The Shoestring Astronomy Store |
EQ Direct Interface Products |
At this time, I plan on traveling the months of January and March 2024. If you need any products to support your eclipse efforts, please plan accordingly. |
Shoestring Astronomy has always been an "evening and weekend" enterprise when I was employed full-time. Now that I am retired, we do like to travel frequently. I will do my best to fill orders and respond to emails in a timely manner, but please realize that there may be times when I cannot respond as quickly as I would like to. Thanks for your patience, and your patronage. Doug Anderson |
EQ DIRECT INTERFACING |
Recent generations of Synta EQ-5, EQ-6, and EQ-8 mounts that use the SynScan handcontroller (such as the Orion Sirius EQ-G and Orion Atlas EQ-G) provide stable, quality GOTO mounts at affordable prices for observing and imaging. However, the features available when they are interfaced to a personal computer are somewhat limited, primarily due to the type of data that is available through the handcontroller's serial interface. Now, thanks to the efforts of several individuals, far more powerful features are made available by bypassing the handcontroller and communicating directly with the mount's stepper motor controller. More information on the EQ Direct method can be found on the EQ Mod website (http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net). or on the EQMOD Group (https://groups.io/g/EQMOD) The only drawback of the EQ Direct approach is that the electrical signals to and from the mount are not directly compatible with a personal computer. Thus, you will need one of our interface options shown in the selector guide below to complete the link. |
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USB2EQ6 Interface Cable (5.9 feet) |
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$41.00 |
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USB2EQ5 Interface Cable (5.9 feet) |
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$43.00 |
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USB2RJ12 Interface Cable (5.9 feet) |
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$43.00 |
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Virtual COM Port Drivers for USB2EQ6 and USB2EQ5 |
Absolutely Free | |||
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BT2EQ6 Bluetooth Module |
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$41.00 | Discontinued |
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BT2EQ5 Bluetooth Module |
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$43.00 | Discontinued |
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EQDIR Interface Module |
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$41.00 | |
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$19.00 | |
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$10.00 | |
BT2EQ5/BT2EQ6 Interface User Manual Click here to view/download. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) |
Absolutely Free | |||
EQDIR Interface User Manual Click here to view/download. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) |
Absolutely Free | |||
Install EQDIRCheck Click here to install the free software you can use to verify your EQDIR. |
Absolutely Free |
A WARNING ABOUT SERIAL PORT CABLES |
Not all DB-9 cables are created equal. You should only use "serial port extension" cables with the EQDIR. Serial port extension cables are wired straight through, that is pin 1 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, etc. There are DB-9 cables out there that look like serial port extension cables, but they are not wired straight through. Using anything but a serial port extension cable with the EQDIR may result in damage to your EQDIR or to your mount. Make sure you have a correctly built cable before connecting up your equipment. |