MKS 6000 Upgrade Kit

See the MKS 6000 Upgrade Kits Status Page for the latest information.

Click the “I want to be notified…” link above to send an email to Software Bisque requesting notification.

No.  Controlling a Paramount mount with the MKS 6000 TCS requires the latest release of TheSky Professional edition.  If your software subscription is not active, you will need to renew it. Once renewed, you will have download access to the latest TheSky installers and updates.

No.  The MKS 6000 Upgrade Kit includes all of the necessary hardware, cabling, and mount components to upgrade the mount.  How to renew my software subscription.

When checking out, please enter your mount’s identification number.  Software Bisque will use this number to look up your mount’s motor index angles and pre-program these values to the MKS 6000 firmware before shipment.  Or, email this information, along with your order number, to FrontDesk@bisque.com.

The Paramount's serial number and identification number for all Paramount GEMs shipped after July 2012 is located on the underside of the hour angle axis housing on the left-hand side.

Use TheSky to get your mount's HA and Dec motor index angles.  Before your upgrade kit is shipped to you, these values will be saved to your new MKS 6000 at the factory.

Method 1:

1. Launch TheSky.
2. Click Telescope, Connect.
3. On the Telescope window, click the Tools pop-up menu, Bisque TCS.
4. On the Utilities tab, highlight the Set Motor Index Angles text on the left side of the tab.
5. Under Motor Index Angles, click Get From Bisque TCS to read these values from the control system.   The RA and Dec index angles are  displayed in the text boxes above.

Method 2:

1. Launch TheSky.
2. Click Telescope, Connect.
3. On the Telescope window, click the Tools pop-up menu, Bisque TCS.
4. On the Parameters tab, click the Commands pop-up menu, Read All Parameters From Mount.
5. On the Parameters tab, click the Commands pop-up menu, Copy Parameters (From This Window To Clipboard).  This copies the Bisque TCS Report to the clipboard.
6. Launch a text editor, and click Edit, Paste.  The MKS_INDEX_ANGLE line of the report shows the HA and Dec index angles.

Here's a sample Bisque TCS Report:

TheSky Version 10.5.0 Build 13620 (64 bit)
Date: September 29, 2023
Time: 15:27:42
Bisque TCS Parameter  RA Value Dec Value
----------------------------- ------------- --------------
MKS_INDEX_ANGLE ,     3978 ,  375
MKS_UNIT_ID_ ,           5 , 5
MKS_ACCELERATION ,     800 , 800
MKS_HOME_VEL_HI 1600000000 , 1600000000
MKS_HOME_VEL_MED , 150000000 , 150000000
MKS_HOME_VEL_LOW , 5900000 , 5900000
MKS_HOME_REQD , 1 , 1
MKS_HOME_JOYSTICK , 1 , 1
MKS_HOME_INDEX_OFFSET , 0 , 0
MKS_CREEP_RATE , 0 , 0
MKS_GUIDE_RATE , -700964 , 700964
MKS_EMF_CONSTANT , 30 , 30
MKS_MAX_SPEED , 1080000000 , 1080000000
MKS_BASE_RATE , -44861734 , 0
MKS_MIN_POS_LIMIT , -6250000 , -8500000
MKS_MAX_POS_LIMIT , 2250000 , 2500000
MKS_PEC_RATIO , 8 , 8
MKS_HOME_DIR , 1 , 1
MKS_HOME_SENSE , 1 , 1
MKS_HOME_MODE , 2 , 2
MKS_HOME_IN_OUT_IN , 1 , 1
MKS_PEC_CUTOFF_SPEED , 89723468 , 0
MKS_MAX_VOLTAGE , 15 , 15
MKS_MAX_GAIN , 150 , 150
MKS_MAX_POS_ERROR , 2000 , 2000
MKS_JOY_CENTER , 2184 , 2184
MKS_USER1_TICS360 , 12000000 , -12000000
MKS_USER1_dEXPECTED_HOME , 2.0000000 , 0.0000000
MKS_USER1_dHOME_SENSOR , 2.0000000 , 0.0000000
MKS_USER1_dBASE_RATE_PERC , 100.0000000 , 0.0000000
MKS_USER1_dCREEP_RATE_ASPS , 0.0000000 , 0.0000000
MKS_USER1_dGUIDE_RATE_FACT , 0.5000000 , 0.5000000
MKS_USER1_dMAX_SLEW_PERC , 90.0000000 , 90.0000000
MKS_USER1_NMOUNT_TYPE , 0
MKS_USER1_SYNC_VERSION , 10000
MKS_USER2_NVERSION , 0
MKS_USER2_FOCUS_AXIS , 1
MKS_OTHER_MOUNT_ID , Paramount MX
MKS_OTHER_DEBUG_OUTPUT , 0
MKS_OTHER_STARTUP_JS_RA , 0
MKS_OTHER_STARTUP_JS_DEC , 0
MKS_OTHER_STARTUP_JS_BUTTON , 0
MKS_OTHER_STARTUP_JS_GUIDER , 0
MKS_OTHER_SOUND_GUIDER , 0
MKS_OTHER_GP_IO_1 , 0
MKS_OTHER_GP_IO_2 , 0
MKS_OTHER_GP_IO_3 , 0
MKS_OTHER_GP_IO_4 , 0
MKS_OTHER_JOY_RATE_1 , 277581
MKS_OTHER_JOY_RATE_2 , 2523471
MKS_OTHER_JOY_RATE_3 , 66123104
MKS_OTHER_JOY_RATE_4 , 1322462080
MKS_INI_FOCMULT , 1
MKS_INI_FLIPHA , -18.0000000
MKS_INI_SPEEDPERC , 60
MKS_INI_SPEEDTHRESH , 5
MKS_INI_KERNEL_STATE , 1
MKS_INI_CALLLEVELLOGGING , 0
MKS_INI_PACKETLEVELLOGGING , 0
MKS_INI_FOCUSPULSESLOW , 60
MKS_INI_FOCUSPULSEFAST , 200
MKS_INI_HOMEAFTERCONNECT , 0
MKS_INI_SHOW_LIMITS , 0
MKS_INI_LOG_SLEWS , 0
MKS_INI_PPEC_HARMONICS , 2
MKS_INI_PPEC_RATIO1 , 1.0000000
MKS_INI_PPEC_RATIO2 , 8.0000000
MKS_INI_PPEC_RATIO3 , 1.0000000
MKS_INI_PPEC_SCALE , 1.0000000
MKS_INI_PPEC_TEETH , 375
MKS_INI_PPEC_PERIODS , 1

No.  The MKS 6000 upgrade, stand-alone, does not increase the Paramount’s weight capacity.  The total weight capacity of the Paramount MYT Series 6 and the Paramount MX Series 6 mounts is higher because of the mechanical changes to the mount design, not specifically because of the new MKS 6000 TCS.