Can you update synscan hand controller via Keyspan High-Speed USB to serial?

[mbaddah]

Hi,

I'm trying to update my Synscan handset control v3 currently on 3.35 by connecting it to my pc using one of these:

https://www.tripplite.com/keyspan-high-speed-usb-to-serial-adapter~USA19HS/

Unfortunately I can't get it to recognise the com port i've selected despite changing it to other numbers, playing with the baud rate etc... Trying to do this on a Windows 10 machine.


From the firmware loader I get the "Can not connect to a Synscan hand control" message when i try to autodetect com number (or even manually select it).

Appreciate any assistance thanks :).

[Merlin66]

Mohammed,
I have and have used the Keyspan USB>Serial adaptor for years.
It worked on XP and Win7 the last time I upgraded my Synscan.
I haven't tried it (yet) with Win10.

[mbaddah]

Thanks Ken for confirming. Really strange why i cant get it to communicate. It works perfectly fine with my argo navis.

[mbaddah]

Attached a few screenshots. I first get the "Trying to connect to a Synscan hand control", it looks like it's going to connect then outputs the "Can not connect to a Synscan hand control" error message.

[AndrewJ]

Gday Mohammed
Just for fun, try 2x in a row.
I have seen this before, and the first press of the connect didnt work, but an immediate second press did.

Andrew

[Merlin66]

Is the Keyspan adapter being seen under Control panel?
If so what is the setting shown for the comms?

[mbaddah]

I tried it twice in a row to of no avail unfortunately.

I've attached screengrabs of the comms setup. Have mucked around with most settings with similar result :shrug:

[Merlin66]

Your previous Synscan screen showed Comms 3....
Try the auto detect feature in the Synscan updater...obviously it should see the serial adaptor on Comms 2.
The Keyspan seems to be set up and operating OK.

[mbaddah]

Ah yes i should have specified that I manually changed the com number afterwards, so that was deliberate :).

I'm sure it'll end up something trivial once it's figured out. Appreciate the help.

[AndrewJ]

Can you connect normally using an ASCOM driver, or via EQMod in PCDirect mode???
ie have you confirmed the cable actually works with the normal Hbx modes???
Another thing ( very low probability tho )
Many people report that many older apps wont work properly in W10 unless you run in administrator mode. ( Note this is different to being an administrator )
Maybe the Synscan app is trying to do something on connecting for download mode that W10 doesnt like????

Andrew

PS one last thing,
The Argo Navis serial port is wired differently to the Synscan, so you need to swap cables.
Is there a continuity error in your Synscan cable????

[mbaddah]

Hi Andrew,

I haven't tried ASCOM or EQMOD. Not sure what you mean by AN serial port wired differently to synscan?

To confirm my connection is working i hooked up my argonaut to argonavis and it connected fine immediately. I have take a photo of how it is hooked up to my synscan.

Thanks

[gary]

Hi Mohammed,

What Andrew said is key.

You need to ensure you are using the correct Synscan serial cable.

Since the pin assignments for the serial ports can be different on
different devices, each manufacturer will manufacture a serial cable
specific to their device.

The Argo Navis Serial Port pin assignments were designed by us with
specific design requirements in mind. The Syncan serial port designers
chose their pin assignments independently of us. So the chance of
your Argo Navis Serial Cable simply plug and playing with your Synscan
are probably around 1 chance in 64.

In fact looking at this document here which includes a diagram of the
Synscan serial port pin assignments, I can see that they are different
to the Argo Navis pin assignments which are described in Appendix C
of the User Manual - http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/docs/PC_Control_Options.pdf

Likewise you can't mix and match the DB-9 header we supply with some
other arbitrary RJ to RJ cable. The wiring within the DB-9 is again
proprietary to your Argo Navis.

Looking at the photo the cable you are using is of identical style to
an Argo Navis Serial cable.

So in a nutshell, do you have a Synscan to PC serial cable?

[AndrewJ]

Gday Mohammed

The cable that goes between the USB converter and the Argo Navis must be different to the one used to connect to a Synscan Handbox, as the 2 devices use different wiring orders in their plastic plugs.
The fact you can connect to yr AN tells us the USB2Ser adapter is working, so that means there is a possible fault in the Synta supplied cable.

Andrew

[mbaddah]

Ahhhhh Gary and Andrew that makes a lot of sense!!! I dont have the rs232 serial that came with the mount (its torn)... i just assumed (wrongly so) that because they have the same connection fit it would work, so i used the one that came from you Gary :P

Looks like this is what i need:
https://binocularandtelescope.com.au/product/celestron-nexstar-rs-232-cable/

I'll order it next week from Bintel and keep you posted.

Thanks guys :)

[AndrewJ]

Gday Mohammed

Close, but i suspect no wabbit.;)
It looks like the Celestron handboxes use the same wiring order as the Syntas, but the Syntas use a 6 pin plug ( with centre 4 pins used ), and the Celestrons use a 4 pin plug.
Ie the Celestron plug is too narrow for a Synta Hbx.
Gotta luv standards :rofl:

Andrew

[gary]

The RJ connector series allows for a narrower 4P4C plug to plug into a wider
6P4C receptacle.

Use the spring clip tab as the reference to guide it in.

One can also get a plastic clip which goes into the receptacle and
reduces a 6P wide receptacle to 4P, but in this one-off instance of
programming a device, it would not be necessary.

[AndrewJ]

Gday gary

Better and safer to just get the right cable if possible.

Andrew

[mbaddah]

Thanks Gary for the tip, but unfortunately i'm not mentally equipped to conduct such an feat :). I'll happily purchase the right cable. Appreciate the assistance :D

[Mittay]

Most Pc's have an onboard serial port (not laptops) but they usually aren't hooked up because it's not needed in most cases.

Have a look on your motherboard, if it has a com or serial port pin section, then buy one of these from your local retailer and you're all set.

The below pic also shows the pin configuration you want to look for on the mainboard, 1xrow of 5, 1xrow of 4. They usually retail for $5 and will work guaranteed, not like all these adaptors etc...

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/high-quality-wholesale-Motherboard-mainboard-Serial-9-pin-RS232-Com-Port-Bracket-Cable-connector-DB9/706931_606002211.html