Keypad 4.19 update
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Mike C
keypad 4.19 update went flawless here over a StarTech 4 port serial adapter with just the CP3 sitting on my desk with no motors
On Tue, Jan 19, 2016 at 8:20 AM, George george@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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George
Richard,
APCC and the AP V2 driver both have park positions called “Park Current Position”. It is the same as “Park 0” in the keypad.
Resuming is from “Last Parked”.
Regards,
George
George Whitney Astro-Physics, Inc. Phone: 815-282-1513 Email: george@...
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sorry for not bring clear. I meant will we be able to use features like park 0 and resume, from APCC.
Richard
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Roland Christen
APCC and the keypad are two separate programs that can be used to control the mount. Each of these programs has its own park positions. They are each calculated in similar fashion, but neither one of these programs relies on the other to produce any of these functions.
Now having said that, you can park the mount in any of the defined park positions in APCC (or the keypad) and then start the mount with the other program, the keypad (or APCC).
For instance, lets say that you parked the mount via APCC at Park 4 position. If you then used the keypad on the next night to start the mount, you would simply press 3=ResumePresentPosition, and the mount servo would look into its memory to see where it was last parked and use that to start the next session. Simple and reliable.
Lets say that you used the keypad to park the mount in Park 0 and shut off the power. Next night you decide not to use the keypad and use APCC to start the mount. All you would need to do is click "resume from Park" and you are good to go. Again the servo would look up the exact position where it was last parked (regardless what program parked it) and continue tracking from that point in the sky. Again, simple. No real way to screw up anything IF you always "Resume from Park" in APCC or "ResumePresentPosition" on the keypad.
The two programs have their own internal software, they are not related and they do not depend on each other. Same with all other control programs that you may wish to use. All are independent operators, Keypad included. I cannot stress this too strongly, since everybody always thinks that the keypad is the mount controller. The real mount control is the CP3 servo, everything else is just a database that sends your wishes to the mount.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: R Edelson redelson@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2016 6:42 pm Subject: [ap-gto] Re: Keypad 4.19 update Sorry for not bring clear. I meant will we be able to use features like park 0 and resume, from APCC.
Richard
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Park 0 is not incorporated into the ASCOM driver or APCC at this time.
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sorry for not bring clear. I meant will we be able to use features like park 0 and resume, from APCC.
Richard
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R Edelson
Sorry for not bring clear. I meant will we be able to use features like park 0 and resume, from APCC.
Richard
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Brilliant! Thanks Rolando! Stuart
On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 6:02 PM, chris1011@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Stuart Heggie
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Paul Maxson <buzzard51@...>
I agree. I have a computer I have used to upgrade
the firmware for my EQ6 mount which will work beautifully for this. I knew I could do it, it was just a matter of deciding the direction. **grin** At 05:10 PM 1/18/2016, you wrote: Those who say it can't be done should stay out of the way of those who are doing it. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Paul Maxson <buzzard51@...>
Marj,
Yes, that is exactly what I'll do. Thanks! :-) Paul At 04:29 PM 1/18/2016, you wrote:
Those who say it can't be done should stay out of the way of those who are doing it.
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Joe Zeglinski
Paul,
As Marj suggested, you could bring the (CP3, Keypad and
the installer) program copied to a thumb drive,
to a friend’s or club’s PC ... which has either a real
serial port, or uses an FTDI based serial/USB adapter.
In which case it should already have the required “straight through”
serial cable to use for this approx. half hour task.
Shouldn’t be that hard to find one, in a pinch.
The Keypad Update is a completely off-line operation,
not requiring internet, once you have downloaded the installer. Obviously, the
friend’s PC could be used to download it to a temp work folder on his PC.
Although we are always warned about NOT trusting a
PROLIFIC chip based USB adapter, it would be nice if someone could confirm that
in this one case, the chip actually worked for their install. Perhaps more
recent PROLIFIC products have ... finally ... resolved their incompatibility
issues. Might just simply involve a Prolific Firmware download to fix them once
and for all. Worth doing if anyone got stuck with such an adapter in the first
place.
Many ways to get the Keypad job done, once the current download problem is
straightened out.
Joe
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You can bring your control box, keypad, serial cable, USB-to-serial adapter and power cable to the location where your computer is located. You do not need to have a computer at the mount.
Please read all instructions at the top of this page: http://www.astro-physics.com/tech_support/mounts/keypad_update/419/419.htm
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sorry...but no computer is attached to my mount. I'm guessing that means the computer with a serial port.
Those who say it can't be done should stay out of the way of those who are doing it.
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Floyd,
We recommend USB to serial adapters with the FTDI chip or the Keyspan adapters. Do NOT use a USB to serial adapter that has a Prolific chip.
The installer will be available again shortly. We made a change to the installer.
The user name and password were included in the documentation that was sent with the mount. Please register your mount and we will provide that information to you. www.astro-physics.com/tech_support/mounts/mount_reg_form.htm
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
In addition to Jack's question, does this mean that you cannot use a USB to Serial port adapter? You do realize that most all computer, laptops no longer have serial ports, right?
I do happen to have one that has a serial port, but it doesn't have all my imaging software, Ver2 driver ect. Assuming that only Windows is needed, then I guess this should work OK.
The site says the Installer is not available right now, check back. I guess we just have to check back from time to time?
Also, it seems that you must have a User Name and Password, I bought my mount used, so I am not a registered user I guess. So what do I do to get the Installer? Thanks, Floyd
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Paul Maxson <buzzard51@...>
Sorry...but no computer is attached to my mount. I'm guessing that means
the computer with a serial port.
At 04:04 PM 1/18/2016, you wrote:
Those who say it can't be done should stay out of the way of those who are doing it.
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Roland Christen
You don't need a computer with serial port. Just use the same setup that you have now that talks to the mount.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Maxson buzzard51@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2016 4:47 pm Subject: RE: [ap-gto] Keypad 4.19 update Wow, thankfully I found a computer here that has a serial port. Not many do anymore. :-) At 03:44 PM 1/18/2016, you wrote: Those who say it can't be done should stay out of the way of those who are doing it.
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Roland Christen
If your computer talks to the mount, then you can download the update. It's really that simple. No need for any second cable. What you have works.
Rolando
-----Original Message-----
From: Stuart Heggie stuart.j.heggie@... [ap-gto] To: ap-gto Sent: Mon, Jan 18, 2016 4:50 pm Subject: Re: [ap-gto] Keypad 4.19 update I'll admit that I'm now also confused. I have my computer talking to the mount for control via TSX and the ASCOM driver. Will it load over that connection? Or am I to use the spare Serial port on the mount and another cable?
Stuart
On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 5:47 PM, Paul Maxson buzzard51@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
Stuart Heggie
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Floyd,
From the email sent out by AP:
Link to v4.19 Firmware Here is the link to the instructions for downloading the firmware onto your computer and uploading to your Keypad. Note that the firmware loader is a PC-based program. Do NOT use a USB to serial adapter that has a Prolific chip. We recommend adapters with the FTDI chip or the Keyspan adapters.
So you can use a USB to Serial Adapter but it must have an FTDI chipset and not a Prolific.
Jack Huerkamp Jack's Astro Accessories, LLC. 38388 Pine Streeet Pearl River, LA 70452 985-863-2165 (Home) 985-445-5063 (Mobile) mallincamusa@... www.mallincamusa.com
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2016 4:48 PM To: ap-gto@... Subject: [ap-gto] Re: Keypad 4.19 update
In addition to Jack's question, does this mean that you cannot use a USB to Serial port adapter? You do realize that most all computer, laptops no longer have serial ports, right?
I do happen to have one that has a serial port, but it doesn't have all my imaging software, Ver2 driver ect. Assuming that only Windows is needed, then I guess this should work OK.
The site says the Installer is not available right now, check back. I guess we just have to check back from time to time?
Also, it seems that you must have a User Name and Password, I bought my mount used, so I am not a registered user I guess. So what do I do to get the Installer? Thanks, Floyd
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I'll admit that I'm now also confused. I have my computer talking to the mount for control via TSX and the ASCOM driver. Will it load over that connection? Or am I to use the spare Serial port on the mount and another cable? Stuart
On Mon, Jan 18, 2016 at 5:47 PM, Paul Maxson buzzard51@... [ap-gto] <ap-gto@...> wrote:
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Stuart Heggie
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In addition to Jack's question, does this mean that you cannot use a USB to Serial port adapter? You do realize that most all computer, laptops no longer have serial ports, right? I do happen to have one that has a serial port, but it doesn't have all my imaging software, Ver2 driver ect. Assuming that only Windows is needed, then I guess this should work OK. The site says the Installer is not available right now, check back. I guess we just have to check back from time to time? Also, it seems that you must have a User Name and Password, I bought my mount used, so I am not a registered user I guess. So what do I do to get the Installer? Thanks, Floyd
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Paul Maxson <buzzard51@...>
Wow, thankfully I found a computer here that has a serial port. Not many
do anymore. :-)
At 03:44 PM 1/18/2016, you wrote:
Those who say it can't be done should stay out of the way of those who are doing it.
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Marj,
Thank you. That is what I thought. But I wanted to make sure before I started the procedure.
Yours truly,
Jack
Jack Huerkamp Jack's Astro Accessories, LLC. 38388 Pine Streeet Pearl River, LA 70452 985-863-2165 (Home) 985-445-5063 (Mobile) mallincamusa@... www.mallincamusa.com
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2016 4:39 PM To: ap-gto@... Subject: RE: [ap-gto] Keypad 4.19 update
The one that came with the mount is straight-through. Only one cable is needed.
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Marj,
From the Uploading Instructions: "You must also use a "straight through" (as opposed to a "null modem or crosswired") serial cable. We now have these Straight Through Serial Cables available for purchase, if you do not already have one. "
I assume that the RS-232 cable that I received with my AP1600 last March is a straight through serial cable and that is the only serial cable needed. The instructions read like you need two serial cables - the RS-232 cable (that came with the mount) and a "straight through serial cable.
Yours truly,
Jack
Jack Huerkamp Jack's Astro Accessories, LLC. 38388 Pine Streeet Pearl River, LA 70452 985-863-2165 (Home) 985-445-5063 (Mobile)
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The one that came with the mount is straight-through. Only one cable is needed.
Clear Skies,
Marj Christen Astro-Physics, Inc 11250 Forest Hills Rd Machesney Park, IL 61115 Phone: 815-282-1513 Fax: 815-282-9847 www.astro-physics.com
From: ap-gto@... [mailto:ap-gto@...]
Marj,
From the Uploading Instructions: "You must also use a "straight through" (as opposed to a "null modem or crosswired") serial cable. We now have these Straight Through Serial Cables available for purchase, if you do not already have one. "
I assume that the RS-232 cable that I received with my AP1600 last March is a straight through serial cable and that is the only serial cable needed. The instructions read like you need two serial cables - the RS-232 cable (that came with the mount) and a "straight through serial cable.
Yours truly,
Jack
Jack Huerkamp Jack's Astro Accessories, LLC. 38388 Pine Streeet Pearl River, LA 70452 985-863-2165 (Home) 985-445-5063 (Mobile)
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