Paramount MX User Guide
71 |
P a g e
The Paramount and TheSkyX Professional Edition
The Paramount ME and Paramount MX utilize the
Bisque Telescope Control System
(Bisque TCS)
featuring the MKS Series dual axis motion controller electronics. This control system provides ultra-
precise pointing and tracking, configurable software slew limits, current limited motor shut down, auto
homing, high frequency position monitoring, and so much more.
The version of the Bisque TCS that came with your Paramount depends on the model and date of
purchase:
•
MKS 5000 is included with the Paramount MX. (An optional MKS 5000 upgrade is planned for
Paramount ME mounts.)
•
MKS 4000 is included with all Paramount ME mounts from 2003 to present. The Bisque
Telescope Control System (Bisque TCS) that employs the MKS controller is an option on Mathis,
OGS, RCOS and other custom telescope mounts.
•
MKS 3200 was included with Paramount ME mounts from 2002-2003.
•
MKS 3000 was included with Paramount GT-1100S mounts from 1999-2002.
See the Paramount ME User Guide for details on the MKS 4000 and earlier control systems.
Paramount MX Minimum System Requirements
The Paramount MX requires the following minimum hardware and software to operate.
•
A Mac or Windows computer with
TheSkyX Professional Edition
installed. See
TheSkyX
Professional and Serious Astronomer Edition User Guide
for minimum hardware requirements.
•
One free USB port on the computer. The MKS 5000 communication port uses a USB 2.0
hardware interface.
•
One mini USB cable (included). Optional USB cable extenders can be used to allow the length of
the USB cable to be increased to 30 m or so. If the distance between the computer and mount
is greater than 30 m, consider using a high-quality USB Ethernet Extender.
The Paramount MX’s USB 2.0 port and the USB 2.0 hub on the Instrument Panel
have been tested extensively with many common commercial cameras and other
USB-based astronomical devices on Mac and Windows operating systems. Using a
15-foot USB cable between the computer and the mount, both the USB port and the
USB hub are extremely reliable and provide consistent hardware to software
communications.
Extending the length of the USB cable between the mount and computer using
inexpensive USB cable extenders, or plugging in a second, inexpensive USB hub to
the USB 2.0 hub on the Instrument Panel will, most likely, introduce inconsistent and
unreliable communication between either the mount or the camera or other USB
