The Shoestring Astronomy Store

Shipping rates continue to climb, so we have had to increase our rates for international customers. For US customers, we decided to switch to First Class Mail instead of Priority Mail. This has allowed us to reduce the price of domestic shipping.

We are now seeing mounts such as the Skywatcher AZ-GTi that use the RJ12 6-pin connector for the Synscan handcontroller jack. We have added the USB2RJ12 adapter cable to make these mounts work with EQMOD as well. Link

Check out how this customer integrated a GPUSB into his DIY equatorial mount. Astronomy Blogger

This completely overhauled version combines the ASCOM drivers for the FCUSB and FCUSB2 and also allows you to configure your focuser as absolute or relative. It also brings the driver up to the latest ASCOM and Windows compatibility standards.

Interfacing to your EQMOD compatible mount (see http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQMOD/ for details on this open source project) just got easier and less expensive with our USB2EQ6 and USB2EQ5 Interface Cables.

Certain models of Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras have proprietary connectors for their wired remote control input. Until now, this required the modification of a compatible remote control in order to be used to use these cameras with our DSUSB shutter control interface. We now offer the DSCBL-11 cable for Canon N3 connector camera models and the DSCBL-12 for Nikon 10pin connector camera models. These will allow you to use the DSUSB without having to get a remote control modified.

Based upon some excellent feedback from customers, we have added a few new features to our FocusPal and FocusPal2 software. The biggest change is a Motor Time Accumulator that keeps track of how many milliseconds the motor has run in or out. Its not as good as an actual position indicator, but it is the next best thing! There is also an indicator to let you know the motor is running. This is especially important if you are located where you cannot hear the motor. The installers can be found on our Downloads page.

We've modified many of these remote controls for our customers, but we realize that some of you would like to do this modification yourselves. Now we offer a kit of parts you'll need, and the instructions to do it with. The instructions can be found on our Downloads page.

See our part number DSCBL-KIT.

The Orion AccuFocus and Skywatcher SWELFOCUS use a modular RJ-22 connector. We now sell an 8-foot cable to adapt from our FCUSB Focus Motor Controller to either of these electric focus motors.

See our part number FCCBL-01.

Many astrophotographers need to use two focusers, one for their imaging scope, and one for their guide scope. One of the inherent problems with most USB devices is that when two of them are used, they will appear identical to the computer and there is no easy way to tell one from the other. Thus, we created the FCUSB2. It is identical to the FCUSB in all respects except for its USB identifier. Now you can run two focusers, one from a FCUSB, and one from a FCUSB2.

We have just released a FocusAPI plugin for use with CCDSoft. If you are a CCDSoft user, now you can control a DC motor focuser from this software using the FCUSB from Shoestring Astronomy.

Whether you are a Macintosh or PC owner, you now have another fine choice for autoguiding software at a price that no one can complain about. PHD Guiding from Stark Labs (www.stark-labs.com) is completely free, and completely loaded with features to make autoguiding simpler. PHD Guiding supports both the GPUSB and GPINT-PT from Shoestring Astronomy.

If you own a Nikon camera that is compatible with the Nikon ML-L3 wireles infrared (IR) remote control, then we now have a USB shutter control interface for you. The DSUSB-IR1 includes a 6-foot extension cable and IR transmitter head that is mounted where the camera's IR receiver can "see" it. This product is fully compatible with all third-party software that supports the DSUSB wired remote control, which is also available from Shoestring Astronomy.

The latest generation of Synta EQ-5 and EQ-6 mounts (such as the Orion Sirius EQ-G and Orion Atlas EQ-G) show great performance as stable, quality GOTO mounts at affordable prices for observing and imaging. However, the features available when they are interfaced to a personal computer are somewhat limited, primarily due to the type of data that is available through the handcontroller's serial interface. Now, thanks to the efforts of several individuals, far more powerful features are made available by bypassing the handcontroller and communicating directly with the mount's stepper motor controller. More information on the EQ Direct method can be found in the Yahoo EQMOD Group (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQMOD/) or on the EQ Mod website (http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net).

The only drawback of the EQ Direct approach is that the input to the mount is not directly compatible with the serial port signals that come out of a personal computer. Thus, you will need the EQDIR Interface Module to translate the voltage levels.