RS232, PL2303, EQ6 mount and USB to SERIAL

[Phisci]

Hi guys, I have two laptops, one has Windows Vista, the other Windows 8, 64bit. I have 2 usb-serial adapters, both of them using the PL2303 chip (one is a TA). I have tried on both machines to use the adapters and the following happens on both:

1. Install is fine, typically comes in on port 14 which I change to port 1 or 2

2. When I launch EQmod setup, and I ask it to find the port, it says port not found

3. When I run EQmod, it flashes on and off, which I believe means its not seeing the scope.

4. eventually EQmod stops and says there is a comms error

 

Any ideas as to how to fix this? Driving me nuts!

 

 

[PhotoGav]

Phisci, I feel your pain! I decided to try and get my eqdir cable working with my windows 10 laptop and HEQ5 mount two evening ago. Thankfully I started well before sunset as it turned into a bit of a struggle. Anyway, FLO came to the rescue with these two links. The first is to download the driver that works, the second is for the instructions on how to get it to work. Give that a go and hopefully you will have success. Good luck!

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/user/PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v10518.zip

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/user/Hitecastro_EQMOD_Win8.pdf

[Phisci]

thanks very much. i might give this a go, but have in the meantime decided to use the FTDI usb-serial converter. Apparently, Prolific drivers are not well written. even the openinf line on the pdf from hitecastro says: " The latest prolific driver will not work with windows 8. The good news is there is a slightly earlier version of the driver which does work."!!!!

[Tinker1947]

You can check which comms port has be allocated to EQMod in Control Panel, System, Device Manager, then set it manually in EQMod.....Good Luck

[Phisci]

Was able to check port and confirm via windows devices but eqmod still not able to find port. Even when I told eqmod which port was being used in eqascom,  it still failed to work. I suspect that the Prolific software is dodgy but as mentioned will try FTDI adapter US232-R-100 and software . At least their website claims  they have a Microsoft verified windows 8 driver. Www.ftdichip.com

[andyo]

Yes sounds like it is either a prolific driver or usb problem. Probably best to use the toolbox in eqascom to connect until you find the problem(found in programs under eqmod then eqascom then toolbox and connect under setup)It will tell you if it cant find a port  without all the irritating flashing on and off.

[Phisci]

This website has useful info: http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/eqdirect2.htm

Will look into usb to serial converter from FTDI this evening 

[Phisci]

It seems that you cannot actually connect direct to the mount D9 port from the PC usb port using a serial-usb converter. It requires an EQDIR interface, which looks easy enough to build using MAX-232 chip shown on the website above. The alternative is to connect the USB-serial adapter to another cable which terminates in a RJ11 connector which plugs into the synscan handset, while the synscan handset remains connected to the D9 port on the mount. Looks like calling the prolific drivers dodgy might have been premature..

[Phisci]

so for a direct connection from pc to mount and to avoid having to connect to the handset first, you'd build the MAX232A chip based circuit at  http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/eqdirect2.htm and plug that into the mount. the usb to serial adapter would then plug into that. As per shoestring astronomy: http://www.store.shoestringastronomy.com/products_eq.htm

PC with serial port or USB-to-serial converter  requires  EQDIR  . so you end with this: https://www.google.co.za/imgres?imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rysrV5ocomY/TrVHVQHptWI/AAAAAAAACFo/XLsZ93HkIxc/s1600/em12.jpg&imgrefurl=http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/2011/11/eqmod-redux.html&h=600&w=800&tbnid=LJW6akSgaCK7fM:&docid=wXVYqw6K5Q1zWM&ei=iS3gVqqDKMvXU7bAgfAM&tbm=isch&ved=0ahUKEwjq6-b24rPLAhXL6xQKHTZgAM4QMwhPKCkwKQ

[Phisci]

here is a good description from Rods-blogspot: http://uncle-rods.blogspot.co.za/2011/11/eqmod-redux.html  How does this CdC/EQMOD combo talk to the Atlas? Over a standard serial cable connected between the PC’s serial port and the hand control port on the mount. There are a couple of gotchas, here, though. First off, no modern laptops or netbooks (or even desktops) that I know of have serial ports. That means you must provide one, usually via a USB – serial converter cable. Do yourself a favor and get a Keyspan, since they are known to work reliably with EQMOD. That’s not all you need, however. A PC speaks RS-232, but the Atlas only understands TTL. That means you must have a level converter module, an “EQDIR.”

The EQDIR, a little widget that translates between data formats, can be plugged in at either the computer or telescope end of the serial cable. I usually place it at the computer end; I don’t like the EQDIR sticking out of the mount’s DB-9 socket. That’s just asking for me to bump into it and either break it off or unplug it. 

[Phisci]

for reference purposes there is also a USB to TTL converter conversation here:

https://www.sparkfun.com/tutorials/215

[andyo]

I use one of these to connect my laptop to mount

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/astronomy-cables-leads-accessories/hitecastro-eqdir-adapter.html

[Stub Mandrel]

1 and 2 may already be in use, check they really are available.

[Phisci]

These are the only options for connecting:

1. Connect the PC USB port to a USB to serial adapter, which connects to a RJ11 connector which plugs directly into the handset. Set handset to PC control in Utilities

2. Connect the PC USB port to a USB to serial adapter, which then connects to a Serial to TTL adapter (like the MAX232A) which then outputs direct to the mount DB9 port

3. PC USB port to USB to TTL adapter (like FTDI TTL232R) and run that to a DB9 male which plugs straight into the Mount

[Phisci]

I went and tried approach 1 and 3 and can confirm that these work well. The best part is that option 3 bypasses the need for a handset completely, allowing the laptop to drive the mount (using EQMOD) via 1 cable, the TTL232R 5Volt version of FTDIchip.com

 

[kev]

Guys.  Google.  Easysync fdti usb serial convertors.   Can highly recommend them. Have switch my company to them.  No more driver issues!  Yeahhh!