USB RJ-11 Cable AutoStar

The ETX series has a RJ-11 port for connecting a Rj-11 to Serial cable to a computer but has most laptops have abandoned serial ports, updating the AutoStar controller looks painful requiring fudging a serial cable and a serial to USB converter together.

I have seen cables that have USB Type A connectors on one end and an RJ-11 connector on the other. These were for industrial UPS.

Could these cables be used to update the AutoStar controller?
If so, has anybody found wiring diagrams or suppliers for this type of a cable?

Thanks
Darragh

Darragh, I don't know of any RJ-11 to USB converter.But I have found the RS-232 Bridge Cable which is supposed to work with the ETX but read the details on this website : www.telescopes.com/products/Meade_USB_to...dge_Cable_18621.html . It converts from a serial RS-232 connection to USB. :wink:

I doubt an USB to RJ11 cable intended for some other purpose would work; you would have to get the pinout details for the cable and the ETX connector to be sure. Even amongst the various Autostar versions the serial-RJ11 cables are wired in different ways.

My (admittedly clunky but cheap) solution has been to get a Targus port replicator that takes USB from my laptop and gives me a serial connector. I think it was about €17 on ebay. The big disadvantage is that it requires AC power.

Seán

You can get USB to DB9 seial cables. Then just use your USB port as a regular serial port.
e.g. www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=107836

It even works in solaris

Cheers,
~Al

As AL rightly mentioned USB - Serial DB9 is the way to go. You can also get these in Maplins for around 30euro. I use these a lot for various purposes and they have always worked.