7 replies to this topic

[rsmith6621a]

Hello,

 

I have an Asiair 1678MC astrocamera and an Asiair Mini. I want to use the 1678MC as a guide camera. What cable do I need to use to join the camera to the Asiair Mini? If you can provide a link to a source that would be appreciated.

 

Thanks

[iamstickman]

I'm not going to advocate using a OSC for a guide camera BUT, should you need a cable the link below should bring you to a suitable solution.
Typically you would want a mono camera for guiding, however I have no doubt that there are some folks who are doing otherwise.

 

https://www.amazon.c...11&sr=8-18&th=1

[rsmith6621a]

I'm not going to advocate using a OSC for a guide camera BUT, should you need a cable the link below should bring you to a suitable solution.
Typically you would want a mono camera for guiding, however I have no doubt that there are some folks who are doing otherwise.

 

https://www.amazon.c...11&sr=8-18&th=1

 I have one of those cables, it came with the camera. I need something to connect the camera via the ST4 port on the 1678MC to the Asiair Mini. 

[triplemon]

ST4 port use an RJ-12 connector, also called an 6P6C - for six positions 6 conductors.

 

The 6P6C is what any pre-millenial may still know from an long forgotten technology - the landline telephone. The 6P6C was used to plug your phone into the wall.  https://www.homedepo...ds/N-5yc1vZc33z or https://grumpymancables.com/

 

Make sure you get a real 6P6C. as there are also 6P4C - which use the same connectors, but have only 4 contacts wired. These won't work for ST4, which needs 5 conductors (4 directions plus ground) http://www.store.sho...port_cables.pdf

 

But the ASAIR has no ST4 port, neither input nor output. Your autoguider app rather needs top drive the ST4 output on the 1678MC. Then you connect the ST4 output on the 1678MC to the ST4 input on your mount to guide it.

 

The camera control, image transfer etc to/from the 1678MC all goes throgh the USB connection, only. The ST4 port can not be used for that.

Edited by triplemon, 24 June 2025 - 07:31 PM.

[DeepSky Di]

 I have one of those cables, it came with the camera. I need something to connect the camera via the ST4 port on the 1678MC to the Asiair Mini. 

What mount are you using? I only used ST4 with a Star Adventurer.

[rsmith6621a]

What mount are you using? I only used ST4 with a Star Adventurer.

I have a Skywatcher Alt-Az GTI mount. I have an EqMod that goes from the Hand controller jack on the mount to a USB port on the ASI-mini.  I have found tonight when I take that same cable and plug the ST4 end into the ST4 port on the ASI1678MC that the Asiair App recognizes it in the GUIDE tab. 

 

Here is the link to the EQ Mod cable that recognizes my 1678MC camera. This is the same cable that I have that goes from hand controller port on the mount to the USB on the mini. This cable eliminates me having to launch the Synscan app. 

 

https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

 

I have spent all day back and forth with ZWO tech support and they cannot give me a solution. 

[triplemon]

I think EQmod software does not take ST4 guide inputs through the mounts ST4 port. At least the EQmod app I run my EQ6 mount with does not offer that. I'm also not aware EQmod can drive GTI mounts.

 

The EQmod hand controller emulation app rather accepts guide inputs via a software link only, directly from the guiding app or though software drivers like INDI or similar.

If you use some autoguiding app that runs on the ASAIR - look if it supports connecting to eqmod. If not, you'll be out of luck to use it to guide an eqmod controlled mount. You might have to use a dedicated autoguiding app like PHD and run it on the same computer as EQmod, configure it like this https://youtu.be/pjX...0p_jLDgjSNB_i3E

 

Or you might have to use the mount with the original hand controller, that one is usually set up to take ST4 guide inputs.

 

PS. Just realized - maybe you are rather confused about your USB-RS232 serial port interface cable that you use to connect a USB port to the GTI mount ? These are not called EQmod, but happen to be the kind of cable used when you have EQmod software running on a computer to drive the newer EQ6R mounts, that have the RJ-12 and not the D-SUB hand controller connector. I don't even know if the GTI mounts have a hand controller interface that is protocol or even pinout wise compatible with those cables. Those interfaces are completely proprietary after all, not standarized in any way, even though they (unfortunatelty) all use the same 6P6C connectors.

 

Anyways, if you use some direct connection via USB to control your mount, you will also want to set your autoguider to issue the guiding commands via that interface. And not the old ST4 or pulseguide hardware method, as it has many disadvantages for guiding and is really just used any more when there is no other link between your autoguiding app and the mount. Its kind of grandfathers or at least "minimalist" technology.

Edited by triplemon, 24 June 2025 - 08:40 PM.

[DeepSky Di]

I don’t have this mount but I do have an HEQ5 Pro which is connected to ASIAIR using an EQMOD cable - usb-A at the ASIAIR and looking like ethernet at the mount end. The guide camera connects to the ASIAIR using USB. No ST4 connections are needed.