EQMOD.... HELP!!! (or Guiding - so close I can taste it!!)

[cybereye]

Hi everyone.

I've been working on getting guiding working and I've hit a brick wall with EQMOD.

I'm using Windows 7 Home Premium on a Lenovo laptop with a HEQ5 Pro Mount.

I've downloaded what I believe are all the components (ASCOM, EQMOD, etc.) and have a USB to Serial cable that connects to the cable that came with the HEQ5 Pro mount. This cable goes from the serial plug to the hand controller on the HEQ5 which has been set to PC Direct mode.

When I plug the USB to Serial cable into the laptop and look in the Device Manager, it tells me the port number that it has connected to. It also says that it is working properly, so I'm happy that the driver is OK.

When I run the EQMOD toolkit, I assign the correct port number in the driver setup page. When I then click on Test Connect button, I see the next panel. However if I press display+ I get the message in the message pane that no EQ MODDED mount was found at com port 3, even though this is the port that has been assigned.

No amount of trying will get the mount to respond to any command.

I know I'm soooo close to getting it working!!

Any ideas on how to scale this wall? :shrug:

Cheers,
Mario

[leinad]

Have you set the Baud rate, Time Retry settings etc in EQMOD?

[mill]

Mario just get a EQdir from http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_eq.htm or Bintel and be done with it.
Loose the hand controller and be free :P

[bartman]

Mario, I have been playing with my setup over the last two nights and found that "RA calibration failed" message came up all the time. Looked at all the web solutions and none helped.
I have the same setup (cept neq6).
Then I found something and I went !!!!.
I'm using EQMOD as the driver.
I dont have an EQMOD doohickey - as Martin suggests-!( the thing that allows direct control to the mounts' serial port from the computer. I do the same as you and go through the hand controller).
So I have down loaded the celestron driver (recommended on cloudy nights for a skywatcher mount)from Ascom hoping this will resolve the prob.
However cloudy night, so no chance of trying it out yet!
Hope this might help.
Let me know
Bartman

[cybereye]

Hi once again....

I had set the baud rate, etc. in both the driver and EQMOD to be the same. I'd tried different types of handshaking and used all 3 usb ports (giving 3 different com port numbers) on my laptop, all to no avail.

I'm now wondering if I should just get a GPUSB from Shoestring Astronomy instead of trying to get the handcontroller setup working.

Does anybody have any experience with GPUSB?

Cheers,
Mario

[sheeny]

Wel yes and no... I have a GPUSB but I don't use it. GPUSB will only give you guiding, where EQMOD will give you both superior scope control and superior guiding.

I'd go for a proper EQDIR cable and ditch the hand controller as mill suggested and don't worry about GPUSB.

Al.

[TheDecepticon]

If you are using an HEQ Pro 5 mount, you will need slightly different cables etc to an EQ6 mount. Either Shoestring Astronomy or Bintel should have what you need, or you can probably make your own cables as I did and sold my EQDirect and ditched the unreliable USB to Serial convertors. My hand controller has been in the cupboard since I got my mount. If you join the EQMOD Yahoo group, you will get help and access to the files section to build cables, etc.

[mldee]

This is the simplest and best total solution. $30 from Melbourne. Works great with ASCOM and EQMOD on HEQ5 and 6. Don't waste your money buying an EQDIR. Read the link.
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-usb-to-serial-ttl-level-5v-converter-cable.html

[cybereye]

Mike,

Using this cable, how would I attach the laptop to my HEQ5? Do I need any other bits and pieces or just this cable? Where would it attach to the HEQ5 - through the hand controller, ST-4 port or where the hand controller plugs in?

Cheers,
Mario

[mldee]

Mario, It attaches directly between the Laptop (or hub) USB port and the handset socket on the HEQ5 mount. You will need to affix a corresponding plastic phone plug (RJ45?) on the four wires left bare on the cable. A very simple job. If you can't do it, No doubt plenty who will do it for you or advise on IIS. I have an EQ6 so had to use the bigger 9-pin DB9 plug. Soldered it myself, all OK. Easy to find connection instructions.

The beauty of this little cable is that it removes the need for any Synscan handset, EQDIR or other pieces of hardware dangling around the mount, just the one USB-style cable either direct from your laptop, or from a USB hub if you use one, to the mount. It's a no brainer. I've been using mine now for 18 months or more with CdC and a wireless Playstation controller. (Oops, make sure you get one of those, too, ~$50?, they're magic!). All in all, never a problem and elegantly simple. Lots of IIS'ers will concur.

BTW, since the EQ mount has its own power, so no need for a lot of USB power from the lappie.

[cybereye]

Mike,

I've just ordered the cable.... :)
Cheers,
Mario

[Manav]

Hi Mario,

This may sound silly but when you connected your RJ cable to the EQ6 handcontroller did you set your handcontroller to PC direct mode?

TC

[mldee]

Good Luck Mario, drop a post on IIS if you have any problems.

BTW, I just did a quick Ebay search of wireless controllers. This is the model you want: PS3-Dual-Shock-Black-Wireless-Controller-sony-ps-3. Obviously doesn't have to be the black one :)

It has the USB connection, some earlier models had a special PS2 connector.

The one above comes from HKG, AUD25.69 with free postage. For some reason, the damn things seem much more expensive here in Oz. YMMV. I got mine from HKG.

These things really do make it nice and convenient to control your mount via EQMOD without being near the lappy keyboard. And it looks cool, oh so cool! :)

Cheers,

[cybereye]

Mike,

I'd added wireless gamepads to my boys' PS2 so had cabled controllers in the house gathering dust. I've bought a PS2 to USB converter for $4.56 including postage on Ebay which I'll use for the time being while I get used to everything.

Thanks for your help,
Mario

[cybereye]

Yes, I did...:)

[adman]

Hi Mike (or Mario...) - I can't find anywhere on the internet that tells me which colour wire corresponds to which pin on the HEQ5/EQ5 synscan controller plug - do you have that info anywhere. You have the EQ6 that needs a DB9 connector, don't you?

Cheers,
Adam

[cybereye]

Adam,

Message 14 in the thread below has pin assignments for the HEQ5 RJ45 plug...

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=56711

Cheers,
Mario

[mldee]

Hi Adam, beaten by Mario with much better info. I've erased mine, which seemed incorrect. (The info, not the erasure) :)

[cybereye]

Mike,

How is your info different from that in the thread?

Mario

[mldee]

I got the HEQ5 pinouts from a couple of docs I had here on the PC, one was for a DIY Bluetooth interface, and its schematic showed 5,4,3 for gnd, TD, RD resp. I suspect it's wrong. Then the Synscan manual I had, fig n Page 10, showed the pinout on the base of the handbox (which should be mirrored at the other end of the RJ11 cable) as 2 TD, 5 RD, 3&4 Gnd, 1 & 6 NC.

I posted that, but after seeing your prior post, I though it was probably too confusing and uncertain, so decided to let it slide until we hear from Adam again :)

Cheers. You'll love the controller!

[adman]

from that thread Mario....

as I understand it the pins are numbered as per the attached document from Shoestring Astronomy??

Cheers
Adam

[RobF]

+1 for the Domtronics cable and RJ45 connector
I'm pretty well always imaging, so the laptop has replaced me digging out the handset.

Just be careful putting on the RJ45 - I messed up the connections first time and fried the handset controller in my HEQ5Pro. EQMOD working fine fortunately...:rolleyes:
If you've got your glasses/magnifying glass you should be right :thumbsup:

Wireless game controller was another godsend recommended by the friendly IIS folks - you definitely should get one of those too.

[cybereye]

Adam,

Fortunately at work we use lots of cables that have RJ45 connectors on them. Talking to some of the IT guys, they suggested I use an old RJ45 patch cable and use the colour scheme provided on the page http://www.mhc.com.au/cat5_config.htm. Note that I'm using the top diagram and not the crossover one underneath it. The pin numbering is the same as the page you gave - the difference is the view.

On the pdf you provided the view is looking at the front of the plug with the locking clip to the bottom. On the mhc website the view is looking down on the plug but again with the locking clip to the bottom. When I asked the IT guy if he had an old one I could use, he reached into the bin and pulled one out. What luck!! :thumbsup:

Anyway, their suggestion was to just solder the cable to the appropriate wires and all should be OK.

Rob, what was the problem with your first attempt that fried the handset controller? I'd like to know what to avoid so I don't make the same mistake!!

Cheers,
Mario

[bmitchell82]

im going to go out on a limb here. ive never ever seen any problems with eqmod connecting to a scope 99% of the time is user settings and trust me i had a good old time figuring it out.

I can give you a bit of a hand if you want in making sure your settings are right, i use Teamviewer (remote desktop program) that i can see exactly what your settings are and adjust them if needed, I have helped a few people out already using this method. Also the new eqmods have a port finder, so you don't have to go looking it just finds the right port.

Let me know if you want to give it a try its like having somebody there helping you.

[cybereye]

Brendan,

Thank you for your kind offer.

I did the port find but it failed to find any valid port. I'm putting my money on the usb to serial cable that I bought on ebay being the weak link in the saga.

I'm confident that this dontronics cable will fix any problem that I had - if not expect a call!!

Cheers,
Mario

[RobF]

Mario, I'm pretty sure I got the connections out of sync one step in the RJ45 - can't recall how many wires they can take, but its more than 4. Fairly easy to miss the fact you aren't right up against the side of the connector with your first wire. I suspect I unleashed 5V somewhere it wasn't expected inside the mount :rolleyes:

[bmitchell82]

Fair enough Mario, but what append to the standard cable that comes with the mount? all i purchased is a Aten USB--->Serial converter for 24.95 and it hasn't missed a beat in nearly 2 years. Hope everything sorts itself out soon enough

[cybereye]

Good news! The dontronics cable has sorted my communication problem between my laptop and the HEQ5. I managed to have stellarium driving the scope last night (in the rumpus room not outside!).

All I need to do now is get my bodgied webcam sorted and guiding is a reality!! :thumbsup:

Thanks everyone for all your help and suggestions - once again it's proved invaluable. :)

Cheers,
Mario

[RobF]

Great to hear Mario
Forecast looking good for tonight. Hope you can get your webcam talking today, in preparation for "First Guiding" tonight :thumbsup:

[adman]

good luck tonight mario!

[mldee]

+1. A really good looking night in Brisbane. Go at it, Mario!

Things are coming together for me too, I've got the MPCC and the IDAS filter on my QHY8, 8" f5 newt guided by the finderguider and PHD, and it's presently taking a set of 20 ETA C ngc3372 images for me that look absolutely fantastic by my standards. Haven't stacked or debayered yet, but all the months of putting all those little things together like Mario has just done, seem to finally be paying off.

Good luck to you too, Adam, no doubt you'll be out with the ED80. I have a WO FFIV if you want to borrow for a try. My next step is to take the Newt off the mount and put the C8 Hyperstar on, probably next week. At the moment, with the good skies, I'm just busy data collecting.

Cheers,

[adman]

yep - I am set up too - trying to outdo mario's omega centaurus ;)

I will post it later once I have prettied it up

Thanks for the offer Mike - I may very well take you up on that - it is always good to try things before forking out the cold-hard ones

[mldee]

Adam, as you know, I now have the ability to do all my imaging work from inside the house. Can't recommend the concept highly enough in winter!

Funny, I just took a stroll out to the obs to see how much clearance I had until the trees block the Eta area. Still plenty. In the process of looking around in the dark, managed to ever so slightly bump the QHY8 with my back. One 10-minute frame ruined. Lesson? Once you've got it working, stay away! Next target tonight is M83 when it comes over the meridian.

Anyway, to cut another long ramble short, I just wanted to comment again on the joys of remote focusing, be it ever so humble. It's made a major difference to the quality of my pics, and my satisfaction, by being able to sit in the house and periodically stop imaging, select the fine focus function in Neb and touch up things to perfection on a nearby star. All it is is FCUSB and a bodgied Skywatcher electric focuser. Works fine with the simple FCUSB controller software and Neb doing the focus measuring. Highly recommended for those of us on a budget.

[RobF]

Great to hear Mike. Bought a 2nd hand FCUSB recently and hope to hook up to my SW focus motor. Have been able to drive everything except focus from inside since buying a 10m active USB lead, and hoping this will close that gap. This is only my gear on tripod we're talking about - no fancy observ alas.

I love to be out under the stars, but its nice to be able to shut the mossies and/or cold out too when you want :D

[mldee]

Yep, there is something nice about seeing the milky way float past, etc. It would be even better if there was a nice roaring fire alongside as well:)

Now that i'm finally moving from the setting up equipment mode of operation to actual imaging, I'll be able to spend more time lying back and just looking at the stars, my problem with that is lousy eyes, but still enjoyable when the weather's right.

Good luck with getting the focus setup, it makes a big difference.

Cheers,

[bartman]

Sorry to bring an old post back up but I got my Dontronics cable to work!
Had a slight soldering prob on my first attempt ( melted the stuff in between the pins), but I just got a dry run going!
Seems like it goes smoother than with the hand control setup!
Now for some clear skies as it has just been P*ss*ng down here in Perth!
Bartman
Happy times

[adman]

Good one Bart!

I did mine the other day too - have only had the one indoors try - but all seems good so far.

Adam

[middy]

I was reading this thread with interest the other week when it was active. It was so interesting that I too went and ordered a Dontronics cable. Well I just spent the evening attaching the RJ45 connector, installing Ascom drivers and EQAscom and any other software updates required. I then successfully got CdC connected to the mount and was slewing around the sky (indoors in the lounge that is). Now I just need to work out how to do an alignment and then look into the guiding, oh and wait for another clear night of course. :thumbsup:

[RobF]

I wonder if an alt-az mode would ever work on an EQ mount. If you were out for a visual wander, some sort of smarts in the software to convert X/Y on the game controller to alt/az (rather than traditional RA/DEC).....:question: