Here are a few pictures of the Original Version of the Gemini 2 mount controller from Losmandy.
Click on images to see larger or exploded views.


Front View of HC
click on picture to see larger view
click again to see internal views
Rear Side of HC
  • The Graphics hand controller is composed of a touch screen on the front and a membrane push buttons on the back.
  • It has it's own ARM processor and communicates with the main unit over a serial channel communicating at 57600 baud. It connects into the Serial Port 2/Graphic  input jack on the main unit. It also has an Micro-SDcard that holds the Catalogs amd button graphics.  This card is updated from the main unit.
  • It uses the same command set as any observatory program would use to communicate with the main unit.
  • Here is a tutorial of it's complete interface.
  • Click here for an explanation of the Front and back Button Operation of the Hand Controller
  • It does not contain an battery,  It does not have an ethernet address of it's own.
  • This older version of the hand controller uses a graphics card and display not designed by Losmandy, and because of this there are about 4 different versions of this unit graphics processor.

Main unit front panel

Main unit inside.
  • This is the original design of the Main unit
  • It is the same width as the Gemini-1 unit.
  • It has two power jacks on the side. Voltage ranges is +12DV to +18DC with +16 being optimal.
  • The processor is an ARM 32bit Processor.
  • It has a wired 10/100Mhz speed Ethernet connection, to connect it to a computer. (Preferred)
  • The Graphics Hand controller must be plugged into the Serial Port 2/Graphics Port to function.
  • Serial Port 1 is for a GPS unit or Serial connection to a computer.
  • There is a removable Micro-SDcard that holds all the web interface files and the catalogs.
  • It has an internal CR2354 battery. See changing CR2454 battery movie. I replaced
  • the CR2354 battery holder in my unit with a the readily available CR2450 which has a slightly higher mAH rating than the previous CR2354.  The socket uses the same mounting holes and is a keystone 1053 available from Digikey or Mouser for less than $2.00.  The replacement was easy for me, but I have the correct tools to do the job. If you are good at unsoldering and soldering I highly recommend this replacement.
  • It provides an Web Interface using the ethernet Port.
  • It has a USB port that supports Microsoft Windows and Linux.  The USB-A port has no function at this time.
  • To see the pinouts and functions of the connectors click here.