autostar controller

[mozzie (Peter)]

hi all i was wondering if i could extend the coil wire that goes from the hand piece to the scope the connections are hbx box are they rj45 8 pin i was hopeing to extend them to around 4 metres
thanks mozzie

[33South (Chris)]

I've not tried it but dont see why a standard 5 metre Ethernet Cat5e cable plus a 5e inline coupler wouldnt work.
Works ok on the Synscan and EQ6 they use the same rj45 8 pin connection.

[mozzie (Peter)]

Originally Posted by 33South

I've not tried it but dont see why a standard 5 metre Ethernet Cat5e cable plus a 5e inline coupler wouldnt work.
Works ok on the Synscan and EQ6 they use the same rj45 8 pin connection.

thanks for that found a cat5e patch lead rj45 to rj45 5metre in the jaycar book only 10 dollars delivered when im connected to starry night ill have enough cable
thanks again mozzie

[PeterM]

Hi Mozzie,
Before you plug any new leads into the autostar handcontroller & LX90 and are able to be absolutely sure that the wiring to the pins is exactly the same, then I would highly recommend you give Don at Bintel a call or get Barry Gerdes advice (an IIS member). Over the years there have been numereous reports from people plugging in leads that look similar, work on other gear etc only to end up with fried mother boards, controller boards etc. Sure, much of this may be traced to hot plugging (which is a no, no with Meades). Call me over cautious but a $10 lead costing you perhaps several hundred in replacement boards is simply not worth the risk. My 10 cents worth.
PeterM

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

STOP!!!!!!

The Meade Autostar controller cannot be used with a Cat5 or similar cable.

The pinning for the cable is what I term a "Rollover" cable,

Like follows

RJ45 - RJ45
1 - 8
2 - 7
3 - 6
4 - 5
5 - 4
6 - 3
7 - 2
8 - 1

If you want to make one you can, but you are best to buy the flat 8 way RJ ribbon cable and 2x RJ 45 connectors. Shred and crimp one end, then go to the other end of the cable shred it, turn it over to reverse the colour pattern, then crimp.

Plugging in an ethernet cable will fry the controller, from what my father tells me.

Trevor (Barry's son)

[Shaun]

2 choices
1) get some one to make you a lead that knows what they are doing.

2) cut the lead your self and join a new lead to each end.

[Fox]

Hi Mozzie, it's all good advice posted above, I would not use an Ethernet cable, it's just too risky. Either go to Bintel and they might be willing to make one for you for a fee, or you can get your own crimping tool, raw cable and RJ45 plugs from Jaycar and have go yourself - keeping in mind to ensure correct wiring order as you go, maybe save your old cable for reference. Fox

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Actually,

Further to my last advice, you could ALSO use a standard Cat5 cable IF you use an RJ45 cable joiner (Back to back RJ45 sockets, pinned straight through) and connect it in series with the existing Meade cable. The Meade cable provides the correct pin crossing, the RJ45 provides 1 to 1 pinning of the cable only as an extension.

Trev

[mozzie (Peter)]

thanks all i wont buy anything ill ring don and have a chat to him i may go wireless know it might me safer
mozzie

[33South (Chris)]

Originally Posted by tlgerdes

Actually,

Further to my last advice, you could ALSO use a standard Cat5 cable IF you use an RJ45 cable joiner (Back to back RJ45 sockets, pinned straight through) and connect it in series with the existing Meade cable. The Meade cable provides the correct pin crossing, the RJ45 provides 1 to 1 pinning of the cable only as an extension.

Trev

Sorry for misleading you thats what I should have explained when I said just use the cat5 cable and in-line joiner. i.e. Use it as an extension to the existing curly cable.

Chris