Skywatcher HEQ5 Remote Control Setup Tutorial

Have you got a Skywatcher HEQ5 (or EQ6) GOTO Mount? Do you just use the Hand Controller? Open up a whole new way of doing Astrophotography .... and get warm!!!! .... by controlling your mount from a Windows PC/Laptop from the comfort of your house. This tutorial takes you through every step of setting it up and getting it working.

NOTE: THIS TUTORIAL USES THE NATIVE STELLARIUM INSTEAD OF STELLARIUM SCOPE, WHICH MEANS LESS TO DOWNLOAD AND A NICER GUI INTERFACE TO SLEW AND SYNC YOUR MOUNT. THERE IS A FURTHER STEP TO USE AN EQDIR-USB CABLE AND REMOVE THE HAND CONTROLLER COMPLETELY FROM YOUR SETUP. I WILL DO A SEPARATE VIDEO ON THIS.

DOWNLOADS
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ASCOM Platform :

EQASCOM / EQMOD :

RS232 to USB Adapter :

HASHTAGS

#skywatcher
#ascom
#eqmod
#eqascom
#stellarium

SHOUTOUTS

Hants Astro
Dylan O'Donnell, #Star Stuff
Trevor Jones, #Astrobackyard

Clear Skies!

[garyedge]

Have used a couple of your tutorials since taking up this hobby a year ago. Always clear and concise with no assumptions to people level of expertise. Thank you.

[joshmccollumastrophotography]

This is the only tutorial I've found that has shown the hardware! I'm getting a EQ6-R in a couple of weeks and I've wanted to use a computer to control it instead of the Synscan controller. Thanks for another awesome tutorial, Martin!

[gregnorth]

What a fantastic guide. Thank you for producing these tutorials Martin. After purely visual astronomy for the last 15 years I found the technicalities of computerisation and auto guiding a tad daunting. Thanks to you I have taken the plunge into astrophotography and loving every clear night we get down here on the south coast. 👍🏻

[xpanderxsert]

Thanks Martin for this very useful tutorial. I followed it a few months back and I'm continuously working according to it.

[markswain]

Excellent tutorial Martin! Thank you for taking the time to make this video.

[leftauparxoun]

I love you pal! I did struggle with the cables a bit and with the drivers but today I am a very happy man because it works and it's sooo smooooth. CLEAR SKIES!

[ziggyfrnds]

Many thanks for the tutorial. You provided a clear and concise description! I will be trying this on my neq6 pro mount

[michaelstolz]

Many thanks for your incredibly helpful video!!! You helped me a lot. I am so happy that today I could connect my EQ6 pro with your help. I started from scratch today (well, I had the hardware) and now I can control my telescope via Stellarium! THANKS!

[ddcll]

I don't know if this is mentioned already, but the SyncScan controller also has a USB 2.0 Type-B port. Connecting that into your laptop using a USB2 type A to type B cable also works for controlling the mount as well. RJ11/12 and RS232 serial cables are rare these days and adaptors are relatively expensive, doing it this way will save you a bit of money if you don't already have RJ11/12 or serial cables lying around from back in the day.

[TheRuminator]

A life saver of a video. Brilliant. Thank you so much :D

[AstroCloudGenerator]

Thanks Martin. That's a great help. Did you ever consider doing a tutorial on setting up your mount to operate with NINA?

[karennash]

like your videos very helpful. martin heres a question when i polar align i use polemaster it helps alot. when i download all this software can i still use my polemaster then go in the house so i dont freeze once iam polar aligned? seriously your website is the best on the internet. i have learned a lot from you.

[AstroAdictosMX]

Martin, thnk you very much for your videos, I have a question, how can I find the cable to the Handset? DB9 to RJ11 or RJ12?

[ele]

I just got myself a new Sky-Watcher HEQ5 mount and also the Digitus (RS-232 to USB adapter) But to my surprise there is no cord (the one you showed on minute 1:36) looks like the connector on the bottom of my controller is different than yours as well. I see an extra entry (A jack) to connect a "telephone" cord labeled "auto guider" I guess I'm in trouble! 😂 lol, any tip?

[davorfliker]

Dear Martin, thank you very much. Will try asap and Will send feed back

[christianthystrup]

Thanks Martin. Got break through after watching your video. I was missing the PC Direct mode on the handset. Have you tried the USB connector on the handset instead of the "phone" like cable?

[mikebeswick]

TRYING TOSTE UP MY 200P AND HEQ5 SO REALLY USEFULL

[etxblue]

Great video, this convinced me to buy a Go To Mount !

[linesslopeandshade]

Amazing. your videos are so helpful. Thanks you.

[astrophotonics]

Great Video, i have same exact setup Astro Dad's, use zwo asiair & EQ Mod, perfect fire & forget set up.