Leisure Time LX20 - Manual (Page 16)

5. CCD Connector
The CCD Port (10, Fig. 7) allows direct interface from popular
aftermarket CCD autoguiding/imaging cameras with their
compatible connecting cables to accomplish autoguiding for non-
attended astrophotography. The CCD cameras effectively watch
a star and detect slight movements. When star movements are
detected, signals from the CCD electronics make drive corrections
in the LX200, to bring the star to a home position.
Most CCD autoguiding/imaging cameras are supplied with a cable,
which is compatible with the LX200 port. If your CCD unit does not
have a cable, one can be obtained from the CCD manufacturer, or
you can make your own cable using the following table of
information.
CCD Connector Pin LX200 Assignment
#1 Normally Closed
#2 West
#3 North
#4 Ground
#5 South
#6 East
6. Power 12 vDC Connector
The power 12 vDC connector (9, Fig. 7) is designed to accept
either the standard-equipment AC Converter or the optional DC
Power Cord. The acceptable voltage range (under load) is from
12 to 18 volts.
7. Keypad Connector
The keypad connector (6, Fig. 7) is a 4 pin phone jack connector
socket, designed to accept standard 4 pin phone jack coil cords.
One end of the supplied coil cord plugs into the keypad port, the
other end plugs into the LX200 keypad.
8. Reticle Connector
The Reticle connector (5, Fig. 7) accepts optional accessory
corded, plug-in style illuminated reticle eyepieces such as the
optional Meade 12mm Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece, or the Meade
Series 4000 Plossl 9mm Illuminated Reticle Eyepiece (corded
style), to allow brightness control and on/off pulsing rates to be set
from the LX200 keypad.
9. Focuser Connector
The focuser connector (4, Fig. 7) accepts optional accessory
corded, plug in style electric focusers such as the Meade #1206
Electric Focuser, to allow electric focus adjustment control from
the LX200 keypad.
10. RS-232 Connector
The RS-232 connector (2, Fig. 7) allows personal computer
interface to allow communications at 9600 baud to access every
feature of the LX200 keypad. Many popular astronomy programs
are available which directly interface with Meade LX200
telescopes, including Epoch 2000sk Sky Software by Meade
Instruments Corp. In APPENDIX F (page 58) of this manual is a
wiring schematic to make your own RS-232 connector cord, a cord
test program, a demonstration program, and the LX200 Command
Set for writing programs. Meade Instruments supplies this
information for professional programmers. Meade Instruments
Corporation does not offer support or advice for writing software
for the RS-232 option.
11. Aux Connector
The Auxiliary connector (3, Fig. 7) is used for the 7" Maksutov fan
power.
MODE FUNCTIONS
To view the separate modes within the LX200 system, press the
MODE button located between the ENTER and GO TO keys at the
top of the hand controller. Simple entry and editing of information
in the different modes contained within the system will customize
the operation of your LX200 to perform virtually any of your
observing requirements. Better still, all of the critical information
such as time, location, alignment type, and many other functions
are kept in memory...even with the LX200 turned off!
The type of alignment, the objects that you see, the location that
you observe from, the tracking speeds of the drives, all of the clock
and timing functions, the position information, and even the
brightness level of the backlit keypad are defined by the
information that you give and/ or the commands that you edit,
through five different modes of the LX200 computerized hand
controller.
Once you have selected the desired mode, you can then select the
individual file within the mode by pressing the PREV or NEXT key
(up and down arrow key) in the bottom right hand portion of the
hand controller, moving the LCD arrow up or down beside the file
description. Although you will only be able to see two menu
selections at a time in the keypad display, you will see more as you
continue to press the PREV and NEXT keys.
When the desired file is chosen, press the ENTER key to view the
files menu. To choose an individual menu, again use the PREV or
NEXT key to run the LCD arrow up or down the files menu. To
explore a menu selection, again press the ENTER key. In some
modes there will be options for a files menu selection, in others
you will only enter data.
At any time that you wish to return to main file heading in a
particular mode, just press MODE and it will behave as an exit key.
1. Mode One: TELESCOPE/ OBJECT LIBRARY
This is the mode that the LX200 will default to after the instrument
completes its self-check, when the LX200 is first turned on. The
TELESCOPE/OBJECT LIBRARY mode can be thought of as
command central. It is here that we can select the way that we
want the LX200 to perform mechanically, and where we can
explore and select from its extensive library of stored objects.
To explore either the TELESCOPE menu file or the OBJECT
LIBRARY menu file, move the LCD arrow to the appropriate
selection by using the PREV or the NEXT key and press the
ENTER key.
a. TELESCOPE Menu File
Below are the 14 selections of the TELESCOPE menu file,
illustrating the individual menu files and file options.
1. SITE: The SITE menu option allows you to enter up to four of
your favorite viewing locations in longitude and latitude. The
entered longitude and latitude is compared by the LX200's
computer to your local time, GMT offset, and calendar date
to accurately calculate celestial coordinates. Once entered,
the information is stored in the telescope's internal memory,
you need never re-enter the same information. To enter new
site information or to change an old one, see QUICK START,
page 9.
You can choose any one of the four site options (or the
UNKNOWN site) at your convenience, without the bother of
entering longitude and latitude every time you use the
LX200. Once the site is chosen, exit the SITE menu by
pressing the MODE key.
2. ALIGN: The Align menu selection of the TELESCOPE file
demonstrates the unique ability to transform the LX200 into
an Altazimuth, celestial tracking telescope, a polar-
equatorial celestial tracking telescope, or land spotting
scope with electric Altazimuth movements within three
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