[darrellx (Darrell)]

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