[APML] 30-foot extension for ST-4 and other equipment possible?

["Ulrich Beinert" <analemma@gmx.de>]

After seeing something similar at a star party, I want to build a central
"control station" for my astro equipment, all in one big case, with a single
cable running to the mount. This cable should contain dozens of individual
cables. I was wondering if this is possible (from an electronic point of
view) with the ST-4 (CCD head and relay cable).

A little explanation: Everything at the mount (CCD head, relay cable,
motors, telescope control, dew heaters, etc.) goes into one central
distribution box hanging on the mount. The big fat cable runs to the car,
where the actual instruments are located (scope control, ST-4 control box,
dew heater controller, etc.). I've put a sketch on my website here:
www.analemma.de/temp.jpg (32kb). What you see there is the part in the car.
All those cables going out of the box (aside from power) go 30 feet to the
mount. Basically it's remote control.

The big cable should be 30 feet or so long, so I was wondering if it is even
possible to transmit the information from the CCD head to the control box
and the correction commands back to the motors over so long a distance. Do I
need cables of a certain diameter for this? I'd appreciate if anyone who
knows more than I about electronics could help me with this one....

Ulrich    >>www.analemma.de<<


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