Pierro Astro USB-HEQ5 Direct Interface for Skywatcher H-EQ5 Mounts

USB-HEQ5 Direkt Interface EM0002

This interface cable (1.8 m long) was designed to use the HEQ5 Goto or Syntrek mounts to the best of their ability, combined with the free project EQMOD. It fits also directly to all mounts with an RJ12 port for the hand controller, like Skywatcher EQ8, EQ6-R, AZ-EQ6, AZ-EQ5 and ORION Sirius.

This interface allows you to connect a PC with USB port (under Windows XP and later) with an equatorial mount EQ6 (HEQ5) instead of the hand controller. In this way, mount motors are under direct control of the computer, allowing access to previously impossible functions with these mounts: Scores "GoTo" ultra precise, direct homing (by ASCOM) followed by satellites, N stars alignment, synchronization, GPS support, etc.

Note: Sky-Watcher and Orion now marketing "Goto compatible" H-EQ5 mounts (Skywatcher "Syntrek") which do not have the GoTo control box. These mounts are perfectly compatible with the USB-HEQ5 Direct Interface, for the electronics and mechanics are exactly those that incorporate the "GoTo Kit", only the box is different.

System requirements:

Computer: 256 MB RAM - CDROM - 1 USB Port

System: Windows XP and later - 32 and 64 Bit

Compatible software: all ASCOM compatible ones, Cartes du Ciel, Astrosnap, ...

Compatible mounts: SkyWatcher® EQ6-Pro, EQ6-R, Orion Atlas EQ-G, Goto or SynTrek

Installation, Drivers:

Link to installation, drivers (language can be changed)

Installation Pierro Astro USB direct interface for Skywatcher mounts

1. Connect the EQ Direct interface to your PC. The FTDI drivers are installed automatically.

Check the Device Manager (System settings -> "Device Manager")

If the drivers are not installed automatically, follow this link to download them manually: FTDI drivers

2. Microsoft .NET Framework:

ASCOM drivers require the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.5 or higher (already present in current versions of Windows).

If necessary, you can download and install the latest version here: Microsoft .NET Framework

3. Installing the ASCOM 6.4 platform

If the ASCOM platform is already installed, please check if it is the correct version (6.4 or higher)

If you have not yet installed ASCOM, you can download it here: ASCOM Download

4. Installing the ASCOM EQMod driver

Download link to the EQ-Mod driver: via Sourceforge

More information about EQMod on the official website: http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net/

5. Installing a planetarium software

There is a wide variety of planetarium software on the net - both paid and free - for example:

Cartes du ciel / Sky Chart

C2A - Computer Aided Astronomy