Like most go-to mounts, my CGEM can have its software upgraded. The CGEM also has the ability to compensate for periodic error in its tracking motion. Both of these require that the mount's hand control be connected to a computer. And there's the catch.
For some reason, Celestron refuses to create a cable that goes from hand control to a USB port on a computer. It continues to use a cable that requires the computer to have a serial port. Almost no laptops manufactured now have serial ports. Serial ports disappeared years ago, not long after parallel ports passed into oblivion. So why does Celestron continue to require them? Apparently so that they can overcharge for their branded serial to USB cable, which runs from $39 to $45, depending on the vendor. It's vaguely like what how many big-box stores charge for $60 HDMI cables that can easily be found elsewhere for $3.
In fairness, Celestron does include the hand control to serial port cable with the mount. So there's no need to purchase that half of the link.
Getting serial to USB is up to you. So far as I know any serial to USB cable will work; there's nothing magical about Celestron's model. So it's off to Amazon.com for a cable that costs only about $11.
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