Bluetooth fitted to HEQ5 Pro mount

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

Hi all

After reading a post a while back about wireless control (and tripping over the lead to the mount a couple of times) I decided to see what I could do about installing a bluetooth module in my HEQ5 Pro mount. Since I run it with the EQMOD ASCOM driver and the handset in PC-Direct mode I figured that all I needed was the bluetooth serial connection anyhow and that it shouldn't be too difficult - and it's not.

I found a bluetooth module on ebay for ~A$30 that fit the bill then once it arrived I bought the parts needed (Jaycar) for connection to the mount's internals, total under $20 (I bought stuff for another project as well so don't know exactly how much). I did consider a sort of plug-in unit for the outside of the mount which would have been easier in many respects but given that I'd probably catch it or knock it in the dark and bust it...

Anyhow, vero board, voltage regulator and various resistors to set the output, a few bits of wire and the thing was ready to test. I added a USB socket for connecting into the mount instead of hard-wiring it. Shown here with clip leads from benchtop power supply.


The USB plug was patched into the plug from the power/handset panel on the mount head at the controller board.


The regulator board inserted in the mount head opposite the controller board. Attached with double sided (non-conducting) tape and nylon mounting plugs. The bluetooth module is hanging out the front on the end of the red (power) and blue (data) wires.


The bluetooth module.

I found that it's basically line-of-sight i.e. if you can't see it then neither can the laptop. That is, when I replaced the cowling to test I couldn't detect the BT module. Fixed by adding an external antenna (blue wire on the bottom end of the module). No special antenna, just a piece of wire of about the right length.

With the cowling in place and the BT antenna coming out the hole for the polar scope.


To make it all tidy, and since the polar scope isn't used much anyway, the antenna wire is wrapped around the plug. I figure it's easy to re-wrap if I use the polar scope plus I'm not going to be using the BT connection and the polar scope at the same time.


Finally. If you didn't know what it was, the antenna just looks like a blue O-ring. Nicely camouflaged eh wot? Total cost under $50.

The only tricky bits were soldering leads to the BT module on the microscopic solder pads and patching the USB plug into the controller plug.
The velcro pad on the side of the mount is to attach a voltage regulator package.

;-)
Mick

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

where abouts in perth are you mick?

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

Maddington

Update: 2 wrinkles found.
1. Having the BT module connected disables the hand controller. Didn't expect interaction there (didn't test for it either). Not that I need the hand controller when using EQMOD but I do want to use it when aligning or just casual viewing where I don't want to get the laptop out as well.
2. The line-of-sight connection drops out if yours truly stands between the laptop and the BT antenna.

;-)
Mick

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

you wouldn't have anything to do with curtin uni?

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

Yes Brendan. How's the 12" Meade going?

Bought a dual op-amp today to add to the BT circuit as a buffer which should fix problem #1 from yesterday's post. I'm starting to think that perhaps configuring the BT as a plug-in unit on the mount head might be the way to go. Will see how difficult it is to add in the buffer on the existing board or whether to redesign the unit to include it on a new board. There's room inside the housing for it all, just depends which way will be easier to remove and install during modifications.

;-)
Mick

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

hahaha. thought that it was you just seemed the right kinda fella ! Yes everything is going great, i have a few new toys to play with Eq6, 10" Newt and a few other toys. all i need now is a itsy guide scope 450d and a web cam hazzar

hows your eq5 and associated gear rolling along?

[AlexN]

Looking good mate.. I was considering something along these lines for my EQ6 + EQMOD.. however I was going to go with your latest plan, adding a USB port to the side of the mount so that I could use the controller for planetary imaging and observing, then just plug a bluetooth module in when I'm going to do deep sky imaging and have EQMOD run over bluetooth..

More Information Required!

Alex

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

Eq mod is just a program that requires the serial cable to be converted to usb yeah

[AlexN]

it doesnt need to be converted to usb.. you can use a laptop/pc with a serial plug, and run a serial cable from the PC to the mount with an EQDIR plug somewhere in that line (EQDIR is RS232 serial to RS232 serial, with some wires crossed here and there for use with the mount) you can convert the RS232 from serial to USB... Then you'd have PC -> USB to serial plug -> EQDIR->Mount.

from there it gets more elaborate in Ozstockman's (mike) bluetooth to serial adapter + USB Bluetooth adapter for wireless, or this most recent wireless plan.. (This one being cheaper, but more techinical...)

In any case EQMOD + Wireless is the go! Now, someone design a serial to WIFI adapter, so we can use 802.11G to connect within 30m of the mount and I'll be set! mwahahhaaha....

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

At this stage I'm still looking to have it all internal and available when wanted without having to hunt in the equipment case for a plugin unit. Having taken another look at the first board I'll have to make a new board since there's no room for the op-amp IC. I'd etch a board but since it's a one-off project I'll stick with the vero. However will post circuit specs once finished and working the way I want it for whomever is interested..

;-)
Mick

Originally Posted by AlexN

Looking good mate.. I was considering something along these lines for my EQ6 + EQMOD.. however I was going to go with your latest plan, adding a USB port to the side of the mount so that I could use the controller for planetary imaging and observing, then just plug a bluetooth module in when I'm going to do deep sky imaging and have EQMOD run over bluetooth..

More Information Required!

Alex

[AlexN]

If you wanted it to all be internal and available when you wanted it, a simple switch would be the answer wouldnt it? just cut the power to the bluetooth module when you want to use the HC, switch it on for bluetooth?

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

A switch would do the job, but it wouldn't be nearly as cool! Anyhow the task is now done.


And the BT module stuck on the inside of the housing


Circuit specs to follow later for anyone who might be interested.

;-)
Mick

[AlexN]

looking forward to your diagrams.. I dare say they will work for the EQ6 Pro... I suppose time will tell..

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

And here is the circuit as PDF. The vero board was 50 x 45 mm section of a larger board with 23 x 7 mm cutout on one corner to fit next to one of the motors. A layout diagram would be something I'd consider if anyone is seriously interested in copying this.

Bluetooth module from ebay US$19.99 (~A$30)
Other parts from Jaycar:
Vero board $3.80
Voltage reg LM723CN $1.70
Dual op-amp LM358 $1.50
IC sockets $1.70
Resistors $2
Capacitor $0.30
USB plug & socket $4.05

Total: a bit under $45

I think that's the lot, without counting hookup wire which is about $5/roll.

;-)
Mick

[Sionnagh (Mick)]

And the layout. I think it's all on there.

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

what would be good is if you can have both working at the same time! I know you can run the hand controller and then plug into the base of it and run that to your computer. ... if you could run a bt module straight from the hand controller base now that would be the shiznit

[AlexN]

Brendan - that would be good... except a LOT of EQMOD users find that running EQMOD through the hand controller is less than optimal... and regardless of that, the hand controller is still not operational like this, as it as to be in PC Direct mode (synscan 3.23 firmware) Thus disabling the the hand controller and passing control directly to the computer..

[bmitchell82 (Brendan)]

bugger it , so with the eq mod, you just run it serial to usb, usb extender to pc. and then run the eq mod to control?

I guess if your software and mount are synced perfectly then it doesn't matter about the hand controller.

Is there anything else needed too run the eq mod software?

[AlexN]

well... theres nothing else you **NEED** but I highly recommend getting yourself a USB playstation controller..

I used EQMOD a few times without it... it all works fine without it, untill you're trying to correctly frame an image at medium/long focal length, and you've got to do it by clicking a button on the EQMOD screen, then switch to the preview window to see what the affect was, then click on eqmod direction button, back to CCD program etc..

It gets REALLY old, REALLY fast! I got a $19 USB gamepad from EB games, plug that in and configure it up, now I can turn tracking on and off, change the RA/DEC slew rates, slew/nudge the mount, initiate spiral search (and quite a few other functions) via the gamepad whilst monitoring the CCD preview, allowing me to easily compose the shot and operate the mount..

For $20, its well worth having.

[Screwdriverone (Chris)]

Alex,

You forgot to mention....

AND you can play "Asteroids" or Galaxxian / Galaga and make pewww pewww laser sounds while you are saving the universe from the evil Nebula Empire........




Alex............................... .........wheeze-gasp..........YOU.......are.......m y.......son!



Cheers

Chris

p.s. I actually really like the idea of the gamepad control though - great thinking!