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Shoestring GPINT-PT Auto-Guider Kit
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An elegant, low cost, auto-guiding connectivity kit
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- Elegant Auto-Guiding solution with Shoestring's GPINT-PT interface
- GPINT-PT plugs directly to PC Parallel Port
- RJ-12 cable connects to mount
- Software compatible with:
- AstroArt
- MaxImDL
- MaxImEssensials
- MaxDSLR
- K3CCDTools
- Guidemaster
- GuidDog
- ...and others (see below)
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Shoestring GPINT-PT Auto-Guiding Kit
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Outline
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It is now easy and inexpensive to set up your own autoguiding system. You'll need:
- PC or laptop computer (e.g. Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7).
- Camera dedicated to auto-guiding (e.g. Opticstar PL-130M COOLAIR, etc).
- An interface between the computer and the mount (Shoestring GPINT-PT kit supplied here).
- Autoguiding software (e.g. GuideDog, AstroArt, MaxIm DL, etc, see below).
With the control software the computer can talk to your telescope mount and direct
it's motion. Many telescopes come with a six pin port that looks like a phone jack.
This is called an RJ-12 connector.
Typically, a hand controller or CCD autoguider is plugged into this port. Until
now, anyone wanting to implement webcam autoguiding that had this type of port
would have to buy a relay box that would connect to the parallel port of the
computer, and then would need to be wired to the guide port. These relay boxes
are fairly large, and are one more thing that requires a power source.
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Techical Details
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Guide Port Interface with Pass-through. This device plugs into the parallel
port of a PC or laptop computer and converts the D4, D5, D6, and D7 data lines
into signals that can be used by the guide port (sometimes referred to as a CCD port)
of many types of telescopes.
This guide port interface offers many advantages over using a relay box: it is
small, requires no power source, and you don't have to worry about getting it
wired up. The included RJ-12 cable is all that is needed to go from the interface
adapter to your guide port.
This adapter uses optocouplers to provide electrical isolation between your
computer and your telescope electronics. This helps avoid possible ground loop
and noise pickup problems that can be difficult to debug.
This adapter passes the parallel port signals through to another DB-25 female
connector, so that the D0, D1, D2, and D3 data lines can be used to control
webcams or video devices.
Warning About Cables
The use of improperly wired cables with mounts can result in damage
to the electronics in the mount, as well as damage to the interface adapter.
The importance of using a properly wired cable cannot be stressed enough. If
you choose to make or buy your own from another source, please be sure it is
built per the description in the user manual.
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Missing A Guide Port?
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The Meade LX90 series telescopes may need the Meade 909 port accessory that adds
an ST4 port to the mount.
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The Meade 909 port accessory.
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Missing A Parallel Port?
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Many of the newer laptop computers do not have a built-in parallel port.
Instead they have built-in USB ports. In such cases, it is not possible
to connect the Shoestring GPINT-PT interface directly to the computer.
Please note that a USB-to-Parallel (printer) port card will not work.
Most USB to Paraller Port converters are not really parallel ports but
simply printer ports.
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The Quatech SPP-100 - EPP Parallel PCMCIA card.
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You will need a PCMCIA-to-Parallel Port card. Such a card adds parallel
port support or EPP (enhanced parallel port) support to your laptop.
Quatech produces the SPP-100 EPP Parallel PCMCIA card, which is a
real hardware addressable parallel port. Other manufacturers might also
produce similar products. Please contact your computer supplier for such cards.
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USB Version
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Alternatively, if your computer does not have a parallel port port but it has a USB port,
you can use the Shoestring GPUSB Auto-Guider Kit
that plugs directly to your computer's USB port.
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GPUSB.
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Telescope-Mount Support
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Any ASCOM compatible mount with an ST-4 compatible autoguider port should work with this adapter.
Mounts tested so far include:
- CG5 (requires Shoestring's Guide Port Conversion Kit)
- EQ3 (requires Shoestring's Guide Port Conversion Kit)
- EQ5 (requires Shoestring's Guide Port Conversion Kit)
- EQ5 PRO SynScan
- EQ6 PRO SkyScan via the hand controller
- HEQ5 PRO SkyScan via the hand controller
- Vixen SPHINX
- Vixen GPDX via SkySensor 2000 (requires Shoestring's SkySensor 2000 converter)
- Vixen Altux via SkySensor 2000 (requires Shoestring's SkySensor 2000 converter)
- Takahashi EM-10 (requires Shoestring's Guide Port Converter for Takahashi mounts)
- Meade LX-200.
- Meade LX-90.
- Celestron Nexstar i-series.
- Celestron Celestar 8.
- Celestron Advanced Series GoTo.
- Celestron CGE.
- Orion Atlas EQ-G style.
- Gemini G-41.
- Astro-Physics AP900 QMD.
- JMI NGT.
- Tom O. Equatorial Platform.
With modification, you can also add an ST-4 compatible autoguide port to your EQ
style mount. See the Guide Port Conversion Kit for details.
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System Testing With GPINTCheck
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GPINTCheck is a simple, free software application by ShoeString Astronomy that
you can use to verify that your GPINT-PT, computer, and scope mount are all
together working properly. You can download this using the link above.
You should use this the first time you set up your system. You can also use
it as a debugging tool anytime your system is not functioning properly. If
your system works fine with GPINTCheck, but not with your third-party software,
then the problem most likely lies with the third-party software and you should
contact them for technical support. If your system does not work with GPINTCheck,
then you should contact
Shoestring Astronomy
for technical support.
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Software Support For Auto-Guiding
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The Shoestring GPINT-PT guiding kit (supplied here) is supported by several
software vendors. Please refer to the table below for details.
The GuideDog control software for the Shoestring Auto-Guider can be downloaded free
from barkoSoftware. It
runs under Windows 98/ME/2000/XP/Vista/7. GuideDog uses the "industry standard"
ASCOM platform.
You can find full instructions on the barkoSoftware website.
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Sample Images
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The following photograph has been taken using the Shoestring , GPUSB/GPINT-PT.
Please click on the images below to expand to their full size.
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M42 & NGC1977. Click on the image to enlarge to 2175x2842 pixels.
Image by Dave Moulton captured in the UK, GPUSB (GPINT) auto-guiding kit.
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M81 & M82. Click on the image to enlarge to 1331x1019 pixels.
Image by Dave Moulton captured in the UK, GPUSB (GPINT) auto-guiding kit.
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Notice
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We are constantly checking the accuracy of the technical data. We are prepared to provide
more detailed information on request. Technical data is subject to change without notice.
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