Setting EQMOD to use with PHD2, APT, and Stellarium - Goodbye Handcontroller!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Helpful Links:
EQMOD Cable:
www.highpoints...
Chuck's Astrophotography:
• Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro ...
Dylan O'Donnell:
PHD2 Guiding - Setup, Troubleshooting & Tips
Light Vortex Astronomy:
www.lightvorte...
I am now part of the High Point Scientific Affiliate program which means if you purchase anything from High Point Scientific through any of the links listed below, my channel gets a monetary token of appreciation. High Point has price matching and lifetime support on products they sell.
Kurt’s Highpoint Link:
www.highpoints...
Kurt’s links
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BLOG/WEB : astroquest1.blo...
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Great video, Kurt, and thanks for the shoutout!
Thanks Chuck and thanks for your videos. I usually check check out your videos first when I am searching for help.
Kurt your tutorials have been among the best on You Tube. Astrodude and Chuck's Astrophotography are the other two outstanding ones in my opinion. Clear, detailed and with proven results. This is a very difficult hobby and the help provided here is much appreciated.
Thank Dan.
Hooray for eqmod!! It's a wonderful piece of software! I like your videos Kurt! Thanks for sharing! And clear skies!
Yes it is very good to know the hotkeys to navigate through a program. I have always found Stellarium wonky but it is getting much easier as I watch this tutorial of yours.
Glad to help!
Hi Kurt, Thank you for the video and I can relate to your story so well. One minute things are working just fine and then all of a sudden, now things are not working as they should, etc. etc.. Gotta love the thrill of the hunt. Thanks again.
DJ
Thanks for the feed back David! Cheers Kurt
Thanx for this. I have got them all running in a dry run now. Eqmod, stellarium and APT. Now let the clouds part :)
Thanks. Glad everything works. - Clear skies.
Kurt, Great video on EQMOD. I am also looking at Skywatcher mounts. One of these days, I will be looking more into this. Thanks for posting!
Thanks for input Ray. Glad you enjoyed it.
Awesome! Eqmod is awesome and the thermite for the ST4 cable was very cool.
I still have some left...
He is being led astray...that chemistry teacher in him is busting to get out!
Hi Kurt, great video :-) I just wanted to let you know that with the new release of Stellarium, there's actually direct ASCOM support built into Stellarium on Windows, so you don't necessarily need to use StellariumScope anymore.
Thanks for the info!
This was a much more effective destruction of the ST-4 cable than Dylan's. Is this the new ice bucket challenge?
Thanks - That's a great idea! I am sure there are many other ways to destroy this cable.
Like your cable management Kurt.
Dan Kahraman thanks Dan
The 115200 baud rate is specifically for the EQ6-R Pro. The EQMOD default baud rate of 9600 did not work for chuck and he went looking for solution. He found out from users that for the EQ6-R, the baud rate is different. Hence, it wasn't like Chuck recommended 115200 baud rate for every mount.
Neat, fortunately for my Orion Sirius and Atlas Pro mount they are the same at 9600 so I do not have to change it when I switch mounts!
Hi Kurt. Useful video for me. Im having a hard time trying to guide via ASCOM with PHD2. It will be great to see your settings not with Stellarium but making a profile and guiding with phd2.
Saludos from Argentina
Hi Fernanado, good idea - I will try to put something online very soon.
@@AstroQuest1 Thanks Kurt. It seems im having issues with the rates of tracking between the mount, eqmod/ascom and PHD2 also ask for a value there. It will be great
I really miss EQmod. Went from EQ5 Pro to Celestron CGX so the hand controller is almost mandatory.
One tip. Avoid the expensive astronomy marketed EQmod cables. Any good full featured USB to serial converter will work fine.
Yeah I got the Pegasus cable which was about $33.00.
Loved the cable burn .... hahaha
Thanks!
Thank you sir. I am up and running with EQmod and Stellarium. Just got my EQ6R Pro and so much was different than my AVX. I am hoping that adding PHD2 to the mix will go ok. Have to wait for a good night to try it out. I am assuming I will just use EQMOD ascom drivers for mount connection. Easy video to follow. Thank you.
Thanks, Good Luck.
The only one that has eluded me has been Stellarium+APT+EQMOD all three together. I see your shed and pier looks similar to Sky Shed. I ordered 3 pods and three piers from him. Wayne Parker is not far from my location.
Good luck Dan. I really only use APT and EQMOD together. I just use Stelliarium to locate objects prior to imaging.
Check out this in the ATP manual. I had a similar issue and following this got ATP and Stellarium working really well www.astrophotography.app/usersguide/planetarium_1.htm?ms=AAA%3D&q=c3RlbGxhcml1bQ%3D%3D&st=MQ%3D%3D&sct=MA%3D%3D&mw=MjQw
I assume you have a SW mount...I have done mock exercises without the HC but not in the field yet. Right now trying planetary/lunar photography with a 7" f/15 Mak and a Mallincamsky DS287c camera...very small field! POTH works for me now. Run it in Administrator mode...was a huge, long-term head-ache for me up until that breakthrough.....
Actually my mount is the Orion equivalent of the SW.
@@AstroQuest1 ah!
Do you have a link to the cable you mentioned in the beginning? The one you connected to your Handbox port? Thanks.
Hi Peter. Here it is: www.highpointscientific.com/pegasus-astro-eqdir-usb-stick-for-eqmod-eqdir-usb-eqmod?msclkid=477cb6bbd12b1a2ecf87e95493e0c11f you might be able to get it cheaper though. - Good Luck
Thermite lol! Loved it.
Thanks Garnett. It is a student favorite.
EQ Mod also work with ASI Air for those dont know.
Thanks for the info. I was thinking on getting an ASIair at some point!
Thank you for this video! I have an Orion Atlas that I want to computer control. At around the 5:30 mark you spoke of downloading drivers for the mount. Where would I find these? Thank you.
Hi Taylor, they are on the Orion website. Drivers and firmware for the handcontroller. - Good Luck. www.telescope.com/Orion-Atlas-Pro-AZEQ-G-Computerized-GoTo-Telescope-Mount/p/102543.uts
Hi just an update. I found out what my problem was if you remember me asking you.. it turns out my guide scope was well of my main scope target. I realigned it and it’s been fine.. no movement in my target and no startrails.
Great news. Congrats on solving the problem. - Cheers
great tutorial thank you. do i need to change anything if im just using it as a goto alternative atm without actual guiding?
I don't think so, but I am not positive. - Good luck
@@AstroQuest1 thank you appreciate the response
Hi Kurt, can you tell me how to make connection APT with stellarium, settings in APT i mean, it always give "Connecting to Stellarium problem (5)
WinHttpSendRequeqt : 12029:
What does that mean ?
I have no trouble with APT connecting to Cartes Du Ciel
Thanks for great videos Kurt, i learned a lot of that
Rigo
Sorry for the late response. Hope you fixed it. It may have fixed itself now that Stellarium Scope is no longer needed and Stellarium can link up directly.
Chuck is using a usb cord not a hand box cord. I thinks. HI Chuck.
Cool.
The computer will automatically detect the 115K baud rate in EQMOD. Don't worry about setting it in the manager
EQMOD Manager^^^(above).
Great video! Would the Pegasus eqdir USB cord and EQMOD software work with the HEQ5-pro mount as well?
It should work well. I ordered mine through Highpoint. If you order from them they would tell for sure.
Everything you list in the beginning of this video are the same problems I have had.
Hope you were able to solve them.
I am using EQMOD with my Skywatcher EQR-6 PRO mount. POTH started acting up again. Using direct USB cable to mount. No more Hand Control!
Cool, getting rid of the hand controller. I never was able to get the Poth to work. From what others had posted, it is no longer needed. I don't need it as I am able to run APT/EQMOD and Stellarium without the Poth connection. Good Luck.
Kurt, Just subscribed to your site and for my first question concerning EQMOD and an Ioptron CEM 40 mount. Do you think this will work with this mount. I downloaded the ASCOM driver and so I would like to try this if you think it will play for me. Don't want to get too far and I am also using Backyard EOS for my 6D Canon. Will it blend???
Far as I know I think iOptron is supported with EQMOD. I believe they give a list on the website. Actually I don't think it is supported after all. Sorry.
Nice, but what about your plate solving? I've tried using Stellarium and found it a bit of a pain. I use CdC at the moment to move my scope to a spot. Maybe you could show a vid on how you do your plate solving with Stellarium & APT.
Hi Mark. CdC is a good program and if you like that I would continue with that. I use PointCraft in APT to Platesolve. Once that is done I just go to the target object using the Goto function in APT. I could sync it with Stellarium at that point, however, by pressing 'Control 3' and then use stellarium to slew the mount. I do have a couple of videos on Plate-solving already but plan on doing more. - Good Luck
Hi I’ve recently got rid of my hand controller and now using eqmod,apt, and I’m guiding st4. The other night I had taken 50x300s but noticed that over all them images the target was drifting down even though the bullseye in apt said it’s in the middle and I’m guiding and no star drift in phd2. But looking closeup I’m my stretched subs in apt the stars are trailing ever so slightly. I can’t get my head around what it is. Please can you give me your thoughts on what could be the problem. I mean I’m guiding plus the bullseye in apt is saying the target is in the middle ?
So to be clear, each sub the stars were trailing, or was not only in each sub, but during the whole session the object moved away. Either way I think something was wrong with the guiding. It is possible that you were guiding on not a good star or guiding on a hot pixel rather than a star in which case it would appear to be guiding but it is not - this has happened to me before. I have a friend who imaged a whole night with his lens cap over his guide camera. Diagnosing problems is the worst. - Good luck
AstroQuest1 thanks for getting back to me.. the thing is I changed the guidestar 2 times. This has happened in 2 imaging sessions now.. although apt is displaying the target in the middle of the screen when I look at my subs my target is falling in the FOV over 4 hours. And yes there’s definitely star trails but I’m talking when you zoom right in. I just can’t get my head around what’s going on. It’s all since I changed over to eqmod and the eqdir cable.. I might swap back to the serial to usb cable.. the one that plugs into the hand controller to see if it changes.
@@LAshotts Weird. Yes change back to see if that fixes it somehow. I would present this on the APT forum or FB page to see if anyone else experiences this.
AstroQuest1 ok brilliant. When weget clear skies again I will test thank you.
Does APT or EQMOD Control meridian flip.
Hi Frank, APT controls the meridian flip through module called Session Craft. You can program it to do the flip when it reaches the meridian or at some set time after. - Good Luck
@@AstroQuest1 thanks for the help.
Baud rate of 115K does not work for me either.
Thanks for the info.
@@AstroQuest1 Correction: The baud rate of 112.5K works on one of my EQR-6 Pro mounts whereas Baud rate of 9600 works on the other EQR-6 Pro mount. Yes I changed the rate for the port as well.
@@dankahraman354 Thanks for the additional info Dan. I guess you just have to keep trying different rates?
@@AstroQuest1 The other EQR-6 Pro mount was inactive since last May as my contractor didn't have time to bolt the pier to the concrete as it has not yet hardened. When I turned the mount on after it was finally bolted to the concrete earlier this week the mount LED gave me three blinking lights and then nothing. I freaked out but upon examining everything including the manual for the mount that lighting sequence is indicative of the mount (RA) being in PEC mode. I have no idea why it was in that mode. I then downloaded the latest EQAscom/EQMod software...with this EQR-6 Pro mount Baud rate of 9600 doesn't. With the other EQR-6 Pro mount 112.5K baud rate doesn't work! Go figure. They are identical mounts otherwise.
Stellarium is a big aggravation 4 me...don't even bother with it anymore. Starry Night, Guide 9 is good enough for me.
I mainly use it before shooting just for previewing what I will image.
@@AstroQuest1 your video will help me crack the Stellarium imbroglio.
APT is my last puzzle peace if i have time...
that mount sounds like a coffee grinder, like mine does :/
Ha Ha, It sure does - that is how I know it is doing something!
👋🔭
I cannot for the life of me figure this out. Keep getting "Port not available" or "Connect Error Timeout" messages.
Sounds like you have to go into Device Manager and find out which port everything is run through. Usually Port 3 or 4.
@@AstroQuest1 Thanks for replying so quickly. I tried that already and it didn't work. I also tried swtiching back and forth between 9600 and 11500, and deleting and reinstalling the drivers.
@@Safestassets Did you ever get the EQMOD it to work? What kind of mount do you have? I seem to remember installing cable software as well. My cable was from Pegasus.
@@AstroQuest1 Hey! Merry Christmas! I still haven't had any luck with this. I have a new EQ6 R Pro mount (which has the USB connection) built in. I have the mount connected with a USB 2.0 cable to my starttech.com USB 3.0 hub, which is then connected to my laptop via a USB 3.0 cable.
@@AstroQuest1 Can I use a basic USB 2.0 cable from my mount to my Star Tech USB 3.0 Hub or do I need a special cable?
Don't follow Dylan over the Cliff!
I'll try not...
AUDIO SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yeah, gotta work on it.