TheSkySearchers

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:02 am**

Hi All - I have successfully connected my iOptron CEM40 mount directly to my computer with a 6' USB cable and everything worked fine.

However, when I try to connect the mount through an ethernet extension (WEme part WM2516 and 40' ethernet cable) I get the error message "USB device not recognized". So, clearly inserting the ethernet extension in the middle is causing the problem. I should mention that I do successfully connect to my Orion StarShoot AutoGuider through the WEme connection and it works fine with PHD2.

I tried hooking the mount to the computer with an active USB extension cord (15') and it worked fine. Unfortunately my laptop is more than 15 feet away, and, two active USB extensions in series didn't work.

Any ideas? I'm 78 and this is getting beyond my expertise (and on my nerves).

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Steve

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:26 am**

Is the mount coming up under the device manager on your computer? Have you tried switching the ports, like seeing if the one that plugs into the orion starshoot will work when plugged into the mount? I'm not sure how exactly you have it set up because I've never done it that way, but I know I have had issues with my USB ports not recognizing certain devices but other ports will, and there have been issues with power management, etc.

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 6:55 am**

Baskevo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:26 am Is the mount coming up under the device manager on your computer? Have you tried switching the ports, like seeing if the one that plugs into the orion starshoot will work when plugged into the mount? I'm not sure how exactly you have it set up because I've never done it that way, but I know I have had issues with my USB ports not recognizing certain devices but other ports will, and there have been issues with power management, etc.

At the telescope end of the ethernet connection there is a powered 4-port USB hub that connects to one end of the ethernet cable.The DSLR, the AutoGuider, and the mount all connect into this hub. The ethernet cable runs into the house where it connects into another small box that itself connects into a USB port on the laptop. The DSLR and the AutoGuider both work fine, but, the mount is unrecognized. If I bring the mount into the house and plug it into the same port that the ethernet box plugged into but just using a normal usb cable, the mount is recognized and works fine.

I haven't tried plugging the ethernet setup into either of the other two available USB ports. I'll try that tomorrow.

Thanks for the ideas.

Steve

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:06 am**

Is the cable at least Cat5E or cat6E twisted pair. Also the copper in the cable makes a difference. Cheap cable verse expensive cable makes a big difference on long runs.

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:43 pm**

Here are a few things to try: https://www.online-tech-tips.com/comput ... ecognized/

Specifically, method 4. I had to run through that myself. Good luck Steve!

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:05 pm**

Baskevo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:43 pm Here are a few things to try: https://www.online-tech-tips.com/comput ... ecognized/

Specifically, method 4. I had to run through that myself. Good luck Steve!

James - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to the link and unchecked the box as directed in step 4 of the link, and, the mount was found!!!!

I now have the DSLR, the AutoGuider and the Mount all connected through the ethernet connection to the laptop inside the house!!

I haven't even finished my first cup of coffee or had breakfast yet, and, today is already a huge success!!

If you can't tell, I'm very happy -

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:27 pm**

STEVE333 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 5:05 pm
Baskevo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:43 pm Here are a few things to try: https://www.online-tech-tips.com/comput ... ecognized/

Specifically, method 4. I had to run through that myself. Good luck Steve!

James - THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

I went to the link and unchecked the box as directed in step 4 of the link, and, the mount was found!!!!

I now have the DSLR, the AutoGuider and the Mount all connected through the ethernet connection to the laptop inside the house!!

I haven't even finished my first cup of coffee or had breakfast yet, and, today is already a huge success!!

If you can't tell, I'm very happy -

Cheers,
Steve

AWESOME!

I'm so happy that worked for you! It took me at least a few days to figure that one out lol it's a good feeling I understand! I can't wait to see what you can do now that you are not limited by the elements, my friend!

Posted: **Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:00 pm**

Baskevo wrote: ↑Mon Feb 03, 2020 7:27 pm
AWESOME! I'm so happy that worked for you! It took me at least a few days to figure that one out lol it's a good feeling I understand! I can't wait to see what you can do now that you are not limited by the elements, my friend!

I'll probably give it a try tonight even though the winds are supposed to be 12-18 mph along with the growing moon. The Christmas Tree & Cone Nebulae will be the target. Clouds expected later, so, not much hope of anything good, except, the pleasure of seeing it all work from the comfort and warmth of the laptop inside the house!!!

Tomorrow I'll be giving a little presentation on my AP hobby to a group here at our mobile home park (seniors). I've presented many of the images to them before, so, this time i'll show a little of the equipment as well as a simplified walk through the processing to show how something "invisible" turns into the beautiful images we produce. It should be fun. However, the presentation starts at 6:30, so, no imaging tomorrow.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:12 am**

Hi Steve,

You do understand that while you are giving your presentation to the group, the skies will be perfectly clear with no wind. Sorry, but that's just the way it works.

Cheers,
JT

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:15 am**

JayTee wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 12:12 am Hi Steve,

You do understand that while you are giving your presentation to the group, the skies will be perfectly clear with no wind. Sorry, but that's just the way it works.

Cheers,
JT

I know

But how could I miss out on getting a chance to be with a bunch of old men and women?

They actually really enjoy seeing the images once in a while. I kind of enjoy it. Especially when they ask questions.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:27 am**

STEVE333 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 3:15 am
I know

But how could I miss out on getting a chance to be with a bunch of old men and women?

They actually really enjoy seeing the images once in a while. I kind of enjoy it. Especially when they ask questions.

Cheers,
Steve

It really does sound like fun Steve. I hope that it goes well and they ask a lot of questions. And, its cloudy!

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:24 pm**

I tested the "ethernet connection" with everything connected (DSLR, Guide Scope, and, mount) to APT. Everything worked fully except the mount connection. With APT I was able to use the GoTo command and slew to a star or given RA/Dec coordinates. Unfortunately, the NSEW buttons didn't work for finalizing the 1-star alignment. GRRRRR!

However, this morning I connected up again with the "ethernet connection" and I can use the iOptron Commander which opens/runs in the background when APT connects to the mount. I can display the Commander Mount Panel which has NSEW buttons which do work (with adjustable speeds) with the mount over the "ethernet connection"!!!!! YEAAAAAAAA .

Now I can finally perform the 1-star alignment from inside the house. Only the focussing will need to be performed outside at the mount (no focus motors), but, the Bahtinov Aid makes that pretty simple.

All-in-all a very nice morning.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:37 pm**

STEVE333 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:24 pm I tested the "ethernet connection" with everything connected (DSLR, Guide Scope, and, mount) to APT. Everything worked fully except the mount connection. With APT I was able to use the GoTo command and slew to a star or given RA/Dec coordinates. Unfortunately, the NSEW buttons didn't work for finalizing the 1-star alignment. GRRRRR!

However, this morning I connected up again with the "ethernet connection" and I can use the iOptron Commander which opens/runs in the background when APT connects to the mount. I can display the Commander Mount Panel which has NSEW buttons which do work (with adjustable speeds) with the mount over the "ethernet connection"!!!!! YEAAAAAAAA .
Now I can finally perform the 1-star alignment from inside the house. Only the focussing will need to be performed outside at the mount (no focus motors), but, the Bahtinov Aid makes that pretty simple.

All-in-all a very nice morning.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers,
Steve

Woo-Hoo! This is great news, Steve!

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:38 pm**

So this is now Germain to me. Are you using the ASCOM drivers to get everything to speak to everything? And if you are, do you have the latest iOptron ASCOM drivers? In about 3 weeks, this is going to be me!

Cheers,
JT

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:03 pm**

JayTee wrote: ↑Tue Feb 04, 2020 8:38 pm So this is now Germain to me. Are you using the ASCOM drivers to get everything to speak to everything? And if you are, do you have the latest iOptron ASCOM drivers? In about 3 weeks, this is going to be me!

Cheers,
JT

Hi JT - Congrats on getting a new mount?

When I first setup the ethernet extender I didn't have ASCOM downloaded. I was able to connected with my Canon DSLR and the Orion AutoGuider over the ethernet extension with no problems.
When it was time to include controlling the mount I followed the iOptron instructions in the link below.

http://www.ioptron.com/v/ASCOM/iOptron_ASCOM_CEM40.pdf

After a bit of fiddling with the Device Manager settings (info in this thread) I was able to connect to and control the mount from APT. However, as mentioned above, the NSEW buttons in APT didn't work, but, the work around was just described.

I'm not very conversant in ASCOM, but, if you need more information let me know and I'll try to answer.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Tue Feb 04, 2020 11:34 pm**

From a quick research it looks like you have to use ASCOM through the iOptron Commander whereas with the CEM60, I can use the straight ASCOM drivers without having to go through the iOptron Commander.

Cheers,
JT

Posted: **Wed Feb 05, 2020 12:54 am**

Hopefully that is good news for you JT. In my case the iOptron Commander turned out to be my solution for APT not having "full control" of the mount. Maybe avoiding the Commander will help APT to work properly with the CEM60.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Wed Feb 05, 2020 3:41 am**

Steve, I would maybe reach out on the APT forum if you would like to have control of the mount in APT! Again, I think the problem is not that the NSEW buttons don't work, but that the speed is too slow to see any movement... That is how it is with my EQ6-R. Maybe there is a way to change the speed and we just haven't figured it out yet! Or maybe the APT guy can make a fix

Posted: **Wed Feb 05, 2020 4:32 am**

Baskevo wrote: ↑Wed Feb 05, 2020 3:41 am Steve, I would maybe reach out on the APT forum if you would like to have control of the mount in APT! Again, I think the problem is not that the NSEW buttons don't work, but that the speed is too slow to see any movement... That is how it is with my EQ6-R. Maybe there is a way to change the speed and we just haven't figured it out yet! Or maybe the APT guy can make a fix

James,
I'll pass the information along to the APT forum. In my case the NSEW buttons don't work. Each time I click on one of them I get an error message in the log that the requested motion can't be performed. It is funny, because, the GoTo works! I'm just glad that the iOptron Commander NSEW buttons work. In addition, the slew speed 1X, 2X, ..., 64X, ..., Max can be selected in Commander. I actually find it more convenient to use the Commander than APT for the small slews.

Cheers,
Steve

Posted: **Wed Feb 05, 2020 1:50 pm**

I am thinking of going the same route with the USB Extender and almost purchased one yesterday until I saw your first post in this thread.
Glad you have it worked out and big thanks to James for the solution.

How far will this work on ethernet Steve, do you know?

I have a 100' Cat5 cable that will work to the spot in the yard where I image, but is that too long?

I found the answer, up to 165' which is awesome. Going to order these. If I use APT and the laptop I can use this and if using the Raspberry Pi, I will plug it into the ethernet port vs. using wifi.

TheSkySearchers

Trouble connecting CEM40 mount to APT

Trouble connecting CEM40 mount to APT

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