How to connect the new Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro to ASIAIR?: Page 5

How to connect the new Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro to ASIAIR?

hype

I would get an EQMod cable for your mount so you can connect the mount straight to the ASIAir with a USB cable. People seem to have loads of issues with connecting via hand controller cable.. Also Polar Alignment should be done with the ASIAir and Star Alignment is not needed, since the ASIAir platesolves.
Your new workflow would be:

Set up mount roughly polar alligned

Connect all your cables

Turn on ASIAir, wait for the beep

Turn on mount, main camera, guide camera

PA with ASIAir

Focus on some bright star

Slew to target (will do plate solve automatically and check if target is centered)

Modify framing if needed

Turn on autoguiding

Start imaging

antkent

Will the ASI Air Plus work with an EQ6R Pro produced in August 2020?

In2Driving

I have an EQ-6R Pro made in 2021 and it works perfectly with ASIAIR Plus, either via USB direct or with an EQMOD cable. Baud rate settings are critical: use 11500 for USB direct and 9600 for EQMOD. I see no reason to use EQMOD at this point since the direct USB connection appears to be working fine.

Magiamusical

I just received the EQ6-R Pro and with the ASIAIR Pro I cannot connect via USB to the mount, but with the ASIAIR Plus works perfectly. What needs to be done to the ASIAIR Pro so it can connect to mount via USB?

RoscoeD

I read multiple techniques on how to connect this mount to the AA+, but the only one that worked was to attach a Type B USB cable to the USB port on my mount, and then select "Skywatcher AZ-GTI/Synscan WIFI" as the mount, baud = 115200. Odd choice of mount (I have the EQR6 Pro) but it seems to work.

JoshuaQ

I tried every "trick," none of them worked. The only thing that worked to get the EQ6r working with the ASIAIR was the update. I would recommend just going with the update and skipping all the work-arounds.

BigBobD

My motherboard toasted and I got a replacement, now the ASI-Air Pro won't connect at all via USB. Is there another driver version to download somewhere? The new motherboard is the same exact version as the one I lost, due to power issues, dropping below 11.1 volts through the ASIAIR PRO. The power consumption during meridian flip caused it, I guess using that Phoenix cable to power the EQ6R Pro from the ASIAIR PRO was a really bad idea.

BigBobD

So, I finally got the ASIAir Pro to recognize my Motherboards USB port with the Sticky here, however, after the update to the newer version, the device no longer saves any devices attached after a manual, turn off the switch shutdown. A Software restart or shutdown no longer works either, the device turns off all the attached devices, e.g. camera, guide camera etc... but the wifi is still running and the ASIAIR Pro does not shut off, nor reboots. The only indication beep is during start up.
If I restore from version 1.4 as per the restore link (google drive) then the ASIAIR remembers all the devices attached after reboot, shuts down and restarts correctly, however, it does not recognize the usb connected EQ-Mod Mount.

Is there a updated version to support the USB connection for the Skywatcher EQ-6 Pro anywhere?

Is there a config file or something I can copy over to the SD Card to make it work as designed?

Anything???

kscheben

I've had some occasional odd ASIAIR Pro symptoms relating mostly to connecting to the EQ6-R Pro mount. When you power down, are you first using the "Shut Down" option at the bottom of the "WiFi" screen of the AAP or are you simply turning the power switch off? It seems very strange that you would lose your configuration settings if you are doing a "soft" shutdown.

BigBobD

I am using the bottom of the wifi screen, both restart and shutdown produce the same results. The device DOES NOT power off, nor does it restart, instead it is still powered on, although it turns off all the connected devices, e.g. the camera shuts off, the guide scope shuts off, but wifi is still active. Meaning I can restart the APP on my tablet or phone and It is running without anything attached.

kscheben

It is normal for the power lights to remain on the AAP once you perform a soft shutdown from the WiFi menu. Then you turn off the power switch on the device to complete the power off process. But I've never seen it drop all of your attachments like that. They should all be present when you power back up. You might want to try a to refresh your microSD card again and then allow the software to run an update from 1.4 to the current version. It sounds like something in the software did not take correctly in the latest try.

BigBobD

kscheben I have tried several different SD Cards, the only way that it remembers the connections is with the standard img file, upgrading from version 1.4 to the current, but that img file is missing the USB kernel update for the EQ-6R Pro. This image has the correct kernel, but fails after being updated. I am currently updating the kernel manually, logging in with root. Although I am having a terrible time with the certificates since the repositories no longer exist.

kscheben

Ugh...it sounds like quite a slog. I've had to restart from scratch a few times myself so I know how you feel. BTW, I've also had my EQ6-R Pro motherboard fry on me twice in a 5 month period. Sky Watcher actually convinced me to lose the Jackery battery I was using for power at dark sky sites and replace it with an Ecoflow. They said the Jackery provided just under 12volts which was causing them a ton of repair problems. So far with the EcoFlow, no issues. But I have no way to prove that the Jackery battery was the issue. It was cheaper than selling and replacing my mount with something higher end.

BigBobD

kscheben I agree with you on the Jackery. I have two and a powerOak, I found this great write up on how to make my own DC DC booster (buck boost) and have it tuned in to 14.5V, so far this looks to be my best solution. If the Jackery drops voltage the booster doesn't care and my mount gets what it needs. Current isn't an issue since I don't get more of a draw than 1.5A from the mount 👍

BigBobD

To fix the problem, I essentially updated the original image following these instructions.
https://gist.github.com/timucingelici/217ac492bc2b127c6645ce033463d265
I am hoping that this will assist anyone else, essentially you download the original ZWO ASIAIR Pro image from this site (Version 1.4 appears to be the last image posted)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19VpbElWxGSCx_aB56cdLEPP-jaJM8D1N/view

and update the USB driver by doing a rpi-update, adding it to the ASIAIR Pro Kernel. A reboot and "TADA" it works.

If you don't know how to ssh into a Raspberry Pi (which is what the ASIAIR Pro is) please don't attempt to do this. You should have some background experience with linux commands and/or know how to use the Mac terminal. Whatever you do, make sure you have a good backup of your SD Card or are confident you can restore it in case something goes wrong 😀

kscheben

Happy to hear it worked for you! Clear skies!

redpine42

Just got my ASIAIR plus. I’m using an eq r6 pro mount. And can’t get any configuration to work. Previously was using indigo sky to control the mount through the usb connection wit no problems. Read this thread and what a nightmare. ASI needs to do better addressing these problems. It looks like it’s been over a year of several people struggling.

redpine42

So a unique solution.

I tried every possible combination of telescope and baud setting and nothing worked. Only options were serial and Ethernet, so I added a wifi dongle to the EQ 6R Pro, set the dongle in station mode. Set the dongle to a fixed IP. Went to the ASIAir Plus, used EQMod with SkySafari. Selected Ethernet, set the IP to the fixed ip that I set the wifi dongle too. Set the port to 11880/udp. And it now works.

astromoose

redpine42

ASI AIR+ and SkyWatcher EQ6-R (with USB port): connect EQ6-R USB-Port with one of the USB-Ports of the ASI (not the blue ones), using a printer cable.

Settings for ASI: EQMod, 115200Baud. DO NOT POWER the EQ6R via the ASIAIR! Use separate Powersupply with at least 12V/4A for the EQ6R.

Works fine.

astromoose

ASI AIR+ and SkyWatcher EQ6-R (with USB port): connect EQ6-R USB-Port with one of the USB-Ports of the ASI (not the blue ones), using a printer cable.

Settings for ASI: EQMod, 115200Baud. DO NOT POWER the EQ6R via the ASIAIR! Use separate Powersupply with at least 12V/4A for the EQ6R.

Works fine.

redpine42

astromoose
The USB now works after the beta patch today.

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