Frustrating day - my EQDIR died...

[sheeny]

I had the opportunity today to test out my SM40, ED80, B1200 combo on sol, but it wasn't to be...

My puter says my USB EQDIR has malfunctioned and it only recognises it as an unknown device...:rolleyes:. I wasted a few hours trying to sort it out, but its beyond me at the moment...

I suspect a new one is required.:sadeyes:

Al.

[supernova1965]

What equipment is EQDIR and what is it's purpose I still don't know all the astronomy hardware. I may know more about the problem if I know what it does. Have you tried to put it in another USB port to see if it works in another.:question:

[lacad01]

Warren EQDIR is part of the EQMOD project which allows direct control of the Skywatcher or Synta EQ5/6 GEM (German Equatorial Mount). Mount control can be via the Synscan hand controller to a PC or the hand controller can be bypassed altogether using a RS232/TTL cable between the mount and PC - in other words EQDIR. These are then used in conjunction with ASCOM drivers and software such as Stellarium or Cartes Du Ciel, etc for full control over the mount.
Bummer Al :(

[supernova1965]

Thanks for that I have learned something but unfortunately it doesn't help to solve Al's problem it doesn't sound good for him hopefully someone who knows more can help.

[sheeny]

Yep, I tried different ports, etc...

It doesn't look good. I think I'll have to buy another one...

Al.

[Jen]

:sadeyes: awww may he rest in peace :sadeyes: dont ya just hate that when that happens :shrug:
Hey that used to happen to me sometimes when i add my hard drive to my computer it says it has malfunctioned i got a useful tip to unplug everything from the wall for 20sec and try again and bam it worked ;) so dont give up on it just yet Al, it could rise again :P

[Moon]

Which one was it? For your replacement, I recommend the TTL cable from here:
http://www.astronics.nl/astronics/index.html
James

[Visionoz]

Yes Al, if you tried on another PC and it says the same thing, then it's mort!:(

Best get another one - I think here: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-usb-to-serial-ttl-level-5v-converter-cable.html is good to get the replacement for

Cheers
Bill

[Moon]

The plug on the end of that one doesn't look right to me.
In the link I posted the cable is already made up ready for your mount.
James

[hulloleeds]

USB->Serial = $1 on ebay.

(Oh, ~$3 shipping, too).

Won't be a 5m cable though. Probably 1m (at best).

The bottom has fell out of that market. If you want long, you might be forced to pay much more than you really "should".

(the Dontronics one is not the right plug, no).

[Moon]

You need more than that...if that was the case you wouldn't need EQDIR, would you?
James

[Visionoz]

The idea is to fit your own "correct" plug at the end of the cable!

Cheers
Bill

[Moon]

Well the idea with the other one is that it comes ready to use.
:thumbsup:

[sheeny]

This is what I'm using.:)

Al.

[peter_4059]

You can also get ready made cabples in Aus (not 5m long though). The dontronics cable needs the plug on one end changed - 3 wires to solder so not very hard and instructions on the eqmod website.

http://www.starstuff.com.au/

[sheeny]

Thanks Peter, I didn't realise Starstuff had them. The EQ6 one doesn't need modifying ;).

Al.

[TrevorW]

I have to ask the obvious

you did re-install the USB-Serial driver software ??

[BerrieK]

RIP.

Hopefully a troubleshooting suggestion from here will re-invigorate it for youAl.

Kerrie

[Terry B]

The plug on the EQ mount might look like a serial port as it is a DB9 plug but it isn't a serial port. The EQDIR that I have is one of these.
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/images/eqdir.jpg

You use a normal serial port from the puter in the front and plug the other end into the mount. This requires a serial port on the puter or a USB to serial adaptor. Not all of these adaptors work. I bought 2 different cheap ones of ebay as trials and neither worked. I eventually bought a pc board with 2 serial ports on it. This works very well.
The other is to use one of the usb to EQMOD cables from here.
http://www.astronics.nl/astronics/index.html
I have no knowledge of them but do know that the cable has some electronics in it. You can't just replace the end of a USB cable.

[sheeny]

Yep.:sadeyes:

Al.

[Visionoz]

Yep, that's a DB9 plug - it can be used as a plug of course ;) - be it for serial (which is what it is used quite commonly) or for any other purpose that one can imagine to use a plug for - eg the mount's handcontroller port (which of course is not RS232 serial)!

The EQDIR unit is a built device which is nothing more that a TTL-RS232 convertor only; housed in a case with easy interface DB9 male/female ports, but no USB/serial conversion so you need another interface viz: a USB/Serial adaptor (if the PC does not have a serial port) between it and the mount in order for the comms to work - the mount's handcontroller port requires a certain level of voltage that the standard RS232 outputs are not compatible with hence the need to have the TTL-RS232 conversion (usually thru use of a Max232 chip) - the solution that the EQMOD group used to overcome the comms issue between RS232 signals from the PC to the mount

The dontronics one has the built-in FTDI USB-serial/TTL-RS232 convertor so it means that you should be able to then interface the "free" end (not the one which is USB) to a DB9 or DB25 (the older bigger serial) plug and in this case it is for RS232 serial connections only to your mount and voila it should allow comms between the computer and the mount! Much cleaner and less one more extra adaptor to contend with :)
These FTDI ones come ready fitted with DB9 plugs, with header blocks only and free ends - so you can pick whatever type you want

I have both - ie I built one following the EQDIR style requiring the USB/Serial adaptor (when I just started into the hobby) and one that is the the complete FTDI USB-serial/TTL-RS232 cable (a-la starstuff.com.au) - pick your choice, they both should work and they do in my case

Cheers
Bill

[TheDecepticon]

Hi! If your handy with a soldering iron, make your own cable using the FTDI type usb cable. Works much better, one less device etc. There was a recent post about it with links.

Try here.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=56711


Gray.:thumbsup:

[toc]

I made one up on Wednesday - you don't even need to be that handy with a soldering iron - its about the easiest soldering job Ive done. That was for the HEQ5 version that is an RJ45 :)