The latest generation of Synta EQ-5 and EQ-6 mounts that use the SynScan handcontroller (such as the Orion Sirius EQ-G and Orion Atlas EQ-G) show great performance as stable, quality GOTO mounts at affordable prices for observing and imaging. However, the features available when they are interfaced to a personal computer are somewhat limited, primarily due to the type of data that is available through the handcontroller's serial interface. Now, thanks to the efforts of several individuals, far more powerful features are made available by bypassing the handcontroller and communicating directly with the mount's stepper motor controller. More information on the EQ Direct method can be found in the Yahoo EQMOD Group (http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/EQMOD/) or on the EQ Mod website (http://eq-mod.sourceforge.net).
The only drawback of the EQ Direct approach is that the input to the mount is not directly compatible with the serial port signals that come out of a personal computer. Thus, you will need the EQDIR Interface Module shown below to translate the voltage levels.
For the EQ-6, you can attach this module either directly to your mount with a serial cable back to the PC, directly to your PC with a serial cable to the mount, or PC -> serial cable -> EQDIR -> serial cable -> mount.
For the EQ-5, you will need the EQCBL-01 adapter cable between the EQDIR and your mount. If you wish to build your own adapter cable, please see this document.
If you have no serial port on your PC, a USB-to-serial adapter that is readily available at most computer supply stores can be used to create a serial port.
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