PulseGuide by Ray Gralak of Sirius-Imaging

PulseGuide
by Ray Gralak of Sirius-Imaging

PulseGuide Software
PulseGuide is a stand-alone Windows (98, ME, 2000, NT4, XP only) utility that provides complete remote control of Astro-Physics 400GTO, 600EGTO, 900GTO, and 1200GTO mounts. It derives its name from its most distinctive feature, pulse guiding, which can improve unguided tracking. Specifically, it can help correct tracking errors caused by polar misalignment and atmospheric refraction. You can also train PulseGuide to track objects moving relative to the stars, such as asteroids, comets, and the moon. In addition to pulse guiding, PulseGuide also has many useful utility features. With just a few exceptions, it supports the entire serial Astro-Physics command protocol.

PulseGuide requires a serial connection from your PC to your mount using a straight-through DB9 cable. One end of the cable must have a female connector and the other end male. Cables as long as 100 feet or more should work provided the cable is made from high-quality shielded cable. Cables with twisted pair wires work best, such as those from Belden.

PulseGuide was written by Ray Gralak of Sirius-Imaging. Please refer to his website http://www.pulseguide.com for further developments and enhancements. The software will be provided on a CD-ROM with all Astro-Physics mounts delivered in 2004 or later. Previous owners of any Astro-Physics mount can download the software free-of-charge courtesy of Ray. We appreciate Ray's committment to the development of this program.

Features

Fully supports the Astro-Physics serial command protocol.
Pulse guiding. Corrects for drift due to mispolar alignment and atmospheric refraction. Pulse guiding is an idea originally suggested by Roland Christen of Astro-Physics and implemented in this application. It works by sending precisely timed serial commands that make the mount move faster in RA and/or Dec for a short period (hence “pulses”).
Declination axis tests that you can use to check the health of your mount’s declination axis.
With one button Unpark, automatically setting the time, time zone, longitude, and latitude without ever needing to plug in the hand controller. PulseGuide will even detect that your mount is not initialized and ask to initialize it.
One-button Park feature allows you to park the mount at its current position, one of the AP park positions, or a user-defined Alt/Az.
Unpark from one of the AP park positions or your own Alt/Az.
Set guide/slew rates.
Buttons to move the scope conveniently.
A status bar that shows the scope’s position in RA/Dec (or Alt/Az), the side of mount that the scope is on, Local Sidereal time, and Object Hour Angle.
Set the tracking rate (sidereal, lunar, solar, zero).
Delayed stop or park of the mount so the scope will not hit the pier if you fall asleep or forget to shut down the scope.
PEM (On/Off, record with timer).
Set mount to PC Time and set Time Zone.
Set a Meridian delay so the mount will not flip on a GOTO command.
Convenient Site management.
GOTO/Sync to RA/DEC coordinates. STOP button to stop a GOTO, if desired.
TPoint resynchronization. This is a useful tool if you are using Software Bisque’s TheSky with a TPoint model and lose synchronization because you moved the scope by hand.
Focus control including a counter to keep track of position.
Reticle brightness control.
Set mount backlash.
Other miscellaneous features.

Hardware Requirements

GTOCP1 and GTOCP2 Control Boxes must have a chip dated 05-07-01 (designated as "D" or "KD") in order to use this program. Click here for more information on chip upgrades. The GTOCP3 Control Box is ready to go.

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Astro-Physics, Inc.
11250 Forest Hills Road, Rockford, IL 61115, U.S.A.
Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847