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

cybereye (Mario) · #1 31-05-2010, 08:06 PM

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?

Cheers,
Mario

leinad (Dan) · #2 31-05-2010, 08:27 PM

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

mill (Martin) · #3 31-05-2010, 10:22 PM

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

bartman (Bart) · #4 01-06-2010, 01:12 AM

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 (Mario) · #5 01-06-2010, 06:29 AM

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 (Al) · #6 01-06-2010, 07:13 AM

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 · #7 01-06-2010, 08:02 AM

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 (Mike) · #8 01-06-2010, 08:25 AM

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-...ter-cable.html

cybereye (Mario) · #9 01-06-2010, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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-...ter-cable.html

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 (Mike) · #10 01-06-2010, 09:07 AM

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 (Mario) · #11 01-06-2010, 09:18 AM

Mike,

I've just ordered the cable....

Cheers,
Mario

Manav (Yugant) · #12 01-06-2010, 09:40 AM

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 (Mike) · #13 01-06-2010, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybereye

Mike,

I've just ordered the cable....

Cheers,
Mario

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 (Mario) · #14 01-06-2010, 10:00 AM

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 (Mario) · #15 01-06-2010, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Yes, I did...

adman (Adam) · #16 01-06-2010, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 (Mario) · #17 01-06-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Adam,

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

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

Cheers,
Mario

mldee (Mike) · #18 01-06-2010, 01:15 PM

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

cybereye (Mario) · #19 01-06-2010, 01:48 PM

Mike,

How is your info different from that in the thread?

Mario

mldee (Mike) · #20 01-06-2010, 03:51 PM

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!