Peter,
""The HEQ5 mount requires a serial port for the paddle and a parallel
port to drive the mount through an interface""
This is not correct.
I control my HEQ5 and NEQ6 mounts using EQMod and the Cartes du Ciel planetarium program.
The mount can easily be connected directly to a laptop via a USB port by using the EQDir module
http://welshdragoncomputing.ca/eqmod...configurations
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy...roducts_eq.htm
This allows full remote control of the mount from the laptop
The other alternative is to use the serial cable which came with the mount (to upgrade the Synscan software) connected to the Synscan handcontroller and interfaced with the laptop USB via a Serial>USB adaptor. I've been using the Keyspan adaptor for many years. No isuues, no drama.
http://www.tripplite.com/keyspan-hig...rface~USA19HS/
Hope this helps.
Ken