Re: Why AP mount don't have a USB port?
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I would love to see a gradual migration to a modular interface socket, where
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the user would have a choice of swappable interface modules, including: RS-232 - Still the universal denominator USB-HID - USB interface that wouldn't need drivers! Ethernet/IPv4-IPv6 - Rock-solid, multi-device interface with unlimited distance Ethernet/IPv4-IPv6 with PoE - Ethernet with power, all in one connector FTDI fiber-optic - All of the benefits of Ethernet with lightning and ESD immunity! WiFi - For iPhones, iPads and the WiFi'd observatory Bluetooth - For Android phones, tablets and more Xbee wireless - For the more-serious astro-geek robotic observatory I2C - Fast & simple multi-device interface standard used between microcontrollers And of course more modules could come out in the future, as computer interfaces evolve over time. I would be thrilled if AP were to lead the way into the future with a modular interface socket that would be available to other manufacturers as a licensed or license-free standard. Each module would be about 3/4" x 3/4" x 1.5" and would plug flush into a matching socket on the mount's control box. I think this would be a great boon to mounts, focusers, filter wheels, optical manifolds, rotators, dome controllers and all other observatory devices that have low data rate requirements. Cameras and such will always need high-bandwidth interfaces that will follow the latest interface standards and will always be at a greater risk of quick-obsolescence accordingly. Anybody want a camera with a parallel or SCSI interface? I got boxes of them. Years ago I remember arguments from stubborn Apple Mac users about why didn't GOTO mounts have SCSI-II interfaces. Sounded just like the arguments for USB today. Christopher Erickson Consulting Engineer Summit Kinetics Waikoloa, HI 96738 www.summitkinetics.com -----Original Message-----
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...] On Behalf Of Daniel Marcus Sent: Thursday, October 18, 2012 10:05 AM To: AstroPhysics E-group Subject: RE: [ap-gto] Why AP mount don't have a USB port? Hi Anthony my poor laptop only has one serial, 1parallel, 1 eithernet and 2 USB1 ports : (( Can't cram in the USB2 and extra serial adapters into the slots at the same time as they will not fit. Really need a good way to control the mounts, and supporting equipment easily. There should be a way to get - camera, guide camera, mount, filter wheel, focusers (2) and possibly a filter tuner and extra focuser and camera for those with Halpha scopes. Never mind the roof or dome controls, weather inputs, and cameras to view remote what is going on. That is a lot of stuff to get working all at once. Be nice to have a hub to plug them all into at the mount and then send the signals back via a single LONG cable to where your main computer is located. With a big lightning arrestor protecting the whole thing! Need a good IT guy to get it sorted out. I'm with AP though, I want a device that will not become obsolete. I intend to own the mount for 20 to 30 years, and I want it to run on Windows ver 45. Serial will be around for a LONG time, and mounts, focusers and filterwheels do not need fast communications unlike cameras. Have 2 PCI serial cards in the main obs computer, works just fine. Have more troubles with the USB extender hub and drivers than I do with the serial ports. Either net would be nice if there was an easy way to assign all the stuff. Daniel Marcus To: ap-gto@... From: ayiomami@... Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2012 20:52:08 +0300 Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Why AP mount don't have a USB port? Similar cards exist for USB2.0 for those of us whose laptops are exclusively USB1.1. Some software and hardware, specifically requires USB2. Anthony. ???? 10/18/2012 20:40, ?/? chris1011@... ??????: You cannot put a PCMCIA card into your laptop? There's a place for one in my Dell laptop. Here's one for $29.00:http://www.usconverters.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&produc ts_id=251 Rolando -----Original Message----- From: popkrab <popkrab@... <mailto:popkrab%40yahoo.com>> To: ap-gto <ap-gto@... <mailto:ap-gto%40yahoogroups.com>> Sent: Thu, Oct 18, 2012 12:33 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Why AP mount don't have a USB port? I have a Mach1GTO and it works very fine except when I do polar alignment routine by using star drift method. I use this mount for imaging by connecting the mount to my laptop computer. I would like to know why AP don't provide a USB port on CP3 controller box? What is a different between old fashion serial port and new USB 2.0 port? Because I have to buy a good quality USB2serial adapter. Sometime this adapter was fail during imaging session. If I can choose, I would preferred a USB connection than serial port. What are good points of serial over USB interface? Thank you very much. POP ------------------------------------ To UNSUBSCRIBE, or for general information on the ap-gto list see http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ap-gtoYahoo! Groups Links ----- No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 2013.0.2741 / Virus Database: 2614/5838 - Release Date: 10/17/12 |
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