TheSkySearchers

Hi All,
I just picked up a used Orion sirius EQ‑G mount.
But the mount did not come with the hand controller.

However it appears the mount can also be controlled by what is called a "DUAL AXIS HAND CONTROLLER".

I also understand the mount can be controlled by software.
I would greatly like to experiment with controlling it via software - and wonder if there is a free software that I could play with?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
dw

I used a Skywatcher HEQ5 as my primary mount, a few years ago. It is the same mount as the Sirius. EQMOD will operate it without a hand controller. You will need an EQDIR cable from Shoestring. You will also need the ASCOM software package, and the specific ASCOM driver for your mount.

EQMOD is a go to system, so it takes the place of the hand controller. It allows you to use a cheap game controller as a handset.

Thank you Nancy!

Yes - I just took a look at the Skywatcher HEQ5 and I can see that the difference is that they painted it white instead of the orion black.
Do you know if there was a secondary hand controller for that mount?
One that was called a "Dual Axis controller"
It seems to me that controller didn't have the database and go-to software built into it.
It was for simple Dual Axix movements.

I wasn't aware at all of the EQMOD project!
Very cool!

I wonder if their website provides information on the actual control signal protocol needed to control the mount?
I think it may be serial commands.

My sincere thanks Nancy!
Duane

TSS_ASTRO wrote: ↑Sat Jun 20, 2020 8:03 pm Thank you Nancy!

Well, you got 40% of the letters right.

Do you know if there was a secondary hand controller for that mount?

I don't know about Orion's marketing. Skywatcher had a "pro" version of the mount with a goto controller, and a "non-pro" version that had a brain-dead two-axis controller. The mount was the same; only the controller was different. You could upgrade the non-pro version to the pro version just by replacing the controller.

Right then!
If that is the case - then Orion does make the non-go-to controller.
I shall call them and ask about that.
Thanks