Hooking Up Synscan to Stellarium

[Shnoz (Sophie)]

Hey guys, I'm trying to run my synscan EQ5 mount through stellarium, but I've hit a dead end. I've got the telescope set up like it usually is with the cables running like normal. The only difference is I have the RS-232C cable going to the computer (I had to stick it onto the end of a USB port but I have the driver as well).
I've opened Stellarium and set up everything like I think I'm supposed to, I configured the telescope, J2000 system, COM6, I even tried auto start up and that didn't work. It does say it's connected in the configuration panel but it just doesn't slew the telescope. Any ideas?

[A23649 (Nathan)]

You need to download Stellarium Scope and the ASCOM EQ5/6 drivers for it to work through Stellarium. The websites for the programs are:
http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm - ASCOM Platform. This is the language from your computer to your mount.

http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/eqaindex.html EQASCOM. This is a virtual handset that will directly control your mount from a computer.

http://www.bytearts.com/stellarium/ - This talks between Stellarium and the EQASCOM interface.

All of these programs are free (Yay!) but as far as I know will only work with Windows. Hope this helps!

Cheers,
Nathan

[Barrykgerdes]

You don't need ASCOM or Stellarium scope if you just want to drive the telescope.

I have a HEQ5 Pro with Synscan and have no bother connecting.

I suspect that you are having trouble with your USB-RS232 converter. Some work and some don't.

Stellarium will show connected as long as there is a USB-RS232 adaptor in the USB port even if the cable to the Synscan is faulty. Try another adapter. Does the cross hair appear on the screen but the telescope won't slew. If so then the problem may just be the connection speed. change the delay to 1.5secs this may fix the problem it did for someone else with a similar problem.

If you must use Stellariumscope and ASCOM there is a direct connection in the Synscan handbox so you don't need to buy an EQDIR cable. but if it is the converter that is the problem it won't work with ASCOM either.

Barry

[Shnoz (Sophie)]

Cool thanks for you're help!!! I wasn't sure if I'd need ASCOM or ECASCOM or not so I'll try it out and see what happens. If not I'll try a different cable (I don't have another one so I really don't want to buy anotherD: but it looks like it's going to be a necessity!)
I'll let you know how it goes

[saysme (Steve)]

Just confirming RS 232 is running from your handset to USB adapter and not directly from the mount. Also that the handset is just in the normal function mode and not PC Direct mode.

[Shnoz (Sophie)]

Yep the RS-232 in running through the handset and it's in normal function mode (I've heard things get difficult when you don't do it that way!!!)

[2stroke (Jay)]

Use a real com port if your still getting issue, or try dropping back to 9600 and see if that helps at the usb com settings. LMFAO i spent hours trying to do a firmware update before bothered to google it up, plugged it into a real com port and bam, firmware was on in seconds without a issue.

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by 2stroke

Use a real com port if your still getting issue, or try dropping back to 9600 and see if that helps at the usb com settings. LMFAO i spent hours trying to do a firmware update before bothered to google it up, plugged it into a real com port and bam, firmware was on in seconds without a issue.

Yup. Thats the reason I still have held on to an old Pentium laptop with on-board serial port and XP... when I need to use the serial port for something, it just works! Has parallel port too which is sometimes handy.

[Shnoz (Sophie)]

Haha yeah I'm starting to think it's something up with the cord too! Maybe using the actual com port is the way to go