Thanks to webcam technology, it is now easy and inexpensive to set up your own autoguiding system.
You'll need a PC or laptop computer, a webcam or other video device, autoguiding software, and some sort of interface so that the computer can talk to your telescope mount and direct it's motion. Many scopes come with a six pin port that looks like a phone jack. This is called an RJ-12 connector. Typically, a hand controller or CCD autoguider is plugged into this port. Until now, anyone wanting to implement webcam autoguiding that had this type of port would have to buy a relay box that would connect to the parallel port of the computer, and then would need to be wired to the guide port. These relay boxes are fairly large, and are one more thing that requires a power source.
Shoestring Astronomy has developed a far better solution!
The USB guide port interface (GPUSB) plugs directly into the USB port of your computer. Using an RJ-12 cable, the other port of the adapter connects to the guide port of your telescope mount. This guide port interface uses optocouplers to electrically isolate the computer from the telescope, eliminating a possible source of electrical interference. This interface adapter is small and require no power source since it receives its power via the USB cable.
Mount compatibility:
Any mount with an ST-4 compatible autoguider port should work with this adapter. To date, this adapter has been tested using GuideDog software from barkoSoftware. Mounts tested so far include the Losmandy GM-8 and G-11 (with and without the Gemini box), Astromeccanica DA2, Takahashi EM-10 (must use the Takahashi Port Converter), Meade LX-200, Meade LX-90, SkyWatcher EQ6 and HEQ5 SkyScan, Celestron Nexstar i-series, Celestron Celestar 8, Celestron Advanced Series GoTo, Orion Atlas EQ-G, Gemini G-41, Astro-Physics AP900 QMD, JMI NGT, Tom O. Equatorial Platform and Vixen SkySensor 2000 (must use the GPCNV-SS2K guide port converter).
Softwares compatibility:
In order to use this product, you need an autoguiding software that supports GPUSB. Actually GPUSB is supported by GuideDog (with ASCOM drivers), GuideMaster, MaxIm Essentials (with ASCOM drivers) MaxIm DL, MaxDSLR, AstroArt, K3CCDTools 3 and Astro IIDC 3.0.
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