Software Guided Telescopes

Our Software Guided Telescope (or SGT) product contains all of the hardware and software that you need to "computerize" your telescope. The software portion of SGT is included with TheSky6. The hardware portion includes a serial communications box (called a "BBox" or any other compatible Tangent Instrument device), a serial cable, and an SGT Encoder Kit for your specific telescope. Software Bisque recommends purchasing encoder kits from Jim's Mobile, Inc.

Note that all Tangent Instrument and compatible serial encoder devices (BBox, NGC-MAX, Sky Tour, Sky Wizard, CTI, Advanced AstroMaster, and StarPilot, Ouranos, Argo Navis) operate similarly when controlled via RS232 serial port.

Computerize Your "Push To" Telescope

SGT provides a means for you to monitor the motion of your telescope from your computer screen. By displaying real-time cross hairs atop a simulated version of the night sky, the SGT enables you to determine exactly where your telescope is currently pointed (without looking through the telescope eyepiece!). You move your telescope, and SGT simultaneously moves the cross hairs on your screen, giving you the power to point your telescope at even deep-sky objects quickly and easily. The SGT will even guide you to those hard-to-find faint "fuzzies." Just use the Find command in TheSky6, then click the Guide To button. Now line up the on-screen reticles and you're there!

SGT Hardware and Software

The SGT hardware consists of a serial communications box, a serial cable, and an SGT Encoder Kit for your telescope. Encoder kits include two optical encoders, two encoder cables, and encoder mounting hardware. (The serial cable is used to connect the BBox to your computer, and the encoder cables are used to connect the BBox to the two encoders that are mounted on your telescope.)  As you manually move your telescope, the BBox continually monitors the optical encoders and transfers positional information to TheSky6.

Support for Many Types of Telescopes

Encoder retrofit kits are available to fit more than one hundred telescope mount models from nearly two dozen manufacturers. Because these kits are specially designed for specific mount models, when ordering you must indicate which model(s) you intend to retrofit. It is also sometimes helpful if the mount's year-of-manufacture is included. With very few exceptions, the SGT hardware system — including encoders and appropriate mounting hardware, "BBox" serial decoder, and related cabling — is about $450 (TheSky6's price varies with Edition, is not included in this price).

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. My Telescope is not listed above.  Can I purchase a telescope interface kit?

A. If you're specific telescope is not listed above, contact Jim's Mobile Incorporated. They can supply telescope interface kits for almost every make and model telescope.

Q. I own a go to  telescope (such as the NexStar, Autostar, Compustar, Ultima 2000, LX200). Is there an SGT system for my telescope?

A. No. The SGT system is designed for non-"go to" telescopes only. If you own a go to telescope, it's already "computerized" and can be controlled by TheSky6.

Q. Does the SGT system come with motors that automatically slew my telescope?

A. No. The low-cost SGT system is requires that you physically move the telescope and the position of the telescope is displayed on the computer screen.