Focuser

[brrttpaul]

Being a relative newcomer to astrophotography and just finding my way around BYN I have a question about the focuser.  I have a motorised focuser attached to my scope and have two controllers witth it (bought it 2nd hand job lot) the one controller runs off mains the other off a small battery,Both of them have the small telephone type connection and also the motor on the focuser has also. How would I go about connecting BYN to my focuser? I can see the drop down list asking which focuser it is, I cant see no writing on the motor at all so have no idea which it is, the only thing I see is on the hand set which says Hitecastro. Also would I need any other cable? I,m presuming i plug in the telephone type to the socket on the motor but the other end would it be a usb type?

Cheers for any replies

Thank you

Paul

[admin]

You need to make sure your focuser has an ASCOM driver.  This is the only way BYN/BYN can communicate with focusers.

 

Check on your focuser's manufacture website to see if it has an ASCOM driver.

 

Regards,

[astroman133]

Paul,

 

Can you post a picture of your remote focuser motor and other hardware (pushbutton controller, cables, etc)?  Somebody on the group may recognize it.

 

When Guylain recommended to check the focuser manufacturer's web site, he means the web site for the manufacturer of the focus motor.  This manufacturer may be the same as the manufacturer of the focuser itself or it may be different. Some companies make "universal" focuser motors that work for different types of telescopes.  There must be some way to connect the focus motor to your PC in order for BYE/BYN to be able to remotely adjust the focuser. In addition you must have the Premium version of BYE/BYN, have installed the ASCOM Platform, and the ASCOM driver for your remote focuser hardware.

[s3igell]

A simple Google Search of "Hitecastro" resulted in the following website and pages of info on their Focuser Motor Systems...

(Google is your Friend!!)

[brrttpaul]

I,m pretty sure I paid for the premium, just taken some jpegs now hope i can put them up

[brrttpaul]

I understand the controller is Hitecastro but I am not sure about the actual motor itself the focuser is part of the main telescope isnt it? which is a skywatcher  D 150mm F 1200. I bought the scope and mount together(HEQ5) and there were a few bits like the focuser etc thrown in

[s3igell]

See that port on the left side of the Controller in the 2nd Image marked "USB"??  That gets connected to your PC.  You need the appropriate ASCOM software and the HiTecAstro ASCOM Focuser Driver loaded, and the Premium Version of BackyardEOS.

 

Connect everything up, and you should be able to cause the Focuser Motor to Move controlled by the BYE Focuser Buttons.

 

Then, it's time for you to learn your favorite Focuser Tool (Baht Mask or FWHM or HFD or...).

[brrttpaul]

Ahhh right, I thought the hand controller would be obsolete (like the synscan handset when using CDC). Now last question where it says USB what lead would I need for that as its more like a small square (similar to what I used to have for a printer) 

Want to say a big thank you for your help also.

[s3igell]

That sounds like a "standard A-B cable" - basic USB2 Cable.  If in doubt, take the HiTecAstro Focuser Controller Box with you to the Electronics Store.

 

Just make sure that you get a USB2 cable, so that your Laptop isn't slowed down to USB1.1 Speeds (HiTecFocuser lists itself as USB2).

[astroman133]

It is probably the same cable that you would use for a USB printer.  That is a USB 2.0 A-male-to-B-male cable.  The "A" end is the flat end that plugs into the PC and the "B" end is the square end that plugs into the focuser controller.

 

i did not mean to complicate things when I differentiated between the focuser and the motor.  In your case, the focuser is SkyWatcher (built with the scope) and the motor is HitecAstro that was purchased as an add-on.

[admin]

I,m pretty sure I paid for the premium, just taken some jpegs now hope i can put them up

 

Yes you did get the Premium

[brrttpaul]

Thanks lads you have been a great help, I will probably need a repeater usb cable as well then thinking of it as the plan is to have my laptop in the kitchen and the scope outside, I tried this the other day after buying an extension cable and it all worked great, thanks once again for all your help it is much appreciated

Paul

[astroman133]

Paul,

 

You may want to put a USB 2.0 hub out at the scope.  Plug your scope, cameras, and focuser into the hub and then run a single cable, with extension, if necessary, into the house to the PC.

[brrttpaul]

Ahhh didnt think of that but in saying that there will only be two leads anyway, one to connect the camera to laptop the other for the focuser. But yeah it is another option

[brrttpaul]

Hi guys just an update, my leads came today and downloaded the driver from Hitecastro which in turn has given me a computer controlled controller. I have tried adding the focuser to BYN but to no avail, first off in the focuser pane it says Hitecastro but when i click on it it says not registered not compatible please check driver. So I,m not sure what I have done wrong as the focuser works using the HItec programme (little window with focus in/out button. Any ideas what I have done wrong? I can make do with a seperate window but it would be better if it was all run off BYN

[brrttpaul]

Ok scrap that last post I never downloaded the driver

[brrttpaul]

Just an update on the focuser, Set it up tonight and its very good worth paying the premium just for that well done guys, Im sitting inside nice and warm while still seeing/imaging.