Anyone tried a USB Direct Interface Cable for EQ6?

peter_4059 (Peter) · #1 26-01-2009, 05:50 PM

Has anyone got any experience with a USB Direct Interface Cable for EQ6 (EQMOD)? It looks like an alternative to the EQDIR at a similar price and avoids the need for a USB/Serial adaptor.

Looks good in theory.

http://www.xagyl.com/catalog/product...525058ee6098ad

AlexN · #2 26-01-2009, 07:56 PM

I've not used one, but that looks like a goer..

I think however that you'll find it still has a USB/Serial adapter built in, its just also got the correct wires crossed on the serial connector to be usable with the EQ6..

troypiggo (Troy) · #3 26-01-2009, 09:02 PM

I just made one for my HEQ5PRO. Seems to work fine so far.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #4 26-01-2009, 10:07 PM

How did you make it Troy? What parts are required?

troypiggo (Troy) · #5 26-01-2009, 11:52 PM

I bought the TTL-232R-WE cable here that has a USB plug on one end with built-in serial adapter. The other end of the cable is bare wires that I connected to a RJ45 ethernet plug as per the EQDIRECT-USB instructions at the EQMOD site. I connected this into my mount's SynScan controller port. I'm not sure what ports the EQ6 has on it.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #6 27-01-2009, 07:32 AM

Thanks - do you know if it works through a USB hub?

troypiggo (Troy) · #7 27-01-2009, 07:38 AM

Haven't tried that, sorry.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #8 27-01-2009, 09:35 PM

Did you get it from the UK or locally? The UK online store wants to charge 20 pounds freight for an 11 pound cable!

troypiggo (Troy) · #9 27-01-2009, 10:12 PM

Got it from the link I gave you. Not cheap, but cheaper than the adapter options from Shoestring etc.

Aster · #10 29-01-2009, 11:00 AM

Starstuff of Ringwood Vic. seem to have the same sort of cable

Alexander

peter_4059 (Peter) · #11 30-01-2009, 09:09 AM

That's the one. Also found a supplier in Melbourne that sells the cable for about $50 without the DB9 plug if you are prepared to do some soldering.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #12 31-01-2009, 06:37 PM

If anyone else is looking to make their own here is a local supplier of the cable

http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-...ter-cable.html

peter_4059 (Peter) · #13 05-02-2009, 10:40 PM

The cable arrived today - I can report it works through a USB hub and has chosen the next COM port number (COM5) which is the one after my Belkin USB-serial adaptor (COM4) so I'm claiming success.

Thanks for the help with this Troy.

troypiggo (Troy) · #14 06-02-2009, 07:28 AM

Sweet. So, wireless gamepad next...

peter_4059 (Peter) · #15 06-02-2009, 07:29 AM

yes - just posted on that - do you have one? If so which one, does it work ok etc?

troypiggo (Troy) · #16 06-02-2009, 08:53 AM

I have the Logitech Cordless Rumblepad 2, which is the one shown on the EQASCOM page of EQMOD site. After searching around several local stores and not having any luck finding one, I bought it online from Megabuy. It works.

peter_4059 (Peter) · #17 06-02-2009, 11:21 AM

Thanks Troy. I'm assuming it's the PC version (not PS). Do you need to go through any calibration process?

Peter

troypiggo (Troy) · #18 06-02-2009, 12:26 PM

Yes, PC version. Calibration only when you first install it. It's a calibration between Windows and the gamepad, not EQMOD. Have to check, but pretty sure PC gamepads I've had in the past you can access that calibration dialog box any time through the Windows control panel and/or the gamepad driver/software.

Once it's installed and you open an application using EQASCOM/ASCOM etc and the EQMOD window appears, you can set the gamepad buttons to do whatever functions you like. Haven't played too much with this side of things yet, but all appears pretty intuitive and I'm sure you'll find it easy to do. You can see this gamepad button settings window in this screenshot on the EQASCOM page.

One thing. If you use the Logitech Rumblepad above, pretty sure you have to install the drivers off the CD that comes with it before you plug it in for the first time. And when installing the software, there was a long period during the installation that I thought my computer had frozen. Don't worry, it's just a long install process. Let it runs its course and it will "unfreeze".

peter_4059 (Peter) · #19 06-02-2009, 01:13 PM

Thanks - think I'm off to DSE tomorrow morning

troypiggo (Troy) · #20 06-02-2009, 01:16 PM

Check before you go. I went to Indooroopilly Shopping Town, Tandy, Dick Smith, Electronics Boutique, Myer, Harvey Norman, even Target and KMart and none of them carried PC wireless gamepads of any type, let alone that particular one I wanted. That's why I bought online.