Skywatcher AZ Goto laptop control

[cuivenion]

Can the Skywatcher AZ goto be controlled by a laptop without the handset? I've tried googling this but I've not found anything relating to control using a laptop only.

[bruno]

I have the a little merlin tabletop mount which is like the SW AZ & i have to run a cable from the laptop to the hand set & also the same with my Ioptron mount, if you look on the bottom of your hand set you have two ports one forthe h/set to the mount & the other for plugging your laptop cable from the laptop the you can control your mount by using stellarium, or other planeterium programs hope this helps. 

[Cornelius Varley]

This is adapter you need http://www.365astronomy.com/Bluetooth-Interface-for-Skywatcher-Autotracking-and-Merlin.html . The adapter connects to the laptop via bluetooth.

[cuivenion]

I don't actually own one as yet. I've seen one advertised without the handset for a good price, but I'm not interested unless there is an economic way of of running the mount. Even a second hand handset would be quite pricey.

I'd prefer to run the mount from a laptop anyway. I was thinking about using one of these cables:

http://www.astronomiser.co.uk/eqdir.htm

There's one for the AZ Goto at near the bottom of the page. Still a bit pricey though. I might have a go at making my own.

[cuivenion]

I don't actually own one as yet. I've seen one advertised without the handset for a good price, but I'm not interested unless there is an economic way of of running the mount. Even a second hand handset would be quite pricey.

I'd prefer to run the mount from a laptop anyway. I was thinking about using one of these cables:

http://www.astronomiser.co.uk/eqdir.htm

There's one for the AZ Goto at near the bottom of the page. Still a bit pricey though. I might have a go at making my own.

Has anyone used the AZ goto with one of these wires?