frustrating night

[Ivor]

What a glorious clear night yesterday, only spoilt by the scope not working through EQMOD. I got a couple of errors, first the hand controller came up with the message "no link to m.c" and then EQMOD kept coming up with time out errors even though it was pointing to the correct com point.


Googling suggests bad connects which is obvious but odd as I've left this all connected for a week.  I'll have a play today to see if I can fix it but I need a backup solution and remember some people have cables going direct to the mount, any recommendations or advice on what to steer clear off?
I did realise at 01:30 whilst in my warm bed that I did have a basic backup solution which would be to guide via the direct camera cable, but my dedication to the cause couldn't drag me out of bed.

[Carole]

It's a pain when you get rare clear skies and then your kit lets you down.

Handset without EQMod?

Carole

[Mike]

Handset?

The whole idea behind EQ-MOD is that you do away with the handset. Plug it directly into the handset port on the mount.

[Kenny]

Did you see the mag -7.3 Iridium flare last night?

[Carole]

Handset?

The whole idea behind EQ-MOD is that you do away with the handset. Plug it directly into the handset port on the mount.

I was making a suggestion that on a clear night when things don't work there is always that option rather then wasting time on something that isn't working.

I use the handset for precisely that reason - less to go wrong, I think the handset is perfectly fine for the job and don't see why there is this mania for "doing away with it" unless you want to work remotely.  I have an EQDir cable and have used EQMod but just couldn't see the point unless I was working from indoors, but since I rarely change objects during an evening I would rarely need to use it. 

Carole

[MarkS]

Ivor,

How are you using EQMOD? 

When I first tried EQMOD ( a few years ago ) I used the serial lead that came with the mount (for flash upgrading the handset) and plugged it into the handset.  I had lots of frustrations with this and gave up.  I seem to remember the handset has to be switched into a special mode.

This time round I bought an EQDIR lead, which replaces the handset altogether.  This worked much better for me.  But I do miss the convenience of using the handset.

Mark

[JohnP]

I use the handset for precisely that reason - less to go wrong, I think the handset is perfectly fine for the job and don't see why there is this mania for "doing away with it" unless you want to work remotely

Carole, I had exactly same reasoning as you regards hand controller but have on last few nights out used EQmod. The big benefits I can see are:


1. Really easy to align & sync scope. Basically turn scope on then use planetarium prog to slew to ANY star you want (you have 1.000's to choose from not just the ones in the handset) - Right click & SYNC - that's it... If you pick a star close to your object you want to image then just select DSO on planetarium prog again - Slew to it & there it is..
2. Moving around sky using laptop is VERY easy.
3. Guide through Pulseguide so less cables.

John

[Mike]

John - Exactly. You just pick any bright stars (you don't even have to know their names) and slew/sync on them to align. Dead easy.

My query was directed to Ivor not you Carole. He seems to be plugging the laptop into the handset somehow then using EQ-MOD instead of using an EQ-DIR cable. This is, as Duncan says, a recipe for disaster. Ivor if you don't have one get an EQ-DIR cable, they don't cost much and do away with the handset altogether.

[Carole]

My query was directed to Ivor not you Carole.

OK Mike, thanks.

I agree it's easy to move around with EQMod, but still think it's just as easy with a handset.  

I am sure I will use EQMod again at some point as sometimes the alignment stars are behind the blessed dome, but in general I can't be bothered, it's just more cables.  

Carole

[Mike]

It's just one cable that replaces the handset and cable so in fact makes no difference.

[Rocket Pooch]

It's just one cable that replaces the handset and cable so in fact makes no difference.

And it replaces a guide cable as well.

[Carole]

More cables to trail accross to the laptop and plug into the USB is what I meant.  The handset cable stays neatly on the mount area.

I am going to have another session with EQMod at some point especially now I don't have to look through the finderscope any more (using the finderguider and PHD to view on screen).  Using a wireless gamepad did not work for me as it was working on very delayed reaction and was a PITA.  I'll try and see what it is you guys find so attractive about it.  

Carole

[Mike]

Perhaps it would be good for you to get a demo from someone who uses it regularly to show off all of the features?

[The Thing]

What a glorious clear night yesterday, only spoilt by the scope not working through EQMOD. I got a couple of errors, first the hand controller came up with the message "no link to m.c" and then EQMOD kept coming up with time out errors even though it was pointing to the correct com point.


Googling suggests bad connects which is obvious but odd as I've left this all connected for a week.  I'll have a play today to see if I can fix it but I need a backup solution and remember some people have cables going direct to the mount, any recommendations or advice on what to steer clear off?
I did realise at 01:30 whilst in my warm bed that I did have a basic backup solution which would be to guide via the direct camera cable, but my dedication to the cause couldn't drag me out of bed.

Hi Ivor,

I use EQMOD exclusively. I have a four port 10 metre USB hub velcroed to the side. Into this goes the 1000D, QHY5, Focuser and of course a HiTecAstro EQDIR module. The hub is powered, the mount is powered and the dew heater controller is powered. Thats 1 x USB and 3 X power cables to the mount. EQMOD COM port detection is unreliable, I always look in Device Mananger and have the hub marked so that the EQDIR cable always goes into the same USB port so I always get the came COM port assigned. (There are long threads on this on the forum).

I recently had to replace the EQDIR to mount cable which was giving intermittent disconnects usually after slewing. 99p for a LAN cable on ebay and 10mins with a soldering iron. I also find the mount power connector can be iffy. If the mount isn't powered the EQDIR will show a COM port in Windows but EQMOD won't connect to the mount.

[The Thing]

More cables to trail accross to the laptop and plug into the USB is what I meant.  The handset cable stays neatly on the mount area.

I am going to have another session with EQMod at some point especially now I don't have to look through the finderscope any more (using the finderguider and PHD to view on screen).  Using a wireless gamepad did not work for me as it was working on very delayed reaction and was a PITA.  I'll try and see what it is you guys find so attractive about it. 

Carole

Hi Carole, I can give you a demo some time - you busy this afternoon? My mount is set up in the conservatory... PM for address.

BTW I use a £5.99 wireless gamepad and there is no lag at all, even from halfway down the garden!