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Roboscope Application Notes - Tech2000 June 17, 2013
Connecting the Tech2000 Roboscope GOTO accessory from a Windows PC to operate Dob-Driver II dual-axis motor drive units.
Including Laptops without Built-In Parallel Ports.
Some content is applicable to older Astro-Cams using Parallel Port, and users who just want to update their Roboscope already in-use.
Download the free Roboscope 5.5 complete (zipfolder) package
The download is a complete Roboscope package in a zipfolder. It will run even if you do not have a Tech2000 Dob-Driver II.
All previous Tech2000 Dob-Driver II installations will work with this upgrade.
No Windows install is needed - just download this folder to your desktop.
Then extract the zip files into a new folder you create on your system at/near your previous place, or just a new file folder on the Desktop, perhaps naming your new folder "Robo5.5" but any name will do as this application does not need the folder name in order to run.
Copy your previous "myscopename.cal" file(s) into your new folder (if you have previously calibrated any of your mounts before then always be sure to hang-onto that named calibration file!).
If you also had a file in your previous folder that is called "LST_TRIM", then copy that over to the new folder too.
Read the Whatsup.pdf file in this download for updated details, but here are the main revisions in this go-around: LST clock-rate user-trim function added for impressive imaging improvements or PC-clock error correction that lasts over long periods for observatories that never shut-down; more parallel port addresses available on the list (0378, 03BC, FCD8, FCE8, FEF0, FFF8). Ask when you have a parallel port address that is not on the list... then we'll add yours too (these shown are base-addresses... your system should show a range starting at one of these).
Also read the largely-updated Readme.pdf file in the download - it has many new tips and details, including how to print object catalogs.
ADDING PARALLEL PORTS 4-Step Summarized:
1) Create a physical parallel port for your Roboscope Accessory Cable (if none exists presently).
2) Get the free upgrade Roboscope package shown above, that services the new port address.
3) Use kernel-mode drivers (if your OS is blocking direct-access to a parallel port address that you know is valid and shows).
4) Use the real nice app from www.printfil.com if you wish to print catalogs etc from Roboscope in a Windows OS. Its wonderful.
Introduction
Sure - you can just plug-in your Roboscope cable into any PC parallel port (25-pin female socket pins & a D-shell shape) from ancient models up through Win XP, plug the other end into (any) Dob-Driver II hand control, start the Roboscope program and voila! Instant happiness - it just works with no setup or software installation, patches, etc. But what if you do not have a parallel port connector on a new laptop PC? Certainly it will not be present on your netbook or palm PC either no matter which make that may be. And how do you get around the dreaded "OS-upgrades" problem after you installed 'service-packs' or migrated to a 'new and improved OS' that typically results in harsh interfacing with what they are suddenly going to call 'legacy peripherals' 6 months after you clicked 'OK' for such improvements? Well it turns out there are some solutions.
Port Solutions - If you have a 25-pin D-Shell connector with female socket-pins on your PC already then skip this section.
Many new PC/Windows based laptop designs have excluded the legacy Parallel Ports that users have relied upon to connect to their older SBIG and Attik Parallel Port based cameras as well as Dob-Drivers and many other industrial sensor/control devices in addition to the legacy use of parallel printers. This leaves users with the following options ranked in order of increasing cost:
- Buy a Parallel Port adapter.
- Buy an older laptop, perhaps used, that contains a Parallel Port having the 25-pin connector.
- Observatory or semi-perm installations - use a desktop PC, which either still have a parallel port or always the ability to easily add one cheaply.
We'll address the first option in this Application Note.
Our Parallel Port based Dob-Drivers, and more specifically the Windows drivers they depend on, require a direct access to the Parallel Port registers. Very common for commercial and industrial I/O systems. This means the (USB) to Parallel Port adapters that are commonly found at very low cost for parallel printer interfacing will not work with our drives since they do not permit direct access, and thus you must find a slide-in card that emulates a true legacy Parallel Port. If you do have a USB-to-parallel port converter already and got it to run Roboscope on one of the above port addresses... well then we would like to hear about THAT make and model from you so we can post it here.
We have found and tested two compatible cards for laptop use depending on whether your laptop supports the full size PCMCIA cards or the narrower Express Card. If you're in the market for a new laptop make sure it supports one of these two standards and has 32 Bit Windows installed on it as our Parallel Port drivers are not compatible with and will not run under 64 bit versions of Windows.
Full Size PCMCIA Slot
For the regular PCMCIA slots we recommend the Quatech SPP-100 LPT port card. It can be ordered online from the Quatech web site www.quatech.com and costs around $129. A bit lower price available from other sellers of the same. Creates a true full-function parallel port for the Roboscope cable as well as parallel cameras and many other PC parallel peripherals such as older external drives, flatbed scanners etc.
Narrower Express Card Slot
For the Express Card slots we recommend the Best Connectivity SD-EXP50021 card which can be purchased from Newegg (www.newegg.com) for around $30. Strangely enough one of our customers bought the Quatech Express version of the PCMCIA card (model SPPXP-100) and reported it did not work so stick with the Best Connectivity card. It's cheaper anyway so you win on that account if your laptop handles Express Cards OK. You just slide-em in and have an instant parallel port connector at the ready.
Installation / Configuration
1. Follow the manufacture's recommended software and hardware installation procedures to install the card and the basic Windows LPT drivers included with the card. This is a crucial step that without proper installation the Dob-Drive will not be recognized.
2. Reboot the PC, making sure the Parallel Port card is installed in the computer. At this point you should use the Device Manager to see that the newly installed LPT port is present and then tell the new Parallel Port card to emulate LPT1 via the Port Settings tab of the LPT Port Properties. Write down the port base address shown there, on a sheet of paper - no requirement for IRQ is used whether it is shown or not so do not worry about that IRQ part. Note- if no 'LPT1, LPT2, or LPT3 device is shown, contact the card manufacturer to correct the card installation until one of the LPT devices is shown that relates to your new card-slot device, the default is LPT1 when there is only one parallel port.
3. Connect the Roboscope parallel connecting cord to a Dob-Driver II, Power-on the Dob-Driver and let it finish startup diagnostic, Start Roboscope (click on Robo.bat in your Roboscope files group folder). When Roboscope starts, type 'new' at the first prompt for telescope selection just for this test. Note- If 'no comm-link to Dob-Driver' results on-screen, then email us the port-base address you wrote-down in the above step... this Roboscope version currently supports LPT base addresses shown at top of this page. If you can not force one of those above-listed base addresses to work, then we can easily add new addresses to Roboscope then email you the new program (any LPT base address less than FFFF hexidecimal).
4. When you get past the above successfully, select 'Manual Pan' from the Roboscope menu and make sure the telescope motors are responding with motions in all 4 directions to verify all is well. If still getting "No Comm Link" message then see the problems section below.
5. Finally, on subsequent nights if you plan on using the DobDriver II with a PC, make sure the Parallel Port card is installed in the computer before you power up the computer or else the Parallel Port Driver won't automatically start and your LPT-port won't be recognized.
6. Don't forget to read or print-out the Readme documents in the Roboscope file package, the WhatsUp document describing program changes, and instructions in the subfolder for XP and 2000 users if you experience any problem.
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