[pjphilli (Peter)]

Hi
There has been recent discussion on previous threads regarding problems with the control cable for the SynScan paddle supplied with HEQ5Pro mounts. Some have found that the cable has a tendency to "wind up" when the mount slews and for some this has led to the cable terminations in the RJ45 plugs becoming faulty.
I have not had this problem but I find that the curled control cable supplied being less than 1 metre in length is too short and stretching beyond 1 metre puts a fair tension on the cable and its terminating plugs.
So I have bought a RJ45 to RJ45 patch lead, two metres long which suits my purpose and it has a flexible round cable sealed into the RJ45 plugs. I have tested it it and it works well.
I bought my cable from JayCars electronic suppliers in Sydney,
Details are: Page 380 of JayCars catalogue; Cat 5e Patch Lead RJ45 to RJ45; 350MHz stranded cable; Red cable 2 metres long; Catalogue number YN-8212. (Also available with Blue YN-8202 or Grey YN-8242 lead colours). Price $5.25. Patch cable leads up to 5 metres are also available but I have not tried these. I have seen on other threads where people have used Cat 6 higher specification cable for paddle extension over long lengths.)
Note that the provided curled control cable has a little black box in the lead. This is a block of ferrite material through which the cable passes and is presumably there to inhibit interference being transmitted along the cable. If desired, this little black box is easily opened via its snap fitting and could be fitted around the above patch cable.
NB:If buying a cable make sure it is not a "crossover cable" as these have certain leads crossed over and are used for interconnecting computers etc.
Cheers Peter