The most useless skywatcher adapter ever

h0ughy (David) · #1 12-05-2020, 10:50 PM

Well I thought I was purchasing a skywatcher mount adapter to control the eq8 and Alan's eq6gt but after trying several times with Alan's mount it is a piece of work.......

It doesn't work, so why are they being sold?

I feel like I just bought Peter Brocks polarity crystal's.......

that_guy (Tony) · #2 12-05-2020, 10:55 PM

I have one and it works fine. Did you set the com port to the correct one? since this adapter doesnt have an FTDI chip, the com port number will change depending on which usb port you use.

h0ughy (David) · #3 12-05-2020, 10:58 PM

That was part of the problem, it didn't work on any com port . No number would show. The driver was loaded off the web?

RB (Andrew) · #4 12-05-2020, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

I feel like I just bought Peter Brocks polarity crystal's.......

Try lowering the pressure to 22psi.

h0ughy (David) · #5 12-05-2020, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB

Try lowering the pressure to 22psi.

Oh my expectations are very low

LewisM · #6 13-05-2020, 08:16 AM

Just to remove that little bit of doubt, you did connect it directly to the mount, with the handcontroller completely removed/disconnected, right?

I saw a guy once trying to use it connected through the handset. It simply cannot work through the HC.

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #7 13-05-2020, 02:56 PM

Mine works a treat (ish).

The port shows up on mine as Prolifc USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMn) and connects with the SynScan Pro software which can then be selected (synscan mobile telescope) for ASCOM.

The functionality is basic, but the pointing accuracy and homing functions are every thing that EQMOD is not for my EQ8. But there is a but - why is that always the case! I don't think that it reliably sends the side of pier data to ASCOM so the dome shutter doesn't align (so what's new). So its back to EQMOD and plate solving to get it to find anything

h0ughy (David) · #8 13-05-2020, 03:04 PM

OK tried again with Alan's computer but this time with a eq5pro mount. No luck despite the driver being loaded.

Now if idiot number one (me) didn't follow the rules please spell them out very slowly to the hard of hearing so I can get my guide dog to set it up properly .

h0ughy (David) · #9 13-05-2020, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

Mine works a treat (ish).

The port shows up on mine as Prolifc USB-to-Serial Comm Port (COMn) and connects with the SynScan Pro software which can then be selected (synscan mobile telescope) for ASCOM.

The functionality is basic, but the pointing accuracy and homing functions are every thing that EQMOD is not for my EQ8. But there is a but - why is that always the case! I don't think that it reliably sends the side of pier data to ASCOM so the dome shutter doesn't align (so what's new). So its back to EQMOD and plate solving to get it to find anything

Could you please document every step of your process Jonathan?

multiweb (Marc) · #10 13-05-2020, 03:15 PM

Just a thought. Do you need to match the BAUD rate (9600) in the CP and what you're trying to connect to?

h0ughy (David) · #11 13-05-2020, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Just a thought. Do you need to match the BAUD rate (9600) in the CP and what you're trying to connect to?

Well that's not a bad question

multiweb (Marc) · #12 13-05-2020, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Well that's not a bad question

Been there done that (idiot #2)

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #13 13-05-2020, 03:24 PM

https://skywatcher.com/download/software/synscan-app/

The windows version of this connects to the scope then ASCOM connects to this.

Nikolas (Nik) · #14 13-05-2020, 03:28 PM

this may help
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3...n-usb-adapter/
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3...to-synscanpro/

h0ughy (David) · #15 13-05-2020, 05:10 PM

Many thanks gents will try this again tomorrow with Alan

h0ughy (David) · #16 15-05-2020, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

https://skywatcher.com/download/software/synscan-app/

The windows version of this connects to the scope then ASCOM connects to this.

Jonathan can I ask for a blow by blow description with some happy snaps of each process please?

Astronovice (Calvin) · #17 15-05-2020, 06:37 PM

Make sure you are using a USB2 port on your computer, apparently it will not work with USB3

h0ughy (David) · #18 15-05-2020, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astronovice

Make sure you are using a USB2 port on your computer, apparently it will not work with USB3

Point noted

AstroJunk (Jonathan) · #19 15-05-2020, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by h0ughy

Jonathan can I ask for a blow by blow description with some happy snaps of each process please?

You can. I can Zoom you into the observatory too if you like - Just msg me

h0ughy (David) · #20 15-05-2020, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AstroJunk

You can. I can Zoom you into the observatory too if you like - Just msg me

Probably better for me to do that when I have Alan's mount and PC near me.