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2.	LX2OO Test Program
Once you have the RS-232 cable constructed you will want to test the cable. Below is a simple program called "LX2OO TEST" that is written in GW Basic programming language and will work with virtually IBM compatible computer. LX2OO Test is an effective program to fully check the RS-232 line communications from your personal computer to the LX2OO, allowing you to concentrate on de-bugging your RS-232 cable.

To enter the following program, first load BASIC or GWBASIC (which ever your computer system uses), then type in the following program When complete, be sure to save the program as "LX2OOTST.BAS."


10  CLS

20  DEFINT A-X

30  OPEN "COM1:9600,N,8,1,CD0,CS0,DS0,RS, " FOR RANDOM AS #1
50  keyl$ = INKEY$: IF keyl$ = "" THEN GOTO 50

60  REM KEYlS

70 IF keyl$ = CHRS(119) THEN GOSUB 200: REM "w" key

80 IF keyl$ = CHR$(101) THEN GOSUB 200: REM "e" key

90 IF keyl$ = CHR$(110) THEN GOSUB 200: REM "n" key

100 IF keyl$ = CHR$(115) THEN GOSUB 200: REM "S" key

105 IF keyl$ = "x" THEN END: REM To exit test.

110	GOTO	50

120 END

200 REM directions

210 REM west
220	IF keyl$	=	"w" THEN a$	=	"#:Mw#": PRINT #1, a$: REM GO west
230 REM east
240	IF keyl$	=	"e" THEN a$	=	"#:Me#": PRINT #1, a$: REM GO east
250 REM north
260	IF keyl$	=	"n" THEN a$	=	"#:Mn#": PRINT #1, a$: REM GO north
270 REM south:
280    IF keyl$ = "s" THEN a$ = "#:Ms#": PRINT #1, a$:

290 keyl$ = INKEY$:

300 IF keyl$ = CHR$(32) THEN GOTO 400 ELSE GOTO 200

400 REM  This stops motion (by hitting SPACE bar) .

410 B$ = "#:Qe#": PRINT #1, B$

420 B$ = "#:Qw#" : PRINT #1, B$

430 B$ = "#:Qn#": PRINT #l, B$

440 B$ = '#:Qs#" : PRINT #1, B$

450 RETURN

460 END
REM GO south

To use the above program, connect the completed cable to your PC serial port and to the LX2OO RS-232 Port. Load BASIC (or GWBASIC), if not already loaded, and run "LX2OOTST.BAS" Nothing will a~pear on the computer screen. Press any one of the N, S, E, or W (lower case) keys on your PC keyboard, this will move the LX2OO North, South, East, or West respectively. Press the space bar on the PC keyboard to stop. Press X to exit the program.

If the LX2OO does not respond to the N, S, E, or W keys, be sure the CAPSLOCK is OFF. If it still does not work, check the PC serial port pinouts for your computer to be sure they are wired correctly to the LX2OO 6 line connector.

With a successful check-out of the PC link with the LX2OO using "TEST", you are now ready to write your own software program using the LX2OO Command Set, or to use the sample program called "DEMO" that is written in Ouick Basic software language.

3.	LX2OO Command Set
Intended for professional programmers, the LX2OO Command Set is used to write custom software for remote operation of the telescope with a PC. Each command is listed in a section appropriate to its type. Each entry in the command list includes the command name, any parameters, any return values, and a description. The parameters and the return data are shown in a manner that indicates their format. These formats are listed below along with examples of how the data might really appear, the legal range of values, and a short description. Below is a detailed description:

a. Command Set Formats

HH:MM.T  Exam~le: 05:47.4
Range:	00:00.0 - 23:59.9
Hours, minutes, and tenths of minutes.

sDD*MM  Example: +45*59 Range: -90*00 - +90*00
Signed degrees and minutes (the '*' represents
                ASCII 223 which appears on the handbox as a
degree symbol).

DDD*MM  Example 254*09 Range. 000*00 - 359*59
Unsigned degrees and minutes.

HH:MM:SS Example: 13:15:36 Range: 00:00:00 - 23:59:59
Hours, minutes, and seconds.

MM/DD/YY Example: 02/06/92
Range:	01/01/00 - 12/31199 (see description)
Month, day, and year.
The two digit year indicates the following: 92 through 99 = 1992 through 1999 OO through 91 = 2000 through 2091

sHH	Example: -5
Range:	-24 - +24 Signed hour offset.

NNNN Example: 3456 Range: 0000 - 9999
Four digit object number.

sMM.M Example: -02.4
Range:	-05.5 - 20.0 Signed magnitude value.

NNN  Example: 134
Range:	000 - 200 Three digit object size (minutes).

DD*	Example: 56*
Range:	00* - 90* Higher' parameter (degrees).

TT.T   Example: 59.2 
 Range: 56.4 - 60.1
Tracking 'frequency'. info

Example:	CNGC1976 SU DNEB MAG 3.9 SZ 66.0' 
				Range: n/a
	Object information

Ok Example: 1
	Range: 0 or 1
	Status value returned after setting values.
If the value is legal 1 is returned otherwise 0 is returned.


b. General Telescope Information

Command ACK (ASCII 6) Returns A, L, P or G
Gets alignment status, A for alt-az, L for land, P for polar, G for German mount polar.

Command :GR#
Returns +HH:MM.T#
Gets the current Right Ascension.

Command :GD#
Relurns SDD*MM#
Gets the current declination.

Command :GA#
Returns SDD*MM#
Gets the current altitude.

Commanci :GZ#
Returns DDD*MM#
Gets the current azimuth.

Command :GS#
Returns HH:MM.SS#
Gets the current sidereal time

Command :SS HH.MM:SS# Returns Ok
Sets the sidereal time.

Command :GL#     :Ga# Returns HH:MM'SS#
Gets the local time either in 24 hour (GL) or 12 hour (Ga) format.

Command :SL HH:MM:SS# Returns Ok
Sets the (ocal time.
NOTE:	The parameter should always be in 24 hour format.

Command :GC#
Returns MM/DD/YY#
Gets the calendar date.

Command :SC MM/DDIYY#
Returns Ok (see description)
Sets the calen~ar date.
NOTE:	After the Ok, if the date is valid, two strings will be sent. The first will contain the message
"Updating planetary data," the second (sent after the planetary calculations) will contain only blanks.
Both strings will be terminated by the '#' symbol.

Command :Gt# Returns SDD*MM#
Gets the latitude of the currently selected site.

Command :St SDD*MM# Returns Ok
Sets the latitude of the currently selected site.

Command :Gg# Returns DDD*MM#
Gets the longitude of the currently selected site.

Command :Sg DDD*MM# Returns Ok
Sets the longitude of the currently selected site.

Command :GG# Returns sHH#
Gets the offset from Greenwich Mean Time.

Command :SG sHH# Returns Ok
	sets the offset from Greenwich Mean Time.

Command :W1#     :W2#      :W3#   :W4#
	Returns Nothing
Sets the current site number.



C. Telescope Motion
Command :Mn#	:Ms#	:Me#	:Mw#
Returns Nothing
Starts motion in the specified direction at the current rate.

Command :MS#
Returns 0, 1, or 2 (see description)
Slews telescope to current object coordinates. 0 is returned if the telescope can complete the slew, 1 is returned if the object is below the horizon, and 2 is returned if the object is below the 'higher' limit. If 1 or 2 is returne~, a string containing an appropriate message is also returned.

Command :Qn#	:Qs#	:Qe#	:Qw#
Returns Nothing
Stops motion in the specified direction. Also stops the telescope if a slew to object is in progress.

Command :O# Returns Nothing
Stops a slew to an object.

Command :RG#	:RC#	:RM#	:RS#
Returns Nothing
Sets the motion rate to guide (RG), center (RC), find (RM), or slew (RS).


d. Library/oblects
		Command :Gr# 
			returns HH:MM.T#
				gets object right ascension

Command :Sr HH:MM:T#     
Returns Ok
Sets object Right Ascension.

Command .Gd#
Returns SDD*MM#
Gets object Declination

Command :Sd SDD*MM# 
Returns Ok
Sets object Declination.

Command CM# Returns (see description)
Sync. Matches current telescope coordinates to the object coordinates and sends a string indicating which object's coordinates were used.

Command :Gy# Returns GPDCO#
Gets the 'type' string for the FIND operation. A capital letter means that the corresponding type is selected while a lower case letter indicates it is not.

Command :Sy GPDCO# Returns Ok
Sets the 'type' string for the FIND operation.
	'
Command  :Gq#
Returns SU#, EX#, VG#, GD#, FR#, PR#, or VP# 
Gets the current minimum quality for the FIND operation
	
	Command Sq#	'
	   Returns Nothing
	      Steps to the next minimum quality for the FIND operation.
	Command :Gh#	'
Returns DD*#
Gets the current 'higher' limit.
	Command :Sh DD#	'
Returns Ok
Sets the current 'higher' limit.
	Command :Gb#	Gf#	'
Returns sMM.M#
Gets the brighter (Gb) or fainter (Gf) magnitude limit for the FIND operation.
	Command .Sb sMM.M#	:Sf sMM.M#
	'
Returns Ok
Sets the brighter (Gb) or fainter (Gf) magnitu~e lim(t for the FIND operation.
	Command :GI#	:Gs#
	'Returns NNN'#
Gets the larger (GI) or smaller (Gs) size limit for the FIND operation.

Command :SI NNN#	:Ss NNN#
Returns Ok
Sets the larger (GI) or smaller (Gs) size limit for the FIND operation.

Command :GF#
Returns NNN'#
Gets the field radius of the FIELD operation.

Command :SF NNN# Returns Ok
Sets the field radius of the FIELD operation.

Command :LF#
Returns Nothing
Starts a FIND operation.

Command :LN#
Returns Nothing
Finds the next object in a FIND sequence.

Command :LB#
Returns Nothing
Finds the previous object in a FIND sequence.

Command :Lf#
Returns (see description)
Performs a FIELD operation returning a string containing the number of objects in the field and the object that is closest to the center of the field.

Command .LC NNNN#     :LM NNNN#     :LS NNNN# 
			Returns Nothing
Sets the object to the CNGC (LC), Messier (LM), or Star (LS) specified by the number. Planets are
'stars' 901-909.

Command .LI#
Returns Object Information
Gets the current object information.


e. Miscellaneous

Command :B+#     :B-#     :BO#     :B1#     :B2#     :B3# 
	Returns Nothing
Increases (B+) or decreases (B-) reticle brightness, or sets to one of the flashing modes (BO, Bi, B2, or B3).
Command :F+#	:F-#	:FQ#	:FF#	:FS#
Returns Nothing
Starts focus out (F+), starts focus in (F-), stops focus change (FQ), sets focus fast (FF), or
Command :GM#	:GN#	:GO#	:GP#
Returns XYZ#
Gets site name (XYZ). M through P correspond to 1 through 4.

Command :SM XYZ#     :SN XYZ#    :SO XYZ#    :SP XYZ# Returns Ok
Sets site name.
					
						-92-

Command :GT#
Returns TT.T#
Gets the current track 'frequency'.

Comman~ :ST TT.T# Returns Ok
Sets the current track 'frequency'.

Command :TM#     :TQ#     :T+#     :T-# 
			Returns Nothing
Switch to manual (TM) or quartz (TM). Increment (T+) or decrement (T-) manual frequency by one
tenth.

Comman~ :Gc#
Returns (12) or (24)
Get 12/24 hour status of clock.

Command :H#
Returns Nothing
Toggle 12/24 hour mode.

Command :P#

Returns   "HIGH PRECISION" when ON
"LOW PRECISION" when OFF

Toggles the High Precision Mode ON or OFF.

Command .U#
Returns Nothing
Toggles the long format ON or OFF
When the long format is active, whenever a request to send or receive position data, the following format is used:

HH:MM:SS
Example:	05:47:45
Range:	00:00.0 - 23:59:59
Hours, minutes, and seconds.

sDD*MM:SS
Example. +45*59.45
Range:	-9O*OO - +90*00
Signed degrees, minutes, and seconds (the '*' represents ASCII 223 which appears on the handbox as a degree symbol).

DDD*MM:SS
Example:	254*09:45
Range:	000*00 - 359*59:59
Unsigned degrees, minutes, and seconds.

Command :Lo N# 
		Returns Ok

Sets the NGC object library type. 0 is the NGC library, 1 is the IC library, and 2 is the UGC library.
This operation is successful only if the user has a version of the software that includes the desired library.

									-93-
Command :Ls N# Returns Ok

Sets the STAR object library type. 0 is the STAR library, 1 is the SAO library, and 2 is the GCVS
library. This operation is successful only if the user has a version of the software that includes the desired library:


f.	Keypad Hand Controller Specific

Command: D#
Returns (see description)
Gets the distance 'bars' string.

Command: $Q (1-5)# Returns Nothing
Toggles Smart Drive status.

Command: ?#
Command : ?+#
Comman~: ?-#
Returns Page of Help Information
Starts (??) or moves through (?+ or ?-) Help.

Command: GO#
Command: G1#
Command: G2#
Returns Alignment Menu Entry
Used to implement alignment menu.


4.	LX2OO Demo Program
The RS-232 interface communicates with your computer at 9600 Baud Rate, Parity = None, 8 Data Bits, 1 Stop Bits For those who are familiar with programming, the LX2OO Command Set is written in ASKII character format and can be used to write your own programs.

The LX2OO Demo Program is written in Quick Basic and is intended to demonstrate how commands can be sent to the telescope and information received from the telescope. It is not a "polished" program and does not incorporate all of the RS-232 features available.

The program is set-up to operate on serial port 2 (COM2:). To operate on serial port 1 (COM1:) line 4 should be changed from :COM2:" to "COM1:". The program is as follows:

Please note that Meade Instruments does not support these programs, or programs that you may write in any way: For questions relating to after-market software programs, refer back to those manufacturers.