bluetooth wireless telescope computer interface by monroe pattillo president, sfaaa
TRANSCRIPT
Bluetooth WirelessTelescope
Computer Interfaceby
Monroe PattilloPresident, SFAAA
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
2Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Goals
Eliminate cable between computer and scope
Remove nighttime trip hazard of cable
Reduce scope setup/teardown times
Identify generic, standards based solution
Validate solution with existing equipment
Document and disseminate solution to others
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
3Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Telescope Computer Interface
Serial (not parallel)
Asynchronous (not char. or bit synchronous)
RS-232 (TIA/EIA-232E)
9600 bps, no parity, 1 stop bit
No handshake (not hardware, not software)
Classical three wire interface (TxD, RxD, Gnd)
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
4Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Standards Based Wireless Technology Choices
Bluetooth (chosen for this validation) + small, inexpensive, low power - addressing, range, no Internet routing
Wi-Fi (for the next solution validation) + range, addressing, Internet routing - larger, more expense, more power
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
5Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Bluetooth Product Selection Criteria
Bluetooth version 1.1 (compatible w/2.0 EDR)
Class 1 (Classes 2 & 3 are shorter range)
Support Bluetooth Serial Port Profile (SPP)
Power - hardware interface vs external power
Adaptable to field power (12-18V DC)
Product open information and availability
Adaptable for telescope control
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
6Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Bluetooth Application/Protocol Layers
PC or PDA
Bluetooth Interface
Telescope
RS-232SerialInterface
BluetoothSerial Device Adapter
Bluetooth2.4GHz Wireless
Paired Device
SPP Client
RS-232Port
VirtualCOMPort
Driver
Virtual Cable
TelescopeApplication
SPP Server
Paired Device
Bluetooth Interface
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
7Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
BlueConsole BC-02
Bluetooth 1.1, class 1, SPP, multipoint w/3.7
Very small, low power (can run on 9-18V DC)
Adaptable to external power (9V battery)
Product adaptable to telescope control
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
8Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Adapting the BC-02 for use with Meade 8” LX-200 Classic
Adapt BC-02’s RJ-45 to LX-200’s RJ-14
Need simple, easy to reproduce solution
Need to dress it neatly to the LX-200
Approach: RJ-11 to RJ-45 to BC-02
Modify 1 ft phone cord, add RJ-45 coupler
Velcro BC-02 to side of LX-200
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
9Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Wiring for the modified telephone cord
Unmodified EndYellow, Green, Red, Black
Modified EndYellow, Black, NC, Red
YY GG RR BBYY BB NN
CCRR
Green not connected as that pin is power output from the scope
Use a stranded wire modular cord, not silver satin (foil over plastic)
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
10Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Bluetooth on PC
You’ll need Bluetooth 1.1 or 2.0 on your PC
Class 1 is long range, 2 is shorter, 3 shortest
Can be built-in, USB, or PCMCIA/CardBus
Install Bluetooth software on PC
No Bluetooth servers needed at PC end
Discover the BlueConsole BC-02
Pair with it (1234 is default pairing key)
Connect to the SPP Server in the BC-02
Try to set PC virtual COM port to COM1..4
Some old telescope apps only see COM1..4
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
11Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
The Solution
Velcro mounted to side of Meade LX-200 Classic(mounted and cable tied clear of fork arms movement)
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
12Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Operation
Connect coupler and cable to BC-02
Connect BC-02 cable to telescope
Attach battery to BC-02
Mount BC-02, cable, and battery to scope
Establish Bluetooth between PC & BC-02
Launch telescope control application(s) on PC
Enable telescope interface to virtual COM port
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
13Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Icing on the Cake
I own an H-P iPAQ 2215 Windows based PDA
It has built-in Bluetooth
I installed a copy of TheSky Pocket Edition
Enabled Bluetooth on PDA
Enabled scope interface to virtual COM port
!!! wireless scope paddle + planetarium !!!
(simultaneous PC & PDA scope control using BC-02 3.7 firmware)
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
14Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Contact Information
BlueConsole – BC-02www.blueconsole.com
TheSky Pocket Edition (only for Windows based PDAs)www.bisque.com
Monroe PattilloPresidentSouth Florida Amateur Astronomers Association, Inc. (SFAAA)www.sfaaa.comFox Observatory, inside Markham ParkOpen to public Saturday evenings til midnightNW corner of I-75-N/I-595 and FL-869/I-75-S
Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface
15Bluetooth Wireless Telescope Computer Interface 07.ppt Created 20060814 MWP Updated 20061004 MWP
Next Projects
Create a similar solution based upon Wi-FiImproved range and addressingPossibility of Internet routingSlightly higher cost and package size
Create a poor man’s StellarCamWindows PC based application and serverSource agnostic (video, webcam, files)Format agnostic (BMP, JPEG, TIFF)Stack and adjust images as they arriveResult image accessed via web browser
Create Wi-Fi based control and imaging solutionWired Ethernet Servers - RS-232 & VideoConcentration - Wired Ethernet to Wi-Fi