Laptop Control

[pjphilli]

Hi

I currently drive my astro gear with an old desktop computer.
The HEQ5 mount requires a serial port for the paddle and a parallel
port to drive the mount through an interface.
I would like to use a laptop computer for this purpose but it only has
usb ports. Any suggestions how I can make the conversion?

Cheers peter

[Somnium]

you can convert them to USB via an adapter from jaycar or elsewhere

http://www.jaycar.com.au/IT-Products/Connectivity/Computer-Connectivity-Specialty-Products/USB-to-DB9M-RS-232-Converter%2C-1-5m/p/XC4834

http://www.jaycar.com.au/PRODUCTS/IT-Products/Connectivity/Computer-Connectivity-Specialty-Products/USB-to-Parallel-Bi-Directional-Cable/p/XC4847

[Merlin66]

Peter,
""The HEQ5 mount requires a serial port for the paddle and a parallel
port to drive the mount through an interface""
This is not correct.
I control my HEQ5 and NEQ6 mounts using EQMod and the Cartes du Ciel planetarium program.
The mount can easily be connected directly to a laptop via a USB port by using the EQDir module

http://welshdragoncomputing.ca/eqmod/doku.php?id=typical_configurations
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_eq.htm
This allows full remote control of the mount from the laptop

The other alternative is to use the serial cable which came with the mount (to upgrade the Synscan software) connected to the Synscan handcontroller and interfaced with the laptop USB via a Serial>USB adaptor. I've been using the Keyspan adaptor for many years. No isuues, no drama.
http://www.tripplite.com/keyspan-high-speed-usb-to-serial-adapter-microsoft-surface~USA19HS/
Hope this helps.
Ken

[muletopia]

Hello Peter,
As Merlin66 says, a shoestring cable from usb port to mount allows eqdir to drive the mount.
My cable came from Bintel & I use Skytools3 to drive the mount. Just be careful to install the correct driver for the cable, plug the cable in and let Windows find & install the driver, takes some time, then set the reported port number in eqmod.

Merlin has many worthwhile posts on this sort of subject on the English forum Stargazers Lounge.

Chris

[pjphilli]

Hi All
Thanks for all this information. I see I have a lot of options and will
look into it.
Cheers Peter