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Old 10-08-2018, 04:34 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Stellarium scope / Stellarium telescope control

Is there a current procedure available for setting up Stellarium telescope control of my HEQ5 Pro Mount
The one I’m using is from IIS 12th March 2010 by Karl Louwersen and it’s outdated ( I’m using the latest Stellarium version 0.18.0 )
Prerequisites
I have a brand new laptop Omen i7 processor with 32GB ram ( heaps of memory )
I have latest ASCOM installed
I have EQMOD installed
I have latest Stellarium Scope installed ( 26/12/2016 )
I have a USB serial adapter connected between Laptop and mount with its driver installed ( I can see COM3 port on Device Manager )
I have Synscan HC set to PC direct
All latitude longitude etc data is entered and com port COM3 selected
I’ve selected EQMOD ASCOM EQ5/6 am click properties then OK
ASCOM window is displayed

Need next procedures for current version of Stellarium

Any help appreciated

Thanks in advance
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Old 11-08-2018, 11:38 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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I’ve been trying to connect to my mount via PC direct with EQMOD and Stellarium via Stellarium scope all night until 1.00am with no luck ( very frustrating as I’ve read so much data / info on the subject

I found a site which has a detailed procedure called Light Vortex Astronomy - Tutorial Setting up an EQ mount on ASCOM with EQMOD and Stellarium

Has anyone seen or used this site and procedure ??

I will give it a go tonight

Once again appreciate any help and advice on the subject
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Old 11-08-2018, 08:18 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Further to my struggle with connecting my laptop to HEQ5 Pro mount, can someone confirm what specific driver from Shoestring Astronomy I need to create a virtual com port on my laptop using the USB2EQ5 cable

The link takes you to FTDI ?

Thanks and await some advice
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Old 11-08-2018, 08:32 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Martin,
The cable you mention (USB2EQ5) is a direct EQDir cable which connects directly to the handcontroller socket on the mount NOT the handcontroller - which is not use at all.
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Old 11-08-2018, 09:18 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Thanks Ken yes I know in principle about the set up and have read so much info before attempting to connect laptop to mount
I’ve tried a USB / serial adapter ( including down loading the driver ) via the handcontroller in PC direct mode , COM3 can be seen in Device manager , go into EQMOD toolbox, enter correct data in EQMOD Ascom set up including COM3 ,press ok, power up mount, EQ Ascom toolbox comes up, I have previously registered , then press ASCOM Connect and the EQMOD HEQ5/6 box comes up LHS only but then I have no control over it , I move my mouse arrow over this narrow box and it just circles for minutes, so I just shut down and pack up

I’m going to try the second method EQ Direct ( remove HC ) using the USB2EQ5 cable but I need a driver to create a com port in Device manager ( my posted question below )
I may even reinstall ASCOM, EQMOD and Stellarium scope

I’ve been searching IIS and Cloudy nights for answers and there were so many guys having trouble connecting their laptop to mount ( me included )

Any advice and help by IIS members most welcome and appreciated !!
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Old 12-08-2018, 07:18 AM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Martin, I don't use Stellarium with my EQMod set up-up, I use Cartes du Ciel but I assume the install is similar....

EQMod is "called up" via the Planetarium program. Normally you don't need to use the raw Ascom or EQMod toolbox....

When everything is installed (I don't think you need a driver for the Shoestring cable as you say it's already being recognised in Com3)
Just open Stellarium, click the "telescope settings" - this should show ASCOM, then move to the "telescope connection" The driver selection needs to be set to "EQMOD Ascom HEQ5/6" check "Properties" this brings up the EQMOD setup screen - here you can set the Coms port and various other data. Click OK then click OK on the Ascom panel. Finally connect to the telescope and the EQMod control panel will appear.
Hope this helps.
(I'm doing this in the office and show the simulator in this example - you could probably do the same to practise)
Attached Thumbnails
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Old 12-08-2018, 07:35 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Ken,
The COM3 only appears in Device manager when I plug the USB serial cable (adapter) to the mount via HC as I installed a driver for this device as advised by others

When I plug the shoestring USB2EQ5 cable direct to the mount there is no Com port shown in Device manager , so I’m assuming I need a driver from the shoestring website ( free) to create a com port . Have read a few posts on cloudy nights that refer to this issue
Thanks for your information I will look into it once I establish a com port with the shoestring USB2EQ5 cable connection to the mount

Thanks again !!
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Old 12-08-2018, 07:53 AM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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The FTDI driver is pretty standard, I think it must be already installed on all my PC's - from a previous life??
I'd be interested to see how you go......
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Old 12-08-2018, 08:19 AM
Russj (Russ)
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G'day Martin, the first time I tried to setup s/scope I had similar results to what you are having, the second time everything just worked, this info is of no value to you in your current situation of course , its just to assure you that s/scope/stellarium does work .

Which documentation are you using to setup scope?
The doc I used is called "Stellarium Scope Users Guide" its 17 pages and has everything you need to know about installation. it would be hard to setup without this doc.

Hope this is not stating the obvious, ...I've found when setting up imaging equipment its alway the little things overlooked that cause you the most grief.
Regards Russ
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Old 12-08-2018, 09:12 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Hi Russ,
Thanks for replying much appreciated.No I haven’t seen this manual for Stellarium scope but I found it now and will give it a go

A few questions about your set up -

What type of mount do you have ?
Are you connected to it with a USB serial adapter cable via PC Direct with handcontroller still connected or by EQ Direct using the Shoestring USB2EQ5/6 cable direct to the mount
Are you running Windows 10 Home
If your using EQ Direct with the shoestring cable direct connection did you have to install a FTDI driver to create a COM port in Device manager
Distance from my mount to Laptop is approx 3.5m cable length, what is your cable distance

Thanks again Russ for replying any help or assistance no matter how small is greatly appreciated

Martin
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Old 12-08-2018, 10:57 AM
Russj (Russ)
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What type of mount do you have ?
I have NEQ6 which is basically the same as HEQ5 .. but heavier payload

Are you connected to it with a USB serial adapter cable via PC Direct with handcontroller still connected or by EQ Direct using the Shoestring USB2EQ5/6 cable direct to the mount.
I connect directly to the mount via eqdirect cable similar to yours,.... going thru the hand controller is a pain, the main reason for using eqdirect is to get rid of the hand control,...... I should qualify the last statement by saying I image only, so the hand controller just gets in my way.


Are you running Windows 10 Home
yes home edition

If your using EQ Direct with the shoestring cable direct connection did you have to install a FTDI driver to create a COM port in Device manager
I cant remember if I had to load a driver, I'm fairly sure win10 will load the driver when connecting the first time, I may be wrong on this.

Distance from my mount to Laptop is approx 3.5m cable length, what is your cable distance
My cable distance is about 2 meters, cable length should not make a difference until you get over 5 meters as I understand .

Hope this helps, if you need more help let me know.

Regards Russ
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Old 12-08-2018, 11:12 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Hi Ken and Russ,
I just connected laptop to mount and used the Stellarium scope procedure you suggested with my USB serial adapter cable to the handcontroller ( with the handcontroller in PC direct mode) and it worked !!!!!
Therefore I know know Ascom is allowing devices to talk to each other
One issue though with SS you can’t park the scope back to the home position when your finished. I had to cancel PC Direct mode on the handcontroller and select park telescope and then the scope parked itself back to home position or SCP.Is there a park scope function on Stellarium ?

My next program will be PHD2. I have already connected the ZWO 120MM camera to the laptop and it can see it , so as long as PHD2 can talk to the mount I can start learning autoguiding
I think PHD2 want you to cable direct to the mount and bypass the handcontroller so I will need to install the driver for the shoestring cable in any case

Thanks Ken and Russ again.
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Old 12-08-2018, 11:24 AM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Martin,
Sounds promising....

When using EQMod you have the option of Pulse guiding (No ST-4 cable involved) or alternatively the traditional ST-4 cable from the camera to the guide port on the mount.
I prefer to use the ST-4 cable set-up.
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Old 12-08-2018, 12:39 PM
Russj (Russ)
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Good news Martin,
to park the mount you need to goto the ascom mount panel and park.

I think PHD2 want you to cable direct to the mount and bypass the handcontroller so I will need to install the driver for the shoestring cable in any case
Going direct is the way to go, if you use st4 on PHD2 you will have to calibrate each time you turn on the mount, if you go direct, calibration is retained, calibration can be a bit pain in PHD.
As well you dont have to configure the hand set each time.

Getting guiding to work can also be a bit traumatic, PHD has a good forum:

https://groups.google.com/forum/?fro...en-phd-guiding, if you have problems.

Have you decided on a sequencing program?

Regards Russ
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Old 12-08-2018, 12:51 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Martin,
Why not use EQMod for parking and unpacking???
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Old 12-08-2018, 01:24 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Yes I forgot about the EQMOD ASCOM window as I had it minimised at the time
I’ll give it go tonight when I do some imaging with BYEOS

As far as PHD2 goes I’m just going to do the wizard set up , align the guide scope / camera and pick a simple object then calibrate and see how we go

My PA is around 30 arc sec by using the handcontroller so I’m getting around 1 minute exposures before the commencement of star trailing so it should give PHD2 a good start

Cheers
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Old 13-08-2018, 01:35 PM
Startrek (Martin)
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Hi Ken and Russ,
My luck with Stellarium scope was short lived as I tried last night to connect and it failed, tried again today and failed again
Check all settings like site location and port data to ensure both Stellarium, SSC and EQMOD HEQ5/6 all match
I also updated Stellarium configuration on SSC
Checked all cable connections
Checked Device manager

I power up mount and check Device manager ports and can see prolific USB to serial com port ( Com3) which matches EQMOD
Then start Stellarium scope and click on connect box
EQMOD Window opens on far left handhand side
At bottom of Stellarium scope 3 x sockets say waiting for slew connection etc.. and scope connected
I start Stellarium via SSC
Cross hair symbol is seen at SCP labelled same as ASCOM telescope ( mount in home position )
I select an object nearby
Press CNTR + 1. Nothing happens
Go back to EQMOD window and click on park and then unpark , then my mouse arrow turns into a running circle and EQMOD says Not Responding
So I shut down and start again or give up

Am I missing something ??? As I’m sure I performed the same procedure yesterday and it worked on 3 occasions ok ??? Ah but I didn’t use EQMOD to park the scope , I took it out of PC Direct and parked it manually

Any ideas ???????
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Old 13-08-2018, 02:03 PM
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Merlin66 (Ken)
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Martin,
I’d love to assist further but my experience is with Cartes du ciel and EQMod.
Hopefully someone with a similar setup to yours will come along soon.
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Old 13-08-2018, 02:49 PM
Russj (Russ)
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Hello Martin,

When I click S/scope, it starts and connects to the mount and opens Stellarium, this will happen automatically each time you open S/Scope, if you go into the settings for S/Scope you will find tick boxes to enable these features.
See if this works for you. Russ
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Old 14-08-2018, 10:50 AM
Startrek (Martin)
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Thanks Russ I will try auto connect
I have my suspicions that it could be the USB serial adapter that’s giving EQMOD an issue
I’ve checked so many forums regarding problems with EQMOD and most of them relate to the USB serial adapter. After changing to a Keyspan USB adapter most of them had their problems resolved
I’ve ordered a Keyspan and will try it out

Thanks sgain
Martin
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