How to determin if I have the right #506 cable?

[Heretic]

I recently bought a Meade DS2114 and would like to hook it up with my computer, unfortunately after checking to make sure I had the right com port, (my computer has a port on it no need for USB to Serial) I am unable to make a connection to it, I get a "Read Timeout!" error. Am I correct in assuming it needs to go into the "aux" port on my telescope? Does the #497 controller need to be plugged in? Ive tried with two different cables, one that came with my DSI II and one I bought off ebay, which was a straight phone jack style cable to serial port, neither work, I also have TWO DS2114's (full telescopes with ATS) and cannot connect to either of them, ive tried this across 2 computers to make sure its not a hardware failure. How can I verify that my cables are #506 and not something else? Any ideas what is causing the communication failure?

[John S.]

Hi,
I am not familiar with your scope, but I can give you some points.
Firstly, you don't plug into the AUX port on your scope. Your 497 handbox connects to the scope by plugging into the HBX port.... I am assuming your scope has a port marked HBX.
On the botton of the handbox are two ports, one which goes to the scope and the other,...smaller one goes to the computer via your comm port and the necessary RJ-RS232 adapter.
Assuming you are trying to use Autostar Suite, power up your scope, the handbox starts up, then on Autostar go to Telescope- Communications - Serial Port Setup, select the comm port make sure you have baud rate set at 9600, stop bits 1, data bits 8, parity none and flow control none.....then click OK. Then go to Telescope - Protocol and select autostar 497 via serial port. You should be connected. You do get a timeout error if you don't set the Protocol.
One thing though you mention you have a 497 controller yet you are using a #506 cable, the 497 uses the #505 cable. Check out the online manuals on the Meade site.
Hope this was of some help to you.

John