wifi-nSTEP Instructions
Copyright Rigel Systems 2010
Page 5 of 12
www.rigelsys.com
Setup Window
nSTEP Serial Port:
Set to the COM port number assigned to the wifi-
nSTEP hardware when first plugging it into a usb
port on your computer. You can confirm/change
the wifi-nSTEP hardware COM port number
using the WINDOWS DEVICE MANAGER. For
backwards compatibility, valid values are 1-16.
Focuser Settings
Maximum Position:
Value is used by the
Absolute Focuser Type
(see below).
Maximum Increment:
Maximum number of
“steps” to send to the nSTEP at one time.
Generally used to limits the number of “moves”
an ASCOM autofocus application can execute
during each call to the wifi-nSTEP ASCOM
driver.
Step Time On (ms):
Sets the duration of a
“step”. Valid range is 1-250 ms.
Focuser Type
Absolute:
Select
Relative Focuser Type
, rack
focuser all the way in (to 'Home') and then press
Reset Position
. The gcwifi-nSTEP software will
will set the racked-all-the-way-in position to
00000.
Now
Select
Absolute Focuser Type
which limits focuser position to between 00000
and
Maximum Position
in ASCOM applications.
Relative: D
oes not enforce limits on focuser
position. Uses
Maximum Position
value to set
the current position to half the max position
value, when you press
Reset Position
.
Reverse Direc:
OBSELETE, see PHASE
SELECT for reversing stepper direction.
Half Step
: Energizes 1 or two coils at a time,
doubling step resolution.
Full Torque:
Highest power mode, two coils
always energized.
Coils Off:
Turn coils off after stepping to save
power and reduce heating of the stepper motor.
Only use with a gear-head stepper a non-
gearhead stepper may slip lifting heavy loads
Phase Select
:
set in factory to 0. If you desire
reverse direction, set to 3
. Can be used for any
possible the phase wirings. Allow a person to
wire the phases in any order then chose one of 3
normal direction (0,1,2) and 3 reverse settings
(3,4,5) settings in software to drive them.
Reset Position
Press to set the current focuser position to zero.
Basic/Advanced
Toggles between displaying
the
Advanced
(full
screen as shown at left) or
Basic
setup (only
upper half of screen)
Cancel
Cancel setup changes and, return to the control
window.
OK
Apply all changes to setup and return to control
window.
Capabilities
Temperature Sensor Detected:
If temperature
probe is attached this box will be 'checked' and
enable other menu items.
Temperature Compensation:
Enable automatic
temperature compensation. Manual movement is
disabled
If "Apply Backlash on Temp Comp" is
chekced then apply backlash if moving "IN", else
if moving "OUT"
Temperature
Current Temperature:
As read from
temperature probe (if attached).
Delta T:
For a change of Delta T, move
"Steps/DeltaT"
Steps/DeltaT:
Number
of “steps” to move if
"Delta T" temperature change is detected
Centigrade:
Check box to report temperature in
Centigrade, otherwise temperature will be
displayed in Farenheit.
Comp Backlash:
Move this number of pulses to
compensate for backlash in DC motor gears.
# readings to average:
Read the temperature
probe this number of times, average the
readings, and display the result as the
temperature and use when applying temperature
compensation.
