ASTRO DEVICES Nexus DSC User manual

Nexus DSC
Quick Setup Guide
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Nexus DSC - Quick Setup Guide
Version 1.1
Firmware version 1.x.x
Last revised on December 12th, 2014
Printed in Australia
Copyright
Copyright © 2014, 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 or 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: [email protected]
Website: http://www.astrodevices.com

Nexus DSC Quick Setup Guide 2
Thank you
Thank you for purchasing Nexus DSC digital
setting circles telescope computer. We hope
you enjoy it! This Guide will get you started
with your Nexus DSC.
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.
System Requirements
Nexus DSC uses a an optional WiFi
communication module and may be
connected to one of the following:
•iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
running iOS 3.0+
•Android devices with WiFi support
•PCs with WiFi support (running
Windows XP or Windows 7/8).
•Apple computers with WiFi support
(running Mac OS X).
Please also refer to the system requirements
for your favourite planetarium software.
Package Content
The package contains:
•Nexus DSC
•Quick setup guide and User manual
•DC 2.1mm to cigarette lighter power
cable
•USB to DC 2.1mm cable
•Optional power adapter 6V, 3A, 90-
264V AC
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
Charge the battery
The battery may not be fully charged at first. It
is advised to fully charge the battery first.
Please use either the provided power adapter
or one of the recommended power adapters to
charge the battery.
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3 Nexus DSC Quick Setup Guide
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 must be capable of supplying at least
1.5A at 5V.
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
0oC to +30 oC(32 oF to 86 oF)
The charging status LED reports different
states:
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)
User interface
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
The status bar has the following elements:
– WiFi status
– GPS fix status
– Current time
– Battery charge level
and keys on the keypad move
between previous and next menu items, 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.
The key activates the selected menu
item. The key goes back to the previous
menu level/screen.
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.
On-screen buttons have a flashing border
when selected – in that case pressing the
key generates a button press event.
Initial Setup
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’:
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Nexus DSC Quick Setup Guide 4
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 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.
The easiest way to set the time and date
is to set the date and time zone and then
step outside to allow the GPS receiver to get a
fix and thus synchronise time from GPS.
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
Please plug the encoder cable into ‘Encoders’
port on Nexus DSC.
To make sure that encoders are functioning
correctly Nexus DSC has a test mode.
Selecting ‘Test’ from the main menu activates
it:
Then selecting ‘Encoders’:
will show the current encoder steps and
angles:
In order for Nexus DSC to function correctly it
is required to adjust the encoder steps now 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 not increasing then
set the encoder steps for that axis to ‘Reverse’
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’:
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