GPUSB cable

[Lee]

I have just picked up a GPUSB box..... I need an RJ-12 cable to connect it to the G-11. Is a standard RJ12 to RJ12 telephone cable from Jaycar etc going to fit the bill, or do I need to reverse pins or something as inconvenient???

[[1ponders]]

From memory it is pretty standard. Give Phil (acropolite) a holla, he made me up a couple at duckadang so he would know.

[leon]

I was told the the RJ12 cable and the RJ12 telephone Cable are not the same, and was advised not to use one, buy the place in the States that supplied the stuff for my Guiding with the G11.

I too thought that they may be the same, but on closer inspection you can see the wires in both sockets are placed differently.

leon

[[1ponders]]

There ya go. I knew I shoulda paid more attention when Phil was making them. :P

Sorry for the bum steer Lee.

[Lee]

Bugger!

[acropolite]

There are lots of ways you can crimp an RJ plug on to flat cable, so a straight telephone cable may or may not work, unfortunately I can't remember which configuration I made for Paul. I know the pinout of the GPUSB, if you can tell me the pinout of the Autoguide port on the G11 I can knock a couple up for you. I've had a peek at the Gemini manual but the pinout shown is a little ambiguous.

[leon]

Have a look in here, it may assist you.

leon
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/guide_port_cables.pdf

[Lee]

Thanks Phil - I may take you up on that yet!
I've just compared Leon's link and the Gemini manual - it is very ambiguous (unlike the rest of the manual curiously). Showstring state you need a RJ12 to RJ12, where all pins "line up" ie 1-1, 2-2, 3-3 etc..... Seems to one of the cables in the Jaycar Engineering Catalog....

[Lee]

Maybe not.....

From Doug Anderson of Shoestring Astronomy....
".... are you absolutely certain it is wired pin 1 to pin 1 as outlined in this document:
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/guide_port_cables.pdf
Most RJ12 cables in stores are wired pin 1 to pin 6 and thus will not work properly with the GPUSB. "

Will have a look.... why can't these things be simple?

[h0ughy]

so do you want to start autoguiding ASAP? We could build it tomorrow, just need to get some RJ12 connectors, I only have network plugs at the ready, I have heaps of CAT5e cable

[Lee]

I'm in no big hurry - just thought I should keep assembling bits now the GPUSB turned up!
I've got to go over to Jaycar in the am - will see what they have, if no luck with cable, will grab some connectors and give you a ring - OK?

[h0ughy]

Ok I will be going out to Belmont before lunch to do my mothers grocery shopping, be home in the afternoon

[ozstockman]

It is called straight through cable when each wire linked to the same pin on both ends. I'm not sure about G-11 mount pins connections but ST4 autoguide port for EQ6 requires 6 pins RJ12 straight through cable. It looks like the one for phone lines but it has 6pins instead of 4.
These 6pin RJ12 connectors are not hard to find in hardware stores.
However 6-wires cable can be found only in JayCar. I mean it's the only place where you can get 1-10 meters of it. When I was looking for it nobody wanted to sell me 5 meters and the minimum they asked me to buy was 50 meters. CAT5(8 pins) cable will work too with the only difference that you don't use one spare pair of wires. CAT5 will be much easier to find as it's a standard cable for computer networks.

Once you get connectors and cable it's just 2 minutes job to make this cable. However it won't be possible without a good 6/8 Pin Crimping Tool. There is a plenty of them on ebay and they are cheap but it's just because they are very bad quality. I bought one from guy in China for $10 and wasted at least 6 RJ12 connectors with no result. Then I bought the crimper from dicksmith for $36 and it did its job on my first try.

[Geoff45]

I had a coiled Shoestring Astronomy cable which worked fine with a PHD, G8 and GPUSB. Wheb I tried to use a flat RJ12 cable from Jaycar (or maybe Dick Smith I forget who) it didn't work. On looking carefully at the cable, I noticed that the pin-to-pin setup wasn't what it should be according to the Shoestring Astronomy site (http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/guide_port_cables.pdf) . I have ordered a flat cable from SA--$US11 inc P and P--saves stuffing around and won't break the bank.

[Lee]

I ordered a pair of straight through 6 conductor RJ-12 to RJ-12 from a custom cable place in Sydney - about A$10 for two (3 and 5m).... forgotten the name of the place though - will post it when I receive them!

[Lee]

Received! 24hr from phone order....
Bit stiff on the delivery cost, but cables cheap....
RJ12-RJ12 straight through - 3m ($4.18) 5m ($5.00)
Delivery (courier) and packaging ($15.15) :D

Company for those interested - www.joinerscabling.com.au
Tel 02 9808 2788

[ozstockman]

If RJ12 connectors has 6 pins and they are all connected straigh through it should work. If it has 4 pins it won't. RJ12 is referred to both 4 and 6 pins connectors. They are the same dimensions and they are both fit the same wall socket.
If you want to be sure that you've got the right one it's very easy to do.
Look at them in a way shown here (http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/B0000934FF/ref=dp_image_text_0/203-8038250-8010367?ie=UTF8&n=560798&s=electronics) and check that

1)both ends have 6 pins
2) each pin of connector on one end of a cable is connected with corresponding pin of connector on other end of the cable and it's done using the same color wire.

[Lee]

All good - they are RJ12 6p6c straight through... colours all line up when viewed from same side of plug....