LX200 GPS software to guide scope -- does it exist?

[skintigh]

Is there any software out there that will guide an LX200 GPS?  I have a Celestron Neximage cam and would like to guide the scope from my laptop with it so I can train the PEC and maybe take some pictures.  I have tried several programs, and the closest one seems to be PHD which will only control an LX200 and not an LX200 GPS, apparently.  Or am I doing something wrong?

Can anyone offer some advice, please?

Thanks, Seth.

[Mark Sibole]

PHD guide will connect to as LX200 GPS with no problems.
It is the program I use to guide with on my LX200R .
It works very well.
PHD will work with the LX200 GPS.
What problems are you having??

Regards

Mark

[amirber]

Hi Mark, what are the ASCOM files you are using for the telescope and camera? I've been having trouble connecting my LX200 GPS to it, while the autostar suite has no problems.

[Mark Sibole]

I use the shoestring adaptor on mine so I dont need to use the ascom drivers.
But if you are using ascom you need to select LX200 with autostar.

Mark

[skintigh]

It's been a while, but I believe I downloaded the latest ASCOM drivers and the latest PHD, I set it to LX200, set all the ports to known good values, used a cable that works with Autostar, the software tracked a star and would light up the direction buttons to tell me it was sending signal, but the scope didn't budge.

I will try again if the sky ever clears, but I spent probably two hours trying to get PHD to work and failed, and I couldn't find any other software that would recognize the Neximage.

I looked into that shoestring you mentioned.  It looks like it can't control the microfocus, while I think I can with the serial cable I made.  Is that correct?

[Mark Sibole]

It will drive the autoguider port but wont drive the focuser.
Remember you wont see the scope move as its in guide speed but you would notice the drift of the star when you are on one.
If you need more help to get it going let me know.
We will work on it untill its running.

Mark

[justin8571]

Hello,

Not sure if I can help as I see the post's a little old so hopefully you're already up and running. Anyway, if you're still having problems take a look at this page on my website that might offer a little help;-

http://www.sussexastroimaging.co.uk/page51.htm

On the page I show a step-by-step guide of how I connected an LX200R, PHD Guiding and a Meade DSI. If you've not already got it sorted then it might help.

Take care and good luck.

Justin

www.sussexastroimaging.co.uk

[skintigh]

You guys are my heros.  I started over form scratch and followed those instructions and it seems to work.  At least PHD guiding is now moving my scope.  I'm assuming I had the wrong ASCOM drivers before.

It's not actually guiding though, but that may be because I'm using a planetary camera.  The backlash alone is more than enough to knock the guide star out of the guiding box in PHD.