useing Stellarium with my laptop

[rockferryred]

Hi everyone being new to hobby,I have a skywatcher 130p with goto mount,and trying to set it up with my laptop to use Stellarium software but don't know what cable to use from the laptop to the scope thanks scott

[Interstellarshaw88]

Hi there

You need something called a eqmod lead,

One of these can get them from other places just this is where i got mine from...

http://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/hitecastro-eqmod-direct-adaptor.html

And you will also need a lot of patience to figure all the ascom drivers and software such as stellarium.

Good luck

Darren

[bruno]

there might be one with your scope it will look like a nine pin connector on one end and a telephone jack on the other then pin connector go's to your laptop & the telephone jack goes to your hand set. if you havn't got a nine pin on your laptop then you will need a data cable to usb  which you can get from the above or maplins 

[rockferryred]

Hi I have lost the cable that came with scope so it's loos like I am after the the whole set up.

[Interstellarshaw88]

Eqmod is what you need connects direct to the laptop or computer mate instead of connecting through the hand controller

Darren

[Jokehoba]

If your goto mount is equatorial then an EQdirect cable would certainly make life easier. But if you have an alt-az goto mount then EQmod/EQdirect cable is of no use, and your only way is through the hand controller. 

If you are handy with a soldering iron (or know someone who is) the missing cables are very easy to knock up. You'll also need a serial-USB adapter to connect to the laptop (Prolific type).

John

[Dave In Vermont]

You may be needing to download ASCOM itself. So here is that:

http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm

Do read the instructions.

Here's an excellent tutorial on setting up your scope and mount to run off Stellarium:

http://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorial-setting-up-an-equatorial-mount-on-ascom-with-eqmod-stellarium-and-cartes-du-ciel.html

It should answer most questions you may have.

Enjoy!

Dave

[Cornelius Varley]

Eqmod is what you need connects direct to the laptop or computer mate instead of connecting through the hand controller

Darren

Eqmod only works with the Skywatcher eq goto mounts. For the 130p on the az goto mount you connect the handset to the laptop using the serial data cable supplied with the mount. You might also need a USB to serial adapter.

[Cornelius Varley]

You may be needing to download ASCOM itself. So here is that:

http://ascom-standards.org/Downloads/Index.htm

Do read the instructions.

Here's an excellent tutorial on setting up your scope and mount to run off Stellarium:

http://www.lightvortexastronomy.com/tutorial-setting-up-an-equatorial-mount-on-ascom-with-eqmod-stellarium-and-cartes-du-ciel.html

It should answer most questions you may have.

Enjoy!

Dave

For Stellarium you don't requie the ascom platform or ascom mount drivers to control the mount. Stellarium have its own mouñt drivers.

[Dave In Vermont]

For Stellarium you don't requie the ascom platform or ascom mount drivers to control the mount. Stellarium have its own mouñt drivers.

That's very good to know. I've never tried as I use The SkyX to run my scopes. But I plan to see how well Stellarium works.

Thanks!

Dave

[rockferryred]

That's why I uses this site everyone's so helpful thanks scott

[bomberbaz]

Rockferry. Are you sorted now with this or are you still undure. I connect to a laptop from my dob but the process is exactly the same and really very easy.

Steve