Avalon Instruments STARGO GOTO User manual

STARGO GOTO CONTROL SYSTEM
USER MANUAL
Version 4.1.2, February 2020 by Mauro Ghiri
All the pictures and contents here included are property of AVALON INSTRUMENTS. The contents may not e
reproduced, pu lished, copied or transmitted in any way, including the internet, without the written permission
of AVALON INSTRUMENTS.

Preface
Avalon Instruments manufactures astronomical mounts and control systems that are
known for excellence of design, superior engineering and extreme accuracy. The StarGo
Control System has een designed for integrated use with the Avalon Linear and M-uno
mounts, or in a separate control ox for the M-zero mount. The StarGo system can also e
equipped with special hardware for use with mounts from other manufacturers.
This manual descri es the new Avalon Goto Control System for astronomical mounts; it is
part of a set which also includes the manuals of the single mounts produced y Avalon
Instruments as well as a training manual for the use of third party software with the StarGO
hardware.
The manual is in a process of continual development and improvement. Therefore it is
suggested that users regularly consult the Avalon Instruments we site support page to
o tain easy access to newer updated versions.
Please report any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in this manual y sending an email to
[email protected]. We also welcome suggestions for improvements in this
manual and in our products.
VERY IMPORTANT NOTE
It is mandatory that StarGO applications as well all other ASCOM
client applications are la nched with the “Administrator” privileges
nder Windows environment. If this req irement is not applied the
sim ltaneo s comm nication among the applications and the StarGO
hardware and software are not g aranteed
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Summary
1. System Description and Technical Specifications..............................................................5
1.1 Technical Specifications:..............................................................................................9
1.2 The StarGO Goto Control System hardware interface..............................................10
1.3 StarGO Power On......................................................................................................12
2. StarGo software suite installation.....................................................................................14
2.1 Mount preliminary settings for a mount quick use with StarGO Software..................22
3. StarGO software description.............................................................................................25
3.1 Graphic User Interface (GUI).....................................................................................25
3.2 Parameter setting.......................................................................................................26
3.2.1 System Panel......................................................................................................26
3.2.2 RA DEC Panel.....................................................................................................28
3.2.3 AUX Panel...........................................................................................................30
3.2.4 ADVANCED Panel...............................................................................................31
3.2.5 ALIGN Panel........................................................................................................32
3.3 Warning Descriptions.................................................................................................34
3.4 Using the special features of the Main Graphical Area..............................................35
This section descri es in greater detail all items and features in the Main Control Panel
of the GUI, which are not descri ed or are only riefly mentioned in the previous
sections.............................................................................................................................35
3.5 Use of the StarGO for controlling telescope in Equatorial Mode...............................40
3.5.1 Alignment (SYNC) and GoTo Operations............................................................40
3.6 Use of the StarGO with a PC for controlling telescope in Alt-Az Mode......................42
3.7 Mount control using ASCOM driver............................................................................43
3.8 Using the StarGO with a wireless connection............................................................46
3.8.1 Bluetooth pairing the StarGO with a Windows PC..............................................47
3.8.2 Bluetooth pairing the StarGO with a Macintosh..................................................49
3.8.3 Connect the StarGO to a Windows PC via WiFi.................................................50
3.8.4 Connect the StarGO to a Macintosh via WiFi.....................................................51
4. StarGO and SkySafari......................................................................................................52
4.1 Mo ile device connection via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi....................................................52
4.1.1 Bluetooth pairing the StarGO with an Android ta let or smartphone..................52
4.1.2 Wi-Fi connection of StarGO with an Android ta let or smartphone....................54
4.2 Sky Safari setup.........................................................................................................56
4.3 Preliminary settings via PC for a visual session without PC......................................56
4.4 SkySafari Connection and alignment.........................................................................60
5 - Mount Control with StarGO-BT for Android.....................................................................64
5.1 Application Installation................................................................................................64
5.2 Application Use...........................................................................................................65
5.3 Application setup........................................................................................................66
A1.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................70
Required Equipment.........................................................................................................70
A2.0 X-Solver Operation.......................................................................................................71
A2.1 X-Solver connection.................................................................................................71
A2.2 – Settings panel.......................................................................................................73
A2.3 Plate Solve panel.....................................................................................................74
A2.4 The X-solver as single star Plate Solver..................................................................75
A2.5 The X-Solver as a pointing model for as many as 24 stars/points..........................75
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A2.6 Image management.................................................................................................77
A2.7 POLAR ALIGNMENT TOOL....................................................................................78
A2.8 TIPS & TROUBLESHOOTING.................................................................................79
B.1 Software Updating..........................................................................................................80
B.2 Firmware Updating – StarGOLoader.............................................................................81
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1.System Description and Technical Specifications
The StarGO is a GoTo Control System ased on stepper motor technology. It has een
designed to e intuitive and easy to use. Thanks to this characteristics it can e used in
three main modality:
•Simple tracker – Without any kind of device. Just get the power and it is ready to
track oth in Equatorial and Alt/Az axis mode.
•Wireless GoTo System - To e used with SkySafari and smartphones/ta lets. In this
mode the 24 star pointing model is already availa le. This modality is mainly
suggested for visual o servation.
•Full GoTo system mount controller – To e used with a PC. In this way it will e
possi le to use the Stargo System, via ASCOM driver, with the main astronomical
softwares such Maxim, TheSkyX, Phd2, SGP, Carte du ciel etc. allowing the full
control and features: home position, goto, park/unpark, autoguide, focus etc. This
modality is mainly suggested for astrophotography. The System has een
succesfully tested with Windows 7/8/10 (via ASCOM Driver) and OS X (LX200
classic).
The StarGo Goto Control System was designed mainly for the Avalon Instruments mounts
ut, thanks to the programma le gear ratio and the motors kit availa le, it can e easily
adapted to other mounts also.
The StarGO hardware has een designed to e strong, relia le and long lasting. The
StarGo intelligence has een moved to the internal firmware and the external software,
oth easily to update. It is important to note that in this way it will e possi le to maintain
the whole system always updated without the need of any hardware upgrade.
In the following page it is possi le to see the StarGO connection and functionality scheme.
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The StarGO Goto Control System is composed y the following parts:
1. The StarGO Control Box, which can e em edded within the mount as in the
Avalon Linear and M-Uno, or in a separate
control ox for the M-Zero. In addition,
thanks to the programma le Gear Ratio and
the special motor kit, the StarGo Control Box
is also compati le with many mounts from
other manufacturers. It has the a ility to
provide a smart interface etween the
mount’s drive motors and the external world.
Using internal and user-selected
computerized astronomy software
applications, it performs all the necessary
communications with specific components,
including autoguiders, focusers, CCD rotators, DSRL cameras, and other auxiliary
devices via USB connections with Windows and Macintosh computers. Wireless
capa ility, ased on Bluetooth (right picture) or Wi-Fi (left picture), is
also integrated in the control ox unit to interact with intelligent
devices such as smartphones, ta lets, Android devices as well as
Windows and Mac computers. The wireless system (BT or Wi-Fi)
must e chosen at time of order.
2. The StarGO Keypad is a le to physically command the mounts and
perform almost all the most needed operations without the use of a
computer or other control device.
3. The StarGO software, developed entirely y Avalon Instruments,
uses a computer to perform all the setup and management
operations, including the control of various external equipment that can e
connected to the control ox. It is also a le to perform all the same operations
performed y the StarGO keypad.
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4. The StarGO-BT application for Android devices allows them to interface with the
StarGO control ox via Bluetooth connection. With this application the Android
devices ecome perfect smart-device control pads. This application, as well as
StarGO, is under continuous development to add new functionalities.
5. The Avalon Stargo ASCOM driver makes possi le the interaction etween the
StarGO Control Box and the most used astronomical softwares.
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1.1 Technical Specifications:
General Computerized control system ased on stepper motor technology and
dual communication (USB and Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).
Operational Mode Equatorial or Azimuth (for the appropriate mounts)
Pointing Model
•Single star
•Three star (only in Alt Az axis mode)
•Multistar (Up to 24 stars)
System Speeds:
•“Guide”: From 0,05 to 0,95X in 0,05X increments.
•“Center”: From 2 to 10X
•“Find”: From 10 to 150X.
•“Slew”: N. 4 speeds ranges (Low, Medium, Fast, Ultra)
depending on the mount “gear ratio” and, for the maximum
speed “Ultra”, on the power supply (requires at least 15 VDC).
Tracking Speeds
•Sidereal
•Solar
•Lunar
•Terrestrial (No tracking)
RA – DEC Motor
Currents
Typical currents are 0.3 A for tracking and 1.5 A (adjusta le) for
slewing.
Data Base
14000 Default o jects. The data ase is easily edita le y the user
using a simple text editor. This data ase is part of the StarGO software
and it may e accessed using a PC.
Input/Output Ports
•USB
•Bluetooth or WiFi
•ST4
Output Ports
•AUX0: (Baader Steeldrive only in Bluetooth version)
•AUX1: Hy rid Step Motor with a max current of 1 A.
•AUX2: Hy rid Step Motor with a max current of 1 A.
Electrical
Characteristics
Power Supply: 12 – 18 VDC sta ilized
Current: from 0.3 to 1.5 A (adjusta le) in all operating
conditions
Control Operations
•Goto and Sync to celestial o jects
•Automatic Meridian Flip
•User defina le parking and homing functions
•Programma le Custom Gear Ratio.
User updata le
firmware Via USB connection
Operating
Temperature Range -20 ≈ +40 °C
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1.2 The StarGO Goto Control System hardware interface
It is supplied with the following items:
1. Main Board and aluminium case. (Figure 1 StarGO Bluetooth Front Panel;
Figure 2 StarGO Wi Fi Front Panel)
2. StarGO control keypad.
3. Keypad connection ca le (RJ45 Standard).
4. USB ca le.
5. 12-24 VDC power supply with 110-240 VAC and 12 VDC inputs + cigarette
lighter 12V power ca le.
6. A USB flash drive containing the StarGO software and other utilities needed for
its setup and operation, as well as the complete documentation, including this
and other manuals.
7. A foam-lined high-impact carrying case for all of the a ove (provided only with
the StarGo Stand Alone kit.)
The Main Board for the Avalon Instruments Linear and M-uno mounts comes already
internally installed in those mounts from the factory. On the M-zero mount and the
Stand Alone kit, it is mounted externally in a separate case. The StarGO control ox
(item 1 a ove) which comes with the M-zero and the Stand Alone Kit is an attractive
Aluminium case which contains the StarGO main control oard. It is also designed to
e installed externally on mounts of other rands and has external connections to
power the motors and other devices This section descri es the StarGO control
interface and the related keypad.
Figure 1.2.a illustrates the physical interface of the StarGO Bluetooth control ox.
Figure 1.2. illustrates the physical interface of the StarGO Wi-Fi control ox.
Figure 1.1.a. StarGO
Bluetooth Front Panel
1. On/Off Power utton
2. ST4 autoguide port
3. 12-18 VDC power supply plug
4. Bluetooth capa ility sym ol
5. DSLR Canon exposure
management port
6. USB2 I/O Port
7. Baader SteelDrive focuser control
port (Bluetooth version only)
8. Handheld keypad RJ45 plug
9. Stepper Motor Auxiliary Output Port
(Aux 1)
10. Stepper Motor Auxiliary Output Port
(Aux 2)
11. On/Off LED
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