Leisure Time LX200 Command Set, Command Set Formats, General Telescope Information

55

PC keyboard, this will move the LX200 North, South, East, or West respectively. Press the space bar on the PC keyboard to stop. Press X to exit the program.

If the LX200 does not respond to the N, S, E, or W keys, be sure the CAPSLOCK is OFF. If it still does not work, check the PC serial port pinouts of your computer to be sure they are wired correctly to the LX200 6-line connector.

With a successful check-out of the PC link with the LX200 using LX200 TEST, you are now ready to write your own software program using the LX200 Command Set, or to use the sample program called "DEMO" that is written in Quick Basic software language.

3. LX200 Command Set

Intended for professional programmers, the LX200 Command Set is used to write custom software for remote operation of the telescope with a PC. Each command is listed in a section appropriate to its type. Each entry in the command list includes the command name, any parameters, any return values, and a description. The parameters and the return data are shown in a manner that indicates their format. These formats are listed below along with examples of how the data might actually appear, the legal range of values, and a short description. Below is a detailed description:

a. Command Set Formats

HH:MM.T

Example 05:47.4

Range 00:00.0 - 23:59.9

Hours, minutes, and tenths of minutes.

sDD*MM

Example +45*59

Range -90*00 - +90*00

Signed degrees and minutes (the '" represents ASCII 223 which appears on the handbox as a degree symbol).

DDD*MM
Example	254*09
Range	000*00 - 359*59
Unsigned degrees and minutes.
HH:MM:SS
Example	13:15:36
Range	00:00:00-23:59:59
Hours, minutes, and seconds.
MM/DD/YY
Example	02/06/92
Range	01/01/00 - 12/31/99 (see description)
Month, day, and year. The two digit year
indicates the following:
92-99= 1992-1999
00-9)=2000-2091
sHH
Example	-5
Range	-24 - +24
Signed hour offset.
NNNN
Example	3456
Range	0000 - 9999'
Four digit object number.
sMM.M
Example	02.4 Range

05.5- 20.0

Signed magnitude value.

NNN

Example 134

Range 000 - 200

Three digit object size (minutes).

DD*
Example		56*
Range		00* - 90*
"Higher" parameter (degrees).
TT.T
Example		59.2
Range		56.4 - 60.1
Tracking "frequency."
<obj> info
Example		CNGC1976 SU DNEBMAG 3.9 SZ 66.0'
Range		n/a
Object information.
Ok
Example		1
Range		0 or 1
Status value returned after setting values. If the
value is legal 1 is returned, otherwise 0 is returned.
b. General Telescope Information
Command	:GR#
Returns	+HH:MM.T#

Gets the current Flight Ascension.

Command :GD#

Returns sDD*MM#

Gets the current Declination.

Command :GA#

Returns sDD*MM#

Gets the current Altitude.

Command :GZ#

Returns DDD*MM#

Gets the current Azimuth.

Command :GS# Returns

HH:MM:SS#

Gets the current sidereal time.

Command	:SS HH:MM:SS#
Returns	Ok
	Sets the sidereal time.
Command	:GL#
	:Ga#
Returns	HH:MM:SS#
Gets the local time either in 24 hour (GL) or 12 hour (Ga)
format.
Command	:SL HH:MM:SS#
Returns	Ok

Sets the local time. NOTE: The parameter should always be in 24 hour format.

Command	:GC#
Returns	MM/DD/YY#
Gets the calendar date.
Command	:SC MM/DD/YY#
Returns	Ok (see description)
Sets the calendar date. NOTE: After the Ok, if the date is

valid, two strings will be sent. The first will contain the message "Updating planetary data," the second (sent after the planetary calculations) will contain only blanks. Both strings will be terminated by the "#" symbol.

Command :Gt#

Returns sDD*MM#

Gets the latitude of the currently selected site.

Command :St sDD*MM#

Returns Ok

Sets the latitude of the currently selected site.

Command :Gg#

Returns DDD*MM#

Gets the longitude of the currently selected site.