6
•
Number Keys: Input numerical values. Also used to adjust speeds (1: 1X; 2: 2X; 3: 8X;
4: 16X; 5: 64X; 6: 128X; 7: 256X; 8: 512X; 9: MAX)
•
Light
Key(
☼
): Turns on/off the red LED reading light on the back of the controller.
•
? Key: For help or extra information.
•
STOP/0 Key: Stop/Start tracking.
•
HBX (Handbox) port: connect the HC to MiniTower mount using a 6-wire RJ11 cable.
•
USB port: connect the HC to a Computer via a USB cable.
2.2. The LCD Screen
The 8401 HC is designed to use for both iOptron’s equatorial (EQ) mount, such as the
SmartStar
®
-PR GOTO German Equatorial Mount and the GoToNova
TM
Equatorial Kit, and
AltAzimuth (A/A) mount, which includes all SmartStar
®
GOTO mounts and telescopes. It
consists of a large 8-line LCD screen, which displays all the information as shown in Figure 2.
The user interface is simple and easy to learn.
Figure 2. 8401 HC LCD Information Screen
•
GPS status: When the power is turned on, it shows “GPS ON”, which means a GPS
receiver is connected. When the GPS receiver finds the satellite and receives GPS
signal, it shows “GPS OK”. The “GPS OK” may turn off after few minutes.
•
Slew speed: It has 9 speeds: 1X, 2X, 8X, 16X, 64X, 128X, 256X(1º/sec),
512X(2º/sec), MAX(4º/sec).
•
Tracking speed: It has 4 speeds: Cel (celestial), Sol (Solar), Lun (Lunar), Def (user
defined)
•
Mount Type: EQ is equatorial and A/A altazimuth.
2.3. Connection to a Computer
The GoToNova hand controller has a USB port which can be connected to a computer.
This will allow Firmware Upgrading, Database Updating, or Planetarium application. A
USB2COM driver is needed to simulate the USB port to a RS-232 serial port. (see Appendix D)
