ICEINSPACE
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Moon Phase
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15-02-2010, 06:38 PM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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Frustrating day - my EQDIR died...
I had the opportunity today to test out my SM40, ED80, B1200 combo on sol, but it wasn't to be...
My puter says my USB EQDIR has malfunctioned and it only recognises it as an unknown device...  . I wasted a few hours trying to sort it out, but its beyond me at the moment...
I suspect a new one is required. 
Al.
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15-02-2010, 06:43 PM
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Buddhist Astronomer
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Phillip Island,VIC, Australia
Posts: 4,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sheeny
I had the opportunity today to test out my SM40, ED80, B1200 combo on sol, but it wasn't to be...
My puter says my USB EQDIR has malfunctioned and it only recognises it as an unknown device... . I wasted a few hours trying to sort it out, but its beyond me at the moment...
I suspect a new one is required.
Al. |
What equipment is EQDIR and what is it's purpose I still don't know all the astronomy hardware. I may know more about the problem if I know what it does. Have you tried to put it in another USB port to see if it works in another. 
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15-02-2010, 07:07 PM
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The sky is Messier here!
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Darwin
Posts: 2,587
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Warren EQDIR is part of the EQMOD project which allows direct control of the Skywatcher or Synta EQ5/6 GEM (German Equatorial Mount). Mount control can be via the Synscan hand controller to a PC or the hand controller can be bypassed altogether using a RS232/TTL cable between the mount and PC - in other words EQDIR. These are then used in conjunction with ASCOM drivers and software such as Stellarium or Cartes Du Ciel, etc for full control over the mount.
Bummer Al 
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15-02-2010, 07:12 PM
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Buddhist Astronomer
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Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Phillip Island,VIC, Australia
Posts: 4,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lacad01
Warren EQDIR is part of the EQMOD project which allows direct control of the Skywatcher or Synta EQ5/6 GEM (German Equatorial Mount). Mount control can be via the Synscan hand controller to a PC or the hand controller can be bypassed altogether using a RS232/TTL cable between the mount and PC - in other words EQDIR. These are then used in conjunction with ASCOM drivers and software such as Stellarium or Cartes Du Ciel, etc for full control over the mount.
Bummer Al |
Thanks for that I have learned something but unfortunately it doesn't help to solve Al's problem it doesn't sound good for him hopefully someone who knows more can help.
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15-02-2010, 07:32 PM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by supernova1965
What equipment is EQDIR and what is it's purpose I still don't know all the astronomy hardware. I may know more about the problem if I know what it does. Have you tried to put it in another USB port to see if it works in another. |
Yep, I tried different ports, etc...
It doesn't look good. I think I'll have to buy another one...
Al.
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15-02-2010, 11:26 PM
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Moving to Pandora
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Swan Hill
Posts: 7,102
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awww may he rest in peace dont ya just hate that when that happens 
Hey that used to happen to me sometimes when i add my hard drive to my computer it says it has malfunctioned i got a useful tip to unplug everything from the wall for 20sec and try again and bam it worked  so dont give up on it just yet Al, it could rise again 
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15-02-2010, 11:35 PM
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This sentence is false
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,158
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Which one was it? For your replacement, I recommend the TTL cable from here:
http://www.astronics.nl/astronics/index.html
James
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16-02-2010, 12:03 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 717
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Yes Al, if you tried on another PC and it says the same thing, then it's mort!
Best get another one - I think here: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/ftdi-...ter-cable.html is good to get the replacement for
Cheers
Bill
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16-02-2010, 12:11 AM
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This sentence is false
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,158
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The plug on the end of that one doesn't look right to me.
In the link I posted the cable is already made up ready for your mount.
James
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16-02-2010, 12:39 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 112
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USB->Serial = $1 on ebay.
(Oh, ~$3 shipping, too).
Won't be a 5m cable though. Probably 1m (at best).
The bottom has fell out of that market. If you want long, you might be forced to pay much more than you really "should".
(the Dontronics one is not the right plug, no).
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16-02-2010, 12:45 AM
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This sentence is false
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,158
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Quote:
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USB->Serial = $1 on ebay.
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You need more than that...if that was the case you wouldn't need EQDIR, would you?
James
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16-02-2010, 01:23 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 717
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moon
The plug on the end of that one doesn't look right to me.
In the link I posted the cable is already made up ready for your mount.
James
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The idea is to fit your own "correct" plug at the end of the cable!
Cheers
Bill
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16-02-2010, 01:37 AM
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This sentence is false
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 1,158
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Quote:
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The idea is to fit your own "correct" plug at the end of the cable!
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Well the idea with the other one is that it comes ready to use.
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16-02-2010, 06:45 AM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Moon
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This is what I'm using. 
Al.
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16-02-2010, 07:37 AM
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Big Scopes are Cool
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SE Tasmania
Posts: 4,574
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You can also get ready made cabples in Aus (not 5m long though). The dontronics cable needs the plug on one end changed - 3 wires to solder so not very hard and instructions on the eqmod website.
http://www.starstuff.com.au/
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16-02-2010, 08:59 AM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by peter_4059
You can also get ready made cabples in Aus (not 5m long though). The dontronics cable needs the plug on one end changed - 3 wires to solder so not very hard and instructions on the eqmod website.
http://www.starstuff.com.au/ |
Thanks Peter, I didn't realise Starstuff had them. The EQ6 one doesn't need modifying .
Al.
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16-02-2010, 01:18 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Western Australia
Posts: 8,278
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I have to ask the obvious
you did re-install the USB-Serial driver software ??
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16-02-2010, 05:15 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Orange
Posts: 650
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RIP.
Hopefully a troubleshooting suggestion from here will re-invigorate it for youAl.
Kerrie
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16-02-2010, 05:30 PM
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Country living & viewing
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Armidale
Posts: 2,790
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Visionoz
The idea is to fit your own "correct" plug at the end of the cable!
Cheers
Bill
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The plug on the EQ mount might look like a serial port as it is a DB9 plug but it isn't a serial port. The EQDIR that I have is one of these.
http://www.store.shoestringastronomy...ages/eqdir.jpg
You use a normal serial port from the puter in the front and plug the other end into the mount. This requires a serial port on the puter or a USB to serial adaptor. Not all of these adaptors work. I bought 2 different cheap ones of ebay as trials and neither worked. I eventually bought a pc board with 2 serial ports on it. This works very well.
The other is to use one of the usb to EQMOD cables from here.
http://www.astronics.nl/astronics/index.html
I have no knowledge of them but do know that the cable has some electronics in it. You can't just replace the end of a USB cable.
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16-02-2010, 07:02 PM
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Spam Hunter
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Oberon NSW
Posts: 14,438
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TrevorW
I have to ask the obvious
you did re-install the USB-Serial driver software ??
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Yep.
Al.
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