EQMOD connection to NEQ6

[Marios]

Hi Guys

I want to move away from my SynScan hand controller and use eqmod instead. My question is how do I physically connect from the mount to my laptop. There are two cable that are supplied with the hand controller one is a serial to RJ45 and the other is a serial to RJ-11. I know that you can connect the RJ-11 to your laptop with a usb to serial converter.
However I don't wish to have the controller as a go between, can I use the RJ-11 directly from the mount to my computer and use steleruim in conjunction with EQMOD to drive the mount?

The reason I ask is because the hand controller is also supplied power via the RJ-45 serial cable. I'm concerned that I might send power directly to the laptop using the RJ-11 in its place?. :shrug:

[peter_4059]

You need one of these:

http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tripods/Mount-Accessories/Shoestring-USB2-br--EQ6-Interface/775/productview.aspx

The mount needs serial TTL - not plain serial. This adaptor has usb on one end to plug into the laptop and a DB9 on the other that plugs directly into the EQ6 with a USB to Serial TTL converter built into the USB end of the cable.

Regards
Peter

[Astroman]

By far the simplest solution is to get an EQDIR cable. http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tripods/Mount-Accessories/Shoestring-USB2-br--EQ6-Interface/775/productview.aspx

You can use the PC-Direct function in the Synscan hand controller, you will need the firmware update cable that came with the mount, and attach that between the Handcontroller and a USB/Serial cable into the laptop or into a serial port.

Plenty of info on the eqmod yahoogroup or from the eqmod website.

http://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/EQMOD/info

http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/

Don't try and connect the PC cable directly to the mount, you could damage your mount.

[pluto]

Why not?
I use a usb-serial cable with the supplied firmware update cable plugged into the hand controller and set to PC-Driect mode. Then I use EQMOD and Stellarium and it works perfectly :D

[Marios]

Thanks Peter & Andrew for the advise I knew there had to be hoop to jump through.

The cable on the bintel site seems short to run down to my laptop.
Can I extend it further another DB9 serial cable in your experience.?

[Marios]

Seems redundant to keep the hand controller in place when you have effectively replaced it with software. I want to eliminate as many points of failure, plus those RJ clips break over time.

[rogerco]

You can go up to five metres with a straight USB cable. There are USB extenders but I haven't tried them.

[Astroman]

I used to run a 5m active USB extension lead without any problems.

[peter_4059]

I haven't tried extending the serial TTL side - I know straight serial can be extended but not sure about TTL. I plug the usb end into a powered hub at the mount then run a 3m USB lead from the hub to my laptop.

[Marios]

Thank you all my questions are answered. :thanx:

[peter_4059]

Don't forget - when you go with the EQ direct setup without the hand controller you will not be able to slew the mount while looking through the finder unless you also get something like a wireless gamepad to use with EQMOD.

[Marios]

You're are correct there maybe some merit in keeping the hand controller in play just for the initial star aliments. :thanx:

[rogerco]

The gamepad is easy to setup and has the advantage that it isn't tethered by cable. The only problem I had was that the wireless dongle took up one of the limited USB ports on the laptop. But this can be overcome with a USB hub.

The advantage of the gamepad is that it has lots more buttons so for instance it you have motorised ASCOM compliant focusing you can put the focus control on the gamepad as well.

[peter_4059]

I agree - there are a lot of positives about using a gamepad - just wanted Marios to be aware there was a bit more to spend if he goes down the EQ direct route without the HC.

[Marios]

I say hang the expense, just came across the Bluetooth version here :D http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EQTooth-Bluetooth-EQMOD-adapter-EQ6-and-NEQ6-/260965685224?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cc2c457e8

[Marios]

Hi Thank you for the suggestion is there a particular model of controller, I should be looking for?

[peter_4059]

I've been using a Logitech cordless Rumblepad 2 but I don't think this model is available any more. Looks like the F710 is the new model.

You could check out the yahoo group to see what they are recommending these days but suspect most controllers that are pc compatible will work.

http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/reqindex.html

[Astroman]

You can find them on ebay and gumtree cheap enough. I got a saitek p9000 gamepad which works great. Got it for $15 so you dont need to spend lots to get a good pad.

[rogerco]

Yes likewise the Logitech F710, seems to be well made and Logitech is a well known brand.

[Marios]

Thank you everyone, you have all been very helpful.

[M_Lewis]

The logitech f710 is good, but it has a limited range, i often find it a little intermittent when the scope is between me and the laptop computer - it has an effective range of no more than 5m.

Just get the EQdirect cable (http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_eq.htm) it's the one I use and it's awesome. Throw away the hand set and do not use the bandaide PC direct function, as the handset software will cause you issues if you plan to use a decent software suite on the computer to drive the scope. The handset effectively becomes a translation of "engrish" and you won't get correct slewing among other inconsistencies.

If you go down the autonomy route, the F710 (or something like it) is a must.

[togo54]

Or better yet (and way cheaper), build your own cable.
Start with this:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/USB-to-TTL-Serial-UART-RS232-Adaptor-PL2303HX-for-PIC-Arduino-AVR-Raspberry-/171118487801?pt=AU_B_I_Electrical_T est_Equipment&hash=item27d774e8f9
Solder the correct three wires to the correct pins on one of these:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DB9-male-DB9M-plug-connector-shell-shroud-hood-UK-seller-serial-COM-port-/251417743394?pt=UK_Computing_Parall el_Serial_PS_2&hash=item3a89aa5022

That's what I did and it works fine. Can't use the synscan controller when going this route.

[Marios]

Thanks for the link even cheaper than the guys on ebay, the bluetooth model is the same price. :thumbsup:

[Nortilus]

i just recently bought the F710 and it works great. I also use a powered USB hub at the mount and run a 3meter usb extension cable and i plug the controller usb receiver thing in to it at the mount...no worries with distance then when at the mount.

However I use windows XP for my imaging machine and you have to use the xbox360 driver software to get it working...but it works fine.

[TheNaudster]

Hey guys,

Looking at doing the same conversion and came across this part at Jaycar which seems to be the same thing. Can anyone advise and comment if it will work or not please? Thanks all!

[Startrek]

Marios,
I thought you might be interested in having a look at or even using EQMOD and Stellarium to control your NEQ6 mount and navigate across the night sky


I wrote some procedures last month as I wanted to work out how to use the new Ascom supported Stellarium with EQMOD



I assume your NEQ6 mount has a RJ45 port connection ( where the hand controller plugs in ) not the latest USB2B port connection that the EQ6-R mount has
Attached are 3 options for using EQMOD and Stellarium to control your mount depending on what type of mount connection you have.



1/ Telescope Control via EQMOD and Stellarium ( using the old Stellarium Scope driver and EQ Direct cable )


2/ Telescope Control via EQMOD and Stellarium ( using Ascom and EQ Direct cable )


3/ Telescope Control via EQMOD and Stellarium ( using Ascom and the latest USB2 Direct cable )


Cheers
Martin

[Nikolas]

Hey Martin Mario's post was from 2014 it was resurrected yesterday by the poster directly above your post :)

[Nikolas]

you are much better off purchasing the cable instead of farting around with these and soldering etc.

https://www.siderealtrading.com.au/product/eqdirect-usb-cable/ plus the adapter

[gregmc]

I also put together some info earlier this year during the first COVID lockdown. It's a page on
connection to SkyWatcher mounts (http://www.astrophotosite.com/tiki-index.php?page=Sky-Watcher_Mount_connection_options) with some pictures to help visualise the setup.

I suggest keeping the handset but just put it away for the time when you perhaps are doing outreach and just want to run the mount with a simple setup to show local school kids the moon, or if you add a solar telescope and you just want to track the sun and it's too bright and hot to have a computer outside in the sun.

If you are imaging and you use platesolving, particularly if you just image one or two objects in a night, you don't need an accurate pointing model as you can rely on platesolving to accurately point your telescope to the exact spot in the sky.

If so, you also have a few computer application options on replacing the handset - i.e. EQMOD, Green Swamp Server (GSS) & Sky-Watcher (GSS is more modern but doesn't yet have a pointing model).

See Sky-Watcher Mount connection options (http://www.astrophotosite.com/tiki-index.php?page=Sky-Watcher_Mount_connection_options)

I also have info on Serial interfaces (http://www.astrophotosite.com/tiki-index.php?page=Serial_interface) as well as info on serial interfaces to the Sky-Watcher type mount (http://www.astrophotosite.com/tiki-index.php?page=Serial_to_Mount).

I hope that helps
cheers
Greg.

[Startrek]

Greg,
Excellent information you have provided

I was prompted to write prescriptive procedures for EQMOD and Stellarium when I found out this time last year that Gion Kunz worked with the developers of Stellarium to make it Ascom supported ( version 0.19.3 onwards ). This was a milestone as users of Stellarium and EQMOD had to use the old 3rd party driver StellariumScope to allow functionality between the two. StellariumScope was never really a stable platform
So I decided to write a step by step procedure for using both older mounts and current mounts with an EQ Direct method of connection ( Serial to USB and USB to USB cables )
There were a few teething problems which I identified in my procedures that folk needed to know.
Thanks for your input , well received
Cheers
Martin