Figure 3. 8401 HC LCD Information Screen
3.2. 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 3. The
user interface is simple and easy to learn.
•
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.
3.3. 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)
The CubePro
TM
can be controlled by a
number of popular astronomy software
programs. For astronomy software that
does not have an embedded iOptron mount
driver, an ASCOM driver and related
platform are needed. Please refer to
Appendix F for more information.
4. Getting Started
In order to experience the full GOTO
capability of GOTONOVA technology, it is
very important to set up the mount correctly
before observation.
4.1. Level and Align the Mount
Each time the Mount is turned on, the
default position is Parking Position, i.e.,Alt.
90º0’0” and Azi. 180º0’0”, which means the
Mount is leveled, facing south and the
telescope pointing up at the Zenith. The
procedures are:
