[Laser] Telescope & GPS interfac

[Chuck Hast]

On 7/18/07, Terry Morris W5TDM <w5tdm at hotmail.com> wrote:
> Hello group,
> Hope this is not too far off topic. I just bought a Celestron 6SE telescope
> for use with optical receiver. The controller for the telescope  has a GPS
> input to locate the telescope position/time. They will sell you a GPS unit
> made for the scope at a nice price. However,I have a Garmin GPS 3
> I would like to find a way to interface to the telescope.  Anyone in the
> group tried this before. The electrical interface is probably not a problem,
> the communications requirments may be a problem. Will I have to have a
> computer/microcontroller between the two devices?
>
> Any information would be useful as I am just getting started. Questions are
> welcome!
>
Is the protocol that is used between the GPS and the telescope proprietary?
If it uses NMEA 183.x then you are probably good, but not sure that 183.x
(whatever level x is now, have not checked in a while) has the resolution
you need. Garmin also has a proprietary protocol, and if the telescope will
read it unless you need some sort of level converter you should be good to
go.
-- 
Chuck Hast  -- KP4DJT --
To paraphrase my flight instructor;
"the only dumb question is the one you DID NOT ask resulting in my going
out and having to identify your bits and pieces in the midst of torn
and twisted metal."