When driving the motors, it can control the rate at which step pulses are sent to the motors and thus, the mount slew speed. Cable … This type of connection gives you all the functionality of EQMOD. Simple Plug and Play. To fully support the newer ASCOM compliant features, both the ASCOM driver on the PC and the firmware in the HandControl need to both be using the newer level of the communications protocol. There are a lot of details to consider when arranging the pins between Male and Female connectors on a serial cable or serial … In final summary, when connecting your SynScan mount to a PC for ASCOM control, you have the option to use one of two distinct ASCOM drivers: These two drivers have differing levels of features which they enable. The communications protocol between the PC and the HandControl was updated to version 3.0 to make the driver more fully compliant with ASCOM standards. This Disconnect it from the mount and put it away. Once it is put into PC Direct Mode (sometimes called Pass-Through Mode), it no longer translates The HandControl contains the “smarts” of the GoTo system. The methods differ primarily in terms of which ASCOM Driver is used, the HandControl configuration, and the cable type for connection First, let’s think about the electronics inside the mount body. in two general forms. Black coiled cord and connector block. In Cartes du Ciel, connect to the mount via ASCOM using the selection for These ASCOM drivers will use the older HandControl communications protocols and will work with the older firmware versions. This article has attempted to describe in some detail three methods for interfacing your SynScan mount to a computer. A … Some users have reported communications reliability problems while using EQMOD through the HandControl in PC Direct Mode. Data transfer rate over 250Kbps. The driver was changed sometime around 2015 simultaneously with the introduction of the version v3.39 / v4.39 HandControl firmware. Getting multiple partial answers to questions of running a SynScan mount from a PC often leads to even more confusion on the part of the person requesting help. Cable length 1.5 metres. needs a different ASCOM driver (usually supplied by the EQMOD for me when it connects to the mount and also allow it to close EQMOD for me when I am finished for the evening. star field for automated focusing, and even slewing from one target after another during a night of automated imaging. (It sometimes reminds me of the rs232 skywatcher heq5 pro telescope synscan hand controller unit cable. first is to allow the ASCOM Client program to start the EQMOD ASCOM Driver when it connects. e) With all ASCOM client programs on the PC disconnected, you can now close Cartes du Ciel The SkyWatcher ASCOM driver will automatically close itself after all using applications have disconnected and closed. This method uses a simple ASCOM Driver to add computer SynScan HandControl Command Communications Protocol to Motor Control Command Communications Protocol. All features are available (They will be missing some of the new ASCOM standard functions like correct pier-side reporting and such, however.). mount body. If you find any errors here, please alert me. in most cases for using a SynScan mount.). Serial port extension cables are wired straight through, that is pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc. Now, you can start your alignment process using Cartes du Ciel and EQMOD. in the HandControl menus and then do your star alignment. Doing so may save you some debug time when things don't work quite correctly. The hand controller comes with an RS-232 cable for connecting to an external computer. Copyright © 2021 Harrison Telescopes Limited. SynScan Handset for HEQ5. Soon it will be second nature and any initial apprehension will be forgotten. Its job is to run the stepper motors for the RA (Right Ascension) drive axis and the DEC (Declination) drive axis. EQMOD ASCOM Driver -- May require a special cable (purchased separately) depending on the exact configuration you choose. In this mode, Cartes du Ciel will track the position of the mount and will allow GoTo control. The HandControl Each piece of astronomy hardware (mount, camera, focuser, etc.) OS Support: Windows XP/7/8/9/10. Using our proprietary SynScan hand controller, the AZ-EQ5 provides a user-friendly interface with automatic slewing to over 42,000 objects in the night sky. Each description is technically correct but when combined, no one would understand When in normal mode, it can translate the communications language spoken by the SkyWatcher ASCOM Driver into the language Some of the details of the dialog boxes encountered during the set-up procedure will differ but you should be able to follow along. is made. (03/08/2018) Steve rees - Caerphilly, SkyWatcher SynScan USB to Serial Converter Cable  Necessary to plug into the Skywatcher Serial Lead, supplied with their scope, to update handset firmware. The pre-6.0 Celestron driver will work with the older firmware versions of the SynScan mount and HandControl. They'll link with the handset but won't do the full update and can leave you with a handset that doesn't work. You can use a cable module that simply changes +/- RS232 interface voltages to 0-5 volt range or you can have a cable that converts USB directly to a serial TTL RS232-like interface that uses 0-5 volt A second option if you don’t wish to upgrade your HandControl firmware level to v3.39 / v4.39 or above, is to use an older version (pre-6.x) of the Celestron Unified ASCOM driver. I have noted that there are often requests for help posted on online astronomy forums from new users trying to make a connection work. All control should be done from the PC. Use with the Synscan handset firmware update cable (supplied with Synscan telescopes, mounts and upgrade kits) allowing connection directly to a PC's USB port. It may be a planetarium program that shows you a map of the night sky, it may be a program which automates an astrophotography Wait for the telescope to finish Parking. This voltage These include Cartes du Ciel (a planetarium / sky mapping program), Using our proprietary SynScan hand controller, the EQ6-R Pro provides a user-friendly interface with automatic slewing to over 42,000 objects in the night sky. My method shown here will differ from what other users may use. are almost exactly the same as the previous Enhanced ASCOM Control Connection description. set of data which can be used to correct for polar alignment errors in the setup of the mount and minor error tolerances in the manufacturing of the mount itself.) advanced features not otherwise available. shipping: + au $10.24 shipping . They will be described older firmware with some features being unavailable. Finally, there are several overriding rules which must always be followed when connecting your SynScan mount to a computer: These seemingly complicated connection methods will become clear after following the connection procedure once or twice. First, let’s think about the electronics inside the SkyWatcher SynScan USB PC interface cable is also can be used to update the firmware of the hand controller. You can skip a multi-star alignment and use the One Star Align method if you are well polar aligned. I show the "Pin Out" for a SynScan Hand Controller Cable. Never connect a real RS232 communications cable / adapter directly to your mount -- it can likely permanently damage the electronics inside the mount body because of the voltages involved. Software & Firmware Manual. RS-232 is simple, universal, well understood and supported but it has some serious shortcomings as a data interface. If the driver is unable to connect to the mount when started by a client, the EQMOD window will flash briefly and then go away. RJ12 Pinout: Pin1 -- White Pin2 -- Black Pin3 -- Red Pin4 -- Green Pin5 -- Yellow Pin6 -- Brown Gold plated pin 28AWG wire Molded adapter … out this tutorial also:Light Vortex -- Setting up an Equatorial Mount on ASCOM with EQMod, Stellarium and Cartes du Ciel. (In addition, sometimes a low level hardware driver must be installed. The actual specification calls for anything between +/- 3 volts to +/- 25 volts. Product description: Connects to the standard Synscan handset firmware update cable (supplied with Synscan telescopes, mounts and upgrade kits) allowing connection directly to a PC's USB port. (27/09/2019) Andy - Norwich, upgrade failed mid download with inferior cable   This cable worked first time without any extra drivers uploading the new download. This should get you going for using Cartes du Ciel, PHD2 Guiding, and Sequence Generator Pro with your SynScan mount connected directly to the computer via an EQMOD-compatible cable / adapter and the EQMOD ASCOM driver. Works on Window 10 and my handset was updated within minutes, simple plug'n'play. After some investigation (and it seems quite a few other people on forums get confused about what is possible) it turns out I am able to use the standard RS232 serial cable supplied with my Synscan … In this article, I hope to clarify the methods of connecting a SynScan mount to a PC by outlining some of the more common methods that are easy to implement. (Use of the special cable is the preferred method when using this driver.) For those brands, contact the telescope manufacturer to obtain a serial cable for your telescope. ... TELESCOPE SKYWATCHER SYNSCAN HAND CONTROLLER CABLE FOR PRO NEQ6 HEQ5 . Hey there, This process can be a little bit frustrating if you don't have the right cable but if you have tge right cable, BOOM! For visual observing that may be all you need. If the mount is powered off, a cable is disconnected, or the COM port number is incorrect or the port miss-configured, the EQMOD window will flash visible for very short time then become invisible for several seconds and repeat indefinitely until EQMOD is either manually killed or finally makes communications contact with the mount. Start EQMOD running and make sure that the communications port is correctly set. Data transfer rate over 250Kbps. to save the sky model for permanently mounted telescopes, spiral search capability around a starting position, multiple parking position capability, Periodic Error Correction recording / variable speed PEC playback, Custom In this mode, Cartes du Ciel will track the position of the mount and will allow GoTo control. Upon command, it can move the motors a certain number The HandControl will be used to initialize some settings and will be used for certain utility This should get you going for using Cartes du Ciel, PHD2 Guiding, and Sequence Generator Pro with your SynScan mount via the SynScan Hand Controller and the EQMOD ASCOM driver. AC/DC adapter for SynScan GoTo Mount. Unfortunately, because of the multiple connection methodologies, answers are often muddled as multiple respondents answer only a different small part of the question without describing full context. :P Using a Carina SkyFi box, I was able control the telescope with an iPad. For this reason, there are set-up differences for use as will be seen when we describe using two of the three connection methods. The standards to 256kbps or less and line lengths of 15M (50 ft) or less but today we see high speed ports on our home PC running very high speeds and with high quality cable … For each of these three methods of connecting, I have assigned a rather arbitrary name to the method. The first connection method to be described here is a little simpler than the next two. will often not work at all and worse yet may result in physical damage to your mount or computer. please ensure your device pinout is match with this cable … control to the functions of the HandControl. A few common programs that are used as ASCOM Clients It will ask can select "PC Direct Mode". Also found it works to control an AZ GOTO scope from a computer running the free Stellarium software. Key Features. If you encounter some features that do not work or are using even older firmware, it will be worth considering updating your HandControl firmware. (Control is also possible using the INDI platform available for multiple The ASCOM Platform serves to provide a common form of communications interface between Foremost among these new capabilities is the ability to simply click on you to verify that the telescope is actually pointing there. Two different ASCOM drivers are available depending on your needs. Connecting your SynScan (SkyWatcher or Orion) telescope mount to a PC is not very difficult once you decide on a particular set of features, methodology, and hardware you wish to use. It also allows any other ASCOM client programs to know where the telescope is pointed at You can then press the "Disconnect" button in the connection window and track down the reason for a failed connection without having to watch the repeated flashing of the EQMOD window. (25/03/2019) Jeff sharpe - Mow Cop Cheshire, Prompt and efficient  Good service - item arrived quickly, well packed and was exactly as described - it also worked! Works on Window 10 and my handset was updated within minutes, simple plug'n'play. Connect the RJ – RJ232 (supplied with the mount) to the hand controller and the RS232 – USB cable supplied with the ASIAIR. You can substitute your own favorite program for each of these functions. When using I prefer to let Cartes du Ciel start EQMOD for me when it connects to the mount and also allow it to close EQMOD for me when I am finished for the evening. via GoTos from the HandControl. The pinout of the DB-9 connector can be confusing when cabling an RS232 line. Manual slewing of the telescope or centering an object in the field of view can be done using the HandControl. all times. For EQMOD, however, there is a second method. Using this connection mode, a planetarium program such as Cartes du Ciel or Stellarium will track the position Probably cheaper leads on the market, but this is made by / for SkyWatcher, and it works. There are multiple methods for allowing a PC to control a SynScan mount. Confirm that and you are ready to use Cartes du Ciel to drive the mount. One somewhat annoying side effect (for me) when starting EQMOD using the EQASCOM_Run script method is that the EQMOD window will repeatedly become visible for a split second and then go away if it is not able to communicate with the mount. The last method for connection we will examine also uses the EQMOD ASCOM Driver but eliminates the use of the SynScan HandControl. off with EQMOD in "Append on Sync" mode. b) Disconnect the mount in Sequence Generator Pro. In this article, I will call this command set the "Motor The ASCOM Platform and drivers are free for use. The main methods will be described in detail of RA, DEC, sky alignment models, or anything else stored in the hand control. Connects to the standard Synscan handset firmware update cable (supplied with Synscan telescopes, mounts and upgrade kits) allowing connection directly to a PC's USB port. The mount's internal electronics Unlike other common ASCOM Drivers, there are two methods for starting the EQMOD ASCOM Driver. Using anything but a serial port extension cable … this article will present multiple methods, the reader must keep in mind that they must choose one method only for any given observing session and follow it without regard to the other methods also described here. As soon as I got this it has worked perfectly. d) Bring up the Cartes du Ciel ASCOM Telescope Interface dialog box again by clicking the Telescope Icon on the Cartes du Ciel Toolbar and click on the Disconnect button. The first ASCOM driver is the one written by SkyWatcher for all SynScan mounts. There are three main methods for connecting a SynScan mount to a PC using Windows ASCOM. In each of the three connection methods described below, I will use the combination of software I use. The key difference is that in this method, the SynScan HandControl is not used at all. au $25.74. you'll rock. as described in the Enhanced ASCOM Control Connection method. Finally, the PC will also need a program to do the actual control of the mount. Cartes du Ciel should probably pick up the current location of the telescope but if it doesn't, you can do a GoTo to a bright star using Since EQMOD communicates using the Mount Control Communications Protocol directly, the HandControl does not need to do any communications language translation. using EQMOD, you then have to manually shut down EQMOD after all the ASCOM Client programs have finished. These methods use the more feature-rich EQMOD ASCOM driver. When using the SkyWatcher ASCOM Driver, you, When using the EQMOD ASCOM Driver, the HandControl. Fully compliant with USB 1.1. Quick delivery too so a happy Astronomer!! previous section. When used in PC Direct Mode, the HandControl unit only acts as a bulky RS232-to-TTL level serial communications converter. ... rs232 skywatcher synscan dobsonian telescope hand controller cable & other models. After doing a few stars on each side of the meridian, I switch EQMOD to Dialog mode to just use the alignment data without adding more stars.). It will work equally well with SkyWatcher and Orion branded mounts. For further reading, another tutorial on the Web fills in a lot of details on using Stellarium as your ASCOM Client. GoTo accuracy, slew speed, tracking speed, and so forth are all under control of the values stored in the HandControl. Everything else will be done just like the Enhanced ASCOM Control Connection method described above. The HandControl communications translation functions are not needed. We will now move to using the EQMOD ASCOM Driver to interface the mount to the PC. SkyWatcher ASCOM Driver -- Uses only cables / hardware supplied with your mount and provides basic control functionality. USB to RJ45 Cable for Skywatecher Telescope Control Cable for EQ6-R AZEQ6 AZEQ5, PC to Skywatcher Mount directly, Don't need the hand control box . The three main methods of connecting a SynScan mount to a PC through ASCOM are summarized below. Can also connect other serial (RS232) … The HandControl is still performing its voltage conversion role to protect the mount from the RS232 voltage levels of the PC. The You should pick a method Do NOT put the HandControl into PC-Direct mode when using the SkyWatcher ASCOM driver to connect. (29/09/2017) David - Kent, Copyright © 2021 Harrison Telescopes Limited. In this article, your choices for making the connection This article will use one of two ASCOM Drivers. It interprets user input button pushes and then sends commands to the motor control electronics in the mount I gather not all USB to RS232 adaptors are the same. It can have benefits even for some aspects You will be using one of the special EQMOD compatible cables to directly connect the mount to they PC. the meridian the telescope is pointed. By connecting The newest SkyWatcher driver is labeled version 6.0 or above. I understand the problem may be the absence of FTDI chip in cheaper cables. This method does not require the purchase of any extra cables. The warning will indicate that some functions may not be available or may not work with older levels of HandControl Firmware. The FTDI 232R chipset works reliably across all versions of Windows and, because each cable has a unique chipset ID, each time you unplug the adapter then plug it back into the same computer, even if on a different physical USB port, the COM port number remains the same. level translation is very important because the RS232 Interface Standard allows voltages up to plus or minus 25 volts for communications. Again, mixing in any steps from other methods will likely not work and in some cases, such improvisation can damage your equipment. (Note that the motor control card in the mount has no knowledge This difference in language between the two ports of the hand so forth. an object shown in a sky mapping program on the PC and have the telescope move to that object. This Serial/RS232 cable is used to update the Synscan Hand Controller firmware. to make the mount move. The EQMOD ASCOM Driver is a part of a larger set of software tools called the EQMOD Project. Even the basic included functionality of the EQMOD ASCOM driver exceeds the capabilities of the SkyWatcher ASCOM Driver. You should not improvise by using steps 1 through 5 of the Basic method and then using steps 5 and 6 of the Enhanced method and Spend a bit more and get the correct cable for the job. The latest v6.00 and above Celestron ASCOM drivers will not work with SkyWatcher or Orion SynScan mounts. of visual observing at the cost of needing a laptop near the telescope while observing. All in all, I recommend that you upgrade your SynScan mount and HandControl firmware to at least v3.36 / v4.36 if not the latest available and use the latest SkyWatcher ASCOM driver. and the window scrolls accordingly.) dsub 9pin female - rj12 (6pin) cable; RS232 SKYWATCHER HEQ5 PRO TELESCOPE SYNSCAN HAND CONTROLLER CABLE | eBay The new SkyWatcher ASCOM Driver communicates using the newer version 3 HandControl Communications protocol.) Any negative voltage fed directly into your SynScan mount can spell instant death for the electronics card inside. Before getting into the various methods for connecting a SynScan mount to a computer for control, it is best to have a basic understanding of which parts do what in a SynScan mount. to the PC. The motor controller only steps the motors when told to do so by the hand controller.) More on this will be covered in later sections. the HandControl. in this article and some of the common variations for each will be mentioned as we go along. This should get you going for using Cartes du Ciel, PHD2 Guiding, and Sequence Generator Pro with your SynScan mount via the SynScan Hand Controller and the SkyWatcher ASCOM driver. Below are the steps for connecting Cartes du Ciel, PHD2, and Sequence Generator Pro using the EQMOD ASCOM Driver through the HandControl: In this case we DO put the HandControl into PC Direct mode since we will be using EQMOD to control the mount directly. Celestron USB to RS-232 Connector Cable. communications port is correctly set. a) Park the telescope using the Hand Controller. Connecting a SynScan telescope mount to a computer for control can give the user a number of additional useful features over using the supplied hand controller. GoTo accuracy, tracking speed and such are all under In addition, software setup details not covered here are available for those who run into problems. For the rest of this article, I will call this communication language between the HandControl and the PC the "HandControl Command Communications Protocol". However, the 5.x series of the Celestron Unified ASCOM driver has a selection for running SkyWatcher mounts in its configuration options. will be outlined and detailed connection methods described. Just take all the defaults and get to a point where you I have also not had problems with using the directional slew buttons on the HandControl when using

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