NEQ6 Control?

[deanm (Dean)]

When I first got a GoTo mount, I was hair-rippingly frustrated at hopeless tracking. It was just WRONG!

Until I read that one of the most common mistakes is getting the USA-non-USA date format (DD/MM/YY versus MM/DD/YY) wrong when setting up.

Worked for me & my hair (what's left of it) is largely intact...!

Dean

[glend (Glen)]

Thanks everyone, I think I have it sorted out now. My main problem was the tracking setup and now I know I have to check it the mount is performing better.

I also rechecked all of my backyard setup and true south reference marks (on the ground and the fence). I realised that in setting up on the lawn I was probably getting some compaction and perhaps a tilt off level, so I have put down three large pavers (on compacted base and level) to sit the tripod on. I already had a level large format paver base for the dob so it was just expanded for the tripod.

I am preparing three 'travelling' base plates for when I take the mount to my dark site - 3/4 inch ply squares with a centre hole.

[glend (Glen)]

I have downloaded the controller firmware update 3.35, mine has 3.27. I wanted to install this latest release because it has a simple polar alignment routine in it.

My problem is I don't have an RS232 coms port on my laptop. I tried to use my Nexus-S which is a wifi -RS232 connection and is used to run the controller commands from my Android tablet via wifi (the tablet is not being used for the firmware upgrade just the laptop) . The laptop connects to the Nexus-S and I get a good wifi link to it. I downloaded TCP2COM and Com2TCP to the laptop in an effort to create a tunnel from my laptop to the handcontroller. It seems to connect in one direction, but not the other, and I can't get the Loader to see the HC version number.

ANyone have any advice on how to upgrade the HC without an RS232 physical port on your laptop?

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Glen,
I think most of us use a bi-directional Serial>USB adaptor.
I've been using the Keyspan adaptor (HS18?) for many years. Works 100%
No issues, no drama.

[glend (Glen)]

Thanks Merlin I will look for a USB to Serial adaptor cable.

Also, any known bugs re southern hemisphere alignment with V3.35?

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

I don't use that feature and have stayed with the V3.27, which works very well for me (and EQmod)

[killswitch (Edison)]

I used a $5 usb to serial adapter from ebay

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Edison,
Sounds like you were lucky (you may want to post a link), unfortunately many of the "eBay" specials are not fully bi-directional and don't work.
Caution.

[glend (Glen)]

Update: I have sourced a USB-RS232 cable and got the Synscan V3.35 upgrade done in time for the trip to the Bretti dark site last week. It was a very useful upgrade allowing me to see the polar alignment error and to correct for that. Also the latest version upgrade of Skysafari Pro includes the bigger slew control buttons and that is a very good improvement.

I am now moving onto getting ST4 guiding working and for the hardware have ordered an Orion 50mm guidescope (because it is lightweight and will mount on the top of the Moonlight focuser body easily without need for a new mounting location) and a ZWO ASI130 mono camera with ST4 port. I have installed PHD on my dedicated small laptop (which is now for NEQ6 control only).

I watched Jakob running PHD with the Orion guidescope last week and it looks like a great solution.

I will stick with the DSLR for image capture for the time being, but the ZWO may become the path to CCD in the future.

The steps after that will be to integrate: PHD, Backyard EOS (already installed), and Astrotorilla (also installed). Big learning curve.