This command set is presented here as it appears in the Instruction Manual dated 1996 Ver 0196-2
a. Command Set Formats
HH:MM.T Example: 05:47.4
Range: 00:00.0 to 23:59.9
Hours, minutes, and tenths of minutes.
sDD*MM Example: +45*59
Range: -90*00 to +90*00
Signed degrees and minutes (the (*) represents ASCII 223 which appears on the hand controller
as a degree symbol).
DDD*MM Example: 254*09
Range: 000*00 to 359*59
Unsigned degrees and minutes.
HH:MM:SS Example: 13:15:36
Range: 00:00:00 to 23:59:59
Hours, minutes, and seconds.
MM/DD/YY Example: 02/06/92
Range: 01/01/00 to 12/31/99 (see description)
Month, day, and year. The two digit year indicates the following: 92 through 99 = 1992 through 1999
and 00 through 91 = 2000 through 2091
sHH Example: -5 Range: -24 to +24
Signed hour offset.
NNNN Example: 3456
Range: 0000 to 9999
Four digit object number.
sMM.M Example: -02.4
Range: -05.5 to 20.0
Signed magnitude value.
NNN Example: 134
Range: 000 to 200
Three digit object size (minutes).
DD* Example: 56*
Range: 00* to 90*
Higher' parameter (degrees).
TT.T Example: 59.2
Range: 56.4 to 60.1
Tracking 'frequency'. Info
(missing command set format line in manual)
Example: CNGC1 976 SU DNEB MAG 3.9 SZ 66.0'
Range: n/a
Object information.
Ok Example: 1
Range: 0 or 1
Status value returned after setting values. If the value is legal 1 is returned, otherwise 0 is returned.
b. General Telescope Information
Command ACK (ASCII 6)
Returns A, L, P or G
Gets alignment status, A for alt-azm, L for land, P for polar, G for German mount polar.
Command :GR#
Returns +HH:MM.T#
Gets the current Right Ascension.
A recent mapug post indicated that for the 3.34L ROMS the format is +HH:MM:SS# for RA
And the format for Declination is sDD*MM'SS#. Thus adding seconds and arc seconds.
Command :GD#
Returns sDD*MM#
Gets the current declination.
Command :GA#
Returns sDD*MM#
Gets the current altitude.
Command :GZ#
Returns DDD*MM#
Gets the current azimuth.
Command :GS#
Returns HH:MM:SS#
Gets the current sidereal time.
Command :SS HH:MM:SS#
Returns Ok
Gets the sidereal time.
Command :GL# :Ga#
Returns HH:MM:SS#
Gets the local time either in 24 hour (GL) or 12 hour (Ga) format.
Command :SL HH:MM:SS#
Returns Ok
Sets the local time. NOTE: The parameter should always be in 24 hour format.
Command :GC#
Returns MM/DD/YY#
Gets the calendar date.
Command :SC MM/DD/YY#
Returns Ok (see description)
Sets the calendar date.
NOTE: After the Ok, if the date is valid, two strings will be sent. The first will contain the message
"Updating planetary data," the second (sent after the planetary calculations) will contain only blanks.
Both strings will be terminated by the (*) symbol.
Command :Gt#
Returns sDD*MM#
Gets the latitude of the currently selected site.
Command :St sDD*MM#
Returns Ok
Sets the latitude of the currently selected site.
Command :Gg#
Returns DDD*MM#
Gets the longitude of the currently selected site.
Command :Sg DDD*MM#
Returns Ok
Sets the longitude of the currently selected site.
Command :GG#
Returns sHH#
Gets the offset from Greenwich Mean Time.
Command :SG sHH#
Returns Ok
Sets the offset from Greenwich Mean Time.
Command :W1# :W2# :W3# :W4#
Returns Nothing
Sets the current site number.
c. Telescope Motion
Command :Mn# :Ms# :Me# :Mw#
Returns Nothing
Starts motion in the specified direction at the current rate.
Command :MS#
Returns 0, 1, or 2 (see description)
Slews telescope to current object coordinates. 0 is returned if the telescope can complete the slew,
1 is returned if the object is below the horizon, and 2 is returned if the object is below the 'higher'
limit. If 1 or 2 is returned, a string containing an appropriate message is also returned.
Command :Qn# :Qs# :Qe# :Qw#
Returns Nothing
Stops motion in the specified direction. Also stops the telescope if a slew to object is in progress.
Command :Q#
Returns Nothing
Stops a slew to an object.
Command :RG# :RC# :RM# :RS#
Returns Nothing
Sets the motion rate to guide (RG), center (RC), find (RM), or slew (RS).
d. Library/Objects
Command :Gr#
Returns HH:MM.T#
Gets object Right Assension
Command :Sr HH:MM.T#
Returns Ok
Sets object Right Ascension.
A recent mapug post indicated that for the 3.34L ROMS the format is +HH:MM:SS# for RA
And the format for Declination is sDD*MM'SS#. Thus adding seconds and arc seconds.
Command :Gd#
Returns sDD*MM#
Gets object Declination.
Command :Sd sDD*MM#
Returns Ok
Sets object Declination.
Command :CM#
Returns (see description)
Sync. Matches current telescope coordinates to the object coordinates and sends a string indicating which
object's coordinates were used.
Command :Gy#
Returns GPDCO#
Gets the 'type' string for the FIND operation. A capital letter means that the corresponding type is selected
while a lower case letter indicates it is not.
Command :Sy GPDCO#
Returns Ok
Gets the 雝ype' string for the FIND operation.
Command :Gq#
Returns SU#, EX#, VG#, GD#, FR#, PR# or VP#
Gets the current minimum quality for the FIND operation
Command :Sq#
Returns Nothing
Steps to the next minimum quality for the FIND operation.
Command :Gh#
Returns DD*#
Gets the current 'higher' limit.
Command :Sh DD#
Returns Ok
Sets the current 'higher' limit.
Command :Gb# :Gf#
Returns sMM.M#
Gets the brighter (Gb) or fainter (Gf) magnitude limit for the FIND operation.
Command :Sb sMM.M# :Sf sMM.M#
Returns Ok
Sets the brighter (Gb) or fainter (Gf) magnitude limit for the FIND operation.
Command :Gl# :Gs#
Returns NNN*
Gets the larger (GI) or smaller (Gs) size limit for the FIND operation.
Command :SI NNN# :Ss NNN#
Returns Ok
Sets the larger (GI) or smaller (Gs) size limit for the FIND operation.
Command :GF#
Returns NNN#
Gets the field radius of the FIELD operation.
Command :SF NNN#
Returns Ok
Sets the field radius of the FIELD operation.
Command :LF#
Returns Nothing
Starts a FIND operation.
Command :LN#
Returns Nothing
Finds the next object in a FIND sequence.
Command :LB#
Returns Nothing
Finds the previous object in a FIND sequence.
Command :Lf#
Returns (see description)
Performs a FIELD operation returning a string containing the number of objects in the field and the
object that is closest to the center of the field.
Command :LC NNNN# :LM NNNN# :LS NNNN#
Returns Nothing
Sets the object to the CNGC (LC), Messier (LM), or Star (LS) specified by the number. Planets are
雜tars' 901-909.
Command :Ll#
Returns Object Information
Gets the current object information.
e. Miscellaneous
Command :B+# :B-# :B0# :B1# :B2# :B3#
Returns Nothing
Increases (B+) or decreases (B-) reticle brightness, or sets to one of the flashing modes (B0, B1, B2 or B3).
Command :F+# :F-# :FQ# :FF# :FS#
Returns Nothing
Starts focus out (F+), starts focus in (F-), stops focus change (FQ), sets focus fast (FF) or focus slow (FS)
Command :GM# :GN# :GO# :GP#
Returns XYZ#
Gets site name (XYZ). M through P correspond to 1 through 4.
Command :SM XYZ# :SN XYZ# :SO XYZ# :SP XYZ#
Returns Ok
Sets site name.
Command :GT#
Returns TT.T#
Gets the current track 'frequency'.
Command :ST TT.T#
Returns Ok
Sets the current track 'frequency'.
Command :TM# :TQ# :T+# :T-#
Returns Nothing
Switch to manual (TM) or quartz (TM). Increment (T+) or decrement (T-) manual frequency by one tenth.
Command :Gc#
Returns (12) or (24)
Get 12/24 hour status of clock.
Command :H#
Returns Nothing
Toggle 12/24 hour mode.
Command :P#
Returns "HIGH PRECISION" when ON "LOW PRECISION" when OFF
Toggles the High Precision Mode ON or OFF.
Command :U#
Returns Nothing
Toggles the long format ON or OFF.
When the long format is active, whenever a request to send or receive position data, the following format is used:
HH:MM:SS
Example: 05:47:45
Range: 00:00.0 to 23:59:59
Hours, minutes, and seconds.
sDD*MM:SS
Example: +45*59:45
Range: -90*00 to +90*00
Signed degrees, minutes, and seconds (the'*' represents ASCII 223 which appears on
the handbox as a degree symbol).
DDD*MM:SS
Example: 254*09:45
Range: 000*00 to 359*59:59
Unsigned degrees, minutes, and seconds.
Command :Lo N#
Returns Ok
Sets the NGC object library. 0 is the NGC library, 1 is the IC library and 2 is the UGC library. This operation
is successful only if the user has a version of the software that includes the desired library.
Command :Ls N#
Returns Ok
Sets the STAR object library type. 0 is the STAR library; 1 is the SAO library, and 2 is the GCVS library. This
operation is successful only if the user has a version of the software that includes the desired library.
f. Keypad Hand Controller Specific
Command :D#
Returns (see description)
Gets the distance 'bars' string.
Command :$Q (1-5)#
Returns Nothing
Toggles Smart Drive status.
Command :?#
Command :?+#
Command :?-#
Returns Page of Help Information
Starts (??) or moves through (?+ or ?-) Help.
Command : G0#
Command : G1#
Command : G2#
Returns Alignment Menu Entry
Used to implement alignment menu
The RS-232 interface communicates with your computer at 9600 Baud Rate, Parity = None, 8 Data Bits, 1 Stop Bit.
For those who are familiar with programming, the LX200 Command Set is written in ASKII character format and
can be used to write your own programs. The LX200 Demo Program is written in Quick Basic and is intended to
demonstrate how commands can be sent to the telescope and information received from the telescope. It is not a
"polished" program and does not incorporate all of the RS-232 features available. The program is set-up to operate
on serial port 2 (COM2). To operate on serial port 1 (COM1) line 4 should be changad from "COM2 to "COM1.
The program is as follows: Please note that Meade Instruments does not support these programs, or programs that
you may write in any way. For questions relating to after-market software programs, refer back to those manufacturers.
Once you have the RS-232 cable constructed you will want to test the cable. Below is a simple program called "LX200
TEST" that is written in GW Basic programming language and will work with IBM compatible computers. LX200 TEST
is an effective program to fully check the RS-232 line communications from your personal computer to the LX200,
allowing you to concentrate on de-bugging your RS-232 cable.
To enter the following program, first load BASIC or GWBASIC (which ever your computer system uses), then type in the
following program. When complete, be sure to save the program as "LX200TST.BAS."