> all you need is a Astro IIDC on the Mac.
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Ciao
>>>> Agrafoi
>>>>
>>>
>>> HTH...
>>>
>>> FlyCapture
>>>
>>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>

Milton J. Aupperle
President
ASC - Aupperle Services and Contracting
Mac Software (Drivers, Components and Application) Specialist
#1106 - 428 Chaparral Ravine View SE.
Calgary Alberta T2X 0N2
1-(403)-453-1624
milton@outcastsoft.com
www.outcastsoft.com