NexStar Model Telescopes by Celestron International

Windows

NexStar, NexStar GPS, CG, CGE, SLT and Advanced Series Minimum System Requirements

NexStar, NexStar GPS, CG, CGE, SLT and Advanced Series Hardware Setup

NexStar, NexStar GPS, CG, CGE, SLT and Advanced Series Telescope Initialization

NexStar, NexStar GPS, CG, CGE, SLT and Advanced Series Communication Notes

Windows Mobile (TheSky Pocket Edition)

NexStar Series (all models) Windows Mobile Device Setup

NexStar Series (all models) Troubleshooting

NexStar, NexStar GPS, CG, CGE, SLT and Advanced Series Minimum System Requirements

Software Requirements

• TheSky6 Serious Astronomer or Professional Edition version 6.0.0.0 or later.

Hardware Requirements

• A NexStar-compatible telescope, including the following models:

• • NexStar Advanced Series (all models)

  • NexStar GT Series with latest hand controller (all models)*

  • NexStar i Series (all models, optional computerized hand controller required)

  • NexStar GPS Series (all models)

  • NexStar CGE Series (all models)

  • NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (older models)

• NexStar Telescope Interface Cable

• One free serial port on your computer. If your computer only has USB, you'll need a USB to serial adaptor.

*Note: If your NexStar model 60, 80 or 114 telescope does not use version 1.6 or later firmware and version 4.2 or later motor controller software, you must use the Ultima 2000 protocol to control your telescope from TheSky.

Before continuing, make sure that your NexStar model telescope has a serial (or RS232) port on the base of the hand paddle (see photograph below). If your NexStar hand paddle does not have an LED display, or does not have the RS232 port, then it cannot be controlled by software, such as TheSky.

Below is the step-by-step procedure for establishing connection to the NexStar telescope from TheSky for Macintosh or Windows.

NexStar Series Telescopes (all models) Setup (Windows)

Hardware Setup

• Make sure that the label on the DB9 connector reads NexStar (not BBox/SGT or BBox and Compatible or LX200 Autostar).

• Plug the RJ22 adaptor (the narrow phone-jack style connector) into base of the NexStar hand paddle. Do not plug this connector into the port labeled PC or PC Connection on the base of the telescope.

Windows Step-By-Step Setup Procedure

1. Turn off both the computer and the telescope (always a good idea when connecting devices).

2. Connect the telescope interface cable to the serial port of the computer and the hand paddle of the NexStar (RJ22 end connector). See above photograph.

3. After the telescope interface cable is plugged into the NexStar's hand paddle and into a serial port on the computer, turn both the computer and the telescope on (the order does not matter).

4. Initialize the NexStar telescope following the instructions provided with the telescope. Note: The NexStar must be initialized to run stand-alone before TheSky can control this device. This telescope cannot be initialized or synchronized through software; it must be initialized using the hand paddle initialization procedure.

5. For NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (non GPS), 60, 80 and 114 only: before connecting TheSky to the NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (non GPS), 60, 80 and 114, make sure that the hand paddle is in the RS 232 mode. That is, the NexStar hand paddle must display the text RS-232 on the top line, and Undo to Exit on the bottom line, at all times so that the hardware's serial port is operational; otherwise a connection cannot be established to the device through software. CRITICAL NOTE: If the hand paddle does not remain in RS232 mode at all times, TheSky will not be able to communicate with the telescope. See photographs below.

6. Launch TheSky.

7. From TheSky, click Telescope | Setup.

8. On the Telescope Setup dialog box, select the appropriate NexStar model from the list. (See Minimum System Requirements).

9. Click Settings, and then specify the COM port to which the telescope is attached. Use 9600 Baud and then click OK.

10. Click Telescope | Link | Establish. A white bulls-eye representing the current position of the telescope should appear on the Virtual Sky.

11. The first time you connect to the NexStar (using the firmware version 1.6 and later), you'll need to specify the telescope's Tracking Mode.

Specify the desired Tracking Mode.

Once the desired Tracking Mode is selected, click OK to complete the link. The selected Tracking Mode is saved for future sessions.

To Slew the NexStar

1. Click on any object in TheSky.

2. On the Object Information dialog box, click the Slew button .

TheSky's Large Object Information dialog box

Setting the Tracking Mode (NexStar firmware version 1.6 and later only)

The NexStar has four tracking modes that can be configured through software. To specify the tracking mode:

1. After a successful link is established with the telescope, click Telescope | Options | Tracking Mode.

2. Select the desired Tracking Mode option: Altitude/Azimuth, Equatorial North, Equatorial South, or Tracking Off and then click OK.

This setting is saved automatically, and the telescope is initialized to use this rate each time a link is established.

Motion Controls (NexStar firmware version 1.6 and later only)

TheSky has a software hand paddle that can be used to slew or jog the NexStar. Click Telescope | Motion Controls to access this feature. The slewing rate can be varied from one-half the Sidereal rate up to 3 degrees per second.

Note that the NexStar's Motion Control moves the telescope relative to horizon-based coordinate system (altitude and azimuth) and not relative to equatorial-based coordinates (right ascension and declination).

Connecting a Windows Mobile Device to NexStar-Compatible Telescopes (All Models)

See the NexStar Hardware Requirements above for details about supported NexStar telescope models.

Hardware Setup

Step-By-Step Procedure for Linking TheSky Pocket Edition to the NexStar

1. Turn off the NexStar, CG or CGE telescope mount.

2. Using the appropriate cable, connect the serial port on the NexStar to the mobile device's serial port. See photograph above.

3. Turn on the NexStar or CGE mount. For NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (non GPS), 60, 80 and 114 only: before connecting TheSky to the NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (non GPS), 60, 80 and 114, make sure that the hand paddle is in the RS 232 mode. That is, the NexStar hand paddle must display the text RS-232 on the top line, and Undo to Exit on the bottom line, at all times so that the hardware's serial port is operational; otherwise a connection cannot be established to the device through software. CRITICAL NOTE: If the hand paddle does not remain in RS232 mode at all times, TheSky will not be able to communicate with the telescope. See photographs below.

4. Click Telescope | Setup.

5. In the Control System list, select NexStar 8 GPS, 11 GPS, 60, 80, 114 and then tap OK. No additional settings are required.

NexStar/TheSky Communication Notes

• Make sure that you have the correct Daylight Saving Time setting on the NexStar hand paddle, otherwise TheSky's positions may not match the NexStar's.

• The NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (non GPS), 60, 80 and 114 hand paddle must be in RS232 mode in order to communicate with TheSky. See the telescope's documentation for details on how to enter this mode from the hand paddle.

• The NexStar models 4, 5, 8 (non GPS), 60, 80 and 114 must be initialized and aligned in order to communicate with TheSky.

• The NexStar models 8 GPS and 11 GPS hand paddle does not need to be in any particular menu in order to communicate with TheSky.

• NexStar models 8 GPS and 11 GPS do not support TheSky's Synchronize or Sync command.

• The NexStar firmware version 1.6 and later supports TheSky's Telescope | Motion Control | Move buttons. See Minimum System Requirements for details.

• The NexStar firmware version 1.6 and later has built-in slew limits. If a slew from TheSky fails, check the LED readout from the hand paddle to make sure these limits have not been exceeded.

NexStar 60, 80, 114 Communication Notes

• The NexStar 60, 80, 114 model hand paddle may become unresponsive (lock up) if ActiveSync is running on the Pocket PC when the telescope interface cables are connected. See the step-by-step procedure below to avoid this behavior.

• 1. Setup and align the NexStar using the hand paddle according to the manufacturer's instructions.

  2. From the NexStar hand paddle, choose the RS-232 mode.

  3. On the mobile device, tap Window Icon (Start) | ActiveSync Next, tap Tools | Options and clear the Enable Synchronization when cradled... option and then tap OK. Remember to restore this setting when the telescope is not in use.

  4. Make sure that ActiveSync is not running on the device by tapping Start | Settings | System | Memory | Running Programs tab. Select ActiveSync and the tap Stop.

  5. After the telescope interface cables are connected, launch TheSky Pocket Edition.

  6. Tap Telescope | Setup, choose the NexStar 114 from the Telescope list and then tap OK.

NexStar GT Series Note

The original NexStar GT Series hand controller has significant limitations that prevent reliable control via external software.  For this reason Software Bisque does not provide drivers for these telescopes.  If you have an original NexStar GT hand control, contact Celestron for a replacement model. The replacement model is supported by TheSky6.

Troubleshooting Connection Problems with Celestron-compatible Telescopes

TheSky will successfully establish communications with the NexStar device, provided all of the following are true:

• The NexStar is turned on and functioning.

• The NexStar hand paddle is plugged into the NexStar RS232 port.

• The telescope interface cable is wired correctly for bi-directional communications.

• The telescope interface cable is plugged into the correct COM port on your computer.

• The telescope interface cable is plugged into the RS232 port on the base of the telescope's hand paddle.

• The telescope interface cable is not plugged into a modem port on the computer.

• There are no interrupt conflicts with the selected COM port.

• The COM port is functional.

• The telescope interface cable (the one sold by Software Bisque) is using the DB9 end connector labeled "NexStar" and not "BBox and Compatibles" or "LX200".

• The NexStar 5 or 8 by Celestron International for the NexStar models 5 and 8 or NexStar GPS by Celestron International is selected for NexStar GPS and compatible telescopes in the Control System list under Telescope | Setup.

• TheSky or TheSky Pocket Edition's selected COM port is correct (click Telescope | Setup | Settings to check the COM port).

• The Telescope | Setup | Update Cross Hair Frequency setting is 1000 ms or higher. The NexStar hand paddle may become inoperable and need to be reset (powered off then on) if the NexStar's serial port is queried too frequently.

• Read Testing Telescope/Serial Port/Cable Using a Terminal Application for details about testing the connection.

Verify that all of the above is true, and TheSky6 will successfully communicate and control NexStar, NexStar GPS or CGE model telescopes.

See the Telescope Troubleshooting section for additional information about resolving telescope setup and connection problems.