EQmod ?

[duncan]

Hi All,

Can somebody please explain to a Dummy like me -" What this is and what does it do?"
I just tried to google it and got nothing.
Cheers

[sheeny (Al)]

G'Day Duncan,

EQMOD is software that allows control of the Skywatcher/Synta EQ5 or EQ6 mounts (and a few others) from your computer. For best results a hardware module called an EQDIR interface replaces the handpiece. See here:

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

Al.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Al,

There's a better alternative to EQDIR that replaces it, the usb-serial adapter and associated usb and serial cables with a single cable that plugs into the usb port at one end and the mount at the other. All the circuitry is contained within the USB plug.

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-...ter-cable.html

This approach is simple, reliable, less cumbersome and lower cost.

Peter.

[lacad01 (Adam)]

Duncan, here's a helpful Yahoo group which has all the ins and outs of EQMOD:
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQMOD/

[allan gould]

Its simply the best program ever written to enable you to use EQ6/HEQ5 mounts. Great accuracy with gotos and gamepad control.

[TheDecepticon]

I use it all the time. Be sad when I go to a more expensive mount and wont have its functionality.
The Dontonics cable solution is by far the most reliable and easiest to use. A bit of soldering(very careful) and you're away. It is still advisable not to mix in the hand box, use an old game pad instead.
By the way, I googled eqmod and got a heap of hits, 268,000 to be exact!! Did you spell it wrong?

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

James - just trying to save you some money.

I'm merely pointing out that you can buy the Dontronics cable in Melbourne for about $25 and solder a $2 plug on it. You can also buy a ready made one from Starstuff in Melbourne for $90 or you can order one from the Netherlands for 35 Euro + post. If you'd prefer to pay someone $60 to solder three wires on a $25 cable go for it.

Peter

[mldee (Mike)]

I am a newbie and I found out about the Dontronics option here, and it works just fine, thank you. In my opinion It should be one of the first options a newbie investigates. Whether he chooses it is entirely up to their abilities. But at least make them aware of the technically elegant and low cost option.

[MuntiNZ (Daz)]

So what is the plug you need to solder on and what wire goes where?
My flatmate has a eq mount now and wants to try this cable out but him and me dont know jack about electronics stuff.
Some one here needs to link to a plug and maybe draw a pic of where the wires are joined up.

[Moon (James)]

So what is the plug you need to solder on and what wire goes where?
My flatmate has a eq mount now and wants to try this cable out but him and me dont know jack about electronics stuff.
Some one here needs to link to a plug and maybe draw a pic of where the wires are joined up.

Well this is sort of my point.
You can buy it already made up if you like.
I have fried expensive equipment in the past due to a simple wiring mistake,
as have other esteemed members of this forum.

[MuntiNZ (Daz)]

Mate if some body said get this or that plug and join the red wire to this pin and the blue wire to that pin then maybe we could do it no worries.
No use just saying get this cable then get another plug and solder it on youll be right!!!
Not every body is gyro gear loose!

[duncan]

Hi All,

I already have the USB-Serial cable. I have had it hooked up to the mount (HEQ5-PRO) and could control the scope from Laptop no worries.

I thought this EQMod was something new. I'm using CDC with the Celestron Driver for the Ascom Platform.

So is the EQMod included in this or is it something different again?

Thanks for everyones response.
I did finally find a site last night that did have it and i looked but gave it away as i was to tired to think straight. I'll have another look tonight.

Cheers All

[duncan]

I am actually very good at soldering and have done a lot of sound system work in the past.
The reason for saying " A Dummy like me" was to try and keep the post relatively basic and easy for other Newbies to understand as well.

Perhaps in hindsight i should have stated this at the start,LOL.

Thanks again everyone.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Originally Posted by MuntiNZ

Mate if some body said get this or that plug and join the red wire to this pin and the blue wire to that pin then maybe we could do it no worries.
No use just saying get this cable then get another plug and solder it on youll be right!!!
Not every body is gyro gear loose!

Try this:



EQDIRECT-USB
An EQDIRECT-USB convertor consists of a combined USB serial port that provides TTL outputs. Such a device is avilable from FTDI called the TTL232R, and comes integrated into a USB cble and connector. Please be aware that FTDI produce a similar product, the TTL232R3V3, but due to lower signaling voltages this will not work. A driver is installed on the PC and the TTL232R appears as a standard com port. There is an additional advantage in that unlike many usb-serial devices the com port number of the FTDI device, once assigned, will not change when plugged into a different physical USB port.
Data sheet here: http://www.ftdichip.com/Documents/Da...DS_TTL232R.pdf
Sold here: http://apple.clickandbuild.com/cnb/s...R+and+variants
Downloaded and install the driver from here http://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm .

To create the EQDIRECT-USB all theat is needed is to connect a 9 way "D" type plug to the flying lead of the TTL232R. The connections are as follows:

Solder Pin 6 of the 9 way D-type Plug to the Orange wire.
Solder Pin 9 of the 9 way D-type Plug to the Yellow wire.
Solder Pins 4 & 5 of the 9 way D-type Plug to the Black wire.


For those with HEQ5-Pro you will need to splice an RJ45 cable to the flying lead of the TTL232R. Connect as follows:

Solder Pin 4 of the RJ45 to the black wire
Solder Pin 5 of the RJ45 to the yellow wire
Solder Pin 6 of the RJ45 to the orange wire

Here's the EQMOD website with all the info....
http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/reqindex.html

[duncan]

Hi Peter,

I already have an ATEN USB-to-Serial converter cable (UC-232A) with its software. So with this is all that is required to download EQMod?

Cheers

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Duncan,

To connect the pc to the mount you have 3 options as James has pointed out:
1. You can plug the output of your USB-serial converter into the serial connection of the hand controller and put the hand controller in PC direct mode.
2. You can replace the hand controller with an EQDIR device and wire it up as per option 1.
3. You can connect the PC directly to the mount with one of the cables that has been discussed already doing away with the USB-serial converter, the EQDIR module and the hand controller.

Apart from the wiring you need to install tha ASCOM platform and install EQMOD. You will also need to install the drivers for option 1, 2 or 3. If you choose to do away with the hand controller (option 2 or 3) you will probably want to get a wireless gamepad to enable you to slew the scope while at the eyepiece.

In my last post there is a link to the EQMOD site - all the instructions are explained better on this site.

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

Good luck,

Peter

[duncan]

Thankyou for all this information Peter.

Will have to wait till tomorrow to do the downloads as i'm running low on credit.

Many thanks again

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Originally Posted by duncan

So is the EQMod included in this or is it something different again?

EQMOD is a replacement for the software (and hardware) in the hand controller. It controls the motor movement and includes the pointing model that drives the goto functionality of the mount. In my experience it offers much better goto accuracy than the hand controller and integrates better with other software and hardware.

Peter

[duncan]

Again many thanks Peter

[h0ughy (David)]

thanks Duncan for all the information your thread got - as requested the thread will now be closed