Help with HEQ5 EQDir cable

[Helmann]

Can anybody help me out with a pic of a home made HEQ5 EQDir cable made from the FTDI TTL232R USB cable so I can check my work.

I have purchased the 5V cable from Dontronics and have connected the RJ45 plug but get no response when I connect it to the mount. The only thing different I did than the instructions on the EQ-Mod site was to crimp the wires straight into the RJ45 rather than splice the cable. I did that so the connector was not as messy.

I can run the mount through a serial converter through the hand piece so I know it is my EQDir cable that is the problem.

So if someone can post a pic so I can check my pin-outs would be great.

Thanx,
Brett.

[peter_4059]

Here are the connections

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

http://www.ftdichip.com/Support/Documents/DataSheets/Cables/DS_TTL-232R_CABLES.pdf

Also don't forget to install the FTDI drivers.

[Helmann]

Thanx Peter,

They are the diagram I have followed.
Would you have a pic of the RJ45 connector so I can check against what I have done?

Drivers are installed fine. Windows detects it when it is plugged in and I can even adjust the com port via the settings, so I am pretty sure it is my wiring on the RJ45 plug.

[mswhin63]

The data connections are then most difficult to understand but the simplest DIY solution is to reverse them if it doesn't work. The confusion is mostly which is Tx and Rx on the mount and the USB converter.

[peter_4059]

I have an eq6 so it is a different plug (DB9).

The second attachment shows the pin order on the RJ45. The "front" view is looking at the gold connectors (not the end of the connector where the wires enter). so if you sit the connector with the locking lug up and the gold connections facing you the wire order entering the other end of the connector should be black on the left (pin 4), yellow in the middle (pin 5) and orange on the right (pin 6)

[Helmann]

So, does this look correct ?

108950

[mswhin63]

Mine was disconnected to configure a PIC programmer but it looks OK.

[peter_4059]

Looks right to me. Are you sure the pins in the connector are making contact with the wires?

[Helmann]

I have cured the problem.
I redid the RJ45 connector and everything appears to be working fine.

One step closer to taking some awesome pix.

Thank you all for your help.

[Barrykgerdes]

Just adding to your findings of the RJ45

The photo of the plug looks correct. The numbering of the pins is 1 to 8 starting at the top of the picture.
The green wire (pin 4) should be ground
The yellow wire (Pin 5) should be T out
The Red wire (Pin 6) should be R in

The other connections to the RJ45 from the mount (not used) are
Pin 1 (top) Gnd
Pin 7 (second from the bottom) +12volt
Pin 8 (bottom) +12 volt

Barry

[mswhin63]

:thumbsup:

[arifmshaikh]

I am remaking cable to connect EQDIR to HEQ5. But while dismantling, one cable was disconnected and dont know where it was.

Here is the pin diagram of RJ45 and RS232.


Pin 1 of RJ45 connected to Pin 5 of RS232
Pin 4 ??
Pin 5 ... ... .. .................. Pin 9
Pin 6 ..............................Pin 6
Pin 7 ..............................Pin 1
Pin 8 ..............................Pin 8

It looks like pin 4 of RJ45 was connected to Pin 5 of rs232, but I am not sure. Can some tell me where should I connect or is there any easy diagram which shows connections between these two connector.

Thanks
Arif

[Barrykgerdes]

Here is a direct cable connection diagram for the HEQ5 and the adapter cable.

[RobC]

Just been through this exercise myself.

Barry's diagram totally bypasses the SynScan hand contoller and plugs directly into the RJ-11 on the mount. The small circuit squares up the TTL voltage levels required for the RS232 connection.

You can optionally plug into the RJ-11 plug on the SynScan Hand Contoller without having to use this circuit. See appendix VI in the manual.

The RJ-11 connections are :-

RJ - DB9
RJ 1 - No connection
RJ 2 - DB9 2
RJ 3 - DB9 5
RJ 4 - No connection
RJ 5 - DB9 3
RJ 6 - No Connection

If you want to implement the RS232 link via the SynScan hand contoller,
Fire up the Synscan , go to the utilities menu and select "PC Direct Mode"

Hope this helps

Rob

[arifmshaikh]

Hi Barry

Thanks for the diagram, i think pin 1,4 are connected to pin 5 of rs232. I will connect it to mount and see how it goes.

[arifmshaikh]

Rob

Thanks for the info, this will be really helpful if i need to make this cable. I already have this cable.

[Barrykgerdes]

This is a redrawn EQDIR cable to show how to fit the RJ45 connector in lieu of the DB9/RJ45 adapter. (It is TTL not RS232)

IF you have the synscan for the HEQ5 it should already have the necessary cables to use with the PCdirect menu option, mine has and you don't need the EQDIR cable assembly.

Barry

[arifmshaikh]

Barry

I also have cable for PC direct mode that came with the mount. Is there any advantage of using Eqdir? If I use PC direct mode and use hand controller to slew mount, I will have one less USB connection to laptop to slew mount.

[Barrykgerdes]

If you want to use the facilities of EQMOD you can use either the connection via the synscan controller or the EDdir cable. The result is the same.

If you just need the basic slew and goto from a computer you can use the Nexstar protocol in planetarium programs via the synscan but if you want more control from a computer you will need to use ASCOM and EQMOD.

Barry

[RobF]

Just be careful you do get the wires crimped into the right positions in the RJ45 guys if you're making HEQ5 cables. I fried something inside my mount by getting it not quite right first try. 2nd try was fine, but can't use hand-controller now.

DB9 on EQ6's much easier to get right. Mind you, I KNEW I should have had glasses back then :P

[arifmshaikh]

Thanks Rob.

[RobF]

Meant to say also splicing a network cable with TTL possibly safer if you're struggling with pinouts for the RJ45. The other issue I had was eventually my outer covering pulled out of the RJ45 socket, whereas the sealed "all in one" commerical network cables generally have "industrial strength" socket fittings - one more reason to consider splicing for HEQ5 cable.

Also another reason to suspect I didn't have skills to be making the RJ45 crimp in first place :P ("how hard could it be", I have a friend that says!?)

[arifmshaikh]

Figured out the problem, Pin 4 of RJ45 was connected to Pin 5 of RS232. Tested yesterday and working ok.