USB to Serial adaptors

[Nifty]

Hi all
I have just tried to update my Synscan using a usb to serial adaptor and it fails no matter what I do. ( Even following the Synscan Instructions!)
Can anyone point me in the direction af a brand of adaptor that works with Synscan?

Nev.

[gmbfilter]

I got mine from BINTEL, don't know brand. It also worked OK for Argonarvis

[Gama]

Check what port settings is set in the "Device Manager".
It may be possible that it needs to be set at Com1: or Com2:.

Theo.

[Merlin66]

I've been using KeySpan USB-Serial adaptors for all my requirements; LX200, HEQ5, TheSky, CdC, AstroPlanner etc. Never let me down.

[Omaroo]

...or try a PCMCIA serial adapter. I've had far more success with these than with USB, and if you have a PCMCIA slot you can use, you get an additional USB port you thought you lost otherwise.

[allan gould]

Have a Belkin adapter and works fine. Try setting your com ports as suggested

[rider]

I used a KeySpan USB-Serial adaptor to upgrade the synscan software and it worked fine, but SO SLOOOOOW, it took an hour and a half. The site said it would take about 240 seconds.

Rider

[Nifty]

Thanks everyone,
I tried changing the port number but still no joy.
It seems I will have to buy another one. I have heard that they can be a pain in the asterism. I might get the Bintel one even though it's twice the price of the one I have at least it should work.

Cheers
Nev

[Dennis]

Like Chris above, I use a PCMCIA RS232 Card and it has been 100% reliable from day 1.

Cheers

Dennis

[leinad]

I bought an ATEN 'USBto Serial' adapter and never got it working? Someone did mention they had to change the data wires over, but I have no idea which ones and how to do this.

[acropolite]

I can personally vouch for the ATEN, we use them at work (for serial programming to PABX's) and there are no problems with anything you throw at them. There's bugger all to getting them "working", basically just plug them in and load the driver. You may have to go in to the device manager and change the com port to one that is spare and satisfies your applications needs (many progs like coms 1-4 and won't run with any higher) You can buy one for under $30 :thumbsup:

[leinad]

I trust then you have tried one on the mount? Please HELP ME on how you got it working. I've tried everything! and it wont talk to the mount.

I tried different COM ports when using the SynScan update and on occasion it would brefiely work, but 98% time it would fail. I eventually gave up, and havnt tried since.

I'm desperate to getting it working with Starry Night, and ASCOM Progs.

[acropolite]

I haven't tried mine yet driving my EQ6, but if I get a chance, I'll give it a run at the weekend. One thing worth noting is that it often helps to turn off the FIFO buffer in the device manager. I had one system that wouldn't download reliably and when the FIFO option was turned off the problems disappeared. I personally wouldn't try updating a synscan (or autostar or any other flash upgradeable handbox for that matter) on anything other than a normal comms port. FYI there is a bit more discussion on the Aten adapter in this thread (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=26144&highlight=aten).

[leinad]

They would be great if you could try it out. Thanks. I'll also try those options mentioned.
I read that other thread posted, but it wasnt too helpful. Outwestwa mentioned he had to swap over the data wires, but I have no idea whats involved in this or how to do it, or why. See last post in the therad.

Cheers

[acropolite]

I would imagine he's referring to the cable between the adapter and his equipment. There aren't that many leads involved, some interfaces use as little as 3 (transmit data, recieve data and signal ground) for bothway comms. There are other handshaking leads RTS, CTS, CD, DTR, DSR (request to send, clear to send, carrier detect, Data set ready and data terminal ready) which are sometimes used.

The EQ6 Synscan interface only uses TX & RX data and signal ground. There's a diagram of the cable in appendix B of the Sysncan Manual.

[Tandum]

I you check device manager you'll find that these devices install themselves as a USB device, so 6 of one 1/2 dozen of the other. They prolly work more consistantly because most laptops have crap usb ports in the first place which can't supply either the current or the speed required.

[mrsnipey]

I've ordered a pcmcia serial adapter from ebay as I've given up hope of ever getting my serial cable to work with my eq6. It's weird though because I can control my 400D with a cable I built and the serial to usb cable, no problems.
Fingers crossed.

[Tandum]

There's the rub. The camera does not require current from the USB line, it just transfers data, but the mount obviously needs current to drive switching transistors or something, and your USB socket and the voltage drop across the cable lenght you are using, can't supply the current required to do it.

Have you tried putting a powered USB hub on the mount?

[leinad]

Hey Phil,

Would you be be able try yours out this weekend, and let me know if you have success and how you configured it through the device manager?

I'll give it another shot today as well.

[mrsnipey]

Hi Tandum. That might be the problem. My laptop only has usb1 ports. I might have to invest in a powered usb hub as well. Thanks for the idea.

[leinad]

Wooohooo!!!

Got the ATEN USB-to-Serial adaptor working!

I had to download the ASCOM Celestron Unified drivers; went into Starrynight, selected 'Skywatcher Mount' in ASCOM Options/Celestron Scope Driver/Skywatcher Mount.. and it came alive!!!

Almost fell off my chair!

[acropolite]

That's good news Leonad . Saves me from having to prove on my mount. :thumbsup:

[leinad]

Heheh. Thanks anyways.

[Nifty]

Thanks gents
I seemed to have opened a can of worms. I am now tossing up between the Bintel adaptor (should work) and a pcmcia to serial card. There are also usb to 4 serial port adaptors available. I wonder how good they are.
I have read quite a few threads on USB and it is not as "universal" as it could be, particularly on lappies.
Thanks all
Nev

[rogerg]

G'day all,

I've been trying to get my Losmandy Gemini running connected to my new Vista laptop. My old USB -> RS232 converter doesn't appear to work with Vista.

So I went out and bought a new Belkin one. It seems to not function either, same symptom that TheSky just can't connect to the telescope. The Belkin one has send/receive indicators on it. The send indicator flashes but nothing on the receive indicator.

Can anyone vouch for a particular converter and Vista and Gemini? I'm considering the Bintel one but on their website it doesn't mention Vista.

Thanks,
Roger.

PS. I should add that I am purposefully avoiding the Express Card option, as I'd much prefer to keep my current system of only one USB cable from scope to laptop, with hub at the scope.

[netwolf]

Hi All,

You may be interested in this device, saw it posted on the Gemini_users yahoo group.

http://astronomystores.net/store/cart.php?target=product&product_id=58&category_id=13

Regards
Fahim

[acropolite]

Roger, as before I suggest you try the ATen one, Leinad got his running, I believe he is running Vista. The Aten unit is under $30.

[richard omeara]

have you tried backdating from vista to windows xp.i did it with my new laptop.i couldnt get my gstar conected to vista.works great now

[rogerg]

Thanks, but I intend to stay on Vista. (controversial I know, so I'll leave it at that!)

[rogerg]

Yeah, ok .. I'll just go with that. Found'm on StaticIce for $24 so will get two of them and be done with it (one for Gemini, one for 350D).

Thanks,
Roger.

[gary]

Hi Roger,

If you are like me and subscribe to the "life is just too short" philosophy,
buy yourself a Keyspan USA-19HS USB Serial Adapter.

It works. Period.

There are many other brands on the market and most with a lower price point
than the Keyspan. There are many users that have luck with other brands.
However, through the enormous amount of interaction we have had through
thousands of customers around the world, running every variant of all the
popular OS's (i.e. Windows - including Vista, Mac OS X, Linux), the Keyspan
solution has always just worked.

As a result of the worldwide war of attrition of users doing battle with various
serial solutions, we decided several years ago to recommend and stock the
Keyspan adapter ourselves. We essentially stock it as a service to our
customers with the added motivation on our part that its reliability as a solution
means less support calls. Important when you are dealing with thousands
of users with diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.

A good adapter is combination of a good hardware and a good driver.
Whereas USB was optimized for bulk data transfers, most telescope
control applications are typified by a single or handful of bytes being transferred
at a time. Many adapters on the market simply fail in some applications because
they don't handle small data transfers correctly.

One of the other advantages of the Keyspan is that it comes with a diagnostic
utility called the Keyspan Serial Assistant that provides diagnostic features
as well as allows you to see at a glance the port assignment and
change it, rather than having to drill down through the Windows hardware
menus.

Its success as a solution is also well known in many environments outside of
the astronomy control world. As a result, we now and then sell them to people
who have mission critical applications in areas such as the mining sector,
Point of Sale (POS) terminal interfaces, veterinarians and manufacturing.
A good example was an American who called from a dock in Brisbane who
had just sailed from San Francisco and was heading into the shark and
pirate infested waters of Indonesia. "Did we have a Keyspan Adapter in stock
and could we get it to him today", was the query. When I explained that it
would at least take overnight, since we were in Sydney, he decided to stay in
port for an additional night. Apparently he already used them and required
another for some navigational equipment. We sent him his adapter and
I thought to myself, "Here is a man whose life might well depend on the
reliability of this adapter and he knew exactly which brand and model to buy".

One can go out and find other adapters for as little as ten dollars.
But many end up being hundreds of dollars worth of time and trouble.

Buy it anywhere but just buy a Keyspan.

Hope this tip is helpful.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[rogerg]

Doh, all of 5 seconds too late Gary, litterally - just bought the ATEN one. One only in fact.

I might yet buy the Keyspan at the rate I'm going :)

Thanks for your input Gary.

Roger.

[gary]

Hi Roger,

Now if the Universities had taught we engineers how to touch type
rather than waste our time on General Studies, I may have been quicker on
the draw. :)

No worries. :) And don't panic. Some have reported luck here with the ATEN
and if the ends justifies the means and it works for you on the mount and
camera under Vista, you are set! :)

However, perhaps the thread would have been shorter if I had come in earlier. :)

"Keyspan" should really be a knee-jerk response in my opinion on forums when it comes
to a reliable USB Serial recommendation for astronomy control applications.
As you know, we provide service to customers worldwide, seven days a week
and so we get to hear the stories about all the brands of Serial adapters
people use. The nice thing for us is I know that when we ship
one of the Keyspan adapters half-way around the world, perhaps to somewhere like
Norway, along with one of our own telescope computers, is that we are not going
to see it come back and that it is known and proven to work.

If you ever need one and can't find them, as i mention, we normally have them in stock.

Best Regards

Gary Kopff
Managing Director
Wildcard Innovations Pty. Ltd.
20 Kilmory Place, Mount Kuring-Gai
NSW. 2080. Australia
Phone +61-2-9457-9049
Fax +61-2-9457-9593
sales@wildcard-innovations.com.au
http://www.wildcard-innovations.com.au

[leinad]

Roger,

The CD has 'many' drivers. Ensure you use the Vista Driver. Im at work now; but from memory the front label on the box shows the version you need to load. UC232A from memory? I can check this when I get home.

The only problem I had was I didnt load and select the correct Ascom
drivers. The data transfer rate seems excellent! The mount operates just as it would using HC.

[Babalyon 5]

The best thing really, as per advise on some discussion groups,:thumbsup: is to use an old pc with genuine serial ports to do your updates from. I use an Aten usb to serial for all my other stuff no worries.

[rogerg]

Courier just dropped off my new ATEN unit ... so tonight's the night I get to see how easily I can get it working, looking forward to it :thumbsup:

[rogerg]

Hmm, no joy with the ATEN so far, sorry to say.

I will admit I installed the wrong driver first - I blame the dodgy documentation (rightly or wrongly). But I have since un-installed that, and installed the Vista software, a few times.

Vista seems to reconise it fine, but TheSky & POTH just don't seem to be able to connect. With the other adaptors TheSky sits there for a while thinking about it, with this one it's an immediate failure, as if the port isn't there at all.

TheSky says that it could not open the com port.

Hmm, I'll continue to fiddle with it.

Roger.

[Nifty]

Thanks to all
As the person who started all this, I just want to thank everyone for their input. It's been most informative and I would like to thank the founders of IIS for a great forum.
Looks like the Keyspan is the answer.
Now I am going to start another thread on a similar theme-Video input to USB or PCMCIA devices and where to get same.

Cheers Nev

[TrevorW]

Which colours what :help:

[acropolite]

It is most likely that the com port isn't assigned to a number that your software is recognising. Most software looks for com ports from 1 to 4 often the USB device will install as a higher number. Try looking in the device manager and reassign the com port of the Aten to something in the range 1-4.

[Babalyon 5]

Did you install the files from the RS232 folder on the disk, I think it is? It took me a while to find the right driver, too.:doh:
And yes, acropolite is right, check your com port assignment numbers. I typically use 3 to communicate to my mount.

[mrsnipey]

Well, after trying every driver under the sun, changing every com port setting there is and buying a serial-to-usb cable, I still couldn't get my laptop to control my EQ6. So I bought a cheap PCMCIA serial port from e-bay. It took three weeks to arrive but I just tried it out and it works!!! Talk about a drama. Just wish these darn clouds would go away now.

[erick]

I also bought a cheap (like $17 delivered!) PCMCIA-RS232 card for an application on my lappie and it doesn't work! The luck of the draw :shrug:

[Nifty]

Hi all
My Keyspan USB to serial adaptor arrived today and it works with every serial device I have!
It wasn't cheap but it is worth it. So now i'll update the SynScan controller.

Cheers
Nev

[leinad]

Careful. Its been recommended not to update synscan software using a usb-serial converter; but to use a direct serial port on the pc.

I havnt taken the risk as yet; and most likely wont, but tell us how you went if it does work.

[Merlin66]

Guys,
As I said before the Keyspan does the job!!
I've upgraded the Synscan a couple of time using it... no problems for me.

[Nifty]

Merlin 66
Yes, it is worth the extra expense. The only problem upgrading the SynScan is that it is so sloooooooow. It took about 2.5 hours! I have read that it is a common problem. Perhaps its the latest firmware loader.
I am considering buying another Keyspan for other astro devices.

Cheers
Nev