ASTRO DEVICES Nexus DSC User manual

Nexus DSC
USER MANUAL
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User Manual for Nexus DSC
Version 2.2
Firmware version 1.x.x
Last revised on January 24th, 2017
Printed in Australia
Copyright
Copyright © 2014-2017, Astro Devices. All rights reserved.
No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form for any purpose other than
the purchaser’s personal use, without the express written permission of Astro Devices.
Astro Devices reserves the right to make changes and improvements to its product without
providing a notice.
Precautions and Safety
Electricity
Nexus DSC contains a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion
batteries can explode or cause a fire if they are used incorrectly or if they
are defective. Therefore, you are recommended to read the following
instructions very carefully:
NEVER leave Nexus DSC where it is subjected to extremes in temperatures. This
includes low levels as well as high.
DO NOT leave Nexus DSC where it is in direct sunlight or in an enclosed space,
such as a car, that can become extremely hot very rapidly.
Do not drop or subject the Nexus DSC to impact.
Use only approved power adapter to charge your Nexus DSC.
Do not handle power plug and adapter with wet hands. Electrical shock may
result. Immediately power off the product and unplug the DC adapter and/or
batteries if smoke or odours emit from the product. Immediately power off the
product and unplug the DC adapter if water or other liquids are present.
Product
Keep it away from harsh environments including humid, dusty, and smoky
areas.
Do not use excessive force on the connectors.
Do not attempt to disassemble the device without prior consultation with Astro
Devices.
Do not place heavy objects on the product. Damage to your products may result
from improper use.
Technical Support
Astro Devices
198 The Esplanade,
SYLVANIA, NSW 2224
AUSTRALIA
ABN 75 270 616 917
E-Mail: [e-mail]
Website: http://www.astrodevices.com

Nexus DSC User Manual
Thank You!
Thank you for purchasing Nexus DSC digital setting circles telescope computer. We hope you
enjoy it!
You have purchased one of the most advanced Digital Setting Circles computers. It will allow you
to located celestial objects quickly and easily. Nexus DSC has a huge database of objects –
planets, galaxies, star clusters, globular clusters, nebulae and others. It also provides extensive
descriptions for those objects – magnitudes, sizes, common names, alternative designators,
surface brightness, separations for double stars, spectral class, galaxy morphology. It is all
available at a press of a button!
This user manual will get you started and help you make the most of your Nexus DSC.

Nexus DSC User Manual
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Nexus DSC User Manual
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TABLE of CONTENTS!
TABLE&of&CONTENTS!...................................................!1!
Introduction!.................................................................!2!
Product!Features!........................................................!2!
Technical!specifications!......................................................!2!
Digital!setting!circles!specifications!....................................!2!
Package!Content!................................................................!2!
Introduction!.................................................................!3!
Unpacking!...........................................................................!3!
Controls!..............................................................................!3!
Charge!the!battery!.............................................................!3!
User!interface!.....................................................................!4!
Main%menu%.....................................................................%4!
Status%Bar%.......................................................................%4!
Keypad%...........................................................................%4!
Initial!Setup!........................................................................!4!
Setting%the%time%and%date%..............................................%4!
Connecting%to%your%telescope%.........................................%5!
Telescope%Settings%..........................................................%5!
Two%star%alignment%........................................................%6!
Alignment%object%screen%.................................................%7!
Pointing%accuracy%...........................................................%7!
Locating%an%object%..........................................................%8!
Improving%pointing%accuracy%..........................................%9!
Nexus!DSC’s!menus!.....................................................!9!
Settings!...............................................................................!9!
Telescope%.......................................................................%9!
Other%Parameters%........................................................%10!
Communications%..........................................................%10!
Time%and%Date%..............................................................%11!
WiFi%..............................................................................%11!
Display/Keypad%............................................................%12!
Align!.................................................................................!12!
Altitude%Reference%........................................................%12!
First%Object%Alignment%.................................................%13!
Second%Object%Alignment%.............................................%13!
Alignment%Status%..........................................................%13!
Mpoint%Start%.................................................................%13!
Mpoint%Parameters%......................................................%14!
Mpoint%Edit%Points%........................................................%15!
Mpoint%Analyse%............................................................%16!
Equatorial%Timer%..........................................................%16!
Find!...................................................................................!17!
From%Catalogues%..........................................................%17!
From%Observation%List%..................................................%19!
Object%at%RA/Dec%..........................................................%20!
From%Planetarium%........................................................%20!
Identify!.............................................................................!21!
Tour!..................................................................................!22!
Test!...................................................................................!22!
Encoders%.......................................................................%22!
WiFi%..............................................................................%22!
USB%...............................................................................%23!
Serial%............................................................................%23!
Utilities!.............................................................................!23!
Update%Catalogues%from%microSD%................................%23!
Info!...................................................................................!24!
About%Nexus%DSC%..........................................................%24!
Time%.............................................................................%24!
Battery%.........................................................................%24!
GPS%...............................................................................%25!
Advanced!Topics!......................................................!25!
Daylight!Testing!................................................................!25!
Firmware!Update!.....................................................!25!
Apendix!.......................................................................!26!
Ports!Pinouts!....................................................................!26!
Serial!Port!.........................................................................!26!
Encoders!Port!...................................................................!26!
List!of!Compatible!Planetarium!Software!........................!27!
FREQUENTLY!ASKED!QUESTIONS!(FAQ)!...........................!27!
Troubleshooting!......................................................!27!
Warranty!....................................................................!29!
Technical!Support!...................................................!29!

Nexus DSC User Manual
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Introduction
Nexus DSC is a digital setting circles computer
with optional WiFi interface for your telescope. It
works with most popular telescopes – on
equatorial or Alt-Azimuth mounts.
Nexus DSC is a very sophisticated device for
locating celestial object in the sky. Only two rotary
encoders are required to be fitted to your
telescope in order to be able to locate celestial
object with Nexus DSC.
Product Features
Below is a short outline of main features of your
Nexus DSC.
Technical specifications
• CPU – 32 bit, MIPS 4K running at 80MHz
• Memory – 16MB internal FLASH
• External memory – up to 64GB on micro SD card
• 3.12” Red OLED screen (256x64 pixels) with 256
levels of brightness
• Full numeric keypad with adjustable back light
• Real time clock with thermal compensation
• Built-in GPS receiver with support for GPS and
GLONASS
• Built-in 5000mAh rechargeable Lithium battery
• Operating temperature range from -20 oC to +50 oC (-
5 oF to +120 oF)
• Humidity 10%-90% non-condensing
• Optional WiFi interface
• FCC / CE/ IC certified 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11b/g
transceiver
o Supports Access Point and infrastructure WiFi
networks
o Secure Wi-Fi authentication schemes
o Class I WiFi device (up to 150 meters)
o Uses 2412 ~ 2484MHz Unlicensed ISM band
(channels 1-14)
o Output power 0.08W
• One RS232 port
• One USB port
• Upgradeable firmware and catalogues (firmware is
upgraded using a USB memory stick)
• Can be charged/powered by an external power
source of 5-16V DC; can be charged from a cigarette
lighter socket in a car
• Reverse polarity protection
• RoHS compliant
• Size: 140 x 120 x 30mm (5.5” x 4.7” x 1.2”)
• Weight: 260g (9oz)
Digital setting circles specifications
• Intuitive graphical user interface
• Supports Alt-Az mounts, Equatorial Mounts, Equatorial
Platforms
• Supports a two star alignment
• Filter objects by magnitude, constellation and object
type
• Displayed angular resolution is 0.01 of a degree
• Internal FLASH memory contains a database of more
than 73500 objects:
o Named stars
o Bright stars, Flamsteed, Bayer, Asterisms
o Planets, Sun, Moon
o Common named objects
o Full catalogues: Abell Galaxy Clusters, Abell
Planetaries, Arakelian, Arp Peculiar Galaxies,
Barnard, Caldwell, Collinder, ESO, Herschel,
Hickson Compact Groups, King, LBN, Markarian
galaxies, Messier, Minkowski planetaries, IC, NGC,
Palomar Globulars, PK, PN, Sharpless, Stock,
Terzan, Trumpler, UGC
o
• Around 1.9 million objects are located on optional
microSD card
o Comets and Asteroids (updatable from the MPC)
o HyperLEDA catalogue
o MCG, SAO
o Full Washington Double Stars catalogue
• Displays object’s information: magnitude, size, surface
brightness, spectral class, double star separations,
galaxies morphology, alternative names , rise time, set
time, transit time etc.
• Identify function; can also display up to 128 nearby
objects
• Tour modes: within a radius and within a constellation
• Supports a multi point telescope pointing analysis
system for telescope pointing corrections
• Supports rotary encoders with up to 999999 steps per
revolution
• Shows internal battery status – remaining capacity,
current power consumption and percentage of charge
remaining
• Can be interfaced to a tablet/smartphone/computer
using a standard RS232 interface or optional WiFi
interface
• Internal real-time clock can be synchronised with GPS
time automatically
• Time display of local time, UTC and local sidereal time
• Supports LX200 emulation
• Supports ServoCAT, SiTech and SkyTracker motor
controllers
Package Content
The package contains:
• Nexus DSC
• User manual
• DC 2.1mm to cigarette lighter power cable
• USB to DC 2.1mm cable (for charging only)
• Optional serial cable
• Optional power adapter 6V, 3A, 90-264V
AC

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Introduction
Unpacking
Nexus DSC has a protective film covering the front
panel. Please peel it off to be able to see the
display clearly.
Controls
All controls are situated on front panel of Nexus
DSC:
– power switch
– keypad
– display
– external power connector (DC 2.1mm)
– charging status LED
– USB connector
– Serial (RS232) port
– Encoders port
– Micro SD socket
is used to charge the battery; can be
connected to a power adapter or to a cigarette
lighter socket (using the supplied cable)
indicates the charging status of the battery
Blinking
type
Description
Solid ON
The internal battery charging is in
progress
OFF
The internal battery has been fully
charged
Flashing
Flashing LED is indicating an error (power
source is not supplying sufficient voltage
and or current)
The USB port acts as a USB host. It cannot
be used to connect Nexus DSC to a computer
directly.
The USB port on Nexus DSC is used for:
• Firmware updates
• To interface Nexus DSC to ServoCAT
• To interface Nexus DSC to SiTech motor
controller
Serial port is a standard RS232 port, 6P6C
RJ connector. It is used for the following
purposes:
• To connect Nexus DSC to a computer
• To connect Nexus DSC to ServoCAT
• To connect Nexus DSC to SiTech
controller
Encoder port is used to connect encoders
using an 8P8C RJ connector
microSD socket is push-in push-out type
Charge the battery
The battery may not be fully charged at first. It is
advised to fully charge the battery.
Please use either the provided power adapter or
one of the recommended power adapters to
charge the battery.
It is also possible to use the supplied USB to DC
2.1mm cable to charge the battery from a power
adapter with a USB socket. The power adapter
should be capable of supplying at least 1.5A at 5V
otherwise it will take much longer to fully charge
the battery in Nexus DSC.
Connect the power adapter to Nexus DSC and
plug the adapter into a power point.
It is recommended to keep Nexus DSC turned off
during charging to reduce charging time.
WARNING:
Do not connect Nexus DSC to an external
power source that is not within the
specified voltage range. Nexus DSC has
internal over-current protection but it is
safer to use it with the power source
specified.
The internal Lithium battery can only be
charged at a temperature range of 0 oC to
+30 oC (32 oF to 86 oF)
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User interface
Main menu
The main screen consists of a status bar,
horizontal menu with icons and a text description
of the currently selected menu item:
– Status bar
– Main menu
– Menu description
Status Bar
The status bar shows basic information about
battery state, current time, GPS receiver status
and WiFi.
The status bar has the following elements:
WiFi status is only shown if the WiFi is enabled
GPS fix status - the dot in the centre is flashing until the
GPS receiver acquires the current location
Current time in 24 hour format
Battery charge level in %
Keypad
Nexus DSC has a full numeric (0-9) keypad with
directional keys ( , , , ),
and to allow an easy method of control.
The keys have the following functions:
• to keys are used to specify a
numeric information to Nexus DSC
• and keys on the keypad move
between previous and next menu item,
they are also used to move between
control fields (edit value, list, check box,
on-screen buttons) in a dialogue screen.
The key also acts as a backspace
when editing a value in edit fields.
• and keys are used to select an
item from a list, to adjust value in numeric
fields with predefined steps (like ‘Time
Zone’) or to change a character in an edit
field; they can also be used to go to the
previous/next menu level.
• The key activates the selected menu
item (on-screen button press, accepts a
selection from a list, finish editing a text or
numeric value).
• The key goes back to the previous
menu level/screen.
Initial Setup
This section describes how to setup Nexus DSC
to start locating celestial objects. The following
sections will describe all features of Nexus DSC in
detail.
In order to be able to use Nexus DSC for locating
celestial object it is necessary to set a few
parameters first:
• Time and date
• Mount Type
• Encoders’ resolution
Setting the time and date
Please select ‘Settings’ from the main menu:
Then select ‘Time and Date’:
It will show the current time and date that can be
changed:
If all parameters are set correctly then pressing
the key can be used to avoid changing any
parameter.
If the time zone, time and date need to be
changed then and keys can be used to
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Nexus DSC User Manual
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select the parameter that needs to be adjusted.
and keys are used to change the value.
Setting the time and date is only required if time
synchronisation with GPS is disabled. However
the time zone and date needs to be set for Nexus
DSC to show the local time correctly.
It usually takes 30 to 60 seconds for the GPS
receiver to get a fix on the location (under
open sky conditions). Nexus DSC will update
the internal real time clock with the time
received by the GPS receiver at this time. The
GPS receiver will automatically be switched
into a power saving mode after it acquired the
location to conserve the battery power.
Connecting to your telescope
Nexus DSC requires only encoders connected to
operate. Please plug the encoder cable into
Encoders port on Nexus DSC.
For operating Nexus DSC with a ServoCAT or
SiTech controller the serial port needs to be
connected to a serial port on ServoCAT or SiTech
controller.
To make sure that encoders are functioning
correctly Nexus DSC has a test mode to test the
encoders. Selecting Test from the main menu
activates it:
Then select Encoders:
will show the current angles and encoder steps:
In order for Nexus DSC to function correctly it is
required to adjust the encoder steps to make sure
that:
• the RA/AZ current position in degrees is
increasing when rotating the telescope
clockwise around RA/AZ axis
• the Dec/Alt current position in degrees is
increasing when moving the telescope up in
declination/altitude
If either of those values is decreasing then set the
encoder steps’ sign for that axis to a negative sign
in the Telescope Settings:
Telescope Settings
Nexus DSC needs the mount type and encoder
steps to be set correctly before it can be used to
locate celestial object precisely.
The mount type and encoder steps are set in the
Telescope Settings that can be accessed by
selecting ‘Setting’ from the main menu:
then by selecting ‘Telescope’:
Then you need to select the telescope:
Nexus DSC allows to have up to five different
telescope configurations. and keys are
used to switch between telescope configurations.
You can also rename TELESCOPE 1 to your
telescope’s name. You just need to activate the
Rename button by using and then press the
key. A text cursor now appears under the
name:
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You will now be able to edit the name and change
it to your telescope name:
Now you need to set other parameters for your
telescope:
where the mount type can be selected by using
and keys. The encoder steps are set to
10000 steps by default and should be set to the
number of steps corresponding to the number of
steps of the encoder installed on your telescope.
Encoder steps can be set by using the numeric
keys on the keypad. Please change the sign in
front of encoder steps for either one or both
encoders if required as described previously:
Two star alignment
Nexus DSC needs to be aligned on two stars
before it can locate celestial objects.
Your telescope does not need to be levelled
for Nexus DSC to locate celestial objects
accurately.
The two star alignment is performed in three
steps.
Please go to the Align menu:
Then select Altitude Reference:
Adjust the altitude reference angle if required:
Now move the telescope into position depending
on the mount type (for 90 degrees reference):
Telescopes on Alt-Azimuth mount should be
positioned vertically:
The same rule applies to telescopes installed on
equatorial platforms. Please note that the
telescope should be at 90 degrees to the ground
board, not the ground.
For equatorial mounts 0 degrees altitude
reference is more convenient.
Telescopes on an Equatorial Fork for a 0 degrees
altitude reference then be positioned as below: