Question about AZEQ6

[BuyoTheAstroCat]

I am looking to get an AZEQ6, possibly secondhand. I am wondering if all versions have dual encoders on RA and DEC or only those with “Freedom find” printed on the mount.

What is the USB for? Mount control seems to be done with the hand control socket.

[Hoges (John)]

As far as the USB is concerned, I can use it to drive the mount from the ipad via the Asi Air plus. I've also used it to connect a PC and drive it from EQmod.

[BuyoTheAstroCat]

Originally Posted by Hoges

As far as the USB is concerned, I can use it to drive the mount from the ipad via the Asi Air plus. I've also used it to connect a PC and drive it from EQmod.

Thants for your reply. I have trawled some forums and the replies i read were that the usb couldn’t be use to control the mount using EQmod software, it needed to be connected via EQmod cable

[Hoges (John)]

I've used both the EQmod cable and the USB A-B with the Asiair Plus and the USB cable from the PC no problems. The baud rate had to be set at 11520. You can also use the wifi dongle and use the ipad with sky safari - that works really well also - I think you have to fire up the synscan pro app first before sky safari.

[Startrek (Martin)]

Baud rate for Skywatcher mounts with USB port should be 115200
Also check in Device Manager to ensure baud rate is also 115200
It’s probably worthwhile to update the Prolific driver as well in Device Manager

Attached is how to connect EQMOD ( via Stellarium which is what I use ) or can use any other planetarium

Been using EQMOD for 6 years now on EQ5 , HEQ5, EQ6-R’s and EQ8-R pro mounts. The early mounts only had a serial port ( DB9 port and / or RJ45 hand controller port ) from 2019 they included the USB2 port which made it more universal.

If using the handcontroller port for telescope control use Baud rate 9600
If using the USB2 port for telescope control use Baud rate 115200

Cheers
Martin

[PaulSthcoast (Paul)]

Buyo,

to answer your question re the encoders.

My AZEQ-6 has them,
and is not branded "Freedom Find".

Paul.

[BuyoTheAstroCat]

Thank you everyone for your most useful information. I have a AZEQ6 lined up!

[BuyoTheAstroCat]

Thank you for the PDFs, really helpful

Originally Posted by Startrek

Baud rate for Skywatcher mounts with USB port should be 115200
Also check in Device Manager to ensure baud rate is also 115200
It’s probably worthwhile to update the Prolific driver as well in Device Manager

Attached is how to connect EQMOD ( via Stellarium which is what I use ) or can use any other planetarium

Been using EQMOD for 6 years now on EQ5 , HEQ5, EQ6-R’s and EQ8-R pro mounts. The early mounts only had a serial port ( DB9 port and / or RJ45 hand controller port ) from 2019 they included the USB2 port which made it more universal.

If using the handcontroller port for telescope control use Baud rate 9600
If using the USB2 port for telescope control use Baud rate 115200

Cheers
Martin

[AstroViking (Steve)]

As luck would have it for the OP, there are two AZ-EQ6s in the classified section at the moment...

[BuyoTheAstroCat]

Got one locally.
Proud owner of a AZEQ6 now. Learning to use it . reading the linked PDFs, at watching YouTube and trawling the forums.

Thank you everyone for your help.

Originally Posted by AstroViking

As luck would have it for the OP, there are two AZ-EQ6s in the classified section at the moment...