Connecting Celestron CG5 Advanced GT

[Bonorden]

I was able to connect my Celestron CPC to the Asiair...however, I’m having difficulties connecting my CG5 Advanced GT. I’m guessing it is because there is no USB on the hand controller (it has the serial connector...I’m using the adapter to turn it into a USB).

Anybody else able to connect the CG5 via a serial hand controller?


Thanks,
Jeff

[Sam]

did you do 3 or 2 stars alignment at first?

[Bonorden]

I did a three star alignment. But the Asiair doesn’t “see” the mount...only the cameras.

[Bonorden]

Bump? I’d really like to use the Asiair with the CG5.

[TCampbell]

Did you get this resolved?

Older Celestron Nexstar hand-controllers have a modular jack on the back-side of the hand-controller which is the serial port. Newer Celestron NexStar controllers now use a USB jack. Which hand-box do you have?

[Bonorden]

I have the older one with the modular jack (serial connection). I hope the only solution is to buy a hand controller with a USB port. These controllers aren’t cheap.

[wvreeven]

You should be able to buy a so called FTDI cable which are much cheaper than a new hand controller. One caveat is that you need to find one that works with Linux. Most of the cheaper ones are not compatible with Linux even if they work on Windows. I haven't used one in many years so unfortunately I cannot advise which one to buy but perhaps someone else on this forum can.


HTH, Wouter

[Bonorden]

I found one on Amazon that stated it is FTDI and works with Linux.

I’ll find out in a couple of days if that solves it.


Thanks for the suggestion.


Jeff

[Bonorden]

No luck with the FTDI cable.

Any other ideas?

Anyone else with a CG5 with a non-usb hand controller get theirs to work?


Thanks,
Jeff

[wvreeven]

Can you elaborate on the issue with the FTDI cable? What exactly didn't work?