Me and my Big Mount

[xelasnave]

Yes it should be me and my big mouth but it really is a mount er lap top problem .
I went to plug in the lap top to the eq6 mount and figure what I will need and I have just noticed there are no ports other than usb,and phone line link that I connect to the net thru on the lap top. The cable (that came with the scope) for the auto guide has no place to go on the lap top there is that style of plug in the lap top but it is a female unit with many more holes anyways. The only thing I can figure is that this sort of thing is taken care via the wireless?? I think the lap top have wireless ....or is there something I am missing? There would be a cable from the hand padle to the computer and wireless unit for the auto guide.. other wise I seem to be short on a port of call.
All of a sudden I feel so out of my depth. Now break it gently what do I need, I new lap top , a new mount , a new cable a new hobby I am alone with this problem please help
alex

[xelasnave]

Here are photos of the lap top "ports".
alex

[Doug]

Alex I think you'll find that the 'D' type socket is for an external monitor.

You can plug a USB to serial converter into thr USB port, and you should be ok to go.
Doug

[DavidH]

Hi Alex,

Sounds like you are looking for a serial (RS232) port on your laptop. Most new lappies don't have these as the technology has moved on a bit. There are lots of USB to serial converters out there however, and they will connect your USB port ( the 4 pin flat connector on the back of your laptop) to a "legacy" serial device (your mount). Most PC retailers will stock them, but it is worth checking if the particular model you get will work in your application - as not all are created equal. Maybe someone on IIS has a recommendation as to which would work for your mount.

Regards,
David.

[xelasnave]

Thanks for that I will go see a chap in Casino who has a computer store and one of them there is slightly interested in astronomy see what we can do...
I knew something was missing
alex

[gbeal]

Depending on what else you plan on hooking up to your laptop, you may like to look at either a USB hub, and or a serial hub.
I know in my case that I need two serial ports (or serial to USB adaptors), one for the StarMate, and one for the DSLR long exposure. I solved this by fitting a PCI/Serial adaptor, but this may not be possible with Alex's laptop. Is a PCMCIA serial adaptor possible?
It is easy to run out of USB ports as well, I have 6 and always seem to be behind the 8 ball.

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

Alex - you may also investigate getting hold of a serial PCMCIA (PCcard) card if you have an appropriate slot. This appears to any application as a true serial port as long as the drivers that accompany the card are installed. This way it also saves a USB port that you might otherwise use for running both a mouse and ToUcam simultaneously.

Cheers
Chris

[xelasnave]

I went into a computer shop in Casino and I know one of the guys there and we ended up with everything hooked up the mount was set up, the lap top, the 80mm scope and lpi.. the lpi was working but he said that "it" the lap top was not seeing the paddle or the auto guide, we did have a picture on the guide dog preview screen so its getting closer..anyways I had to pack it all up and hit the road before the problem was solved. I will set it up again at home and see what progress can be made when left alone with it for a while. Thanks again for your help I really do appreciate it.
alex

[xelasnave]

We will be doing something about more usb one can use a few thats for sure.
alex

[Doug]

Alex, perhaps if you post what you are doing to get the autoguide function to fail, perhals someone might be able to tell you what to omit to get autoguiding to work?
cheers,
Doug

[g__day (Matthew)]

Does the laptop not have any old fashion serial or parallel ports - like for an old fashion mouse or printer?

If not I'd guess you need a USB -> serial convertor, then you get a Serial to flat wire convertor (about $6 from Jaycar, just choose which of the six pings go to hich of teh tweleve or so serial cpnnectors) a length of 6 wire flat insulated cable (about $2 per metre) and a 6 pin DB connector (about $3 for a packet of 10) and a cable connector (like pliers with a 6P head - about $50 or get a friend to do it) and even $10 multimetre to test everything.

Now once you've done this hook it to the laptop and try driving it with the multimetre connected to see if your 5 volt drive currents are getting though!