From:  chris1011@a... 
Date:  Tue Dec 18, 2001  2:10 pm
Subject:  Re: [ap-ug] Re: Parking 1200 mount with TheSky

 
 

In a message dated 12/18/2001 12:42:17 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
johnzonie@e... writes:


> I haven't 
> experimented with plugging it in "hot", although Roland's comments in 
> a previous email seemed to indicate that was ok. When I try it, I 
> plan to unpark with TheSky, plug in and use the hand controller, 
> unplug the hand controller and then park with TheSky.


It is perfectly ok to plug the keypad in after starting the mount. We 
designed it that way. You can plug in your computer hot also. You can unplug 
your keypad before or after you turn off the power, makes no difference. 

> 
> The thing I still need to research is whether autostart should be yes 
> or no on the hand controller. Early on, I thought I saw an email 
> saying it should be yes and later, no. So I probably am mis-
> remembering something <g>
> 
If the mount has been initialized with your computer, then it matters not how 
the keypad is configured. After starting the mount with your computer 
planetarium program, you can plug the keypad in and it will automatically 
assume the values that you sent to the mount from your computer. It will 
bypass both manual and autostart functions and go directly to the main menu, 
so it does not matter how you left the keypad. 

In other words, the moment you plug the keypad into the mount, it will ask 
the mount if there is any time and location data in the servo memory. If 
there is (from your external planetarium program), then the keypad writes 
this to its memory and goes to the main menu. If there is no data, then the 
keypad sends time and location data to the servo either atomatically (if 
autoconnect is on) or by prompting the user (if autoconnect is off).

I hope this makes sense.

Roland Christen