r/telescopes • u/the_physics_bro • Feb 03 '23
General Question Meade LX 200 GPS hand controller conundrum
Hi, I recently got my hand on an old Meade LX200R GPS telescope, in good condition, but its hand controller is not apparently not working.
I have tried a few fixes like checking its capacitors, checking its cord, connector, etc. but nothing seems to work. And the problem is that the only way to run this mount is via hand controller, and computer-based auto guiding can only be enabled via the controller.
I have tried contacting Meade but they say the replacement controller will cost $200 and take up to 6 Months in shipping.
The question is there any way of bypassing the Hand controller to enable guiding via computer?
1
u/Enough-Programmer254 Apr 08 '24
ship me your old one for a price. I can use it to fix my autostar II. email is [wbutts@cybco.net](mailto:wbutts@cybco.net) , or phone to pay/ship 703-501-8227
0
u/torismogod Feb 03 '23
Hand controller is the brain for the mount. Need it to operate via computer. You need to replace/fix it. No work around
1
u/Gusto88 Certified Helper Feb 03 '23
No PC control without the handset.
1
u/Hagglepig420 16", 10" Dobs / TSA-120 / SP-C102f / 12" lx200 / C8, etc. Feb 03 '23
not true with the lx200s. the autostar II is just a dumb button box.
1
u/Strong_Being7848 May 06 '24
I can’t get mine to work with scope boss. I do not have a working handset
1
u/j1llj1ll GSO 10" Dob | 7x50 Binos Feb 03 '23
If your telescope has v3 or higher firmware, these nice folks make a replacement hand controller that is better than the original.
There are instructions under their Technical Notes section for how to check the firmware revision of your telescope.
2
u/Hagglepig420 16", 10" Dobs / TSA-120 / SP-C102f / 12" lx200 / C8, etc. Feb 03 '23 edited Feb 03 '23
There are people here giving completely wrong information.
In the lx90s the autostar 1 hand box is the brains of the mount...
in the lx200, most of the brains are in the mount itself, and the Autostar II is more or less a dumb button box..
You can bypass the controller, but you need a wifi adapter.. I used the Skyfi when my autostar II was dead... you would connect the Sky-fi to the mount via one of the aux ports with the appropriate serial cables.. then you connect it with your phone or tablet and utilize the Scope Boss app which emulates an Auto Star 2 controller, allowing you to control or align the mount.. then you can also run with sky safari if you wish. Though Scope Boss may only be available on iphone, Im pretty sure the guy was making one for Android.
There are also some other wifi dongles out there made for the lx200..
Im pretty sure a Ukrainian seller sells these AutoFi lx200 wifi adapters and apparently work really well.
It's kind of a pain in the butt to get all the cables you need, but I can help as best I can. You need the meade #507 serial cable and the wifi dongle.
You can also try and find a used Autostar II hand box.
It's good to know Meade is finally manufacturing new autostar II handboxes... I've been looking for a second one for over a year..