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NEQ6-PRO won't connect to laptop

Sky-Watcher NEQ6-Pro The ASCOM Initiative ASCOM Beginner Troubleshooting
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Lukas Bauer avatar
Lukas Bauer avatar
Hi there!

I am a beginner and have recently bought a guidescope and guidecam (Touptek - PlanetPro). This camera has a USB B port and one for the St4 autoguide - cable, which connects to the autoguider port on my NEQ6 - pro (old model - not the green one).

When I plug the camera into my laptop I am able to Polar align the mount via Shrapcap but when I wanted to try autoguiding or even platesolving, the ASCOM toolbox shows this problem:

"Connection error: port not available"

The Baud Rate is set to 115200.
I already know that I should change the port in the settings but here's the problem:

When I click "find" it goes through all options and never finds anything. I also looked into the device manager where I also can't find the mount. I tried 3 different laptops (Windows 11 & 2x Windows 10) and not a single one was able to detect the mount. I downloaded the ASCOM platform and the EQMOD. With these two applications I should be able to move the mount (north, east, south, west) but they couldn't detect the mount. All three Laptops make the typical Windows sound for plugging something in but the mount doesn't show in the device manager.

At the moment my cable management looks like this:

mount autoguider port –> touptek camera (with St4 cable) –> touptek camera USB B port –> laptop USB A

As the problem clearly isn't the laptop I am now wondering what I am doing wrong because although I have been searching for help on the internet for a few weeks now I can't seem to find anything.

Please help. Thanks in advance!

Luke
mackiedlm avatar
mackiedlm avatar
Do you have the mount connected to the pc via an EQDIR cable like this.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq6-or-neq6-syntrek-pro-mounts.html

If not, then that's you problem. Without that then the pc can't talk to the mount. It sees the camera via the usb but also needs connection to the mount. 

I'd also say you'd be better connecting the guide camera directly to the pc via USB, rather than use ST4 which is less versatile.

Double check which dir cable is correct for your mount as there are several different ones.
Helpful Concise
Lukas Bauer avatar
Lukas Bauer avatar
Do you have the mount connected to the pc via an EQDIR cable like this.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq6-or-neq6-syntrek-pro-mounts.html

If not, then that's you problem. Without that then the pc can't talk to the mount. It sees the camera via the usb but also needs connection to the mount. 

I'd also say you'd be better connecting the guide camera directly to the pc via USB, rather than use ST4 which is less versatile.

Double check which dir cable is correct for your mount as there are several different ones.

Firstly, the guide camera is already directly connected to the pc via the USB B to USB A cable. Do you mean that the cable you sent me goes where usually the hand controller should be? Because if I read correctly the pc should be able to talk to the mount via the ST4 cable, or is it just for the guiding pulses?
mackiedlm avatar
mackiedlm avatar
Yes, the eqdir goes into the mount where the handset would go. If you are using st4 you don't connect the camera to pc by direct USB. The mount sends the guide instructions to the camera by the st4. But the mount needs to be told, by PHD2 on the pc, what those corrections must be. So there needs to be a connection between pc and mount.  Thats not done via the camera.
Helpful Concise
Lukas Bauer avatar
Lukas Bauer avatar
Yes, the eqdir goes into the mount where the handset would go. If you are using st4 you don't connect the camera to pc by direct USB. The mount sends the guide instructions to the camera by the st4. But the mount needs to be told, by PHD2 on the pc, what those corrections must be. So there needs to be a connection between pc and mount.  Thats not done via the camera.

Oh ok, that sound logical.
I will try this and thanks in advance.
I hope that this will solve my problem
mackiedlm avatar
mackiedlm avatar
Sorry , I may have given wrong information about using ST4. I guide my neq 6 the way I explained above but perhaps your way with st4 would also work. Then I don't know your solution. Sorry.
Jyrki Grönroos avatar
Jyrki Grönroos avatar
Hi,

I have also (N)EQ6 Pro mount. I started to guide through ST-4 port with PHD2. And now I have moved to ASCOM pulse guiding with permanent setup (which is preferred way).

To get started with st-4 guiding you need to install your guiders drivers and then connect guide camera to PC via USB.
Then you connect the guide camera st-4 port to mounts autoguider port. Just like you said.
I dont now how to connect in Sharpcap, but in PHD you must choose your guider camera and when it comes to choose the mount you choose "On-camera".
Now this way you can autoguide, but you need to move your mount to target or use goto with hand controller.

If you want to use example EQMOD or GSserver to control your mount with pc then you need the EQDIR cable to connect the mount to pc. Also you have to install the mounts ascom/eqmod drivers.
This way you can also do the ASCOM pulse guiding and dont need the st-4 cable anymore. In PHD you can choose the right mount instead of the on-camera option. But of course you can continue to use st-4 guiding if you like to.
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Jyrki Grönroos avatar
Jyrki Grönroos avatar
Hi,

here is link to instructions how to connect st4/oncamera guiding in sharpcap. You have to choose "on camera st4" mount option from hardware tab.
But it said that in deep space imaging you should choose example PHD2. This is some feature tracking. Dont have any idea for what, but Im sure that you get the idea of how to connect mount with st-4.

https://docs.sharpcap.co.uk/3.2/21_FeatureTracking.htm
Lukas Bauer avatar
Lukas Bauer avatar
Jyrki Grönroos:
Hi,

I have also (N)EQ6 Pro mount. I started to guide through ST-4 port with PHD2. And now I have moved to ASCOM pulse guiding with permanent setup (which is preferred way).

To get started with st-4 guiding you need to install your guiders drivers and then connect guide camera to PC via USB.
Then you connect the guide camera st-4 port to mounts autoguider port. Just like you said.
I dont now how to connect in Sharpcap, but in PHD you must choose your guider camera and when it comes to choose the mount you choose "On-camera".
Now this way you can autoguide, but you need to move your mount to target or use goto with hand controller.

If you want to use example EQMOD or GSserver to control your mount with pc then you need the EQDIR cable to connect the mount to pc. Also you have to install the mounts ascom/eqmod drivers.
This way you can also do the ASCOM pulse guiding and dont need the st-4 cable anymore. In PHD you can choose the right mount instead of the on-camera option. But of course you can continue to use st-4 guiding if you like to.

Hi,

Yesterday I tried to connect the mount to my laptop using a standart USB to RS-232 cable but as you need a special driver for it it didn't quite work.

Your solution seems like it could work, so I will try it out tonight (hopefully no clouds) and hope that it works. As I want to go one step at a time, I think that being able to just guide will be enough but I will probably still buy such a EQDIR cable in the near future.
Jyrki Grönroos avatar
Jyrki Grönroos avatar
Hi,

Yesterday I tried to connect the mount to my laptop using a standart USB to RS-232 cable but as you need a special driver for it it didn't quite work.

Your solution seems like it could work, so I will try it out tonight (hopefully no clouds) and hope that it works. As I want to go one step at a time, I think that being able to just guide will be enough but I will probably still buy such a EQDIR cable in the near future.


Hi,

There are many factors in astrophotography so going one step in a time is a good idea. There is plenty of factors to get imaging train and st-4 guiding to work first. I recommend using PHD2 to guiding. It is simple to use and there are many tutorials on the web.

When you decide to go into pc controlling, remember to use good quality genuine cables and usb hubs. Last thing you want in imaging session is troubles from cables etc. This applies also for st-4 guiding of course. And imaging cameras.

CS
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cin avatar
cin avatar
Hi,

Yesterday I tried to connect the mount to my laptop using a standart USB to RS-232 cable but as you need a special driver for it it didn't quite work.

Your solution seems like it could work, so I will try it out tonight (hopefully no clouds) and hope that it works. As I want to go one step at a time, I think that being able to just guide will be enough but I will probably still buy such a EQDIR cable in the near future.

Hi!

On the (N)EQ6 Pro you can use RS-232 via the connector on hand control . For my mount I made a DB9->RJ11 adapter.
Robert Eder avatar
Robert Eder avatar
Hi,
on the EQ6-Pro the baud rate in EQMOD should be set to 9600. 115200 only works on the EQ6-R-Pro with the USB port on board.
Of course you also need an EQDIR-cable or a hand controller with USB.
CS, Robert
Well Written Helpful Concise
Brian Puhl avatar
Brian Puhl avatar
disregard.  I misread
David Goldstein avatar
David Goldstein avatar
Yesterday I tried to connect the mount to my laptop using a standart USB to RS-232 cable but as you need a special driver for it it didn't quite work.


That will not work.  You need to read the EQDIRECT page for the wiring for this and buy the cable shown below and recommended there. You will have to solder per the diagram a DB9 connector.  Along with that, you will need a housing for the DB9.

FTDI Chip USB to 5v TTL UART Serial Cable 6 Way Wire End, TTL-232R-5V


https://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/eqdirect2.htm
Lukas Bauer avatar
Lukas Bauer avatar
David Goldstein:
Yesterday I tried to connect the mount to my laptop using a standart USB to RS-232 cable but as you need a special driver for it it didn't quite work.


That will not work.  You need to read the EQDIRECT page for the wiring for this and buy the cable shown below and recommended there. You will have to solder per the diagram a DB9 connector.  Along with that, you will need a housing for the DB9.

FTDI Chip USB to 5v TTL UART Serial Cable 6 Way Wire End, TTL-232R-5V


https://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/eqdirect2.htm

Would this cable (linked above) work? 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq6-or-neq6-syntrek-pro-mounts.html
David Goldstein avatar
David Goldstein avatar
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher-mount-accessories/lynx-astro-ftdi-eqdir-usb-adapter-for-sky-watcher-eq6-or-neq6-syntrek-pro-mounts.html


Yep, that is the cable and connector.  I have wired one up myself as a spare for the original I bought some years back from another site over here in the U.S.

Then, in EQMOD, you pick the port that appears when you plug that cable in.
David Goldstein avatar
David Goldstein avatar
So, in my case, I use ASCOM/EQMOD for my Orion Atlas, (a rebrand of your Skywatcher).  I use it with Carte Du Ciel, PHD2, and BackyardNikon.  ASTAP provides the plate solving.  My guide camera is also USB connected. and send guide corrections via PHD2 to EQMOD if I remember correctly.

So with a single USB cable from my laptop and a USB hub located at the mount, I have my mount, guide camera, camera, focuser all tethered.
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