EQ6 Shoestring cable options for guiding

[Wookie]

Hi all,

I am a tad confused and need your help.
I have an EQ6 and would like to guide with a neximage webcam through a piggybacked refractor to my main scope.

I have an RJ11-USB cable that allows me to connect my Synscan handset to my laptop. Ideally I'd like to delete the handset from this setup.

My question is what cable exactly do I need for guiding to connect my EQ6 to my laptop?

Am I able to go from the autoguide port of the EQ6 directly to usb using the RJ11-USB cable I have or do I need the GPUSB cable listed here:
http://www.bintel.com.au/Astrophotography/Autoguiders/Shoestring-USB-Guide-br--Port-Interface/771/productview.aspx

Alternatively, could guiding be done with this cable instead of the GPUSB?
http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tripods/Mount-Accessories/Shoestring-USB2-br--EQ6-Interface/775/productview.aspx

I hope someone can help, it's all a little confusing at the moment!

Happy Easter everyone!!

Ryan

[peter_4059]

Ryan,

If you want to do away with the hand controller you need to use EQMOD - I assume you are not using this at the moment and that you have a Synscan version handcontroller?

If you go to EQMOD you need a USB-serial TTL cable to connect the laptop direct to the DB11 plug on the mount. This is pulse guiding.

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

you need one of these cables to do this:
http://www.starstuff.com.au/page56a.html
you can make one if you are ok with a soldering iron
http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-usb-to-serial-ttl-level-5v-converter-cable.html


You can also use pulseguiding and EQMOD via the cable you have into the handcontroller - you need to install EQMOD on your PC and put the handcontroller in PC direct mode.

Alternately you can keep the hand controller and use ST4 guiding through the autoguide port on the mount however you will need a GPUSB to go from the usb connection on the laptop to an RJ12 cable which plugs into the autoguide port on the mount.

Hope this helps.

Peter

[Wookie]

Thanks Peter for your response.

I was hoping to guide using MaxIm Dl.
I appreciate the links you have supplied.

Ryan

[peter_4059]

I dn't use Maxim however it should work with EQMOD. I'm pretty sure Troy Piggins uses pulse guiding with Maxim.

[peter_4059]

Ryan - you should note the USB-RJ11 cable that connects to your handset is not the same as the USB-serial TTL needed for EQMOD.

Peter

[troypiggo]

Yes. I use EQMod and MaxIm for guiding and image capture as Peter describes. No dramas at all.

[Wookie]

Thanks very much for your replies.

Greatly appreciated!

[I.C.D]

Ryan,
I use a hitecastro usb-eq direct interface with a Ascom eqmod program to control my scope with the laptop this cable bypass the handcontrol box so you don't have to use it.

Ian C :thumbsup::D

[Merlin66]

As mentioned already you have two options for guiding:
1. Connect the mount to the computer (I assume PHD for guiding) via the ST-4 guide port on the mount and the GPUSB cable.
2. Use EQmod pulse guiding. This requires the mount either to be directly connected (dump the handcontroller) via a EQDir dongle/cable and use a planetarium program (say CdC) to give on-screen controls...
OR
Use the serial update cable which should have come with your mount, connect to the handcontroller, set the controller to PC Direct (Utility menu) and then use EQmod etc. though this connection.

I use both types of EQmod connections and haven't had any issues with my HEQ5/ NEQ6 mounts.