Hi Everyone,
Looks like a possible cause for the EQ8 Mount not working with EQMod could be the EQDir Cable used. Gerhard over at the EQMod forum mentioned there is distinct differences between the EQ6 and the EQ8. So this may just require the 3.3v TTL adaptor instead of the 5v TTL adaptor we already have for the EQ6 mounts.
Not sure why Sky Watcher decided to change this but looks promising for a solution to use EQMod
.
Hi Chris,
the current Synscan firmware downloadable from the Skywatcher page is
V3.35. In the manual of this version the new EQ8 is listed too on
several pages. I have updated to V3.35 and tested it sucessfully on my
EQ6 some time ago. So I don't think a Synscan controller delivered with
the new EQ8 is using a different firmware.
In the manual on page 4 this five mounts HEQ5 Pro, EQ5 Pro, EQ3 Pro,
AZ-EQ6 GT and EQ8 are listed as using a 8-pin RJ-45 connector on the mount.
The pins of the 8-pin RJ-45 telescope mount port on hand controller:
GND pin 1+4
DROP pin 3
RX (TTL) pin 5
TX (TTL) pin 6
Vpp+ pin 7+8
pin 2 not connected
The EQ8 manual shows the pins of the 8-pin RJ-45 connector on the mount
GND pin 1+4
TX (3.3V) pin 5
RX (3.3V) pin 6
Vpp+ pin 7+8
pin 2+3 not connected
What is worth mentioning are the 3.3V low voltage levels on serial
communication lines TX and RX. On EQ6 the lines TX and RX are working
with normal TTL levels in the range of 0 - 5 Volts. The logic level
ranges are the same in TTL or LVTTL. But may be the maximum voltage of
+5V is a problem for the EQ8 inputs.
Regards
Gerhard
www.dangl.at
Cheers Anthony