Orion 52080 Computer to Mount Connection, Click OK in the Ascom Telescope Chooser window

Computer to Mount Connection

In order for autoguiding with the SSDSI-II to work, you need a way to send commands from the computer to the telescope mount. This is generally done with a cable connecting the computer’s serial (COM) port to the mount’s auto- guider jack; this cable is generally mount specific, so contact the dealer you purchased your mount from for the proper cable for your mount.

If your telescope mount is supported by the ASCOM platform, it is a simple task to setup the autoguider to send commands (through the computer) to the telescope mount. To do this:

1.Insert the included CD-ROM into your computer.

2.When the Launcher appears (Figure 4), click on the Install ASCOM button and follow the automatic ASCOM platform installer instructions. Restart your computer as indicated when done.

3.Connect the SSDSI-II to your computer and open the Maxim DL Essentials software.

4.In the Camera Control Window, click on the Guide tab (Figure 17).

5.Click on the Settings button.

6.In the window that pops-up (Figure 18), select ASCOM for the Autoguider Output Control Via. Click the Setup button under the Autoguider Output heading.

7.The ASCOM Telescope Chooser (Figure 19) will appear. Select your tele- scope model from the provided choices. If your model does not appear, it is not supported by the ASCOM platform.

Figure 17. The Guide tab in the Camera Control Window is where the SSDSI’s autoguider functions can be accessed.

Figure 18. The autoguider Settings window is where the Autoguider Output is defined.

Figure 19. The ASCOM Telescope Chooser provides an easy way to establish a computer-to-mount communications link if the mount is supported by the ASCOM platform.

8.After you have selected your telescope model, click the Properties but- ton.

9.In the window that pops-up, choose your specific Scope Type and desired Serial Port where the computer will send commands to the mount. Click OK when done.

10.Click OK in the ASCOM Telescope Chooser window.

11.In the Settings window, click the Close button.

30 31