Skip to main content

AstroGPS

AstroGPS calculates sunrise and sunset using geographic coordinates.

This function is used to naturally simulate the photoperiod of a place, even when the control unit is installed in a closed room.

Route:

MENU -> Use Program -> Prg: AstroGPS -> OK

Screens displayed:

  1. Control location / Lat:
  2. Control location / Long:
  3. Control location / UTC:
  4. Simul. location / Lat:
  5. Simul. location / Long:
  6. Twilight:

Control unit location​

Control location indicates where the device actually is.

The menu asks:

  • Lat:
  • Long:
  • UTC:

This data allows the control unit to correctly place the day in the actual place of installation.

Latitude and longitude​

Coordinates are expressed in degrees with two decimals.

Allowed values:

  • latitude from 66.00 South to 66.00 North;
  • longitude from 180.00 West to 180.00 East.

The selected digit is indicated by the flashing cursor.

Commands:

  • LEFT and RIGHT move the cursor;
  • UP increases the selected value;
  • DOWN decreases the selected value;
  • on the sign, UP or DOWN change North/South or East/West;
  • OK confirms.

On the display, West longitude can be indicated with the letter O.

UTC​

UTC: sets the real location's time difference from UTC.

Allowed values: from -12:00 to +14:00, in 15-minute steps.

Commands:

  • LEFT increases by 1 hour;
  • RIGHT decreases by 1 hour;
  • UP increases by 15 minutes;
  • DOWN decreases by 15 minutes;
  • OK confirms.

Simulated location​

Simul. location is the place whose photoperiod you want to reproduce.

The menu asks:

  • Lat:
  • Long:

Example: the control unit can be installed in Emilia, but simulate a place with a different season to gradually shift the light-dark cycle.

Twilight​

The Twilight: screen allows you to enable or disable twilight management.

Values:

  • Enabled
  • Disabled

With dusk enabled, light begins and ends more gradually around sunrise and sunset events.

With dusk disabled, SOL-7000 uses sunrise and sunset as primary references.

UP or DOWN change the choice. OK saves the whole AstroGPS configuration and returns to the main screen.

With AstroGPS, Sunrise duration and Sunset duration are not requested.

Factory values​

  • Control location: Canary Islands;
  • Simul. location: Canary Islands;
  • UTC: +00:00;
  • Twilight: Enabled.

After configuring AstroGPS, check:

  • date and time of the control unit;
  • coordinates of the real place;
  • coordinates of the simulated place;
  • UTC value;
  • status of Twilight:;
  • consistency of times displayed on the main page.