Paramount Fitness ME II User manual

Copyright 2015 Software Bisque, Inc. All rights reserved.
The Paramount Robotic Telescope System
User Guide
Paramount ME II, MYT, MX, and MX+ models
Revision 1.94 August, 2015

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Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment
on the part of Software Bisque. The software products described in this document are furnished under a
license agreement or nondisclosure agreement. They may be used or copied only in accordance with the
terms of the agreement. It is against the law to copy the software on any medium except as specifically
allowed in the license or nondisclosure agreement. The purchaser may make one copy of the software
for backup purposes.
No part of this manual and/or databases may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic or mechanical, including (but not limited to) photocopying, recording, or information storage
and retrieval systems, for any purpose other than the purchaser's personal use, without the express
written permission of Software Bisque, Inc.
Software Bisque
862 Brickyard Circle
Golden, CO 80403-8058
USA
Web Site: http://www.bisque.com
The Paramount ME, Paramount ME II, Paramount MX, Paramount MX+, Paramount MYT, Bisque TCS, MKS
4000, MKS 5000, and TheSkyX Professional Edition Astronomy Software are trademarks of Software
Bisque, Inc.
All other product names are trademarks of their respective owners and are used solely for identification.

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Table of Contents
Telescope Operation Disclaimer ................................................................................................................... 8
Sun Warning.................................................................................................................................................. 8
The Paramount Robotic Telescope System .................................................................................................. 9
Paramount Model Comparison............................................................................................................... 12
Optional Accessories............................................................................................................................... 14
Getting Help................................................................................................................................................ 15
What You Need to Know............................................................................................................................. 15
Coordinate Systems ................................................................................................................................ 16
The Horizon Coordinate System .........................................................................................................16
The Equatorial Coordinate System .....................................................................................................17
Hour Angle ..........................................................................................................................................18
Local Sidereal Time ................................................................................................................................. 19
Atmospheric Refraction .......................................................................................................................... 19
Polar Alignment Basics............................................................................................................................20
Homing....................................................................................................................................................22
Labeling the Home Position on the Sky Chart.....................................................................................23
Physically Marking the Home Position................................................................................................ 24
Synchronization ......................................................................................................................................25
Best Synchronization Practices ...........................................................................................................26
Step by Step Synchronization .............................................................................................................26
Session to Session Pointing Repeatability........................................................................................... 27
Making Sure Synchronization Is Correct ............................................................................................. 28
The Local Celestial Meridian ...............................................................................................................29
Maintaining Accurate Time.................................................................................................................30
Parking the Paramount ........................................................................................................................... 31
Parking from TheSkyX Professional Edition ........................................................................................ 31
Defining the Park Position...................................................................................................................32
Park Position Rules.............................................................................................................................. 32
Audible Control System Feedback ......................................................................................................32
Visual Control System Feedback ......................................................................................................... 35

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Through the Mount Cabling................................................................................................................35
Packing List.................................................................................................................................................. 41
Box 1 Contents........................................................................................................................................ 41
Important Packing Material Notes...................................................................................................... 43
Box 2 Contents (Accessories Box) ........................................................................................................... 44
Locating Your Serial Numbers.............................................................................................................47
Paramount and Software Serial Number Registration ...........................................................................48
Unpacking the Paramount .......................................................................................................................... 48
Your Safety is Paramount........................................................................................................................ 48
Paramount ME II Unpacking Insert ..................................................................................................... 49
Paramount MX Unpacking Insert........................................................................................................50
Paramount MX+ Unpacking Insert......................................................................................................51
Paramount MYT Unpacking Insert ...................................................................................................... 52
Packing the Paramount for Transport ....................................................................................................54
Paramount Components............................................................................................................................. 55
Paramount ME II Front View...................................................................................................................56
Paramount MX Front View .....................................................................................................................57
Paramount MX+ Front View ...................................................................................................................58
Paramount MYT Front View....................................................................................................................59
RA Worm Block Cover......................................................................................................................... 59
Payload Mounting Plate (Versa-Plate)................................................................................................60
Paramount Versa-Plate Knobs ............................................................................................................ 63
Large Dovetail Accessory Rail (Paramount ME II only, Optional) .......................................................68
Instrument Panel.................................................................................................................................68
RA Worm Block Cover......................................................................................................................... 72
RA Cable Conduit ................................................................................................................................ 72
RA Gear Cover (ME II Only) .................................................................................................................72
Dec Cable Conduit...............................................................................................................................72
Right Ascension Carrying Handle ........................................................................................................72
RA Worm Block Switch........................................................................................................................ 73
RA Spring Plunger and Cam Stop Access Hole (Paramount ME II and MX+ Only)..............................77
RA Encoder Cover (Paramount ME II Only)......................................................................................... 77

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RA Assembly........................................................................................................................................ 77
Electronics Box....................................................................................................................................77
Polar Axis Adjustments .......................................................................................................................81
Azimuth Adjuster Knobs .........................................................................................................................82
Base Thrust Mounting Knobs..............................................................................................................84
Base Plate............................................................................................................................................84
Paramount ME II Rear View....................................................................................................................85
Paramount MX Rear View....................................................................................................................... 86
Paramount MX+ Rear View.....................................................................................................................87
Declination Carrying Handle (Paramount MX Only) ...........................................................................88
Declination Axis Three Position Switch (Paramount MX Dec Three Position Switch) ........................88
Cable Conduit Access Hole and Cover ................................................................................................ 88
Right Ascension Axis Locking Hole (Paramount ME II Only) ...............................................................89
Configurable Hard Stop Positions (Paramount ME II Only) ................................................................90
Declination Axis Assembly (Dec Assembly)......................................................................................... 90
Paramount Serial Number (Serial Number)........................................................................................91
Altitude Scale ......................................................................................................................................91
Altitude Adjuster.................................................................................................................................93
Counterweight Shaft...........................................................................................................................98
Counterweight Shaft Extension Bar (Optional)................................................................................... 99
Counterweights................................................................................................................................... 99
Payload Imbalance Cause and Effect ................................................................................................ 101
Balancing the Payload....................................................................................................................... 101
Counterweight Safety Knob ..............................................................................................................102
Paramount ME II Side View................................................................................................................... 103
Paramount MX Side View ..................................................................................................................... 104
Paramount MX+ Side View ...................................................................................................................105
Altitude Adjuster Thrust Knobs.........................................................................................................106
Wedge............................................................................................................................................... 106
Bubble Level...................................................................................................................................... 107
Declination Axis Locking Hole (Paramount ME II Only) .................................................................... 108
Micro Levelers (Paramount ME II Only)............................................................................................108

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Hand Controller................................................................................................................................. 110
Other Paramount Accessories ..............................................................................................................111
USB 2.0 Cable ....................................................................................................................................111
Hex Wrenches ...................................................................................................................................112
Power Supply Unit (PSU)...................................................................................................................112
Altitude Adjuster Wrench (Paramount ME II Only) ..........................................................................112
How To Polar Align....................................................................................................................................112
Rough Polar Alignment Method ...........................................................................................................113
Step-By-Step Rough Polar Alignment ............................................................................................... 113
Accurate Polar Alignment .....................................................................................................................114
Using TheSkyX Pro for Precise Polar Alignment................................................................................ 114
Using the Polar Alignment Scope...................................................................................................... 115
The Paramount and TheSkyX Professional Edition ...................................................................................116
Paramount Minimum System Requirements .......................................................................................116
First Time Paramount Setup .................................................................................................................117
Paramount USB Driver Installation .......................................................................................................117
Mac OS X ...........................................................................................................................................118
Windows ...........................................................................................................................................118
Controlling the Paramount with TheSkyX Professional Edition............................................................118
Getting Started with TheSkyX Professional Edition .............................................................................. 119
The Bisque TCS Window ....................................................................................................................... 120
Status Messages (Status Text) ..........................................................................................................121
Firmware Version and Mount Identifier ........................................................................................... 121
Parameters Tab..................................................................................................................................... 121
Advanced Parameters....................................................................................................................... 124
Commands Pop-up Menu ................................................................................................................. 131
Show Status Tab.................................................................................................................................... 135
Periodic Error Correction Tab ...............................................................................................................137
Bisque TCS PEC Table Tab .................................................................................................................138
Compute PEC Curve Tab ................................................................................................................... 140
Collecting and Using Periodic Error Tracking Data ...............................................................................142
Utilities Tab .......................................................................................................................................148

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Logging Tab ....................................................................................................................................... 164
Using ProTrack™ ....................................................................................................................................... 164
ProTrack Minimum Requirements....................................................................................................164
Getting Started with ProTrack ..........................................................................................................165
Troubleshooting Mount Operation...........................................................................................................166
USB Hubs and USB Extenders ...............................................................................................................167
Controlling Multiple USB Devices with USB Hubs............................................................................. 167
Windows and USB Port Power Settings............................................................................................168
Appendix A: Installing the MKS 5000 USB Windows Driver ..................................................................... 170
Windows USB Driver Installation and Use ............................................................................................ 170
Accessing Windows Device Manager................................................................................................ 171
Uninstalling the MKS 5000 Driver ..................................................................................................... 172
Appendix B: Paramount Technical Drawings............................................................................................174
Computing Dome Offset Distance ........................................................................................................175
Appendix C: External Power Cable Sets .................................................................................................... 178
Apogee/QSI/SBIG ST-402/STF-8300 Model Camera External Power Cable Set Specifications ............ 178
SBIG ST-7 Series (5-Pin) External Power Cable Set Specifications ........................................................ 181
SBIG ST-L Series (6-Pin) External Power Cable Specs............................................................................182
Finger Lakes Instruments External Cable Specs....................................................................................184
Generic External Power Cable Specs ....................................................................................................185
Appendix D: Paramount Warranty ........................................................................................................... 187
MKS 5000 Warranty Replacement Procedure and Policy..................................................................... 187
MKS 5000 Non-Warranty Replacement Procedure and Policy............................................................. 188
Shipping Address...................................................................................................................................188
Appendix E: Revision History ....................................................................................................................189
Index..........................................................................................................................................................192

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Telescope Operation Disclaimer
Robotic telescope mounts do not have an unlimited range of movement. The telescope’s shape, the way
it is mounted, or the addition of accessories can prevent it from pointing at particular parts of the sky. If
the telescope is forced past these points, the telescope, its mounting, or accessories might be damaged.
TheSkyX Professional Edition includes telescope limit features that let you define these inaccessible
positions; TheSkyX Professional Edition, or the mount’s control system, will try to prevent the telescope
from entering or crossing them. This feature is provided as a convenience, not as a panacea. Since any
telescope can run into its mechanical limits through accident, carelessness, or component failure,
Software Bisque cannot be responsible for any damage to your telescope that occurs when using TheSkyX
Professional Edition to control it.
Furthermore, Software Bisque cannot be held responsible for damage caused by plugging cables into
electronic devices. We strongly recommend turning off all electronic devices (computers, mobile devices,
telescopes, focusers, dew heaters, CCD cameras, etc.) before attaching any cabling or power supplies.
Sun Warning
NEVER attempt to observe the Sun through your telescope! Without
a specially designed solar filter, viewing the Sun –for even a fraction of
a second –will cause instant, irreversible eye damage. When observing
during the day, do not point the telescope near the Sun. Do not use
TheSkyX Professional Edition’s automatic slew feature to find objects
during the day.

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The Paramount Robotic Telescope System
Thank you for purchasing the Paramount Robotic Telescope System. The Paramount mount is an ultra-
precision German equatorial mount (GEM) that is designed to deliver unmatched pointing, tracking and
stability for amateur or professional astronomers in portable or permanent installations. These precision
mechanics, when commanded TheSkyX Professional Edition, create a formidable imaging system that can
help you achieve your most lofty observing goals.
This user guide covers the basic setup and use of the Paramount ME II, Paramount MX, Paramount MX+,
and Paramount MYTmodel mounts, as well as how to control your mount using TheSkyX Professional
Edition.
This document assumes you are familiar with many fundamental concepts in astronomy and are
somewhat experienced using a telescope and or CCD camera in conjunction with a personal computer.
If a concept presented here is new to you, consider searching the Internet to find out more information
about it. Unfortunately, there is simply no way that all the different facets of setting up and controlling a
robotic telescope mount can be covered in a single document.
The table below lists the significant Paramount hardware, electronics and software features that are
designed to help foster memorable and productive observing experiences.
Feature
Software Bisque’s fourth
generation dual axis control system
(MKS 5000™) provides precision,
reliable performance.
Integration with TheSkyX
Professional Edition for Mac or
Windows control.
Camera Add On™ software provides
single software telescope, camera,
focuser, filter wheel, SBIG AO and
rotator control.
Dome Add On™ keeps the
motorized dome aligned with
telescope.
-
-
-
TPoint Add On™ with Super
Model™ and ProTrack™ provides
the same telescope pointing
correction software that is used on
most professional telescopes.

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The Multi-OS and Six License Add
On lets you install TheSkyX
Professional Edition and related
Add Ons on up to six (6) different
Mac and Windows computers.
Research-grade right ascension
gears with seven (7) arcsecond or
less peak to peak periodic error
before training PEC.
Optimal periodic error correction
curve fitting that can produce
“seeing indifferent” periodic error
curves.
Direct Guide™ allows optimal
guiding without a guider cable.
Both the right ascension and
declination axes include mechanical
switches to change quickly switch
between balancing the payload and
tracking.
The Paramount ME II’s axes
may be locked in place by
installing locking bolts
(page 89).
The Paramount MX
includes a three position
mechanical switch (page
50).
Each axis of the Paramount
MX+ and Paramount MYT
has two separate
mechanical switches (page
52).
Clutch-free worm block design
preserves the mount’s physical
orientation for accurate and
repeatable TPoint modeled
pointing and tracking.