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2X; 3: 8X; 4: 16X; 5: 64X; 6: 128X; 7:
256X; 8: 512X; 9: MAX)
• Light Key(☼): Turns on/off the red LED
reading light on the back of the
controller.
• ? Key: For help or extra information.
• STOP/0 Key: Stop/Start tracking.
• HBX (Handbox) port: connect the HC to
MiniTower Pro mount using a 6-wire
RJ11 cable.
• USB port: connect the HC to a
Computer via a USB cable.
4.2. The LCD Screen
The 8401 HC is designed to use for both
iOptron’s equatorial (EQ) mount, such as
the SmartStar
®
-PR GOTO German
Equatorial Mount and the GOTONOVA
TM
Equatorial Kit, and AltAzimuth (A/A) mount,
which includes all SmartStar
®
GOTO
mounts and telescopes. It consists of a
large 8-line LCD screen, which displays all
the information as shown in Figure 18. The
user interface is simple and easy to learn.
Figure 18. 8401 HC LCD Information Screen
• GPS status: When the power is turned on, it shows “GPS ON”, which means a GPS
receiver is connected. When the GPS receiver finds the satellite and receives GPS
signal, it shows “GPS OK”. The “GPS OK” may turn off after few minutes.
• Slew speed: It has 9 speeds: 1X, 2X, 8X, 16X, 64X, 128X, 256X(1º/sec),
512X(2º/sec), MAX(4º/sec).
• Tracking speed: It has 4 speeds: Cel (celestial), Sol (Solar), Lun (Lunar), Def (user
defined)
• Mount Type: EQ is equatorial and A/A altazimuth.
4.3. Connection to a Computer
The GOTONOVA hand controller has a
USB port which can be connected to a
computer. This will allow Firmware
Upgrading, Database Updating, or
Planetarium application. A USB2COM driver
is needed to simulate the USB port to a RS-
232 serial port. (see Appendix D)
The MiniTower Pro
TM
can be controlled by a
number of popular astronomy software
programs. For astronomy software that
does not have an embedded iOptron mount
driver, an ASCOM driver and related
platform are needed. Please refer to
Appendix F for more information.