GOT GPS?

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Gulf Coast Guy
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GOT GPS?

#1

Post by Gulf Coast Guy »


I've discovered a way to add GPS to probably any Goto mount that doesn't as long as there is an Ascom driver for it.

It's called AscomGPS and it uses a GPS receiver attached to a PC to pass Date, Time, Latitude, and Logitude to a mount whose Ascom drive has implemented the UTCDate property with both read and write.
I found it after I researched a new driver project for Meade mounts.

You can find it Here on the Web page of th author Colin Dawson.
https://cjdawson.com/2019/06/22/ascom-gps/

The only catch is that the GPS receiver needs to be installed and recognized (by Windows) as a valid Location Sensor. In my case that required Updating the driver and manually selecting the correct one after Window got it wrong. More than a couple of times.
I can vrify it works with the Meade Autostar 497 hand set running thr 43Eg version Firmware.

If you're still entering Time,Date, and Location by hand you might find it worth a try.

GCG
OTA's: 203mm f10 Meade SCT (LXD75); Antares 80mm Refractor w/William Optics APOGrade f6.9 objective; Orion Starseeker 80 f11.2 Refractor
Mount/tripod's: Meade LXD-75 EQ; Orion Starseeker IV ALT/AZ; Celestron Heavy Duty ALT/AZ Farpoint UBM (Universal Binocular Mount)
Eyepieces:Meade - 26mm plossl, 12mm Astrometric; GSO (OPT badge) 2" Superview 50mm & 30mm 1.25" 15mm; TMB Planetary Series 9mm, 6mm, & 4mm: 10mm & 23mm 60° that came with the 80mm f11.2
Barlows: Orion 2x Shorty; Meade 4000 Series 3x
Binoculars:Brunton 10x50 Celestron Skymaster 15x70 Oberwerk 25x100 IF delux
Gulf Coast Guy
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Re: GOT GPS?

#2

Post by Gulf Coast Guy »


BTW Folks. If you get a USB GPS dongle like I did use a USB 2.0 port over a USB 3.0 port. As it happens USB 3.0 Ports some how can inhibit the receiver from acquiring satellites.

Just an FYI.

GCG
OTA's: 203mm f10 Meade SCT (LXD75); Antares 80mm Refractor w/William Optics APOGrade f6.9 objective; Orion Starseeker 80 f11.2 Refractor
Mount/tripod's: Meade LXD-75 EQ; Orion Starseeker IV ALT/AZ; Celestron Heavy Duty ALT/AZ Farpoint UBM (Universal Binocular Mount)
Eyepieces:Meade - 26mm plossl, 12mm Astrometric; GSO (OPT badge) 2" Superview 50mm & 30mm 1.25" 15mm; TMB Planetary Series 9mm, 6mm, & 4mm: 10mm & 23mm 60° that came with the 80mm f11.2
Barlows: Orion 2x Shorty; Meade 4000 Series 3x
Binoculars:Brunton 10x50 Celestron Skymaster 15x70 Oberwerk 25x100 IF delux
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turonrambar
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Re: GOT GPS?

#3

Post by turonrambar »


Hello,

Thanks for the excellent information on GPS systems integrated to telescopes' mounts. I use ASCOM with all my Meade telescopes.

kip

:text-thankyoublue:
Meade OTA f/8 12” on a CEM120 iOptron Mount,
G10 One Shot CMOS Color Camera, QHY 2” Filter Wheel, QHY OAG, SVBony SV305 guide camera
Canon T3i 60D Prime Focus and Eyepiece Projection,
ASCOM 6.5 SP1, Windows 10 Professional
LX850 Mount, ETX125, LX200 f/10 8” GPS, Meade 6” f/4 Newton Reflector on an Equatorial Mount
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