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How to Setup Starry Night Orion Edition Telescope Control with iOptron SmartStar/Blue Cube having 8402G Hand Control with USB Port

William Miller

December 28, 2016 17:37

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I want to use the Starry Night Orion Edition to drive my iOptron Smart Cube GoTo Mount. When I start up the Starry Night software and select the "Telescope" tab there is a "Configure" button. Clicking the "Configure" button gives a drop down list of supported telescopes. My iOptron Smart Cube GoTo Mount is not listed so can you recommend which telescope I should select to use in this configuration? Maybe: (a) Celestron Scope Driver or (b) Meade Classic and Autostar1? Does it matter which telescope I select in this "Configure" setting?  How would I know which telescope to select?  Maybe there should be a "General Telescope" in the list. 

I am planning to buy the SKYFi3 wireless so that I can use my laptop to run Starry Night to drive the telescope.  Will this change any of the "Configure" settings?

William Miller

 

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4 comments

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith December 28, 2016 22:56

  Hi Bill,

  On Windows operating systems, Starry Night supports any equipment/mounts compatible with ASCOM.

  First, visit http://www.ascom-standards.org to make sure you're updated to the lastest version of Ascom 6.

  Second, visit http://www.ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htm to make sure you have the most recent ascom driver package that is compatible with your mount.

  Fourth,  visit your mount manufacturer's website and make sure you have the lastest firmware in the mount's hand paddle.

  Confirm the checklist:

  1. Latest Ascom platform

  2. Latest driver - you will find the following on the Ascom website:

  Installs a driver for the iOptron CEM60 and iEQ45 Pro mounts. This driver has been supplied by the manufacturer and has passed all conformance tests (report here).

  http://download.ascom-standards.org/drivers/iOptronSetup.exe  

  But, also see below ***

  1. Latest firmware for paddle.

  2. Latest driver for USB to Serial cable.

   

  *** Now you should also look here for more info about Ascom for iOptron:

  http://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=259

  ASCOM Driver 2013 V3.11

  
  This iOptron ASCOM Driver is for following products:

  • iEQ30 (via RS232 port on mount)
  • iEQ45 with an 8407 hand controller (via RS232 port on mount)
  • SmartEQ/SmartEQ Pro (via serial port on 8408 hand controller)
  • ZEQ25GT (via serial port on 8408 hand controller)
  • Mount with an 8401 hand controller (via USB port with CP210x VCP driver installed)

  Updated 3/14/2015
  
  

  • There will be an iOptron Commander 2013 shortcut placed on the computer desktop. Click on it for connection.
  • In planetarium software, select "iOptron ASCOM Driver for 2013 and Earlier Mount"

  
  Minimum Requirement for this driver:
  

  • ASCOM Platform 6.1
  • Windows XP users should install .NET Framework 4 (not the Client Profile). Windows Vista and Windows 7 users should install .NET Framework 4.5.2. Windows 8 and 8.1 users do not need install any additional components.

  iOptron ASCOM Driver 2013 V3.11
  iOptron ASCOM Driver 2013 V3.1 Installer (Released 4/13/2015)
  ASCOM Driver 2013 V3.11 Update Notes (Released 4/13/2015)
  ASCOM Driver 2013 Application (Released 6/8/2015)
  iOptron Control Command Language 2013 V1.4
  GOTONOVA Control Command Language (for 8401 HC)

   

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith December 28, 2016 22:58

  Important!

  For your specific model mount see here:

  http://www.ioptron.com/Articles.asp?ID=261

   

  ASCOM Driver 2.10
  
  

  iOptron ASCOM Driver 2.10 works for following products:

  • iEQ45 with an 8406 hand controller (via RS232 port on mount)
  • A Cube or MiniTower series mount (via USB port on an 8401 or 8402 hand controller)
  • A SmartStar-PR mount or a GoToNova kit (via USB port on an 8401 hand controller)

  Hand Controller USB to UART Bridge Virtual COM Port (VCP) driver:
  

  • 8402G Hand Controller (Prolific PL2303, no Win 8 and later support)
  • 8401 Hand Controller (Silicon Labs CP210x)

  iOptron Telescope ASCOM Driver 2.10
  iOptron Telescope ASCOM Driver 2.10 (10/15/2011)
  ASCOM Driver 2.10 Update Notes (9/22/2011)
  ASCOM Driver 2.10 Application (Updated 2/29/2012)
  GOTONOVA Control Command Language
• 0
  
  Keiron Smith December 28, 2016 23:00

  Now, to answer your question...

   

  Once you have the iOptron Driver 2.10 installed on your computer (along with Ascom platform) then you will see an option to choose "iOptron" as one of the supported telescopes in the configure panel.

   

  Please try this and let me know how you get on.

   

  Thanks!

• 0
  
  Keiron Smith December 28, 2016 23:10

  Once you have a successful wired connection, controlling your iOptron from Starry Night running on Windows, then you can try the SkyFi 3.  But, you will need to do a little hoop-jumping with the setup.  See these KB articles:

   

  https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/articles/231541687-Starry-Night-SkyFi-Windows-

  https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/entries/66694194-V7-Windows-8-can-not-find-SkyFi-network

   

  If you can succeed with the first part, then getting SkyFi 3 to work shouldn't pose a problem.