• Telescope Control Interface
Version: 1.0.0 Author: Jason Page Email: jsp@pagetelegram.com Website: https://amfile.org License: GPL-3+ ---

Overview

ScopeGram is a comprehensive Bash-based control interface for Meade LX200 and Bushnell Northstar telescopes. It provides both interactive keyboard control and command-line operation for automation and scripting.

Features

• Interactive Mode: Real-time keyboard control with arrow keys
• Command-Line Mode: Scriptable operation with comprehensive flags
• Directional Controls: Move telescope in all four directions (North/South/East/West)
• Variable Speed Control: 9-speed settings matching telescope slew rates (1=slowest, 9=fastest)
• Timing Control: Specify movement duration in seconds
• Auto-Detection: Automatic serial port scanning to find telescope
• Debug Mode: Raw data monitor for troubleshooting serial communication
• Emergency Stop: Immediate stop command functionality
• Multi-Architecture: Debian packages for both x86-64 and ARM64

Supported Hardware

• Meade LX200 series telescopes
• Meade Autostar controllers
• Bushnell Northstar telescopes
• Any telescope using Meade LX200 protocol
• USB-to-serial adapters (CH340, FTDI, CP2102, etc.)

Installation

From Debian Package (Recommended)

bash
Download and install

sudo dpkg -i scopegram1.0.0amd64.deb

Or for ARM64

sudo dpkg -i scopegram1.0.0arm64.deb

Install dependencies if needed

sudo apt-get install -f

From Source

bash
Clone or download the repository

cd /path/to/ScopeGram

Build Debian package

./build-deb.sh all

Install

sudo dpkg -i dist/scopegram1.0.0amd64.deb

Usage

Interactive Mode

Launch the interactive keyboard control interface:

bash
sudo scopegram

Controls:
• Arrow Keys - Move telescope (↑=North, ↓=South, ←=West, →=East)
• Spacebar - Emergency stop (stops all movement)
• 1-9 - Set speed (1=slowest, 9=fastest)
• q - Quit program

Command-Line Mode

Execute automated movements with flags:

bash
Move North at speed 5 for 2 seconds

sudo scopegram --up --speed 5 --time 2

Move West at max speed for 3 seconds on specific port

sudo scopegram -l -s 9 -t 3 -p /dev/ttyUSB0

Emergency stop on specific port

sudo scopegram --stop --port /dev/ttyUSB0

Port Detection

Auto-scan for telescope:

bash
sudo scopegram --scan

Debug Mode

Monitor raw serial port data:

bash
sudo scopegram --debug --port /dev/ttyS0

Command-Line Flags

Directional Controls

• -u, --up - Move telescope North
• -d, --down - Move telescope South
• -l, --left - Move telescope West
• -r, --right - Move telescope East

Speed Control

• -s, --speed N - Set speed (1-9)
- 1-2: Guide rate (slowest/nudge) - 3-5: Center rate (slow) - 6-8: Find rate (medium) - 9: Slew rate (max speed)

Timing

• -t, --time N - Movement duration in seconds (default: 1)

Port Configuration

• -p, --port DEV - Specify serial port (e.g., /dev/ttyS0)
• --scan - Auto-scan ports for telescope

Utility Commands

• --stop - Send emergency stop command
• --debug - Launch raw data monitor
• -h, --help - Show help message

Serial Port Configuration

Default Settings

• Port: /dev/ttyS0 (auto-detected with --scan)
• Baud Rate: 9600 (some models use 19200)
• Data Format: 8N1 (8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit)
• Flow Control: None

Serial Port Permissions

Add your user to the dialout group to avoid needing sudo:

bash
sudo usermod -aG dialout $USER

Logout and login for changes to take effect.

Common Serial Ports

• /dev/ttyS0, /dev/ttyS1 - Built-in serial ports
• /dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyUSB1 - USB-to-serial adapters
• /dev/ttyACM0 - Some Arduino/USB devices

Examples

Basic Movement

bash
Move up for 1 second (default)

sudo scopegram --up

Move down for 5 seconds

sudo scopegram --down --time 5

Move left at slow speed

sudo scopegram --left --speed 3

Precise Positioning

bash
Slow nudge north for half second

sudo scopegram -u -s 1 -t 0.5

Fast slew east for 10 seconds

sudo scopegram -r -s 9 -t 10

Automated Scripting

bash
#!/bin/bash
Example: Pan and scan pattern


PORT="/dev/ttyUSB0"

Move right

sudo scopegram -r -s 5 -t 3 -p $PORT

Wait

sleep 1

Move up

sudo scopegram -u -s 5 -t 3 -p $PORT

Stop

sudo scopegram --stop -p $PORT

Troubleshooting

bash
Find telescope automatically

sudo scopegram --scan

Debug serial communication

sudo scopegram --debug --port /dev/ttyUSB0

Test with specific port

sudo scopegram --up --time 1 --port /dev/ttyS0