Starsense hand controller

[David nayler]

I want to connect my starsense hand controller to my laptop but cannot find the right lead. 

Also is anyone using a Celestron nightscape.

[Cosmic Geoff]

There is no 'right lead' as such. To connect my Starsense HC to a laptop I used a serial cable and a cheap serial-to-USB converter, plus drivers.

[GraemeH]

If you have one of the newer Starsense HCs, the serial-USB adapter is built into it and you only need a USB mini cable. 

[David nayler]

7 hours ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

There is no 'right lead' as such. To connect my Starsense HC to a laptop I used a serial cable and a cheap serial-to-USB converter, plus drivers.

Is a serial cable like a phone lead.

[GraemeH]

You need to look at the bottom of your hand controller to see what kind of connector it has.  If it looks like this:

then you'll need one of these 

and one of these.

If your hand controller looks like this:

then you'll only need one cable like this.

These pictures are only examples and yours may not be exactly the same.  The only thing that must match exactly is the shape and size of the connector plugs.

Hope this helps.

Graeme

[Cosmic Geoff]

The serial lead looks rather like a phone lead with a 9-pin serial D plug at the other end.

[David nayler]

I have got the top picture and did buy the usb lead shown but the plug looks tobe too big to connect up.

[MARS1960]

22 minutes ago, David nayler said:

I have got the top picture and did buy the usb lead shown but the plug looks tobe too big to connect up.

You could exchange it if you bought the wrong one, or get a cheapy here.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CELESTRON-NEXSTAR-VARIOUS-RANGE-HAND-CONTROL-TELESCOPE-CABLE-/332482558563?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

or a decent ish one here with the usb/serial they recommend to buy with it.

https://www.tringastro.co.uk/celestron-cable-nexstar-rs-232-985-p.asp?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIq_rJ7LiF2AIVCecbCh05WABbEAQYAiABEgJwXfD_BwE

[David nayler]

Many thanks.