Blue tooth EQMOD recommendations

[sheeny (Al)]

Now that I have an EQ6, I'm considering doing the wireless EQMOD thing as per Mike's tutorial:

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...75&postcount=7

and see also

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ighlight=EQMOD

If I go EQMOD, I'll have to go wireless as a serial cable plug is too big to fit through the conduit in my obs.

My laptop does not have bluetooth built in, but I do have a blue tooth dongle. Being a chinese cheapie, it doesn't have any bluetooth software other than the normal Microsoft generic stuff (Bluetooth Devices > Devices, Options, COM Ports, Hardware). Do I need Bluetooth software that does more than this? If so what do you recommend?

Thanks,

Al.

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Originally Posted by sheeny

If I go EQMOD, I'll have to go wireless as a serial cable plug is too big to fit through the conduit in my obs.

Can't you feed the cable through the conduit and then terminate it?

Or a Cat5 cable with RJ45-DB9 converters on each end?

I've never been happy with Bluetooth, except for my mobile earpiece.

[Matty P (Matt)]

I've been using wireless EQMOD for a while now and I can't fault it. My desktop in the Obs didn't have bluetooth connectivity either, so I bought a cheap bluetooth USB dongle for it. Plugged it in and I was able to connect to my mount without any problems. Didn't need any software for XP to recognise it.

[sheeny (Al)]

Originally Posted by mithrandir

Can't you feed the cable through the conduit and then terminate it?

Or a Cat5 cable with RJ45-DB9 converters on each end?

I've never been happy with Bluetooth, except for my mobile earpiece.

Yes, technically I could. It's just still a bit messy with the need to run a USB to serial dongle as well as my lappy only has USB...

Originally Posted by Matty P

I've been using wireless EQMOD for a while now and I can't fault it. My desktop in the Obs didn't have bluetooth connectivity either, so I bought a cheap bluetooth USB dongle for it. Plugged it in and I was able to connect to my mount without any problems. Didn't need any software for XP to recognise it.

Thanks Matt. That's what I wanted to hear! So I should be able to get it up and running with what I've got... I'm just trying to eliminate potential sources of frustration before I start.

Al.

[Spanrz (Brett)]

I watched a vid on youtube, using a Wii controller to control a telescope.
Amazing, as this is.

Next generation connectivity.

[pmrid (Peter)]

Hi Al. I've gone down the EQMOD road and think it is the best thing since ...
I have also had a run at the Bluetooth Serial replacement. I bought a dongle (Brand name AIRCable for US$130 or so) and had a lot of trouble getting it to talk to my Bluetooth dongle. It did once and then just dropped off and refused to reconnect. I haven't been able to fiure out why. I was using a Bluetooth dongle by Targus that came with drivers etc but I think there were issues betwen the dongle and the dongle (??).
I have since found a mucg cheaper USB-RS232 Bluetooth device on EBAY - just search under Bluetooth Serial Port DTE Adapter Connector SPP (that's what they call it) in Hong Kong for A$57.
I had no problem getting the AIRCable to talk to my office laptop with the built-in Bluetooth but that's not going to help me in the observatory.
I suggest you invest in a good quality Bluetoth dongle and experiment with the EBAy device.

Peter