Driver

This is a brief description of my new Microcontroller System developed for My EQ6 Mount.

All software for PC (Delphi) and Microcontroller System (C) have been developed by myself .

PICMicro 16F628 running at 20Mhz,Power Driver L298 (7-36V,2 Amp for each channel).MAX232 Line driver.

Pic is from first PCB ,fits inside EQ6 mount

Some Astrophotos taked using (location and guide) this system can be found on C.

I discarded Syntas Electronic at all.

It can be used with original Bipolar steppers.Circuit can drive other motors and mounts : speed ratios are configurable.I use 10 or 20 microsteps ,in this way very low reduction ratios are allowed with reasonable accuracy 0.5" for 1:4 and high speed like 500X in both axis can be reach.Motor runs smooth no vibration is noticeable.

It´s connected using RS232 Serial Port, Direction and speeds can be controlled using any Standard or USB GAMEPAD .

LX200 basic command for autoguide are implemented directly on microcontroller.In this way mount can make autoguide with Astrosnap ,Iris ...

Picgoto has it own ASCOM driver to work with comaptible Sky Chart software

Complete Lx200 Command for GOTO an Syncronization are implemented in Picgoto Soft. Mount can be drive directly by PicGoto Pro software standalone or connecting other ones (CDC,THE SKY,SKYMAP).

And The best of all It works!!

Mount can be controlled using standard buttons, gamepad or Skychart programs.Coords for Sync Objetcs and GOTO Slewing can be set manually or automagically from some Skychart sofware only clicking on desire objects.

This Snapshot shows telescope being controlled from Cartes du Ciel Skychart soft.I only have to select LXNET (my custom version modified version of original LX200 control to accept TCP connections) driver from telescope menu.

Picgoto Soft can be hide and mount is drive by skychart software like any other LX200 mount .You can select objects to Sync ,GOTO, and Mount will go there accuratelly.

Click for full PIC

Is possible log all LX200 traffic for com´s checking
	You can select any ratio for diferents mounts and for each standard speed . They can be record on microcontrollers Eeprom too for autoguide without PC This shows conf. for standard EQ6 drived at 10 microsteps

It´s possible to control the mount using a local net or Internet PicGoto has it`s own built in TCP Server.

Some Predefined mounts are available.There is also a Slider Bar to control LED intensity for polar finder