Stellarium to control EQ6 mount

[TrevorW]

Could someone please advise the steps needed to get an EQ6 controlled by this program.

I've tried but no success just doesn't seem to want to connect to the mount

I did put the mount in RS232 mode

Cheers

[AlexN]

does stellarium use ASCOM? if so, make sure you're using the Celestron Nexstar 5i/8i driver, and that you have selected the correct COM port. Also make sure its rate is set to 9600Baud.

[TrevorW]

Ascom provide a driver the EQ6 (apparently the driver for the moded EQ6 works) as well as the Celestron Drivers

The Com port is 1

baud rate set Ok

:thumbsup:

[Chippy]

I believe you may need Stellariumscope. Take a look here:
http://www.bytearts.com/stellarium/

Nick.

[mrsnipey]

Chippy is right. I just got my EQ6 going with Stellarium scope.

[AdrianF]

I thought I gave you the steps to get Stellarium going.

Adrian

[AdrianF]

Install ASCOM drivers from http://ascom-standards.org/ (http://ascom-standards.org/)

Install EQMOD install files from http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/ (http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/)

Install Stellarium from http://www:stellarium.org (http://www:stellarium.org) V0.9.0 (V 0.10.0 doesnt work yet as far as I can tell)

Install Stellarium Scope from http://www.bytearts.com/stellarium/ (http://www.bytearts.com/stellarium/)

Connect your EQ6 to a serial port on your PC/Laptop turn on EQ6 and put into PC Direct Mode and then run Stellarium Scope, you can set Stellarium scope to start Stellarium everytime you start Scope (convenience?) In EQMOD, that should load up with Stellarium Scope, Unpark the scope. In Stellarium select object you want to look at and then press CTRL 1 together, Scope should then ask if you wish to sync or slew select slew and providing everything is OK your scope should slew to the object and if your scope is aligned should track the object.

Adrian

[rider]

ok, this is the first time I've tried to do this, and dont want to make a mistake. I've downloaded the below programs and installed them.

cable wise, do you plug into the mount or the synscan controller? (eq5pro)

rider

[AlexN]

plug the serial end of the cable into your PC and the end that looks like a phone plug into the hand controller.

[oggie doggie]

The opening post asked about EQ6.
Am I correct in assuming that the same applies to HEQ5pro. I believe HEQ5pro and EQ6 have the same software.

[Babalyon 5]

I think it does. Why don't you check out Stellarium, and EQMOD. You can also use Cartes Du Ceil(LOL, I can never spell it!) which is another free planetarium to control your mount from. Also maybe Hello, Northern Sky(LOL, dunno if this is applicable for Southerners like us, but think it is).:D

[Catostylus]

Has anybody any experience using kstars to control a telescope?

I have the Linux version of stellarium but it looks as though the stellarium scope plugin may be Windows only.

[rider]

I'm trying to get a little ascer aspire notepad to control a skywatcher eq5pro. cabling is a usb/serial adapter which talks to the synscan controler satisfactorally.

Ive loaded all of the above, and followed the instructions.... synscan controller is in pc direct mode, Stellarium-scope says the scope is connected, & the stellarium config.ini is updated.
the scope simulator box says the scope is un-parked

I do the cnrl/1 trick and the prompt box asks me if I wish to slew (yes I do),

but no action from the scope..
edit1

the eqmod I was using was a beta, I have now replaced it, but now when it is started I get the a box stating the following.

"component MSWINSCK.ocx or one of its dependencies is not correctly registered: a file is missing or invalid"

whats this mean? any ideas to get the scope running?
rider

[rider]

I must have been tired last night, this morning I search the net and found that my version of xp doesnt include 2 .ocx files needed to run the ascom driver.
I loaded them in and everyhing works!

If you have the same problems, download and add the various required .ocx files to windows/system (or system32) until the warning boxes are all gone.

there are a large number of sites providing these files, but be careful, this type of file has been targeted by virus generating lowlife, so scan it before you use it.

rider

[TrevorW]

OK I got it all installed and working on the desktop PC figured out the additional cable supplied runs from the PC to handcontroller, however can I also run 2 planeterium softwear packages which use the Ascom platform on the same PC then chose which one I want to use on the night.

Cheers

[Chippy]

I haven't actually done it, but I'm confident the answer is YES.

[keppar]

Getting there. how do you put the mount into rs232 mode?
What buttons is that on in the EQ6 skyscan controller

[keppar]

Oh and by the way I am running Vista is that a problem

[rider]

when you have done an alignment, go into the utilities menu (of the controller) and select PC direct mode.

(I'm a couple of steps ahead of you, Ive got mine moving the scope ok, but it doesnt send it to the correct star. - I think that you may have to park the scope prior to going to pc direct mode, and then un-park it with Stellarium-scope. Last night mine was continually out by about the distance and angle between the postion my scope was in when I switched to PC direct, and the park position.

does anyone know if my assumption is correct?

rider

[keppar]

My skyscan on ultilities does not have p/c control on it only GPS/PEC training/pae/show imformation am I doing anything wrong?

[TrevorW]

What version of Synscan are you usiing if not V3.23 then you should update

Cheers

[keppar]

Its 3.20 will update

[keppar]

Now having troulble with updating have got serial /usb cable (keyspan ) still wont reconize controller.I have version 3.20 should that allow pc direct mode or do I need 3.23

[TrevorW]

If you cannot find the words "PC Direct" mode in Utility functions, I think or Setup then no you'll need v3.23

cheers

:thumbsup:

[Chippy]

3.20 won't do it. It came in v3.21 or 3.22
3.23 is the current version.

[keppar]

Hi all
I have done everything and can now control scope thru stellarium scope and ascom window.I cannot seem to get socket connected to be able to use Stellariym to control scope,have pointed to star and pressed CTRL 1 and nothing happens is there something I am doing wrong:sadeyes:

[keppar]

PS I have automatically updated stellarium configuration

[TrevorW]

Remember if you are using a USB to serial adapter that the USB port is set to COM1

[keppar]

Thanks Trevor I have already done that .still wont bring up dialogue box when pressing ctrl 1

[TrevorW]

Sorry what dialogue box are you referring too, when you pick a star then press Ctrl 1 the scope should then slew too the object.

Cheers

[keppar]

After pressing ctrl 1 there should be a dialogue box that asks if you want to slew to target. Nothing happens when I press ctrl 1, no box, no slewing

[keppar]

Also in the stellarium scope box the socket down the bottom it says listening for stellarium it does not say connected only the scope is connected

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi

Controlling a telescope from Stellarium needs a few pre-requisites. Have you done them all.

Firstly Stellaium 0.10.0 will not control the telescope you will need to use version 0.9.1

Next the config.ini file needs to be edited to activate the controls

[astro]
flag_light_travel_time = true
flag_telescope_name = true
flag_telescopes = true

[telescopes]
1 = My_LX200_telescope:TCP:localhost:10 000:500000
2 = My_ETX70_telescope:TCP:localhost:10 001:1500000
3 = My_Dummy_telescope:TCP:localhost:10 002:50000

Substitute the "My_LX200_telescope" with whatever name you like

Next you need to run your telescope program and see that it is polling the telescope and returning the coords sequentially.

If you are using the standard LX200 driver it will write all this in a DOS window. I don't know what the other drivers show but when you run them the output needs to be directed to the port that Stellarium is listening on. A typical command run at the DOS prompt would be:

telescopeserverLX200.exe 10000 com1:

The port can be any available one and the com port whatever number you can use. You can even direct the output to a file.

Run the dummy telescope program. That will work independant of Ascom.
telescopeserverDummy.exe 10002.

Use ctrl 3 with the above config.ini entries. If that does not work the problem is in the dummy telescope program or Stellarium itself.

That should be all there is to it

Barry

[lesbehrens]

hi. so if i had a eq mount i could use my computer to find the object?:shrug:

[TrevorW]

Sorry, Keppar I assume you are using an EQ6 or similar mount (as per the threat title) and if you are then the process is relatively simple once you get the hang of it.

Synscan handset should be in PC direct mode

Start up Stellarium Scope (not Stellairum) first, scope will automatically load Stellarium

In the Stellarium Scope dialogue window click the connect button and also ensure the tcp/ip is enabled (see attachment)

The EQmod Ascom dialogue box will pop up in the EQmod Ascom window make sure you unpark (see attached) the scope also through the setup set you lat/long etc

then go to Stellarium window select target press Control 1 then dialogue box pops up pick Slew

Cheers

[pmrid]

Mind if I ask a dumb question? What is Stallarium Scope - I know and use Stellarium plain and simple, but is this another program or a script or what?

Peter

[keppar]

Have finally got stellarium to control scope, problem was I did not"manually" change config file,,silly me,thanks to you all

[astro]
flag_light_travel_time = true
flag_telescope_name = true
flag_telescopes = true

Then I put new line in
[telescopes]
1 = Telescope:TCP:localhost:10 000:500000

[TrevorW]

I never had to modify the config file to get it to work.

Yes Stellarium Scope is another program that loads before Stellarium

Cheers

[keppar]

Hi After successfully connecting mount and controlling by Stellarium it does not point to Stars/planets etc correctly and is a long way off. Location is set right and I am using local time.Mount is polar aligned I am using version 0.9.1. When using hand piece(eq6) there is not a problem

[AlexN]

Your elevation setting in Stellarium may be incorrect.. Go onto google earth and find out your correct elevation..

I cant think of anything else if your location/date/time settings are correct..

Is stellarium adjusting for Daylight savings time? it may not be. (i dont know, im just thinking out loud giving you possibilities..)

[keppar]

Thanks Elevation correct. Its strange by other programs etc are doing same
(Cartes de sul etc) do you submit local time

[rider]

I had the same problem, I think that after an alignment, you may have to park the scope with the handpiece, prior to taking it over with the computer.

In my case, the telescope direction was out by aproximately the same amount and direction as the alignment star was from the SCP.

I havent had a clear sky for over a month, so I havent tested this theory.

can some one tell me if I'm on the right track.

[ozstockman]

I cannot see why it should be a problem to run 2 different planetarium packages if you're using ASCOM EQMOD for connection. I usually have from 2(Cartes Due Ceil + PHD) to 3 programms(Cartes Due Ceil+PHD+EQTour) connected to my EQ6 at the same time.
EQMOD takes care of situations when each program tries to access the same serial port.

cheers,

Mike

[TrevorW]

yes have done so thanks

[keppar]

Hi
I am still having trouble getting my eq6 to locate objects correctly ,they are a long way off. Mount is parked at home position when I start and if I use synscan handset I have no problems I have tried several planitarium programs and still cant get them to goto correctly Here are my settings ...any thoughts

[TrevorW]

The lat/long settings and time and date settings should be the same is all three there appear to be a couple of discrepancies between times etc in these screen captures

ie: handset, Stellarium, Eqmod Ascom platform should match

you can also sync the mount with the software

you may need to drift align to get perfect alignment.

[keppar]

Thanks Trevor
How do you sync the mount to the software?