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Hi all again, (Chris Rowland asked me to post this here) Not sure if its the right Tag

Here is the complete install procedure I used to get Starry Night to work with the CG-5A GT mount. Although this did work with my computer that is Windows Vista 64 bit, it may not work on others. Use it as a "guide" only. But, it does let you see the complexity of the thing that is not readily apparrent. My CG-5A GT mount is new and the hand and motor controller versions are listed. As of today, the most up to date ASCOM drivers were used. If you do attempt this, be sure you make a system "Restore Point" FIRST! The ASCOM drivers do seem to be very safe to use because in the process of figuring all this out had to load and delete them some 4 times with no damage to the computer system until I discovered the correct load sequence. STEP 5. shows my own settings to give you a better idea how to set up Starry Night.

Take Care. Al

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Title: CG-5A GT Mount Computer Control & Starry Night with Vista 64 bit

This procedure outlines steps to connect a CG-5A GT mount to a PC Computer using the Starry Night planetarium program to control it with a Vista 64 bit computer.

Parts needed: Celestron 18775, USB to RS-232 interface cable and drivers setup CD Celestron 93920 hand controller cable (RS-232 to RJ-11)

  1. You must first check to see if your computer has the Microsoft.NET Framework 3.5 SP-1 Update or get this using "Windows Update".

  2. Load the USB to RS-232 drivers from the 18775 setup mini CD. These drivers are in the "Prolific" folder under the PL-2303 folder. There are two folders. Load both the Vista drivers and the Installer. Then restart computer. Insert the 18775 cable into a USB port and note the COM port it hooks to.

  3. Load the ASCOM drivers that came with Starry Night if not loaded already. Might be Version 4.1. This is OK.

  4. From the ASCOM Download Page, download these 3 files and load and overwrite the original ASCOM drivers when prompted. Do this in the order listed. DO NOT DELETE the original drivers!
     
            1st. ASCOM Platform 5b.msi file. Ver 5.0b
            2nd. ASCOM Platform Update file. Ver 5.5.1
            3rd. ASCOM Celestron Unified Telescope Driver 5.0.14. (by Chris Rowland)

  5. Start Starry Night, select the "Telescope" tab, then "Configure".

  6. From "ASCOM Telescope Chooser", select, "Celestron Scope Driver".

  7. Then, click "Properties" and from "Celestron Driver Setup", enter following:
     
            Scope Type: NexStar 5i (other scopes listed as "NexStar" may work also)
            [ ] Has GPS
            Serial Port: COM7 1
            Track Mode: EqN
            [ ] Show Hand Control 2
            Scope:
            Site:
            Aperture: (mm): 102
            Elevation (m): 3
            Focal Length (mm): 709
            Latitude: 29* 32' 36"
            Obstruction (mm): 0
            Longitude: 81* 10' 18"
            Version: 5.0.14
       Note -> In subsequent CG-5A and Starry Night link-ups, this step can be skipped.
       This ASCOM info can be found in the ASCOM "Profile Explorer" and found here:
        C:\ProgramData\ASCOM\Profile\TelescopeDrivers\Celestron.Telescope\Profile.xml (3)

  8. Click the "Connect" button. Starry Night and CG-5A link-up. Also note "+" mark at North Celestial Pole (NCP) and "Celestron ASC 4.16" Hand Controller Ver, HC: GEM 4.16 Motor Controller Ver, MC: 5.16

  9. To have the CG-5A mount go to an object, right-click the star or object. From drop-down menu select, "Slew to object".

Notes

  1. Or whatever it was when installing the USB to RS-232 cable.
  2. If [x], then you won't be able to use the CG-5 hand controller, possibly.
  3. When you get Starry Night working correctly, back up the "Profile.xml" file!
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Sorry about the kludgy formatting with nonbreaking spaces and breaks. I didn't know about markdown and nested lists. – Bob Denny♦ Jan 1 at 20:57

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