This is an old revision of the document!
This is the most comprehensive list to date of the TCSng requests and commands.
ALL Bulk information Args: N/A Returns: [MOT] [RA] [DEC] [HA] [UT] [ALT] [AZ] [SECZ] [Epoch] MOT = (see MOTION) RA(Right Assention) = HH:MM:SS.ss DEC(Declination) = +DD:MM:SS.ss HA(Hour Angle) = HH:MM:SS UT(Universal Time) = HH:MM:SS ALT(Elevation) = XXX.xx AZ(Azmouth) = XXX.xx SECZ(airmass) = XX.xx EPOCH = EEEE.e
AZ Azimuth Args: N/A Returns: [ddd.dd]
BEAM Chop/Nod info for chopping secondary Args: N/A Returns: ???
CORRECTIONS String describing what corrections and rates are enabled/disabled Args: N/A Returns: MPNARFp+tob M=Proper Motion P=Precession N=Nutation A=Aberration R=Refraction F=Flexure p=Parallax +=pointing model used... can change to a,b,c,d? t=Sidereal o=Object b=Bias If disabled, character will be replaced by "_"
DATE date based on UT Args: N/A Returns: [MM/DD/YYYY]
DEC Declination Args: N/A Returns [ddmmss.ss]
DISABLE Output state Args: N/A Returns: 1 for disabled, 0 for enabled
DISEPOCH Current Epoch Args: N/A Returns: XXXX.x
EL Elevation Args: N/A Returns: [ddd.dd]
EQ Equinox Args: N/A Returns: XXXXX.x
HA Hour Angle Args: N/A Returns: [dd:mm:ss]
JD Julian Date Args: N/A Returns: [JJJJJJJ.j]
FLEXFILE Retrieve contents of current flex file (Pointing Correction) being used Added by Scott 12/2012 Args: N/A Returns: [line 1\n] [line 2\n] [line 3\n] ...
LIMITPROF Horizon limit profile as a function of azimuth Added by Scott 12/2012 The first (and last) value given is the horizon limit at 0 degrees azimuth each subsequent value is a horizon limit at increments of 15 degrees of azimuth so the 2nd value is the limit at 15 degrees azimuth, the third is the horizon limit at 30 degrees azimuth etc. Args: N/A Returns [hh] [hh] [hh] [hh] ... (25 in all)
LIMIT limit status bits (ACCORDING TO JAVA GUI) Args: N/A Returns: this returns an 8 bit integer whose bits represent the following bit0(LSB) = RA low limit bit1 = RA upper limit bit2 = DEC low limit bit3 = DEC upper limit bit4-6 = unknown ??????? bit7 = limit warning? bit8 = limit warning? a 1 indicates limit active, 0 indicates limit not active
LIMIT limit status bits (ACCORDING TO ERIC CHRISTIENSEN) Args: N/A Returns: this returns an 8 bit integer whose bits represent the following bit0(LSB) = RA/HA limit bit1 = DEC limit bit2 = derot. bit3 = hor. hard limit bit4 = hor. soft limit bit5 = focus lo limit? bit6 = focus hi limit? a 1 indicates limit active, 0 indicates limit not active
MOTION Motion status bits Args: N/A Returns: this returns an 8 bit integer whose bits represent the following bit0(LSB) = RA/AZ bit1 = DEC/EL bit2 = FOC bit3 = DOME bit4-8 = undefined a 1 indicates axis in motion, 0 indicates no motion
PAD String describing hardware paddle button states Args: N/A Returns: any combination of the following charachers N = North S = South E = East W = West D = Drift (if not present, assume Guide) A characher is present if switch active, otherwise switch inactive
PADDRIFT Hardware paddle drift rate arcsec/sec Args: N/A Returns: -XXXXXXXXX.xxx
PADGUIDE Hardware paddle guide rate arcsec/sec Args: N/A Returns: -XXXXXXXXX.xxx
RA Right Assention Args: N/A Returns: [ddmmss.ss]
SECZ Air Mass Args: N/A Returns: [XXXXX.XX]
ST Sidereal Time Args: N/A Returns: [hh:mm:ss]
TIME Universal Time Args: N/A Returns: [HH:MM:SS]
VERIFY Verify that an RA/DEC position is within telescope limits Args: [RA] [DEC] [Epoch] RA=HH:MM:SS.ss DEC=DD:MM:SS.ss Epoch=EEEE.eeee Returns: 1 if coordinate is within limits
XALL "Extended ALL" Args: N/A Returns: [FOC] [DOME] [IIS] [PA] [UTD] [JD] FOC(focus pos) = +XXXXXX DOME(Dome Position) = -180 (always this value...) IIS(???) = -224.4 (always this value...) PA(Paralactic Angle) = -145.7 (always this value...) UTD(UT Date) = MM/DD/YYYY JD(Julian Date) = XXXXXXX.x
XDEC "Extended DEC" Args: N/A Returns: [COM] [NEXT] [REF] [OFF] [WOB] [DIFF] [BIAS] [GUIDE] [DRIFT] COM(Commanded Position) = +HH:MM:SS.ss NEXT(Next Position) = +HH:MM:SS.ss REF(Reference Position) = +HH:MM:SS.ss OFF(Offset Position) = +HH:MM:SS.ss WOB(Wobble) = +HH:MM:SS.ss DIFF(Difference) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx BIAS(Bias Rate) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx GUIDE(Guide Rate) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx DRIFT(Drift Rate) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx
XRA "Extended RA" Args: N/A Returns: [COM] [NEXT] [REF] [OFF] [WOB] [DIFF] [BIAS] [GUIDE] [DRIFT] COM(Commanded Position) = HH:MM:SS.ss NEXT(Next Position) = HH:MM:SS.ss REF(Reference Position) = HH:MM:SS.ss OFF(Offset Position) = +HH:MM:SS.ss WOB(Wobble) = +HH:MM:SS.ss DIFF(Difference) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx BIAS(Bias Rate) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx GUIDE(Guide Rate) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx DRIFT(Drift Rate) = +XXXXXXXXX.xxx
DOME Dome control information Args: "PARAM" returns dome setup parameters, all other strings return control info Returns: Parameters: [CPD] [SD] [W] [SDW] [NU] [RHO] [PHI] [LOOK] [HOLD] CPD(Counts Per Degree) = XXX.xxxxxxx SD(Stow Degrees)= XXX.xxxxxxx W(Dome Width) = XXX.xxxxxxx SDW(Stow Dome Width)= XXX.xxxxxxx NU = XXX.xxxxxxx RHO = XXX.xxxxxxx PHI = XXX.xxxxxxx LOOK(Lookahead) = XX HOLD(Hold Dome) = XX Control Info: [DEL] [MOD] [INIT] [TELAZ] [AZ] [HOME] DEL(Delta Position) = +XXX.XXXXXXX MOD(Mode) = XX INIT(Initialized) = XX TELAZ(Telescope Azmouth) = +XXX.XXXXXXX AZ(Dome Azmouth) = +XXX.XXXXXXX HOME(Home Position) = +XXX.XXXXXXX
FOCSPEED Focus Speed Args: N/A Returns: ["FAST" or "SLOW"]
FOCUS Focus position Args: N/A Returns: +XXXXX
ABERRATE Aberration corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
BIAS Bias enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
BIASDEC DEC bias rate in arcseconds/second Args: [XXXXX.XX] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
BIASRA RA biasrate in arcsseconds/second Args: [XXXXX.XX] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
CANCEL Cancel current move Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
CLEARDIFF Clear RA and DEC difference value Args: N/A Returns: N/A
DISABLE disable motion output Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
DISEPOCH Set Epoch Args: XXXX.x Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
DECLARE Initialize current position Args: "INITNEXT" to initialize "NEXT" position as current position "INITCOM" to initialize "COMMANDED" position as current position Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
ELAZ Move to position in Elevation and Azmouth Args: [EE.EE] [AAA.AA] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
ENABLE enable motion output Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FLEX Flexure corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
LIMIT Limit override >> USE WITH EXTREME CAUTION!!!!! Args: "INHIBIT" will override limits, all other strings will enable limits Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MOVNEXT Move to NEXT position Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MOVOFF move to OFFSET position Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MOVRADEC Move to RA-DEC position Args: RA DEC EPOCH RAPM DECPM RA = HH:MM:SS.ss DEC = +DD:MM:SS.ss EPOCH = EEEE.eeee RAPM(RA Proper Motion) = XXXXX.xxx DECPM(DEC Proper Motion) = XXXXX.xxx Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MOVSTOW Move to stow position Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MOVWOB MOVWOB beam Args: ??? Returns: ???
NEXTPOS Set NEXT position Args: RA DEC EPOCH RAPM DECPM RA = HH:MM:SS.ss DEC = +DD:MM:SS.ss EPOCH = EEEE.eeee RAPM(RA Proper Motion) = XXXXX.xxx DECPM(DEC Proper Motion) = XXXXX.xxx Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
NUTAT Nutation corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PAD Software paddle command [Direction] [rate] or PAD XX for termination This function is not recommended for use near the horizon limits! Args: [Direction] [rate] DIRECTION = NORTH, SOUTH, EAST, WEST, NE, NW, SE, SW RATE = XXXXXXX.xx (arcsecs/sec) any string not described in DIRECTION will terminate paddle this terminate string must be sent at the end of each movement when the button is released. Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PADDLE Paddle enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PADDRIFT Paddle Drift rate in arcseconds/second Args: [XXXXX.XX] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PADGUIDE Paddle Guide rate in arcseconds/second Args: [XXXXX.XX] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PARALLAX Parallax corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PARAM ??? Args: ??? Returns: ???
PRECES Precession corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PROPMO Proper motion corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
REFPOS REFerence POSition (tod) Args: ??? Returns: ???
REFRAC Refraction corrections enable/disable Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
STEPDEC Move Declination XXXXX.XX arcseconds Args: [XXXXX.XX] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
STEPRA Move Right Assention XXXXX.XX arcseconds Args: [XXXXX.XX] Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
TRACK Enable/Disable sidereal tracking Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED" WOBBLE WOBBLE -HH:MM:SS.ss -DD:MM:SS.ss Args: ??? Returns: ???
ABELL ABELL Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FK5 FK5 Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
IC IC Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
NGC NGC Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
OKESTONE Okestone Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED PPM PPM Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
SAO SAO Catalog Object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
YBSC YSBC Catalog Object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
ZWICKY ZWICKY Catalog object XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MERCURY Track Mercury Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
VENUS Track Venus Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MARS Track Mars Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
JUPITER Track Jupiter Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
SATURN Track Saturn Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
URANUS Track Uranus Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
NEPTUNE Track Neptune Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PLUTO Track Pluto Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
MOON Track Moon Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
SUN Track Sun Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
DOME Command dome control Args: This command takes one argument at a time from the following AUTO Autodome enable Args: ON = autodome on, any other = autodome off Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
INIT Initialize dome Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
STOW Stow dome Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
LOOKAHEAD Lookahead enable Args: positive nonozero number=enable, any other = disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PARAM Set Dome Parameters Args: [CPD] [SD] [W] [SDW] [NU] [RHO] [PHI] [LOOK] [HOLD] CPD(Counts Per Degree) = XXX.xxxxxxx SD(Stow Degrees)= XXX.xxxxxxx W(Dome Width) = XXX.xxxxxxx SDW(Stow Dome Width)= XXX.xxxxxxx NU = XXX.xxxxxxx RHO = XXX.xxxxxxx PHI = XXX.xxxxxxx LOOK(Lookahead) = XX HOLD(Hold Dome) = XX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PADDLE Control Paddle buttons Args: RIGHT = move right, LEFT = move left, any other= stop Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FOCUS move to absolute focus value XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
RELFOCUS relative move focus value XXXXXXX Args: XXXXXXX Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FOCZERO Zero current focus position Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FOCSTOP focus paddle stop Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FOCUP focus paddle up Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FOCDN focus paddle down Args: N/A Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
FOCSPEED Set focus speed Args: "FAST" sets to fast, all other strings set speed slow Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
PEC Request
PECSTAT Current PEC operation status Args: N/A Returns: [PEC_Condition] [PEC_Count] [PEC_Index] [PEC_Mode]
PECPROG Current PEC programming status Args: N/A Returns: [Percent_Done] [PEC_Correction]
Command
PECFILE Attempt to create a PEC file. Args: ??? Returns: ???
PEC Turn on PEC Args: "ON" = enable, any other string will disable Returns: "OK" or "FAILED"
Servo Request
CON ??? >> SERVO STUFF... NOT FOR NORMAL USE Args: ??? Returns: ???
SAMDATA ??? >> SERVO STUFF... NOT FOR NORMAL USE Args: ??? Returns: ??? SAMDONE ??? >> SERVO STUFF... NOT FOR NORMAL USE Args: ??? Returns: ???
SERVO ??? >> SERVO STUFF... NOT FOR NORMAL USE Args: ??? Returns: ???
Command
WCON axis, gd gp gi dmax vmax groot >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
SERVO ??? >> AXIS SERVO SAMPLING... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
GD axis, value >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
GP axis, value >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
GPI axis, value >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
DMAX axis, value >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
VMAX axis, value >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
PERMAX axis, value >> SERVO CONST... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
SAMPLE axis, interval, total samples >> AXIS SERVO SAMPLING... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
DUMPSAM axis >> AXIS SERVO SAMPLING... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
SAMSTART ??? >> AXIS SERVO SAMPLING... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
SAMABORT ??? >> AXIS SERVO SAMPLING... DO NOT MODIFY Args: ??? Returns: ???
undefined??? Request
TEST1 ??? >> probably useless but is currently in the command set Args: ??? Returns: ???
INDEX ??? Args: ??? Returns: ???
PP ??? Args: ??? Returns: ???
SRVFRQ ??? Args: ??? Returns: ???
Command
SYSSAVE ??? Args: ??? Returns: ???
SYSKILL Kills TCS process after disabling stopping all telescope motion. Args: N/A Returns: OK or Failure SYSRESET Restarts TCS process after disbling the telescope Added by Scott 12/2012 Telescope should be stowed before doing this. Args: N/A Returns OK or Failure