AutoGuiding Question with GPUSB and EQDIR

[darrellx]

Hi All

After 12 months with my EQ5, I have decided I should bite the bullet and try to get the guiding to work, but I am a little confused with the equipment.

As I said, I have an EQ5. I also have the following items.
1) A length of cable with an RJ12 at one end and a 9pin serial at the other end. I can't remember where this came from.
2) A GPUSB - USB cable and connector with the RJ12 socket built-in.
3) An EQDIR (9 pin serial) with a length of cable and an RJ45 at the end.

I also have a "spare" laptop with a serial port and a number of USB ports.
So.... if I use PHD, can I go from the laptop direct to the autoguide port on the mount with the first item from above? I suspect not. It sounds like the pin voltages are different.

If I use the second item from above (the GPUSB) do I need the EQDIR?

This is what I THINK I have to do.
DMK21 to Laptop via USB (for guiding)
From the Laptop to guideport via the GPSUB - but I need to get a cable with RJ12s at each end.
Run PHD on the laptop.

This would mean that I have a EQDIR I don't need.

If the above looks like it might work, do I also need to run anything else (like EQMOD) on the laptop?

Any suggestions or guidance would be appreciated.

Thanks
Darrell

[Matty P]

Hi Darrell,

If you use EQMOD, you can control your EQ5 and guide all through the EQDIR. Meaning you don't need to use the GPUSB. The EQDIR will do the work of the HC and guide port all in one. Meaning less cables. All you will need is EQMOD running and a planetarium software such as Cartes Du Ciel.

What you will then have is.

DMK to laptop
Serial (RJ45) cable to EQDIR
EQDIR to Mount
Run PHD

I suggest you run EQMOD but the process you have described will also work.

Hope this helps.

:thumbsup:

[darrellx]

Thanks Matt.

Just on the EQDIR, I assume it does NOT plug into the handset, even though it looks like it could. I plug it into the main box where the power switch is.

Darrell

[Matty P]

Yes you are correct, the EQDIR plugs into serial port on the mount.

:thumbsup:

[darrellx]

Matt

Okay, now for another hardware question. I have had a look at the GuidePOrt on the EQ5 and the EQDIR. The EQDIR has a 9pin serial at each end. I also got a piece of ribbon cable with it. 9 Pin at one end and RJ45 at the other. However, I only have an RJ12 socket on the EQ5 - the autoguider port.

Do you know if any 9pin to RJ12 cable will work? Or do you know the pin assignments on the EQDIR?

I do have another cable with 9pin and RJ12 plugs, but I have checked with my multimeter and the pins are totally different.

Thanks
Darrell

[Matty P]

Darrell.

Sorry I made a mistake in my previous post. You will need a 9 pin to 9 pin serial cable with the EQDIR not. One going to the mount the other going to your laptop. Sorry about that.

The RJ45 cable is for use with the hand controller (?) and RJ12 for the guideport which you don't need to worry about. ;)

Hope this helps.

:thumbsup:

[darrellx]

Hi All

Well it has been a while and I have decided it is time to try to get my guiding working on the EQ6. I have both of the Shoestring modules - the GPUSB and the EQDirect.

Tonight, I have tried the EQDirect and seem to have a problem. Each time I tried and checked with EQDIRCheck, I got the message "could not connect to EQ mount".

I started with my old EQ5 and tried the EQDir with the EQ-CBL cable.
I then tried with the EQ6 and a serial cable.
I have used a laptop with a functioning serial port and a laptop with a usb-serial adaptor.

I think I have tried all options for the layout - the EQDir module has been moved from the PC end to the mount end.

No luck with any configuration. I had expected that it would all plug in and just work.

I am beginning to think it may be the module itself. Does anyone know if there is a way to check the EQDir module?

Thanks
Darrell

[darrellx]

Hi All

After a certain amount of frustration, I have worked it out. Incredibly both the cables I was using seem to have a problem. I replaced the serial cable, and presto the EQ6 started to respond.

I replaced the ribbon cable and the same with the EQ5 - it started to work.

I put the original cables back in place, and both mounts failed to respond.

Who would have thought that both cables could have a roblem? Well, not me.

Darrell

[pmrid]

I have started to experience an alignment and tracking problem using EQMOD. The scope is on a pier-mounted EQ6 that finds and tracks very well using the handpad and alignemt is very goodl in both axes. But whenever I instruct EQMOD to return the mount to the Park/Home position, it returns to the right altitude setting but the wrong azimuth - wrong by about 1.5 degrees. It insists on returning to 178 deg and about 30mins - more or less. I have also noted that an error seems to have crept into my slews and that is pretty much the size and direction of the error too. So somehow I have to convince ASCOM/EQMOD that it is actually pointing to 180" degrees and not 178.5 or so. Anyone encountered this problem?

Peter