Bluetooth fitted to HEQ5 Pro mount - Page 2

Sionnagh (Mick) · #21 14-01-2009, 07:36 PM

You can use the BT and the hand controller at the same time. What I tend to do is use the hand controller to nudge it when aligning the mount then use EQMOD from the laptop for observing and tend not to touch the hand controller after that. As someone else has, I use a game controller through EQMOD for adjustments.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmitchell82

what would be good is if you can have both working at the same time! I know you can run the hand controller and then plug into the base of it and run that to your computer.

... if you could run a bt module straight from the hand controller base now that would be the shiznit

Half the problem with short range on the BT was in the laptop BT adapter - proved this out with the BT connection to my mobile phone. Solution was to fit a socket to the mount and make the BT module external while the rest of the circuit stays inside the mount.

allan gould · #22 15-01-2009, 03:12 PM

Alex
Finally have got my BT working again with my HEQ5-Pro mount. You mentioned the USB handcontroller from EB games. Any more info on where and the brand name? I was thinking of getting EQmod going with the BT and HEQ5 mount.
Regards, Allan

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlexN

well... theres nothing else you **NEED** but I highly recommend getting yourself a USB playstation controller..

I used EQMOD a few times without it... it all works fine without it, untill you're trying to correctly frame an image at medium/long focal length, and you've got to do it by clicking a button on the EQMOD screen, then switch to the preview window to see what the affect was, then click on eqmod direction button, back to CCD program etc..

It gets REALLY old, REALLY fast! I got a $19 USB gamepad from EB games, plug that in and configure it up, now I can turn tracking on and off, change the RA/DEC slew rates, slew/nudge the mount, initiate spiral search (and quite a few other functions) via the gamepad whilst monitoring the CCD preview, allowing me to easily compose the shot and operate the mount..

For $20, its well worth having.

AlexN · #23 15-01-2009, 06:04 PM

Allan, I got it at EB Games in Northlakes shopping centre, There is also one at chermside which would be more convenient for you... Its a Logitech Precision Gamepad.

Cheers.
Alex.

Mighty_oz (Marcus) · #24 15-01-2009, 06:11 PM

Screwdriverone

Best astro post i've seen in ages !

Screwdriverone (Chris) · #25 16-01-2009, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty_oz

Screwdriverone

Best astro post i've seen in ages !

Thanks Mighty Oz,

Thank you very much, you've been a wonderful audience, I'll be here all week, try the veal!

Cheers

Chris

ozstockman (Mike) · #26 16-01-2009, 06:53 PM

Wow!. You've done it.

Thanks for the diagram. I won't be able to do it myself anyway but can ask some friends to help me.

ozstockman (Mike) · #27 16-01-2009, 06:55 PM

I am using a cordless Logitech Rumblepad to control my mount through eqmod.

danielsun · #28 16-01-2009, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstockman

I am using a cordless Logitech Rumblepad to control my mount through eqmod.

Yep, I use the same one and it makes alignments a breeze and is a must with EQmod.

Cheers Daniel.

AlexN · #29 16-01-2009, 07:15 PM

I will probably end up using the cordless one, as the amount of cables I seem to be amassing is somewhat uncontrollable...

its starting to look like I've got a pile of cables with a telescope precariously perched on top with a laptop balancing on the side of the cables!

danielsun · #30 16-01-2009, 07:32 PM

I know exactly what you mean Alex

Found this through Jaycar, a company in Tassie that sell Bluetooth serial adapters. http://www.rfmodules.com.au/

Cheers Daniel.

AlexN · #31 16-01-2009, 11:57 PM

hah... beat you too it Daniel, I ordered one from RFMA about a week ago

wireless eqmod on the way...

allan gould · #32 17-01-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstockman

I am using a cordless Logitech Rumblepad to control my mount through eqmod.

Pardon my ignorance but what sort of connection does the cordless rumblepad use. I may look into this
Thanks allan

danielsun · #33 17-01-2009, 01:55 PM

Allan, it's just a USB connection for the receiver which I have connected in my USB hub on the mount and that's all.
Once I loaded the driver EQMOD automatically detected the rumble pad, I configured it and it worked.
Is that what you meant?

B.T.W. Nice work Mick.

Cheers Daniel.

Mighty_oz (Marcus) · #34 17-01-2009, 02:05 PM

Hey Alex what was the cost of the adapter, can't see any prices on their web page.

AlexN · #35 17-01-2009, 02:30 PM

it cost me $115... Give them a call, they told me that their prices do fluctuate quite a bit at times..

Cheers

ozstockman (Mike) · #36 26-01-2009, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozstockman

I am using a cordless Logitech Rumblepad to control my mount through eqmod.

It's for sale at Dick Smith for $59 which I believe is a bargain price.

allan gould · #37 29-01-2009, 05:15 PM

Can someone help me out here as Im confused. The BT unit I have is an older style Aircable which states that you can use a program such as hyperterminal to communicate with it.
Ive tried but I cant seem to get this going as I need some dumb idiots guide to get this program to alter the security settings on the BT device so that it stops asking for a security key.
I start hyperterminal with the BT device plugged into my serial port of the computer.
I go to Run and type hyperterm
The program comes up....what are my next steps as its not clear to me.
The aircable site says the following
Connecting to your AIRcable Device

To setup Service Mode; plug the AIRcable module into your computer and run a terminal program such as Minicom or Hyperterminal on the corresponding com port. Always specify the following:

115200 baud
No parity
One stop bit
8 bit data
Hardware handshake enabled
When you connect to your device you won't get any sort of "banner," don't panic. The device is still working properly, but the AIRcable software does not have a banner on connect. Now that you are connected to the device, you should be able to enter commands. If this is your first time using hyperterminal, then when you enter in any form of data you will not see what you're typing. To allow yourself to see what you're typing, go to File->Properties->Settings->ASCII Setup-> and check Echo Delay, then press "Ok." Now that you can see what you're typing it makes entering commands much easier. From here on, just enter the command and hit Enter. If your command worked, you will get a response of "OK."

Service-Slave Mode

If you need access to the AIRcable from other Bluetooth devices you can put the AIRcable into the "Service Slave Mode". In this mode, the AIRcable allows other devices to connect to is. You can specify a PIN number for security, require authentication, enable encryption, and more. See the full description of the Command Line Interface for more information.

Each command starts with a "control-A" (^A) or 0x01, then the command in capital letters, and ends with a "carriage return" (CR) or 0x0d. Don't add a "line feed".

Quick Setup for Service-Slave mode (Setting the Pass Key, Device Name, etc).

Type in, without the spaces and the commas:

^A, Z, CR (erase all pairing information)
^A, P, 1, 2, 3, 4, CR (this changes the PIN number to "1234", this command enables authentication)
^A, P, D, CR (this disables the authentication, meaning the PIN number is not required)
^A, D, D, S, CR (make the device discoverable and enable the Serial Port Profile SPP)
^A, A, 3, CR (this switches the mode to "Service Slave")
Now you can discover the device from other Bluetooth devices, connect to it without a PIN to a serial port, and communicate. Make sure that the serial port parameters are correct. The device comes with 8 bit, no parity, one stop bit settings, but you can change it using the Command Line Interface. Switch the baud rate with the external switches.

But I cant even get the hyperterm prog to communicate as I dont get any "OK" reponses.
Help anyone?

danielsun · #38 29-01-2009, 10:25 PM

Allan I have just received my Bluetooth wireless adapter but have not had the chance to set it up yet, but on a chance try changing the Baud rate to 9600.

Cheers Daniel.

ozstockman (Mike) · #39 12-02-2009, 10:11 AM

Allan, how is it going? do you still need some help with it?

If you do send me a PM. I can't guarantee to help quickly as we've just had a baby and she takes almost all of our time but I'll try to help asap.

cheers,

Mike

allan gould · #40 12-02-2009, 10:16 AM

Mike
Finally got the BT working. I have to remember what I did a few years ago. There's the problem. I had to put hypertrm into echo mode and a few other things to change the access code for the BT device. My palm now controls the scope perfectly as well as my laptop under the celestron ascom device but sometimes the planetarium program forces a security code and it drops out before it can access the code. No problem as i can live with what I have.
On a lighter side if you think you little girl takes up time now - just wait a few years!!!!!
Congratulations and enjoy every moment with her.
Allan