MCMTII
Link to official webpage (in French).
Recent versions (2011) of the MCMTII, which have undergone a few evolutions since MCMTII has been described on the website, only work with the non-free PRISM software (for windows) in versions 7 or 8 or the Ascom driver.
The current source available from the download page is quite old. Here is a local copy of this file, version 1.2.3.8. A newer version will be requested soon as well as protocol documentation. It is developed by Alcor System, so does PRISM. The code in Delphi language for Windows.
RS232 protocol
The protocol for the serial link is quite simple, based on request-response exchanges. The windows DLL opens and closes the serial port for each write and read operation.
Three types of messages exist, as explained in the following table. axis_id is `E0' for alpha axis (right ascension), `E1' for delta axis (declination). In the fields request and response of the table, values or identifiers represent bytes, and they are separated by commas. Comments are between parentheses.
| Command | Request | Response |
|---|---|---|
| device ready | axis_id, FF | 01 (success value) |
| read encoder | axis_id, F1 + byte number [0..3] | the requested byte from the int32 value |
| special command | axis_id, {7 bytes maximum for the command} | 06, {data} (if response data is available) |
Most commands then fall into the special command category. Data is mostly ascii text, and commands start with an identifier, which is the ascii value of a letter. We will now see the list of special commands, separated in two: the list of setup commands, and the list of runtime command.
Bytes from the response buffer are referenced as {i} where i is the ith byte. PEC is periodic error correction. KING is a method for refraction compensation by offsetting the telescope pointing.
Special commands for telescope operation mode
| Command | Request | Response |
|---|---|---|
| from RetrieveDataAlphaDelta_Internal, get step values for PEC | 'r', 0, 0, 0, 0 | (10 bytes): current speed steps per second = 625000 / {3} / 10 + {2} + 256 * {1} ; index PecC = {4} ; Pec step = 256*{5} + {6} ; another step value? 256*{7}+2*{8} ; Panel info pec = {9} & 0F ; Pec state 1 = {9} ; Pec state 2 = {10} |
| from RetrieveDataAlphaDelta_Internal, update current speed | 'R', {3 bytes (same format than 3 first bytes of 'r' reply)} | none |
| from RetrieveDataAlphaDelta_Internal, activate PEC | 'L', 2F, activate?1:0, 0, 0 | none |
| from RetrieveDataAlphaDelta_Internal, erase PEC | 'e', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from RetrieveDataAlphaDelta_Internal, save PEC | 'E', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from TelescopeMoveAxe, move number of steps | 'p', {4 bytes of int32 number of steps} | none |
| from MoveTelescope, north or west move max speed | 'X', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from MoveTelescope, north or west move medium speed | 'G', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from MoveTelescope, north or west move min speed | 'D', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from MoveTelescope, south or east move max speed | 'W', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from MoveTelescope, south or east move medium speed | 'F', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from MoveTelescope, south or east move min speed | 'Q', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from Stop_Telescope, stop moving, resume sideral speed | 'S', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from STOP_ALL_Telescope, move to parking RA | 'P', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
| from ReturnToSideralSpeed, no park mode | 'N', 0, 0, 0, 0 | none |
Special commands for telescope setup mode
| Command | Request | Response |
|---|