+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Hi all, I have been putting off this move from using the Synscan hand set to using EQmod for a long time now, must be my age! I now have the hardware and software I need but a talk through of it's use and set up would really help me! Could someone please talk me through the set up procedure from switching on to using it? To me it's the biggest operating change I'll ever make!! Many thanks Ron PS Using the Hitecastro USB EQ Direct Interface (Win 8.1 driver sorted) and an EQ5 and HEQ5 mounts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Sorry Ron would be only too please to talk you through it but my interweb dongle died last night so only have this tapatalk at the moment. Best thing to do is go to the eqmod web site. Everything is there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ron, You have probably already read this and have this knowledge already but this seemed a good article and had some more links or the bottom. Plus getting info from someone who has done it etc etc Anyway every little helps. http://www.firstlightoptics.com/blog/eqmod-controlling-the-heq5-neq6-and-other-mounts-directly-from-a-pc.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ok Graham no problem, hope you get your dongle fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks Clive, no I havn't seen this. I will read through it later when I've finished hedge cutting!! Cheers ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks Clive, no I havn't seen this. I will read through it later when I've finished hedge cutting!! Cheers ron Nope you can come an do mine next - plus lop the 30 foot conifers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Clive, 'bu**er off'!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ron have got a new all singing and dancing wifi box thingy. As soon as it gets activated i will run you through it if you still need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks Graham, or I could leave it till I get to Kelling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 (edited) Clive, 'bu**er off'!! Ron what is butter off ? this link looks interesting but I don't know a dicky bird about EQMOD etc etc http://welshdragoncomputing.ca/eqmod/doku.php Edited August 30, 2014 by stash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ibbo Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 there are a good few u tube vids to help https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBB117AE85EB6BF04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 Ron kelling is fine by me. Probabely easier face to face. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Agreed, although I just plugged the cable and lappy in the HEQ5 and connected OK, and moved in CdC (to my amazement!) But its the aligmnent and syncing I don't understand yet! Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Think I've sorted the EQMod using CdC, need to practise it! Do folks use pulse guiding or ST4? Still can't get the focuser to work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted August 30, 2014 Share Posted August 30, 2014 I use Pulse, not sure what to suggest regards the focuser though, I'm clean out of ideas other than those I posted in the shout box sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 30, 2014 Author Share Posted August 30, 2014 Thanks Mike, might wait till kelling to sort the focuser out as it works OK in manual mode Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted August 31, 2014 Share Posted August 31, 2014 Discussed this last night with Steve and he suggested that maybe you need to download an ASCOM driver for the focuser. I never thought of that until he mentioned it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted August 31, 2014 Author Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) I have done that from the Hitecastro site. Checked today and it worked fine on an old notebook running Win 95 so I am going to check it later on the PC with Win7? I have also emailed Hitecastro as the EQDir USB lead I have needed an older driver to run it on Win 8.1 and maybe it's the same with the focuser? I will let you know their reply Mike, Thanks Works on Win7 ! PS: Seem to have got the EQMod working OK, got to try the guiding later! Ron Edited August 31, 2014 by Ron Clarke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 How do folks do there alignments on EQmod without either a] laptop next to the mount od b] without a game pad? I found it very frustrating last night, using the caravan as a warm room with the mount/scope outside. I was back and forth cheking the EP then back in to move the icon on CdC/EQascom many times , there must be an easier way? Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Graham Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Hi ron Dont use an ep use your camera. Set your bye to frame and focus and line it up using that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Perkil8r Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 I use the finder scope or Telrad. Tell it to go to the first star, then unlock clutches, line up manually, tighten clutches and sync. Then go to the next star and move it with the controls then sync. It saves a lot of time that way as mine was always a long way out on the first star. Once the first star is right the rest are usually pretty close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) Thanks Mike and Graham, may try a manual move first star then fix camera for 2nd star! Edited September 1, 2014 by Ron Clarke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 (edited) BIG PROBLEM! EQMod and Win 8.1 are a pain, everytime I want to use EQMod I have to install an older driver to get it to work and everytime I boot the machine up it installs a newer driver which doesn't work! For me it means I will get a cheap end Win 7 lappy to do scope stuff on! I'm fed up loading and reloading drivers for Win 8 Ron PS: ordered a Dell Win7 lappy just to do astro on! Edited September 5, 2014 by Ron Clarke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stash Posted September 5, 2014 Share Posted September 5, 2014 (edited) You could dual boot the new lap top - with windows 8 and Windows 7 - unless you need Windows 8 for Astro stuff or something other need. Just need a Win 7 lic then - which is cheaper than you a new even cheap win 7 laptop. The lap top , on booting, will then ask which you wish to run. Best done thru two separate partitions of the hard drive. OR Just install Win 7 on the Laptop - assuming the laptop has drivers that support Win 7 - most do. Edited September 5, 2014 by stash Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now