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Socket Cordless
Serial Adapter - configuring
http://www.socketcom.com
Perfect for the
Paramount ME!
You need to configure the cordless serial adapter (CSA) to match the
telescope's RS-232 settings. The example here is using the Software
Bisque Paramount ME.
With the exception of the 38400 baud rate the rest of the settings
should pretty much work for ANY goto telescope. The most commonly used
baud rate is 9600. Consult your telescope documentation for
details on the COM port settings.
First connect the cordless
serial adapter to a known working COM port on your PC using the null
modem adapter supplied BEFORE configuring. Make sure you also
have supplied power to the device indicated by the blinking blue
LED. The Socket Bluetooth serial adapter comes with the necessary 5 volt power supply
a nice touch.
WARNING: You
cannot communicate with the adapter without using the null modem
supplied. Consult the documentation included with the device for how
to install the configuration software.
NOTE: When the
Socket device is used with the telescope the null modem adapter is
NOT required. A plus in favor of the Socket device.
Configuration
utility
Launch the application
After installing the
software included with the serial adapter launch the Cordless Serial Adapter
Configuration program.
Using default COM1 in our
example
Note COM1 is default
change if necessary by pressing COM port
You can change the com
port used to configure the device as necessary. Not all COM port numbers are listed
in the Socket Cordless Serial Adapter Configuration software so you
may have an issue if the PC com port you are using is assigned a COM
PORT NUMBER greater than
COM9. If you are unsure
what COM ports you have available use the Windows Device Manger
to view the currently assigned COM PORTS. See below.
Control Panel |
System | Hardware
Com port assignments shown
Now in the
configuration software make sure the COM PORT is properly selected.
Com Port used to
configure
Pick the proper COM port number
After connecting the
serial adapter to the PC's 9 pin serial port using a null modem
adapter and supplying power
choose the Properties button to the right of "Acceptor (accepts
incoming connections) under Device Role
as shown below.
Configure the
Acceptor using Properties
Acceptor click on Properties
General Tab
Name the device if you like here
Next choose the
Connections tab.
Choose
Connectable AND Discoverable
Notify local host of Bluetooth events
Next choose the
Security tab.
Security Tab
No need for security
You do not need to use security
It is easier to not
assign a PIN number to the device. However, if you find that
there is a conflict with another Bluetooth connection you can use a
secure connection. For example another Paramount ME Bluetooth
user in close proximity.
Next use the Port
Settings Tab to select the telescope's serial port parameters.
Port Settings Tab
38400 bits per second,
8 data bits, No parity, one
stop bit
The above baud rate is
specific to the
Paramount ME. For telescopes other than the Paramount ME,
Celestron, Meade, Astrophysics, SGT, it is more common to use a slower
baud rate of 9600 instead. The other settings will remain the
same. Consult your telescope documentation if you are not sure
of the serial port settings.
Advanced tab
Use the default settings make no changes here
Leave at defaults!
Last - Write the new settings to
the adapter
The changes will be saved
NOTE: After writing the
settings to the adapter double check them by reading them back in.
Use Get From Adapter and make sure the settings are what you want.
Use the Properties button again to check
all settings.
At this point the device is ready to
be discovered and used with the telescope! Just make sure you set
the proper COM port setting in TheSky to match the assigned COM
PORT.
Use TheSky's Telescope
| Setup then Settings to access the Telescope Setup dialog. See
below.
COM PORT
assigned to the
Bluetooth serial adapter
TheSky's Telescope Setup
Specify the Bluetooth assigned COM port here
Once you know the
proper com port settings enter the lowest COM NUMBER the OutGoing
port number in TheSky's
Telescope Setup. In the example above that is Standard Serial over
Bluetooth link (COM6). Again yours will differ. Keep in mind this
could be ANY COM PORT number! Above the AirCable COM PORT was
assigned to COM PORT 6! The point is that these will vary and you
simply CANNOT GUESS!
ALWAYS check the Windows Device
Manager if you are unsure! That is the easiest way to find out
what COM PORTS the system has assigned.
Now you are ready to
use TheSky's Telescope | Link Establish. If the telescope is on and
the correct serial port is entered you are good to go.
If the telescope does not respond
check power on the scope and Bluetooth adapter and then go back and make sure you have entered the correct
Bluetooth COM PORT number - the
OutGoing port numberx.
Paramount is not
turned on on
Or
, Bluetooth adapter not plugged into
telescope!
NOTE:
The above error indicates a valid COM PORT is trying to be used but
the telescope is not responding!
What COM PORT number are
using in TheSky? Does it exist?
What COM PORTS are listed in the Device Manager?
Because the Socket brand device is not available
with the option to disable or ignore hardware handshaking you must satisfy the handshaking by
hardwiring pin 7 to pin 8. Clear to Send pin 7 is tied to Ready To Send
pin 8.
Pin 7 and 8 are tied on the female DB-9 accepting connector as shown
here. The side the Socket device plugs into.
Pin 7 and 8 are shorted satisfying
handshaking
Note the jumper wire
on the DB-9 female side that ties line 7 to 8 on the AirCable
adapter side!
Close up view DB-9 female connector
Pin 7 and 8 are tied (jumped) together
to satisfy handshaking required by some adapters
Kludge adapter to
tie pin 7 to 8
A bit messy but solves problem
The Socket Serial
Adapter plugs into the female end on the right where the handshaking
pins are tied! Click here for a much better cleaner solution if you
are a Paramount user.
A much cleaner way to use these
Bluetooth serial adapters is to perform a simple hardware modification to the
Paramount's adapter panel. This is detailed here. Note the difference
below!
Click on image for
complete details -
very clean installation!
And the adapter is powered on by the Paramount
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