Orion Starseeker pc control

[RaZX6r]

Hi. It's been awhile since I've been on here. Finally got some time to start messin around with my scope and camera. I have a starseeker II and was wondering what cable I need to connect directly to my laptop? All the scope has is a phone line port and my laptop does not have one. Do I need to order a special adapter to USB or serial port? And also will it work? I have all the programs that the scope came with loaded up into the laptop. I've been getting some nice sun and moon pics with the camera so far, but I would like more POI from the laptop. The control the scope comes with has too short of a cord and makes the scope very unsteady. Any info would be awesome. Thanks and clear skies!!

[Cornelius Varley]

Your telescope is similar to the Skywatcher 102 AZ GOTO and should have been supplied with the correct cable to connect the handset to a computer (aka PC interface (serial) cable). The cable is similar to this one http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/serial-cable-for-skywatcher-and-celestron-mounts.html and is cream/grey in colour.  The same cable is used to update the handset's firmware.

[RaZX6r]

Yes it did. But the cable and my port are both male ends....

[RaZX6r]

And the one on the laptop has 15 holes. The cable has 9.

[Cornelius Varley]

The cable terminates in a female 9 pin serial socket to match a computer's male 9 pin serial port. These days most computers don't have a serial port so you will need to purchase a usb/serial adapter.

[Cornelius Varley]

And the one on the laptop has 15 holes. The cable has 9.

The 15 pin port on the computer is a VGA monitor port, don't plug your cable into that.

[RaZX6r]

Thank You!

[wookie1965]

A warm welcome to SGL