USB leads

[brrttpaul]

Hi guys quick question but ATM I have my scope outside and my laptop in the house, I run three 10m cables to my laptop, 1 for the mount 1 for the camera and one for the focuser/gamepad. running three leads is a bit of a nightmare so i was wondering as I have a plug in usb hub thingy, could I plug all three into the hub outside and run just the one lead to the laptop or would it be to much for one lead? its one of those repeater type extension cable so i was thinking it may be ok

[MarsG76]

It should be fine for all if its USB3. If its USB2 it will also work but you might find some dropouts in captured videos when you're capturing CCD videos for stacking 640x480 at 60 fps. Controlling everything for long exposures through a DSLR or CCD will be fine working with everything else through a USB hub.

Personally I use a hub and control everything through 1 USB2 cable using a repeater extension USB lead and a USB hub but when I'm capturing videos for planetary stacking, I use a separate USB cable for just the CCD data flow.

[Scott]

it'll work, then it won't, then it will again.... personally, I've given up on using usb hubs for now and when I do start using them again, it'll only be non critical devices such as focuser, gamepad etc. nothing worse than stressing over camera control or mount malfunction, only to find out its a failed hub

Tape your three cables together then you're only running one. It also saves running 240v outside in damp dewy conditions  

[Herra Kuulapaa]

I've noticed that high quality cables support multiple USB gadgets much better than cheap ones. So, buy a good cable instead of ebay/Chinese cheap wire.

[cfpendock]

I use two USB hubs at the scope end - one for filter wheel, focuser, and guide camera, the other for scope and main camera.  Each hub is connected to good quality 10m USB repeater cables.  You don't mention power cables?  I have four requirements for these - not for the USB hubs, but for the scope, camera, focuser, and dew heater.  But I would describe the set up as "portable" in that all cables run in expanded sheathing, so effectively there is only one cable going outside (which I have to set up each time).  It makes connection very easy, and has not failed yet.  And it save the previous nightmare of so many different cables!  The attached pic shows the telescope end.

Chris

[DanL]

My guide cam (zwo asi120mms) didn't like being plugged into a hub. I suspect it couldn't draw sufficient power to function. Other cables just for data transfer (using independent power for the devices) were fine.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[ChrisLX200]

Buy decent kit and the hub will be fine. I use one of these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B003AVPUZG?keywords=7-port%20USB%20hub%20StarTech&qid=1445975757&ref_=sr_1_1&sr=8-1 and it has main camera (Atik490EX), focuser, BlueAstro StickStation, Altair GPCAM (electronic finder running continuously), and it also used to have a guidecam too but I don't need to guide now :-)   So that's a lot of USB traffic and never a glitch.

ChrisH

Edit: Oh, and the filterwheel :-)

[brrttpaul]

I just tried it out, I have the Nikon lead, the HEQ5 lead and the gamepad lead running to a small 4 port hub, then from there I run my bluerigger 10 metre lead back to the laptop, after switching everything on and starting CDC the mount connected np so did BYN and so did my gamepad, I ran them all for an hour messing about and it all seemed to work fine. I have basically done away with two 10 metre leads which is a big help. I realise it might cause issues but at least I can start like that and if theres a problem I can use another lead to lighten the load a bit.

Thanks everyone for the help

Paul

[libraryman]

+1 for the Startech hub, never had an issue with mine.

Ray