Hi all - I pulled our old ST-I out the other day since I'd like to use it soon to guide a scope while using a spectrograph. I remember from years ago having confusion about the guiding cable, and having the wrong one initially, but later resolving it. However, I checked the cable packed with the ST-I now and I am not sure it's the right one. It doesn't seem to match this description from the manual to me: "Tracking Cable – This cable looks like a simple “RJ-11 telephone cable” but in fact is a “6-pin reversed RJ-11 telephone cable”. Telescopes require 6-pin autoguider cables and reversed means that, unlike SBIG ST-i Manual ordinary phone cables, this one flips the order of the wires. You can tell a tracking cable from an ordinary cable by noting that with tracking cables the tines that lock the RJ-11 jack into the receptacle are both on the same flat side of the cable or when the ends are put side by side the colored wires inside are in opposite order on the two connectors." I took a picture (attached). Before proceeding to plug anything in (hoping not to damage anything): - Am I correct in that this is the wrong cable? - If so, can I purchase a replacement? I already checked the DL store and didn't see anything - and I'm wary of what I'm seeing on other sites. Figured there might be away to order it from Diffraction Limited regardless of the online store. Thanks in advance, Jamie
That's correct. It's a 6-pin RJ-12 cable which basically looks like an RJ-11, just 2 more gold pins. There's two orientations - some mounts need the telephone-style cable which has the wire colors exchanged on the second end. eg instead of White, Black, Red, Green, Yellow, Blue - it would be Blue, Yellow, Green, Red, Black, White. It won't hurt if it is the other orientation - instead, usually the mount will run fast East, and/or it won't move in all 4 directions properly.
Oops - was I correct that the cable is wrong, or is the cable itself correct? I'm glad to know I won't destroy anything by connecting it regardless!
