Guiding Confusion. PHD2 and Skywatcher Synscan

[Synchronicity]

Hi

I have a Skywatcher EQ5 mount with Synscan, latest software version and a Starshoot Autoguider camera on a generic 60 guide scope.

I spent many hours with PHD2 and Ascom trying to get this setup to guide.  I connected a USB port via a FTDI chipset cable to the port on the handset and ran PHD2  It found and used the camera with no problems but would not connect to the mount with Skywatcher Telescope (ASCOM) selected, only with EQMOD HEQ5/6 (ASCOM).  When connected like this I can move the scope with the ASCOM interface buttons but the PHD2 manual guide buttons do nothing.

Connecting the FTDI adapter to the mounts ST4 port doesn't work either.

Clutching at straws I connected the ST4 cable between the camera and the mount and it sprung into life.  Now I can guide and use the manual guide buttons to move the scope but the ASCOM controls do nothing.  I tried selecting EQMOD HEQ5/6 (ASCOM) as the Aux Mount and that gave me the Ascom window with pointing data but it seemed to mess with the guiding as the mount failed calibration twice like this. (It was near bedtime at 2:30am so maybe I had missed something there).

I believe that I have the Skywatcher mount drivers installed so don't understand why they won't work.  I'm now in the difficult position of having the guiding working but not understanding why!

Can anyone shed light on what's happening here and what my next steps should be?  Is the EQDIR usb adaptor the samething as the FTDI cable that I have or does it do something else?

FLO EQDIR adaptor

Many thanks

Michael

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Be aware I am new to this and used my guide scope & camera for the very first time only last week but had very similar issues. I just could not get the guide camera to calibrate. Then after a bit of a peruse through old threads on this forum I found I needed to select "On Camera" in the PHD software and not EQ5 / EQ6. It calibrated straight away then and seemed to guide ok for the rest of the night.

Like I say this seemed to work but as a newbie still may have something not set quite right so maybe heed other replies, thought I would just let you know I had just the same frustrating issues.

 

Steve

[teoria_del_big_bang]

This was the thread that got me going. I think the 4th reply especially.

PHD Guiding help (wont calibrate)

Steve

[teoria_del_big_bang]

Also thought after being a typical man and NOT reading the instructions maybe I should. So not sure if you have this or not but may also help.

PHD2 User Guide

Steve

[Davey-T]

Depending whether you're using ST4 or pulse guiding you need to select " on camera " or telescope.

Dave

[Synchronicity]

Thanks guys.  I meant to say that I selected On Camera when I connected the ST4 cable.  I'll read through the linked thread later - sunshine = gardening at the moment!

All the best

Michael

[kens]

To use ASCOM download the EQASCOM (aka EQMOD) driver from https://sourceforge.net/projects/eq-mod/files/

The EQDIR cable lets you connect your computer directly to the mount and bypass the hand controller. Your FTDI cable must connect only to the hand controller and not to the mount. The hand controller must be set to PC Direct mode. Some people (including myself) find the connection through the hand controller flakey but the EQDIR cable has never been a problem.

In PHD2 select the EQMOD HEQ5/6 driver

[Synchronicity]

Thanks Ken

Do you know if the EQDIR cable is the same as this USB to serial cable?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004ZMYTYC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I know FLO do one but I've already got the amazon one...

Flo cable https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq5-pro-heq5-syntrek-pro-az-eq5-gt-az-eq6-gt-and-eq8-mounts.html

All the best

Michael

[kens]

1 minute ago, Synchronicity said:

Thanks Ken

Do you know if the EQDIR cable is the same as this USB to serial cable?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B004ZMYTYC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I know FLO do one but I've already got the amazon one...

Flo cable https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq5-pro-heq5-syntrek-pro-az-eq5-gt-az-eq6-gt-and-eq8-mounts.html

All the best

Michael

No its not the same thing. The EQDIR cable is a USB to serial cable with some extra electronics added to connect to the mount at a lower voltage.