PLEASE READ:

The information provided here is intended for professional programmers, the LX200 Command Set may be used to write custom software for remote operation of an LX200 telescope with a personal computer. Although the information provided here has been researched and tested, it is not provided with a guarantee of accuracy nor is it supplied with any warranty, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

In no event shall Meade Instruments Corporation, or its suppliers, be liable for any damages whatsoever (including without limitation, damages for loss of business profits, business interruption, loss of business information, or any other pecuniary loss) arising out of the use of, or inability to use the information provided herein.

The name Meade and the Meade logo are trademarks registered with the United States Patent Office. The name Meade and the Meade logo may be used only with permission from Meade Instruments Corporation.

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Table of Contents

• Organization of Commands 
• Alphabetical List of Commands 

<ACK> A B C D f F G h H L M P $Q Q r R S T U V W X ?

• Grammar 
• BNF 
• Railroad Syntax Diagrams 
• Return Values From Commands 
• Examples 
• Exceptions 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Organization of Commands

Telescope Command Groupings:

Command Group	Command Designator Symbol
Alignment Query	<ACK>
Alignment	A
Reticule Control	B
Sync Control	C
Distance Bars	D
Fan*	f
Focus Control Commands	F
Get Information	G
Home Position Commands*	h
Hour	H
Library	L
Movement	M
High Precision	P
Smart Drive Control*	$Q
Quit Command	Q
Field De-rotator	r
Rate Control	R
Set Information	S
Tracking Frequency	T
User Format Control	U
View PEC Scale Data	V
Waypoint (Site)	W
PEC Worm*	X
Help Commands	?

Each command grouping may have sub-groupings. The Library command group, as an example, can be further broken down into the logical categories of Library Commands affecting the Telescope and Library Commands which affect Objects.

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Alphabetical List of Commands

Notes:
* next to a command identifier indicates a command supported only on the LX200 16-inch telescopes. The asterisk is not a part of the command syntax.

<none> means nothing is returned from the telescope if listed in the Value(s) Returned column. <none> means no parameter is supplied and no parameter is needed if listed in the Takes As Parameter(s) column.

Letters & digits shown are the ASCII symbols of the returned values. For example the symbol 'A' as a "Values(s) Returned" entry means that the program should expect to receive an ASCII 'A' (0x41) as the return value. Similarly a lower case 'a' would indicate that the program should expect to receive an ASCII 'a' (0x61) as the return value.

<bool> is a boolean returned value of either an ASCII '0' (0x30) or an ASCII '1' (0x31). Zero is false.

<string> is a sequence of characters followed by a hash-mark (ASCII '#' 0x23).

If a symbol is indicated with enclosing symbols (as in parenthesis marks around the 12 or 24 in the #:Gl# command) the enclosing symbols are literal and are a part of the returned value.

A single ASCII digit as in the return value 2<string> for the command #:MS# indicates an ASCII '2' (0x32) value is prefixed to the <string>. The ASCII digit and the <string> are both part of the returned value.
ACK

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
ACK <ASCII 6>				Alignment Query
		<none>	A	AltAz
			G	German Polar Mount
			L	Land
			P	Polar

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A 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
A				Set Alignment Mode
	L	<none>	<none>	Land
	P	<none>	<none>	Polar
	A	<none>	<none>	AltAz

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B 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
B				Reticule Brightness Control
	+	<none>	<none>	Increase
	-	<none>	<none>	Decrease
	0	<none>	<none>	Flashing Mode 0
	1	<none>	<none>	Flashing Mode 1
	2	<none>	<none>	Flashing Mode 2
	3	<none>	<none>	Flashing Mode 3

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C 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
C				Sync -- Match Scope Coord to Object Coords
	M	<none>	<string>	Which Object's coordinates were used.

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D

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
D				Get Distance Bars String
		<none>	<string>	Number of bars on the display (see exceptions)

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f

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
f				Fan Control (16-inch only)
	+	<none>	<none>	On
	-	<none>	<none>	Off

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F 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
F				Focus Control
	+	<none>	<none>	In
	-	<none>	<none>	Out
	Q	<none>	<none>	Quit Focus Command
	F	<none>	<none>	Focus Fast
	S	<none>	<none>	Focus Slow

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G 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
G				Get Information
	0	<none>	Alignment Menu 0#	Alignment Menu Entry 0
	1	<none>	Alignment Menu 1#	Alignment Menu Entry 1
	2	<none>	Alignment Menu 2#	Alignment Menu Entry 2
	A	<none>	sDD*MM#	Telescope Altitude
	a	<none>	HH:MM:SS#	Local Time in 12-hour Format
	b	<none>	sMM.M#	Brighter
	C	<none>	MM/DD/YY#	Calendar Date
	c			Clock 12 or 24 hour status
		<none>	(12)#
		<none>	(24)#
	D	<none>	sDD*MM#	Telescope Declination
	d	<none>	sDD*MM#	Object Declination
	F	<none>	NNN'#	Field
	f	<none>	sMM.M#	Fainter Limit
	G	<none>	sHH#	Hours From UCT (GMT)
	g	<none>	DDD*MM#	Site Longitude
	h	<none>	DD*#	Higher Limit
	L	<none>	HH:MM:SS#	Local Time in 24-hour Format
	l	<none>	NNN'#	Larger Size Limit
	M	<none>	XYZ#	Site Name 1
	N	<none>	XYZ#	Site Name 2
	o	<none>	DD*#	Lower limit
	O	<none>	XYZ#	Site Name 3
	P	<none>	XYZ#	Site Name 4
	q			Minimum Quality For Find Operation
		<none>	SU#	Super
		<none>	EX#	Excellent
		<none>	VG#	Very Good
		<none>	GD#	Good
		<none>	FR#	Fair
		<none>	PR#	Poor
		<none>	VP#	Very Poor
	R	<none>	+HH:MM.T#	Telescope RA
	r	<none>	HH:MM.T#	Object RA
	S	<none>	HH:MM:SS#	Sidereal Time (24-hour)
	s	<none>	NNN'#	Smaller Size Limit
	T	<none>	TT.T#	Current Track Frequency
	t	<none>	sDD*MM#	Site Latitude
	y	<none>	GPDCO#	Types Parameters (Capital == Selected else not)
	Z	<none>	DDD*MM#	Telescope Azimuth

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h 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
h				Home Position Search Controls (16" only)
	S	<none>		Start Home Position Search, Save Current Position
	F	<none>		Start Home Position Search Set To Saved Values
	P	<none>		Slew to Home Position
	?
		<none>	0	Home Search Failed
		<none>	1	Home Search Found
		<none>	2	Home Search in Progress

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H 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
H		<none>	<none>	Toggles 12 or 24 Hour Time Format

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L 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
L				Library Control
	B	<none>	<none>	Previous Object In Find
	C	NNNN	<none>	Find CNGC Type Objects
	F	<none>	<none>	Start Find Operation
	f			Field
		<none>	<string>	Number of objects in field & object in center field.
	I	<none>	<string>	Object Information
	M	NNNN	<none>	Find Messier
	N	<none>	<none>	Next Object In Find
	o			Set the NGC library type
		0	<bool>	Objects CNGC
		1	<bool>	Objects IC
		2	<bool>	Objects UGC
	s			Set the STAR object library
		0	<bool>	STAR library
		1	<bool>	SAO library
		2	<bool>	GCVS library
	S	NNNN	<none>	Find STAR Type Objects

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M 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
M				Move
	A	<none>	0	Slew to AltAz (16-inch only) used with Sa Sz cmd
	e	<none>	<none>	East
	n	<none>	<none>	North
	s	<none>	<none>	South
	w	<none>	<none>	West
	S			Slew to Object
		<none>	0	Slew is Possible
		<none>	1<string>	Object Below Horizon w/string message
		<none>	2<string>	Object Below Higher w/string message

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P 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
P				High Precession
	<none>	<none>	"HIGH PRECISION"	When On (14 character string)
	<none>	<none>	"LOW PRECISION"	When Off (14 character string)

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$Q 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
$Q				Toggles Smart Drive Status
	1	<none>	<none>
	2	<none>	<none>
	3	<none>	<none>
	4	<none>	<none>
	5	<none>	<none>

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Q 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
Q				Abort Movement
	e	<none>	<none>	East
	n	<none>	<none>	North
	s	<none>	<none>	South
	w	<none>	<none>	West
	<none>	<none>	<none>	Stop the Slew

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r 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
r				Field De-Rotator (16" only)
	+	<none>	<none>	On
	-	<none>	<none>	Off

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R 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
R				Set Movement Rate
	C	<none>	<none>	Center
	G	<none>	<none>	Guide
	M	<none>	<none>	Move
	S	<none>	<none>	Slew

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S 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
S				Set Telescope or Object Parameter
	a	sDD*MM	<bool>	Object Altitude (16-inch only) used with MA cmd
	b	sMM.M	<bool>	Brighter
	C	MM/DD/YY	<bool><string>	Calendar: If the date is valid 2 <string>s are returned "Updating planetary data#" followed by a second string (all blanks terminated by '#')
	d	sDD*MM	<bool>	Object DEC
	f	sMM.M	<bool>	Fainter
	F	NNN	<bool>	Field
	g	DDD*MM	<bool>	Site Longitude
	G	sHH	<bool>	Hours From UTC (GMT)
	h	DD	<bool>	Higher
	l	NNN	<bool>	Larger
	L	HH:MM:SS	<bool>	Local
	M	XYZ	<bool>	Site Name 1
	N	XYZ	<bool>	Site Name 2
	o	DD*	<bool>	Lower Limit
	O	XYZ	<bool>	Site Name 3
	P	XYZ	<bool>	Site Name 4
	q	<none>	<none>	Quality
	r	HH:MM.T	<bool>	Object RA
	s	NNN	<bool>	Smaller
	S	HH:MM:SS	<bool>	Sidereal
	t	sDD*MM	<bool>	Site Latitude
	T	TT.T	<bool>	Frequency
	w	N	<bool>	Max Slew Rate dgrees/second (2..4)
	y	GPDCO	<bool>	Find String Type: Capitals indicate active
	z	DDD*MM	<bool>	Object Azimuth (16-inch only) used with MA cmd

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T 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
T				Tracking Frequency
	M	<none>	<none>	Switch to Manual
	Q	<none>	<none>	Switch to Quartz
	+	<none>	<none>	Increment by one tenth
	-	<none>	<none>	Decrement by one tenth

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U 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
U	<none>	<none>	<none>	Toggles Long format on and off.

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V

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
V				View PEC Scale Data (16" only)
	D	NNN	N.NNNNNN#	DEC Scale Data
	R	NNN	N.NNNNNN#	RA Scale Data

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W 

Command (Major Grouping)	Command (Minor Grouping)	Takes As Parameter(s)	Value(s) Returned	Description
W