Onstep GOTO User manual

OnStep GOTO Quick Start Guide
for Hubble Optics UL24G
(R 1.2, 01/26/2023)
1 Introduction.................................................................................................................1
2 Hardware Setup...........................................................................................................2
3 OnStep drivers Installation..........................................................................................
OnStep GoTo Controller.............................................................................................
.1 Power Supply.......................................................................................................8
.2 LED Operation.....................................................................................................8
.3 DB9 Encoder Port Connection.............................................................................9
5 Smart Hand Pad...........................................................................................................9
5.1 Initialization Sequence.......................................................................................11
5.2 Starting Up.........................................................................................................11
5.3 Button Functions................................................................................................11
5. Use......................................................................................................................11
5.5 Icons...................................................................................................................12
5.6 Menu structure 3.x.............................................................................................13
5.6.1 Main Menu [center button long press]........................................................1
5.6.2 Feature Key menu.......................................................................................17
6 Telescope Encoder Wiring and Setup.......................................................................18
7 Using Browser to Configure and Control the Controller..........................................18
8 Quick Start Operations via OnStep Android App.....................................................2
9 Quick Operation Guide on Sky Safari......................................................................30
10 Quick Operation Guide on Stellarium.....................................................................32
10.1 Quick Operation Guide on Stellarium Mobile Plus.........................................33
10.2 Quick Operation Guide on Stellarium on MS Windows platform...................36
11 Telescope control via ASCOM Planetarium programs........................................... 0
12 Smart Telescope Setup via INDI on Raspberry Pi B........................................... 1
12.1 Smart Scope using stellarmate......................................................................... 1
12.2 Smart Scope using ASiair Pro / Plus................................................................ 1
13 Imaging with UL2 G.............................................................................................. 2
1 Limited Warranty.................................................................................................... 2
15 Technical Support................................................................................................... 2
Appendix A: Motor and Motor Encoder Pin Out......................................................... 2
1 Introduction
The state of art OnStep GoTo controller designed by Howard Dutton is extremely powerful and feather
rich; but in this document we will only explain the basic configuration and operation applicable to
Hubble UL2 G scopes. For the advanced users who want to explore the full potential of OnStep
controller, please refer to the OnStep instruction WiKi
1

Hubble OnStep controller supports:
The INDI (WiFi), ASCOM(WiFi , Bluetooth and USB) under the LX200 protocol.
WiFi 802.11n /g/n connection with built-in website accessible from any browser from any
platform and the direct WiFi support for the Sky Safari and Stellarium
Bluetooth classic .2 support to host computer for the ASCOM connection and the direct
wireless support to Sky Safari & Stellarium
iOS App and Android Virtual Handpad Apps to control the scope with initialization,
configuration, alignment, and movement (Slewing and GoTo). You are strongly
recommended to use t e Android based OnStep Controller2 for t e initial setup!
Smart Hand Controller with about 30,000 objects. Although, you can fully control the scope
with initialization, configuration, alignment, and movement control (Slewing and GoTo)
without any other device needed; You are strongly recommended to use t e Android
based OnStep Controller2 for t e initial setup!
The Telescope Encoders for the extra accuracy in pointing and tracking
Real Time Clock (RTC): The RTC module maintains seconds, minutes, hours, day, date,
month, and year information.
You s ould never flas t e OnStep firmware on t e controller and t e andpad by yourself
wit out first consulting wit Hubble Optics; Failure to do so may damage t e controller and/or
and pad and will void t e warranty.
Safety
The stepper motors are powerful motors that can do extreme damage to equipment and human life.
Please be careful that your telescope doesn't move to a mechanical limit (such as the ground); You may
damage the motors or gears, and you may injure yourself or others. This product is NOT a toy; children
should not be allowed to operate it.
You must exercise proper safety precautions, including the wearing of proper clothing and avoiding use
in adverse conditions. Shock hazard! Bodily injury hazard! Any device using electricity is a shock and
bodily injury hazard. You must hook up the device properly and follow all safety precautions,
particularly when using electricity outdoors. If improperly hooked up or improperly operated,
electronic components can shock, overheat, melt, and explode. In particular:
1. Never operate when the equipment or cabling is wet or moist, even if there is only a possibility that
some of the equipment is wet or moist
2. All grounding points must be connected to the battery (-) terminal before turning on any equipment;
the grounds must never be disconnected while the unit is powered on
3. Power leads must not be reversed: instant component failure is a certainty; components will
overheat and can explode with violent force
. Please be careful that your telescope doesn't move to a mechanical limit (such as the ground). You
may damage the motors or gears, and you may injure yourself or others.
5. WARNING: T e DC voltages ig er t an 12 volts are deadly w en s ocked!!!!
2 Hardware Setup
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The following sketch shows the essential elements of the OnStep control system. The following feature
and function are optional and are not provided by default:
3

Rotator and Focuser control are not enabled and not provided
The home switches and necessary wiring are not provided
The Limit switches features are enabled; but the limit switches and necessary wiring are not
provided.
3 OnStep drivers Installation
You will need use a MS windows-based PC to install OnStep ASCOM driver; and a Raspberry pi
system to use the OnStep INDI driver. The OnStep INDI driver is included in the standard Astroberry
releases.
You should download and install the latest ASCOM platform; then you can install the OnStep ASCOM
driver which can be obtained from: http://www.stellarjourney.com/index.php?r=site/software_telescope
4 OnStep GoTo Controller

1. USB port
2. ST- /Smart Hand Controller Port
3. DB9 encoder port
4. Locking Toggle Power Switch (The toggle actuator needs to be pulled up
(pull-to-unlock) before moving the switch to another position)
5. Auxiliary port for the limit switches
6. The optional rotator motor port
5

7. The optional focuser motor port
8. The Power Supply
9. The ALT axis motor port
10. The AZM axis motor port
OnStep Controller
Power Cable
Motor Cables
6

Encoder Cable
Smart Hand Pad Cable
7

Cable Management
4.1 Power Supply
The controller has a 5.5mm-2.1mm power connector (center positive). Please provide a regulated
supply or battery, A 3 amp 12 VD.C. Supply is recommended. A 7 amp hour Gel Cell battery is an
excellent portable way to power the unit. This should last 2 or 3 observing nights before recharging is
necessary for a well-balanced telescope.
WARNING:
Please observe power supply polarity for t e OnStep controller! T e wire wit w ite
strip is positive. If you ook t e power up backwards, you will surely blow t e fuse, and
possibly damage ot er components.
T e DC voltages ig er t an 12 volts are deadly w en s ocked!
Do not disconnect t e motors cable w en t e unit is powered on
It is always better to power on t e unit before connecting t e USB cable to t e USB port;
and always disconnect t e USB cable before power off t e unit.
4.2 LED Operation
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1. Power Supply LED
2. Scope Tracking LED
3. WiFi Status LED
4. CPU Status LED
There are four LED's on the controller, labeled as LED 1, LED 2, LED3 and LED . These LED's can
keep you informed about what is happening with the controller.
LED 1 indicates the status of the Power Supply: it should be on while the controller is powered on.
LED 2 indicates the status of the scope tracking status: it is flashing while tracking, otherwise will be
on steadily.
LED 3 indicate the status of the WiFi service. It indicates the WiFi service is being established while
the LED is flashing; the WiFi service is ready while it is steadily on.
4.3 DB9 Encoder Port Connection
The RS232 serial port is a 9 pin modular jack which is mainly used for the telescope encoders. But it
can also be used by other purpose.
Pin 1: Ground
Pin 2: Vsel (5V)
Pin 3: Encoder 1B, encoder 1 input B
Pin : Encoder 2B, encoder 2 input B
Pin 5:
Pin 6: Aux3, typically used for a Home SW on RA or Azm but can be used any purpose (dew heater
for instance, on/off switch, etc.). Not wired and not enabled.
Pin 7: Aux , typically used for a Home SW on Dec or Alt but can be used any purpose (dew heater for
instance, on/off switch, etc.). Not wired and not enabled.
Pin 8: Encoder 1A, encoder 1 input A
Pin 9: Encoder 2A, encoder 2 input A
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5 Smart Hand Pad
The user can Configure, Initialize & Align the mount, Park, and find/goto celestial objects using
the Smart Hand Pad. The objects include Moon, the Planets, and several catalogs: NGC/IC,
Herschel 00, Messier, the named bright stars, and variable stars etc, about 30,000 objects in total.
The main display is the Alt, Azm, or RA and Dec that the telescope is currently pointing at; you can
toggle between the Alt/Azm and RA/Dec by single clicking the center button. A small telescope icon
with an H under it, means the telescope is in the Home position When the telescope is slewing, a
double triangle will show. When it is tracking, a single triangle will show, as well as the pier side, and
the tracking rate ('s' for sidereal).
Press any of the N, S, W, E buttons to move the telescope
Press the center (+) button to wake up the screen
Press it again to cycle through status displays (RA/Dec coordinates, Alt/Az, Local/Sideral
Time)
Quickly press the center button twice to get to the Speed menu
Long press the center button for the menu
oGoto
oSync
oAlign
oParking
oPEC
oSettings
Select a menu by the Up or Down button, then Right to enter that menu
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Smart Hand Controller (SHC)
5.1 Initialization Sequence
5.2 Starting Up
When the SHC is powered up an "OnStep" splash screen will appear for a few seconds then it'll tell you
it's trying to connect. At this point the SHC presents a signal to OnStep on it's ST port to indicate that
a SHC is present. After a couple of seconds OnStep re-configures the ST port lines for synchronous
serial comms and the SHC will start displaying the status information across the top line (guide rate,
pulse-guide rate, and a series of icons as described below) and the RA and Dec below that.
5.3 Button Functions
N：North when slewing or Scroll Up while in Menu's
E: East when slewing or Back while in Menu's
+: Short Press = Scroll Information screen, Long Press = Main Menu, Double Click = Feature Menu
W: West when slewing or select current option while in Menu's
S: South when slewing or Scroll Down while in Menu's
f: Decrease currently selected Feature
F: Increase currently selected Feature
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5. Use
Key functions:
When at the main info display page, pressing [N],[S],[E],[W] guides in that direction at the
rate selected (see below).
When at the main info display page, a click on [+] cycles through the display of RA/Dec,
Alt/Az, Time, and (optionally) ambient conditions.
oWhen doing an align, a click of the [+] key instead accepts the align star once you've
centered it using [N],[S],[E],[W]
When at the main info display page, a double click on [+] brings up the Feature key selection
menu where you can scroll to among guide rate, reticle light, utility light, focuser, or rotator
for the [f] and [F] key action. Pressing the [W] key at this point makes the selected menu item
the Active Feature.
oPressing the [f] (decrease) or [F] (increase) keys then adjusts the selected feature
oWhen doing an align, a double click of the [+] key instead allows selecting a differ-
ent align star (after the goto to the prior align star completes). Also, during an align,
the [f] and [F] keys work only for guide rate selection.
A long press on [+] brings up the menus
oThe [N],[S] keys then move up/down the menu selections.
oThe [W] key selects a menu item.
oThe [E] key navigates back to the prior level.
5.5 Icons
Alignment Star #1
Alignment Star #2 (#3 thru #8 not shown)
Alignment Star #9 (last possible)
Telescope is at home position. Tracking is OFF
Unknown error. Tracking has stopped
Telescope position exceeds user defined Meridian limit. Tracking has stopped
Telescope position exceeds user defined RA limits "Under Pole". Tracking has stopped
Telescope position exceeds user defined Azimuth limits. Tracking has stopped
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Telescope position exceeds user defined Declination limit. Tracking has stopped
Telescope limit sensed. Tracking has stopped
Telescope position exceeds user defined Horizon or Overhead limit. Tracking has stopped
Motor fault. Tracking has stopped
East side of pier. Declination is between 90 and -90
West side of pier. Declination is between 180 and 90 or -90 and -180
PEC, paused
PEC, recording
PEC, playing
Telescope is slewing
Lunar Tracking rate is selected
Solar Tracking rate is selected
King Tracking rate is selected
Sidereal Tracking rate is selected
Sidereal Tracking, refraction compensated (RA-axis only)
Sidereal Tracking, refraction compensated (Dual-axis)
Sidereal Tracking, refraction and pointing model compensated (Full)
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Sidereal Tracking, refraction and pointing model compensated (Full, Dual-axis)
Tracking is OFF
Telescope is guiding
Park failure
Telescope is slewing to park position
Telescope is parked
5.6 Menu structure 3.x
The following is a map of the menu structure of the SHC as of version 3.x.
Words that are in a normal font appear on the screen exactly that way (in the English-localized
configuration).
Anything in square brackets provides information that does not appear on the screen and is an
interpretation of what the function means.
The indentation level is intended to reflect the submenu nesting.
5. .1 Main Menu [center button long press]
5.6.1.1 Goto
5.6.1.1.1Stars
Bright Stars [ 08 stars brighter than th magnitude]
STF** [Struve The Father (Friedrich) double stars]
STT** [the other Struve (Otto) double stars]
GCVS~* [General Catalog of Variable Stars]
5.6.1.1.2 Deep Sky
Messier, Caldwell, Herschel 00, Collinder, NGC, IC
5.6.1.1.3 Solar System
Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Moon
5.6.1.1.4 User
[Select from up to 16 user catalogs uploaded through SmartWebServer or Sky Planetarium interface]
5.6.1.1.5 Filter
[Define filters for catalog objects displayed on 'Stars' and 'Deep Sky' menus. If the selection as
displayed is prefixed and suffixed by a small dot it means a filter has been set for that property.
Initially, the 'Above Horizon' property is the only one set]
1

Reset Filter
Above Horizon
Constellation
[A list of the standard 88 IAU constellation names]
Type
All, Galaxy, Open Cluster, Star, Double Star, Other, Galaxy Pair, Galaxy Triplet, Galaxy
Group, Globular Cluster, Planetary Nbla, Nebula, Hii Region, Cluster+Nebula, Asterism,
Reflectn Nbla, SuperNov Rmnt, Emission Nbla, Non Existant, Nova, Duplicate, Dark Nebula
Magnitude
[for selections other than All, the magnitude is followed by an estimate of the minimum
telescope aperture required to see the object]
All, 10th, 12th, 13th, 1 th, 15th, 16th, 17th
Nearby
[angular distance from current position, does not mean distance from Earth]
OFF/Within 1, Within 5, Within 10, Within 15 [degrees]
Var* Max Per.
[maximum period for variable star filter]
Off, <=0.5, <=1.0, <=2.0, <=5, <=10, <=20, <=50, <=100 [days]
Dbl* Min Sep.
[minimum separation for double star filter]
Off, >=0.2",>= 0.5", >=1.0", >=1.5", >=2.0", >=3.0", >=5.0", >=10", >=20", >=50" [arc-
seconds]
Dbl* Max Sep.
[maximum separation for double star filter]
Off, <=0.5", <=1.0", <=1.5", <=2.0", <=3.0", <=5.0", <=10", <=20", <=50", <=100" [arc-
seconds]
5.6.1.1.6 Coordinates
[You can enter arbitrary RA/Dec coordinates here (e.g. comet or asteroid coordinates obtained from
sources like a planetarium program)]
5.6.1.1.7 Spiral Searc
[New as of version 3.02a. If your alignment is poor and a 'Goto' did not put the object in the field of
view or you want to browse around an extended object like M 2 in a spiral pattern, this function
initiates a spiral search at the current guide rate around the current position. Press any button to stop.]
5.6.1.1.8 Last
[New as of version 3.02d. If you didn't locate the object using the Spiral Search function, perhaps
because it was moving too slowly or too quickly, this option will return to the last used 'Goto'
coordinates where you could change the guide rate and try again.]
5.6.1.1.9 Home
[Will prompt for confirmation of model clearance. Use N/S to toggle Yes and No ('Yes' clears the
model and returns to the home position, 'No' aborts the Goto Home command). If you do not want to
lose the model because the telescope will not be moved since the last alignment you should use the
'Park' function.]
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5.6.1.2 Sync
['Stars', 'Deep Sky' and 'Solar System' will sync the telescope to the coordinates of the object selected
without moving the telescope. You are expected to have centered the object already]
Stars
[Same selections as Goto, Stars]
Deep Sky
[Same selection as Goto, Deep Sky]
Solar System
[Same selection as Goto, Solar System]
Here
[syncs to the last Goto coordinates]
5.6.1.3 Align
1..9-Star Align
[e.g. '1-Star Align', '2-Star Align', '3-Star Align', etc.]
S ow Model
[shows pointing model coefficients derived from the alignment points]
Clear Model
[clears the model]
Reset Home
[sets OnStep position to home after physical telescope movement to home]
5.6.1.4 Parking
Park
[move telescope to park position (default is home position) and save the alignment model in
preparation for power down]
Un-Park
[when powered up at park position following use of Park command in previous session, restores the
alignment model and starts tracking]
Set-Park
[used to define a custom park position at the current axis locations]
5.6.1.5 Tracking
Start / Stop
[The following 3 selections set the tracking rate to the standard for stellar objects, the sun or the moon]
Sidereal
Solar
Lunar
Rate Reset
[Reset tracking rate to a standard rate]
[use the following to adjust tiny tracking rate errors due to gearing parameter inaccuracies]
Rate +0.02Hz
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Rate -0.02Hz
5.6.1.7 Settings
Date/Time
[Set local date and time. Questions are asked about whether the time was AM or PM (if the SHC was
configured with DISPLAY_2 HR_TIME OFF) and whether the time was a DST-adjusted time]
Site
Select Site
[Select one of user-defined sites. If the controller gets site data from a GPS, when received it
is always stored in 'Site 1' with the name of 'GPS']
Latitude
Longitude
UTC Offset
[this is the inverse of your timezone offset, e.g. +5 for North American Eastern which is
defined as -5 as a time zone. Do not adjust this for Daylight/summer time... the stars don't care
about that]
Display
Turn off
[Press any key to turn on. That first key press is ignored so there's no worry it will cause a
telescope motion]
Contrast [also known as brightness]
Min, Low, High, MAX
Dim Timeout
[dims display after key inactivity interval]
Disable, 30 or 60 seconds
Blank Timeout
[blanks display after key inactivity interval. On the wireless SHC it is advisable to use '1
minute' so that the unit spends the maximum amount of time in low-power mode.]
Disable, 1, 2, 3, or 5 minutes
Buzzer [On or Off]
5.6.1.8 Configuration
Goto Speed
[Sets the Goto speed to 2x, 1.5x, 1x, .75x or .5x of the configured SLEW_RATE_BASE_DESIRED,
respectively]
Fastest, Faster, Default Speed, Slower, Slowest
Backlas
[sets gear backlash for axis 1 and 2]
17

Axis1 RA/Az, Axis2 Dec/Alt
Limits
Horizon Limit
[Sets number of degrees telescope is allowed to point below the horizon while tracking or
slewing]
Overhead Limit
[Sets number of degrees above the horizon that the telescope is allowed to point while
tracking or slewing. This is important for Alt/Az telescopes especially because of the 'Dobson
hole'. For others it prevents crashing the bottom of an OTA into a pier or tripod.]
Meridn Limit E/Meridn Limit W
[For GEM or FORK mounts, sets how close the telescope is allowed to track to the meridian
before a meridian flip is required (tracking stops if meridian flip is not automatic)]
Pier Side
[Sets the 'preferred pier side']
Best, East, West
Firmware Ver
5. .2 Feature Key menu
[Center button double tap. Select desired Feature [ N ] [ S ] to scroll, [ W ] to accept then press f or F
button to alter selected feature. Depending on configurations not all of these selections may be present]
Guide Rate
[Select guide rate between 2x and Max slew speed]
Pulse Guide Rate
[Select pulse guide rate between 1/ x and 1x]
Utility Lig t
[Off or one of 5 levels]
Reticle
[Increase or decrease brightness]
Telescope Encoder Wiring and Setup
Once you have your encoders wired properly, you can connect any kind of device to the controller with
the WiFi and point a browser to http://192.168.0.1 to verify the connection and direction of the
encoders. On the main screen of the web page, you should see the encoder values change as the
telescope moves; the encoder’s values should closely match the motor’s values. The altitude numbers
should increase on raising the altitude and the azimuth should increase as the telescope moves
clockwise. If the encoder values move backwards, you can invert the telescope encoder(s) under the
“Encoder” tab. Please refer section 7 for the detailed instruction.
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7 Using Browser to Configure and Control the
Controller
Once the mechanical configuration of the motors is completed, and the controller, power supply,
handpad, and motors are all cabled up, and the telescope encoders (if used) are mounted and also
cabled up, it is time to use browser to update the controller with important information about your
mount.
You will need to connect the OnStep Ad-Hoc WiFi network, and then point your browser to
http://192.168.0.1
The first screen will display the status of the scope:
You can control the scope under the “Control” tab:
19

You can control the scope’s movement under “Control” tab:
You can add/remove catalogs under the “Library” tab:
20