Guest Madatter Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Been at it all day, cannot getc my laptop to connect to my eq5 mount, my handset is a nextstar+ I'm using a pcmcia serial adaptor com port set to 9 in ascom and on laptop. I've been searching the internet and everybody says the same thing, the handset needs to be in pcdirect mod, trouble is I can't find it anywhere on the handset? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 It's on the SW version! Why are you using a nexstar handset with a SW mount? Cheers Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Yup - some clarification of which equipment is being used will help us to help you - as Ron suggests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Madatter Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 (edited) It's the celestron not sky watcher, I didn't know there was 2 different handsets, it doesn't mention that little gem in the instructions, looks like it's something else. I just found I installed to ascom drivers wrong as well so I'll reinstall everything and try again. So are you saying pcdirect only works with sw handsets, and I need to buy a interface? Sorry celestron eq5 handset and mount Edited December 18, 2012 by Madatter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Still confused?? Celestron mount and handset? Ron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Steve - we need to know mount make and model and handset make and model and which software version you have on the handset (and encoders if possible). Also which laptop and windows version (assuming you use windows). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Madatter Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Celestron CG-5 GOTO Equatorial new from RVO s last week, Nextstar + handset v5.21.2064, hp laptop 4 gig duel processor running windows 7, starry night and apt are the main programs on it, I plan on only using it for astro, I've got a quad core with a 24" screen in the house for editing. Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Madatter Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 And the penny drops, you can only use eqmod with sw, but I should be able to use ascom within the starry night to control the scope. So I need to forget about eqmod, pity I've just spent a month learning all about it. Why do people write instruction aimed at people that already know what their doing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+RonC Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 You've hit the nail on the head ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Ahhh yes that would seem right - I've not heard of eqmod for Celestron mounts. If you have a search Glider has done a 3 part tutorial on hooking up and using Auto Guiding which has all the physical cabling along with software links to Ascom. It's on here somehwere I think. But if you don't find it it's in the Tutorial Section on Astronomy Shed. Also Dion has done a remote control guide with all you need to control from Stellarium. I'm sure it must be similar for Starry Night. There may even be a dedicated Starry Night thread there too. http://www.astronomyshed.co.uk/forum/viewforum.php?f=19 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Madatter Posted December 18, 2012 Share Posted December 18, 2012 Thanks, I really liked eqmod, looks like I will have to find stand alone programs that will do a similar job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ely Ellis Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 (edited) Steve, If its any help, I have a CG-5 Goto with Nextstar handset (not the + version though). If you just want to control the scope from software (not guiding), then I use Stellarium, a USB to serial cable and just plug it into the bottom of the handset. It is very easy to setup and use, no external drivers involved (other than the plug-in with Stellarium, which comes as standard). I have now taken to sitting in the house and controlling the scope from Stellarium and using a 5m USB extension cable to my camera, I can sit in comfort and take images. If you need any assistance, just drop me a line, I'm only down the road from you at South Normanton. If its autoguiding your wanting, then Pat (Tod8137) is the man to speak to. I would like to try autoguiding further down the line, so maybe we can walk that path together! Cheers Martin Edited December 19, 2012 by Ely Ellis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tweedledum Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 You also need to be careful as to which usb-serial adapter you use as not all chipsets are supported by W7. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Madatter Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Thanks to everyone, I think installing eqmod as messed all the ascom up, I'm going to uninstall ascom and eqmod and start again. Everybody is out at meadowhhell Xmas shopping tonight so it's a good time to take over the livingroom floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Ely Ellis Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Stellarium is very easy to set up to control the CG-5 Goto mount. You still need to do your usual alignment process, but once setup, just plug in and go. I find it useful if I don't know what things are called as the handset contains 40,000 objects. Just looking at Stellarium and thinking... "I will look at that..." then just click on it and away the scope goes. It also helps me keep the scope pointing in the area of interest, the most anoying things is choosing an object from the handset menu only to have the scope slew all the way over to the West, where my view is blocked. Using Stellarium, I can see where I want to point before I send it. Due to it working both ways, Stellarium will also indicate where the scope is currently pointing. Martin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antares_Paul Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 (edited) Apologies if you are already aware. APT has mount control via Ascom. No visual interface though. Targets are selected via a drop down menu: Celestron/Ascom driver (if you didn't have it). I'm an EQMOD/Sky Watcher user so my help stops here Regards. Edited December 19, 2012 by Antares_Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Madatter Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Thanks for your help, all connected and running thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brantuk Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 Great stuff Steve - glad you're sorted out now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glider Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 i installed Ascom and then the Celestrom mount driver. Works fine with my CG5-GT with Stellarium, PHD, APT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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