What sort of cable do I need going from my GPUSB to my HEQ5?

[Jethro777]

So I have the usb cable from my guiding cam going to my laptop, then a GPUSB plugging into my laptop, which ends in the GPUSB device itself which has what appears to be a phone connection port.
What is the cable that runs from that into my HEQ5 mount?
My mount didn't come with a cable for that it seems.

[jwoody]

Hello

If you want to control the mount with your laptop then you may want a EQDIR cable.
https://www.myastroshop.com.au/products/details-item.asp?id=MAS-030L1
or
https://www.bintel.com.au/product/shoestring-usb2-eq5-interface/?v=6cc98ba2045f
or even cheaper make your own
https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/319857-eqdir-for-heq5-pro-diy/

You then control the mount with software called EQMOD (free).
PHD guiding (also free) to control your guiding.

I am not familiar with the GPUSB but I don't think you want to use it. I may be wrong and I am sure others may correct me :)
I think you need a rj12 cable of some sort to use the GPUSB.......

Jeremy

[Jethro777]

If I connect an auto guider to the laptop, can I then user a serial port to re12 to connect to the Mount when using phd?

Nice to meet you Jeremy, your just a few km from me. :)

[Paullus]

Hi Jethro,

If your guide camera doesn't have a guide port (e.g. using a webcam), then use the GPUSB to connect to the mount using an RJ11 6P6C cable from memory.
Diagram: https://2.bp.blogspot.com/_BCg7Ox9nmno/TIFE6eYxqxI/AAAAAAAABRM/kSEpknSPgrQ/s1600/autoguiding+3.jpg

Otherwise if your guide camera does have a guide port, then you get connect it directly to the mount, as per this diagram. An advantage of this method is one less cable from the computer.
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BCg7Ox9nmno/TIFEvS7_plI/AAAAAAAABRE/Dnr2AAX-fEc/s1600/autoguiding+2.jpg

Either method doesn't give full computer control (e.g. goto, use with planetarium software etc) but will allow guiding. If you want the full control route then a EQDIR cable as per Jeremy's recommendation is the go, or you can buy/make a serial to RJ45 cable to connect to the Skyscan handcontroller which then connects to the mount like this:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BCg7Ox9nmno/TIFEd_XFq3I/AAAAAAAABQ0/dJTEpf2FLZQ/s1600/autoguiding+1.jpg

Cheers

[Jethro777]

Thank you, it seems as though attaching a serial cable on one end, and then attaching a cable to the mount might work for me.
I will see if it works. Thank you for helping me out!