Table of Contents
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Table of Contents
Summary of Contents for JMI Telescopes MAX Computer
- Page 1 MAX Computer Operator's Guide Copyright 2005 JMI Telescopes Jim's Mobile, Incorporated 8550 West 14th Avenue Lakewood, CO 80215 U.S.A. Phone (303) 233-5353 Fax (303) 233-5359 Order Line (800) 247-0304 Web Site jmitelescopes.com Email sales@jmitelescopes.com...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
INTRODUCTION... 4 What is Does... 4 What it Doesn't Do ... 4 GETTING STARTED ... 4 Encoder Test... 4 Troubleshooting ... 5 USING YOUR COMPUTER ... 7 ALIGN STAR or STAR FIX... 7 RA DEC... 8 CATALOG ... 8 NEW Catalog ... 8 PLANETS... -
Page 4: Introduction
SGT-MAX system.) Sections which cover GETTING STARTED The first step in preparing to use your MAX computer is to revolutionary, install the optical encoders onto the axes of your telescope. If purchased with one or more sets of encoder mountings... -
Page 5: Troubleshooting
Per-Revolution, included with your encoder mountings, lists the correct setup to use with your specific mount. Confirm that the MAX computer setup matches this sheet paying particular attention to the order and sign of each tics-per- revolution specification (see SETUP on page 11 for additional help). - Page 6 Altitude/Azimuth mounts the Azimuth cable is longer. Not polar aligned. MAX computer works very well even if the mount is 90° from polar aligned. However, there are symptoms of which the user should be aware.
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Page 7: Using Your Computer
If you should accidentally press the ENTER button and align the MAX computer before you had the star centered in your eyepiece, you will need to reset the unit by turning it off, waiting five seconds, and then turning it back on. -
Page 8: Ra Dec
Earth-based coordinate system, the Earth's precession is not a factor in the pointing accuracy of the MAX computer. Only the reported R.A. and Dec. are affected by precession, therefore any user defined objects should be entered with epoch 2000.0 coordinates. -
Page 9: Planets
MM-DD-YYYY. This setting is stored in non-volatile RAM, so if the unit is turned off the date will not be lost. The MAX computer does not update this setting with the passage of time (whether on or off), so it will be necessary to update it if the unit is used to locate planets at a later date. -
Page 10: Align
FOUND NGC0001 the catalog is displayed (e.g. ALIGN ALIGN STAR This is similar to the alignment may be done on any object in the MAX computer catalogs. This includes the planets and user defined objects. ALIGN The object used for the... -
Page 11: Encoder
4. POLAR (NGC-miniMAX and NGC-MAX) Although the MAX computer can be used without it, having your telescope polar aligned is desirable in many cases. The accuracy of a clock drive depends upon this alignment for visual and especially photographic purposes. -
Page 12: Encoder Resolution
MAX computer will not be used for actual viewing (such as when conducting the Encoder Test). At all other times, this step is vital to proper performance, and can greatly affect the accuracy of the unit (either beneficially or detrimentally). -
Page 13: Appendix A - Specifications
NGC-MAX Size: 14.6cm x 9.1cm x 3.7cm (5.75" x 3.60" x 1.44") Weight: 233g (8.2 oz.) Temperature: -10°C to +50°C (14°F to 122°F) Display: 16 character, 5x5 dot matrix red LED (four brightness levels) Coordinates: Epoch AD 2000.0 Sensors: Two high-resolution, shaft- type, incremental optical encoders Sampling rate: 2.5KHz (2500 samples/sec) -
Page 14: Appendix B - Ns/Ds Catalog Abbreviations
Appendix C — RS-232 Cable Assembly The NGC-MAX computer unit has an RS-232 serial port which may be used to provide encoder position information to a personal computer (PC). This can be used with the sample BASIC program provided in Appendix D, or with a commercial software program which supports the NGC-MAX protocol (such as Software Bisque's T A special cable is required between the NGC-MAX and your PC. -
Page 15: Appendix D - Sample Basic Program Listing
Appendix D — Sample BASIC Program Listing The following program listing has been tested on numerous MS-DOS compatible computers using both GW-BASIC and Q- BASIC. While all efforts have been made to ensure error-free code, the user is solely responsible for the accurate entry and operation of this program. -
Page 16: Appendix E - Max Quick-Start Guide
Whenever an angle is less than ten degrees, that angle is shown to tenths of a degree with the arrow doubling as a decimal point. Zeroing both angles results in pointing the telescope at the selected object. JMI Telescopes Jim's Mobile, Inc. 8550 W 14th Ave Lakewood, CO 80215 USA 303-233-5353 Fax 303-233-5359 jmitelescopes.com Then do this: Point your telescope such that the Declination setting circle is at the zero degree mark*.
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