Jim Waller wrote:
>
> Wow !! What an idea.
>
> I've been lamenting the lack of a 'home' or 'park' command in the LX200 command
> set. I remember someone saying that 16" LX200 has this command. If the 12" and
> smaller has such a command, it's not documented in the appendex showing the
> serial port control codes. Now I see how to do it. At the end of the night,
> send the scope a code to go into guide speed and then send the code to slew
> east. The scope will just stop where it is. At startup the next night, the
> scope should know exactly (maybe) where it is. Send a the code to stop the slew
> and start the observing run for the night. Does anyone know if the LX200 will
> really respond this way?
>
> Also, has anyone attempted to check the LX200 for undocumented control codes?
>
> Jim Waller
> Ada, Oklahoma USA
>
Jim,

If a simple 'park' type command is what you're looking for in your
LX200, I may have a solution for you that is quite easy and reliable.
This requires/assumes that you will leave the scope mounted in the same
position for a period of time and that your declination circle is
calibrated correctly. After you complete a night of observing, set your
hand controller to read your pointing position in altitude/azimuth. Now,
slew your scope until the azimuth reading is right on zero (due south)
and cut power to your scope. I don't know why it assumes azimuth at
south as opposed to north, but it does. Now adjust yor RA circle to read
at the zero hour indicator and make a small mark on the scope housing at
the zero position on the outer scale of the RA circle. Now you can
release the locks and put the scope in any position you like for
covering, etc. When ready to begin a new session and before powering
up, carefully, manually set your declination to zero (OTA should be
level if in alt/azimuth mode) and lock in place. Now, manually rotate in
RA until your marks line up with zero, lock and power up your scope.
Providing you were careful in making your mark and your clock in the
scope computer is relatively close +/- 15 seconds (another matter all
together), you should be able to simply use your goto command as if the
scope was never powered down. This is the LX200's reset position each
time the computer is powered up. This method works great in my
observatory. I hope this helps you out.
Good luck and hope your skies are better than mine right now!!

Dave (Hanover, PA)

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