REPLACEMENT CABLE FOR HEQ5Pro MOUNT

[pjphilli (Peter)]

Hi
There has been recent discussion on previous threads regarding problems with the control cable for the SynScan paddle supplied with HEQ5Pro mounts. Some have found that the cable has a tendency to "wind up" when the mount slews and for some this has led to the cable terminations in the RJ45 plugs becoming faulty.
I have not had this problem but I find that the curled control cable supplied being less than 1 metre in length is too short and stretching beyond 1 metre puts a fair tension on the cable and its terminating plugs.
So I have bought a RJ45 to RJ45 patch lead, two metres long which suits my purpose and it has a flexible round cable sealed into the RJ45 plugs. I have tested it it and it works well.
I bought my cable from JayCars electronic suppliers in Sydney,
Details are: Page 380 of JayCars catalogue; Cat 5e Patch Lead RJ45 to RJ45; 350MHz stranded cable; Red cable 2 metres long; Catalogue number YN-8212. (Also available with Blue YN-8202 or Grey YN-8242 lead colours). Price $5.25. Patch cable leads up to 5 metres are also available but I have not tried these. I have seen on other threads where people have used Cat 6 higher specification cable for paddle extension over long lengths.)
Note that the provided curled control cable has a little black box in the lead. This is a block of ferrite material through which the cable passes and is presumably there to inhibit interference being transmitted along the cable. If desired, this little black box is easily opened via its snap fitting and could be fitted around the above patch cable.
NB:If buying a cable make sure it is not a "crossover cable" as these have certain leads crossed over and are used for interconnecting computers etc.
Cheers Peter

[TrevorW]

The RJ 45 has a serial 9 pin at one end do you not need and adapter or does the existing cable just unplug

Cheers

[pjphilli (Peter)]

HI Trevor
I was referring to the HEQ5Pro where the SynScan hand control cable has RJ45 connectors at both ends. I see from my manual that the EQ6 does have a RJ45 connector on one end and a DB9 on the other. I am not sure whether you can buy such cables "off the shelf", whereas RJ45 patch cables are easy to source as they are used for many other applications.
It is a pity that DB9 connectors were not applied to both ends of the original connector cables because in my opinion these are much more reliable than the RJ45 for this application.
I can only see a DB9 socket to RJ45 socket in the JayCar catalogue but presumably to adapt a RJ45 patch cable you would need a DB9 plug to RJ45 socket adaptor. These are probably available elsewhere - otherwise you could check the pinout of the original cable, cut the RJ45 plug off one end of a patch cable and rewire it to a DB9 plug. Depends on how skilled/keen you are!
Cheers Peter

[RobF (Rob)]

Thanks for the detailed info Peter. Should be helpful and specific for any more HEQ5Pro owners with problems. I assume this is a "straight" cable rather than coiled?

I've found the Dick Smith 5m cat6 I bought a bit too stiff (as others have also commented on) - but far preferable to a runaway mount problems due to poor connections had been experiencing! Figured the extra length may come in handy for remote control from laptop on table later on anyway.

Have just got a replacement coiled cable from Luke at Andrews today - look forward to giving it a spin sometime too.

[pjphilli (Peter)]

Hi Rob

Yes this is a straight cable and it has the flexible Cat 5e cable which I believe is has conductors of 7/0.20mm wire whereas the Cat 6 has 4/0.573mm wire, hence the latter cable is much stiffer and intended mainly for long permanent runs.

The only doubt I had about using the longer cable was that if the signalling impulses between the paddle and mount had critical timings it would not work. However, your use of a 5 metre cable shows that length is not a problem at least up to this this distance.

Your long cable would certainly be useful if you wish to remote your mount operation. Keep in mind that if you wish to control your astro computer located at the mount from a laptop you will need a RJ45 CROSSOVER cable as the send/receive wires need to be crossed over so that the computers can communicate with each other via their standard RJ45 communication ports.

I have just completed this exercise by using a 10 metre crossover cable to remote control my astro PC with a laptop located in my nearby telescope storage room. It took me some time to come to a satisfactory arrangement for this. If you wish you may like to send me your email address so I can send you the details directly rather than clutter up this site.

Cheers Peter

[TrevorW]

The EQ6 has a DB9 connector that plugs into the mount and a rj45 connector for the handset. I have a straight through RJ45-Rj45 cable. If I get a db9 to Rj45 adapter will this work Ok or will I need a cross over cable.

If you want to control the mount from a laptop what cable will be required

[gmbfilter (Geoff)]

If you want to control the mount from a laptop what cable will be required

[/quote]

RJ12 ...basically a telephone extension
Connects the updating cable (supplied) rj 12-rs232 into the base of handset next to the rj45 controlling the mount.
I got 2 x 17 meter extension cables from Dick Smith with joiners, works fine.
Only problem is I get tired walking around all night

[pjphilli (Peter)]

HI Trevor
I have a HEQ5Pro mount which can use standard RJ45 to RJ45 straight through patch cables (NOT crossover cable). Your EQ6 presumably uses a RJ45 to D9 which would not be an "off the shelf" item. Any replacement cable would have to have exactly the same pin to pin connections as the original cable. If not, then unexpected results could occur with possible damage to the SynScan paddle and/or the EQ6 mount and this could have guarantee implications.
With due respect, I think that from the information message on this thread and your private message you may need to seek the assistance of an electronics skilled person to approach this job. It is a bit tricky and personally I would avoid doing this modification unless really necessary.
Cheers Peter

[TrevorW]

Thanks for the feedback how about if I get a straight through DB9 to DB9 extensions cable 3 metres long then attach the db9 on the EQ6 cable to that, shouldn't that work OK as I'm not changing the existing cable.

Cheers

[acropolite (Phil)]

Trevor, I have some info on pinout for a DB9-rj45 adapter that will allow use of a standard cat 5 flylead. You can't just use any old adapter, it first has to be configured for the correct pin out. When I get home next week, I'll post a diagram.

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by acropolite

Trevor, I have some info on pinout for a DB9-rj45 adapter that will allow use of a standard cat 5 flylead. You can't just use any old adapter, it first has to be configured for the correct pin out. When I get home next week, I'll post a diagram.

Thanks

[pjphilli (Peter)]

Hi Trevor
Yes. connecting a STRAIGHT THROUGH Db9 extension cable to extend your existing cable should be a safe solution. Just make sure that when you buy the extension cable that it has all the pins wired through as some cables for
specific extension purposes only have some of the pins wired through.
Cheers Peter

[TrevorW]

Originally Posted by pjphilli

Hi Trevor
Yes. connecting a STRAIGHT THROUGH Db9 extension cable to extend your existing cable should be a safe solution. Just make sure that when you buy the extension cable that it has all the pins wired through as some cables for
specific extension purposes only have some of the pins wired through.
Cheers Peter

Thanks, fortunately I have a B in Law who's an electronics tech and he said he'll make me up one.

[acropolite (Phil)]

OK here's the pinout of the DB9 to RJ45 Adapter and the wire colours on the adapter I used. Note that the wire colours inside the DB9 adapter you buy may not be the same. The adapters should be under $5.00 each

Once you have finished make sure you put a straight through lan cable and buzz out the cable, comparing with your existing one, to make 100% sure you have it correct.

Make 2 adapters in case you lose or break one.

DB9___Colour____ RJ45

1 ____Brown____ 7
2 ______________N/C
3 ______________N/C
4 ____RED_______4
5 ____Blue_______1
6 ____Yellow_____6
7 ______________N/C
8_____White_____8
9_____Green_____5

The RJ socket on the adapter when looking in with the tag at the bottom has pin 1 on the left.

[TrevorW]

Sorry was there meant to be an attachment

?????