Remote Commands for MOVE

30-December-2009

MOVE supports commanding remotely via an RS232 port (on COM2).

General Concepts

All remote commands consist of a two letter command, followed by up to three optional arguments. The arguments are separated by spaces and the entire command is terminated by a carriage return. The first two optional commands are ASCII integer numbers and the third is a string enclosed in double quotes ("). If you leave out a required parameter, it will default to zero or blanks.

Examples are:
WK (no arguments)
ER 1234 -55555 (two numeric arguments)
DM 0 (one numeric argument)
EE "filename" (string argument only)
There currently are no commands which take numeric arguments and a string argument.

Most commands are only executed while MOVE is waiting for character input (ie when the "Enter Command" prompt is on the screen). Commands are input via a character interrupt routine, so that if MOVE is not currently executing commands, command input will be buffered until MOVE is ready to execute them. Four commands are executed asynchronously in that MOVE checks ahead in the buffer (even when it is not at the "Enter Command" prompt) and executes them as soon as they are found. These are TS, ON, LP, and AB.

Most remote commands can return a single character completion code. Since the code is returned on completion of the command, you can synchronize operations by sending a command and waiting for the completion code.

For historical reasons, the completion codes have to be enabled via the RC command. If this is not done, all remote commands will return only a single carriage return. If remote commanding is enabled, all remote commands will return a completion code followed by a carriage return.

Also for historical reasons, the TS command initially returns a shorter status string. Use ES to enable the entire string.

If the telescope is asleep only NU, WK, TS, ON, LP, ES, RC, and SL, VR are recognized. Any other command sent while asleep will return a code of 1.

Remote commands are also recognized (and executed) while guiding (42"/72").

Remote commands

Command Description 
AA N M  Move telescope to a given alt/az. N is the destination altitude in degrees times 10,000 and M is the destination azimuth in degrees times 10,000.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted if telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 Requested position is inaccessible (below horizon)
  • 7 Input Alt or Az are illegal (not -90/90 or 0/360)
  •  
    AB  Abort dome initialization or a point-to-point move.
  • 0 Nothing to abort
  • A If an abort performed
  •  
    BA N  Set the remote port baud rate to 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, or 115200 as N is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, respectively.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If N is not in the range 1 to 5
  •  
    BL  Break Lock if guiding
  • 0 Always returned
  •  
    CF  Close observing list file if one is open.
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    CO N M  Move telescope to the given coordinates. N is the destination RA in hours times 100,000 and M is the destination Dec in degrees times 10,000.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted if telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 Requested position is inaccessible (below horizon)
  • 7 Input RA or Dec are illegal (not 0/24 or -90/+90)
  •  
    CS N  Close shutter (PSST/ 31"/72"). N is only used at the 31" where it is the number of seconds to do the operation. At PSST this command closes the roof shutter. At the 72" it closes the instrument shutter. At the 31" it closes the upper/lower dome shutter.
  • 0 Successful
  • 6 If the operation timed out ( PSST or 72").
  • 9 If aborted (31")
  •  
    DE  Delete all current ephemerides.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If currently tracking on an ephemeris
  •  
    DJ N  Jog dome right if N is positive; left if negative (all except PSST and Wallace)..
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If dome following on
  • 8 If illegal value (absolute value >180)
  •  
    DM N  Turn dome following on if N is one and off if zero (all except PSST and Wallace)
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1)
  •  
    DS N  Set Deadman shutdown time. N is the time to shutdown in minutes. If N = 0, deadman is disabled.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (negative)
  •  
    EE "string"  Open ephemeris file defined by "string".
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If data base is full
  • 8 If no useable data in file
  • 7 If only some of the data will be used
  • 6 If file not found
  • 5 If not a valid ephemeris file
  • 4 If file contains multiple ephemerides and is not from eph4move
  •  
    EG N   Go to current location of the object in ephemeris N.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 Requested position is inaccessible (below horizon)
  • 7 If passed number is out of range
  • 5 If we had to extrapolate the ephemeris
  •  
    ER N M  Enter rates. N is the RA rate in time-sec per hour times 10 and M is the Dec rate in arc-sec per hour times 10.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If rates are "unreasonably" large (over a deg/hr)
  •  
    ES N  Turn on extended status (TS) return if N is one and off if zero.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1)
  •  
    FC N M  Used only for FORTH system on SITe. No return codes from tehe SITe.  
    FI  Initalize focus axis.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If move times out
  •  
    FG N  Absolute focus move to N
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal argument
  • 7 If guider is paused (only while guiding)
  • 5 Insufficient star signal (only while guiding)
  •  
    FR N  Relative focus move to N
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal argument
  • 7 If guider is paused (only while guiding)
  • 5 Insufficient star signal (only while guiding)
  •  
    FS  Move to flat screen.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 4 If we are in apparent coordinates
  •  
    FW N  Move filter wheel to position N (72"/42"/PSST).
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If wheel "unavailable"
  • 8 If wheel "undefined"
  • 7 If request out of range.
  •  
    FT N  Set focus mode to relative if N is one and absolute if N is zero
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1)
  •  
    HO  Move telescope to home.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 4 If we are in apparent coordinates
  •  
    IC  Initialize coordinates (PSST/31" only).
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If improper display mode for init
  • 6 If timeout
  •  
    ID   Initialize the dome (72/LONEOS/Astrograph)
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If the operation was aborted via keyboard
  • 8 If timeout finding fiducial
  • 7 If initially on powerpad and could not move away
  • 6 Command ignored (at telescopes with barcodes - 31"/42"/Perth)
  • A If the operation was aborted via remote AB
  •  
    LI N  Turn on dome lights if N is one and off if zero (31"/72")
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1)
  •  
    LM N  Set Lock Mode. Lock off if N is zero. Sidereal lock if N is one. Track Lock if N is two.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1/2)
  •  
    LP  Request the last position that the telescope moved to. The return is a carriage return, followed by a 25 characters, followed by a carriage return. The 25 characters are in the same format as in the TS status return: 10 characters for the RA, 9 for the Dec and 6 for the equinox. There is no error return.  
    LS N  Supress turning on dome light during a move if N is one and allow it if zero (only 31")
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1)
  •  
    NU  Null command
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    OF "string"  Open observing list file defined by "string".
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If a file is already open
  • 8 If file not found
  •  
    ON  Request the current object name. The return is a carriage return, followed by a 20 character name string, followed by a carriage return. There is no error return  
    OS N  Open shutter (PSST/ 31"/72"). N is only used at the 31" where it is the number of seconds to do the operation. At PSST this command opens the roof shutter. At the 72" it opens the instrument shutter. At the 31" it opens the upper/lower dome shutter.
  • 0 Successful
  • 6 If the operation timed out ( PSST or 72").
  • 9 If aborted (31")
  •  
    PD  Disable a pause while guiding (72"/42" only)
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    PE  Enable a pause while guiding (72"/42" only)
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    PM N  Move telescope to previous move position N.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 Requested position is inaccessible
  • 7 If number is out of range
  • 6 If there are no previous positions
  • 5 If the requested object is moving and we are extrapolating the ephemeris
  • 4 If we are currently in apparent coordinates
  • 3 If the argument is illegal
  •  
    PP   Find dome power pad (31" only).
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted
  • 8 Timed out even after moving dome to reset barcode
  • 7 Not found even after moving dome to reset barcode
  • 6 Dome reset barcode failed
  •  
    QU  Exit MOVE
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    RC N   Enable remote codes on if N is one and off if zero.
  • This command always returns a single carriage return.
  •  
    RF N   Move to position N in the currently opened observing list file.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 If requested position is inaccessible
  • 7 If request is out of range of the file
  • 6 If the file is empty
  • 5 If no file is open
  • 4 If we are in apparent coordinates
  • 3 If argument is illegal
  •  
    RM N M  Do a relative move. N is offset in RA in arcsec times 10 and M is the offset in Dec in arcsec times 10.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 If total offset is over 2 degrees
  • 7 If guider is paused (guide mode only)
  • 6 If stage move failed (guide mode only)
  • 5 If insufficient star signal (guide mode only)
  • 4 If failed to put star in box (guide mode only)
  •  
    SD "string"   Set the system date. "string" contains the date in the form DD-MMM-YY. The month, MMM, is three letters and can be mixed capitals and small letters.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If the date format is not correct
  •  
    SF N   Move to sky position N in the currently opened observing list file.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 If requested position is inaccessible
  • 7 If request is out of range of the file
  • 6 If the file is empty
  • 5 If no file is open
  • 4 If we are in apparent coordinates
  • 3 If argument is illegal
  • 2 if file does not contain sky positions
  •  
    SH  Set current position as telescope home position.
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    SL  Put telescope to sleep.
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    SM N  Request the sun or moon position. The return is a carriage return, followed by a 9 characters, followed by a carriage return. If N is 0, the data are for the Sun. If N is one, for the Moon. The string is EEIIISAAC wehre EEE is the elongation (deg) from the telescope, II is the percent illuminated (blank for the sun) and SAAC is the altitude where S is the sign and C is R if it is rising and S if it is setting. If N is not 0/1 the string is returned as '9999999999'.  
    SP  Save current coordinates on previous move stack.
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    ST "string"   Set the system time. "string" contains the date in the form HH:MM:SS
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If the time format is not correct
  •  
    TC N  Turn on sidereal track if N is one and off if zero.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Illegal parameter (not 0/1)
  •  
    TS  Request a telescope status string. If extended status if on, this string is a carriage return followed by a 96 character status string followed by a second carriage return. If off, it is a carriage return, followed by a 45 character status string (the first 45 of the 96 character string), followed by a carriage return. There is no error code.
    Summary of TS Arguments  
    UC   Update coordinates to those of the last location we moved to.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 If we are currently in apparent coordinates
  • 8 If there is no previous location
  •  
    UI  Move to uniform illumination spot.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 8 If requested position is inaccessible
  • 8 If requested position is inaccessible
  •  
    VR  Request the program version. The return is a carriage return, followed by a 18 characters, followed by a carriage return. The 18 characters are, for example, V04.69 - 04-Apr-02. There is no error return.  
    WK  Wake telescope up.
  • 0 Successful
  •  
    ZE  Move telescope to zenith.
  • 0 Successful
  • 9 Aborted by paddle or keypad
  • A Aborted via a remote abort (AB)
  • E Aborted because telescope set on wrong destination
  • H Aborted due to reaching a horizon limit
  • L Aborted due to reaching a controller board hard limit
  • X Aborted because an axis stopped moving
  • D Aborted because the dome stopped moving
  • Y Aborted because tweak up move is too large
  • 4 If we are in apparent coordinates
  •