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Although many of the NexStar hand controls (HC) are identical in
appearance, they are not universally compatible. Following are the various
NexStar hand controls that have been available since the introduction of the
original NexStar 5.
- NexStar+ Hand Control
- In February 2012, Celestron introduced a new NexStar+ hand control -
read
this
for more details. This hand control is visually identifiable by
new labels on some buttons (for example, the bottom left button is now
the Celestron symbol) and a "+" next to the NexStar label just below the
LCD display. This hand control is
compatible with all Celestron computerized mounts except
the original NexStar 5/8, the NexStar GT and the Ultima 2000. Three
caveats:
- The CGE mount may have experienced intermittent NO RESPONSE errors
with the original NexStar+ hand control but Celestron made a change to
the NexStar+ hardware in 2017 or 2018 and new NexStar+ hand controls
should work well with the CGE.
- As of mid-2012, the NexStar GT models sold through special resellers
(Costco NexStar GTs, the Orion StarSeeker - not StarSeeker IV - models
and NexStar GTs sold in Japan) have the NexStar 4/5 SE motor control
board and are sold with the NexStar+ hand control.
- If you have a NexStar 8/9.25/11 GPS or NexStar 5i/8i and have
problems with the NexStar+ hand control, read
this.
Note
that the correct version of firmware for the type of mount must be loaded into the hand control for correct
operation - see the Firmware Version section of this web site for
details. The firmware version displayed by this hand control is Version
5. As of February 2012, this hand control is available for
purchase separately and ships with all current mounts. Beginning
in April 2016, the RJ-22 serial jack on the bottom of this hand control
was replaced with a USB port.
- StarSense Hand Control
- Introduced with the SkyProdigy series of auto-aligning telescopes in
2011, this hand control is also shipped as part of the StarSense
AutoAlign accessory kit. StarSense is not compatible with the
original NexStar 5/8, the NexStar 5i/8i, the NexStar GT series (other
than some special models made for sale at Costco and in Japan - these
models can be identified by their included NexStar+ hand control) nor
the NexStar GPS series. See Celestron's website
here for more details. Beginning in April 2016, the RJ-22
serial jack on the bottom of this hand control was replaced with a USB
port.
- NexStar Version 4 Hand Control
- In February 2005, Celestron announced the CPC series, followed
shortly thereafter by the SE and SLT series, all of which
included this user-upgradeable hand control. From February 2005
through February 2012, all mounts shipped with this hand control.
Note that the correct version of firmware for each
specific mount must be loaded into the hand control for correct
operation - see the Firmware Version section of this web site for
details. The firmware version displayed by this hand control is Version 4.
As of January 2006, this hand control was available for purchase
separately (read
this),
but has been replaced by the NexStar+ and is no longer manufactured. This hand control is compatible with
the following mounts:
- CPC Series
- CPC Deluxe HD Series
- NexStar SE Series
- NexStar SLT Series
- Astro Fi Series
- LCM Series
- NexStar GPS Series
- NexStar 5i/8i
- NexStar GT Series
- CGX and CGX-L Series
- CGEM Series
- CGE Pro Series
- CGE Series
- AS-GT Series (Advanced Series with GoTo)
- NexStar GT Hand Control
- this hand control has been sold with several different versions of
firmware (see the Firmware Versions section of this web site for more
info). This hand control is only compatible with the NexStar GT,
Celestron StarSeeker and Tasco StarGuide telescopes (any model of optical tube). At one time, this
hand control was
offered for sale separately as Celestron part number 93961. Note
that the NexStar Version 4 hand control (above) can also be used with
the NexStar GT mount.
- NexStar GPS and "i" Series Hand Control -
Versions 1.2 and 1.6 are
only compatible with the NexStar 8/9.25/11 GPS scopes. Version
2.2 is compatible with the NexStar 8/9.25/11 GPS and NexStar
5i/8i - at one time this hand control was offered for sale separately
as Celestron part number 93962 and was also known as the "iComp" hand
control. Version 2.3 is compatible with the NexStar
8/9.25/11 GPS and NexStar 5i/8i/8i Special Edition. Note that all
of these mounts are also compatible with the NexStar+ and NexStar
Version 4 hand controls (above).
- Advanced Series with GoTo
(AS-GT)
- Versions 3.03 and 3.04 were the original versions shipped with
the AS-GT and are only compatible with the AS-GT mount.. Note that
the AS-GT mount is also compatible with the NexStar+ and NexStar Version
4 hand controls (above) and more recently shipped with either of those
hand controls.
- CGE Hand Control -
Version 3.01 is the original version shipped with the CGE and is
only compatible with the CGE mount. Note that the CGE mount is
also compatible with the NexStar+ and NexStar Version 4 hand controls
(above) and towards the end of its run, shipped with the Version 4 hand
control.
- NexStar 5/8 Hand Control
- The original NexStar hand control, it is only compatible with these
two scopes (the original NexStar 5/8 with no AUX or AUTO GUIDE ports on
the top of the base).
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