Hi,
I posted this idea on the DSLRFocus group, and wanted to ask here, if
there would be any "serial port signal conflicts" on my AP900 GTOCP3
controller.
I have a working LED version DSLR shutter release cable, and it seems a
waste to use the one laptop serial port, just to toggle the RTS signal line to
fire a shutter. Then use a second serial port, wasting a USB port plus a
USB/Serial dongle, to drive the mount either via the Auto Guider port, or one
of the two serial external control ports. On top of that, there is the need
for two serial cables, all the way back to the laptop, to perform the two
services of firing a shutter and remotely operating the mount.
Since the shutter release RTS signal isn't required by the AP900, then
there should be no conflict with driving both sets of signals, in one cable,
to two devices. The camera end never sees all the other signals, and
"hopefully", the GTOCP3 is only wired to the Transmit/Receive and common
ground pins (so RTS toggling should not affect it's normal operation, with a
planetarium program).
If this would work, for astro photography:
1.. You would need just one serial cable to the mount - the nearby shutter
release two wire cable, would be just about a couple of feet long, at most,
plugged into the LED firing circuit inside the DB9 clam shell, at the panel.
2.. This would save wasting a second computer serial port, or a USB port
along with a USB/Serial dongle.
3.. One less cable to trip over, tangle around the mount, or need to be
packed up every time.
The AP900 user manual (Appendix: B pg. 86) states: "the serial ports do not
use X-On/X-Off, or hardware flow control" - (RTS/CTS) - which in this case
would be an advantage. I couldn't find any AP900 wiring diagrams for the
GTOCP3 serial ports, to show potential conflicts.
Can anyone verify that the GTOCP3 serial ports are wired for "just" the 3
signal wires - so they would be blind to the presence of an RTS shutter
release signal?
The only possible problem with this approach might still be that the ASCOM
serial port drivers won't share a common port, with two programs.
Any feedback would be most welcome.
Thanks,
Joe
