[Laser] Telescope & GPS interface

[Terry Morris W5TDM]

Hello Chuck & group,

Here is what I found out so far:

Garmin GPS has serial port @ 4800 Baud and will output the following data 
types:
GARMIN, NEMA 0183 V 2.00, RTCM/NEMA, RTCM. Baud rate doesn't appear to be
changable.

Celestron Telescope has a serial port @ 9600 Baud ( first problem). The
telescope "Get Position Command" is looking for position data in either
RA/DEC or AZM-ALT coordinates. (second problem).

So it is looking like a laptop and software may be one answer. The other
answer is the Celestron GPS Module @ $199.00 is looking a lot cheaper all
the time.

I know there are a lot of people on the list with a lot of knowledge on GPS
interfacing, does anyone see something I am missing.

Thanks for any information, and please excuse the somewhat off topic 
question.

73
Terry W5TDM

>From: "Chuck Hast" <wchast at gmail.com>
>Reply-To: Free Space LASER Communications <laser at mailman.qth.net>
>To: "Free Space LASER Communications" <laser at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [Laser] Telescope & GPS interfac
>Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2007 08:38:00 -0400
>
>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."
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