Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 0:10:19 GMT
What is it with this hobby, honestly I'm cracking up with frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's been perfect weather since about 8pm and I've wasted all evening trying to work out what the eck is wrong my poxy mount!! I don't know if it's the mount itself or the hand controller but it isn't cables this time as I changed them all with no Joy. Just looked at the manual about a Synscan self diagnosis but I have not got a clue It says I need to prepare two Loop test plugs?? Has anyone done this before and if so is it possible to explain in English for the simple minded!?
Time to pack up I think and reluctantly except defeat
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 0:56:33 GMT
Its the nature of the beast What was happening Karl?
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 1:38:56 GMT
Its the nature of the beast What was happening Karl? Hello Carl, Same problem as last time. Basically I lined up the first star Sirius then slew to the second star Polaris and then half way there it beeps though it is not supposed to do this until it has stopped. Anyway it carries on to Polaris and I centre that and get the alignment successful message. However, it then starts drifting quite bad so I have to keep adjusting the darn thing. I then do a Goto but never get anyway near my intended target. Then sometimes it froze or I could not change slew speeds and various other odd things were happening. I then changed some cables even though the ones I have are brand new but still the same problem. I treble checked I had put all the correct info into the HC but that was fine so I really have no clue. I have emailed First Light Optics to see if I can send it back to Sky-Watcher for repair so let's see what they come back with. It is less than 12 months old so it should have a warranty. Just seriously cheesed off as it was perfect conditions tonight and we all know how rare that is. I think I'll take up golf again as this astronomy malarkey is testing my patience to the max! Fingers crossed FLO will save the day....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 2:11:06 GMT
Hope so mate, yes it will be under warranty. My humble eq3/2 goto pro can act up as well. The mount is usually the most expensive bit you spend on and you expect it to work in this day and age without having to make loop test leads.
Hope you get it sorted.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 10:11:20 GMT
Sounds brutal Karl! Hope you get it sorted! Have you tried upgrading the firmware or anything on the hand controller? I think to be honest we need to expect some level of problems. As we are all introducing so many possible points of failure with the addition of all the electronics, cables, power source, connectors and software etc. I dunno about you guys but it all gets very complicated in my head! I remember the days i would just pick my scope up and walk out lol. No power cables or anything... just my hands, eyes and scope Ignorance is bliss Dont think i could ever go back to just visual tho!! My session was cut short last night by a simple act of not fully charging my powertank lol. Also instantly send it back to SW! These things should be lasting decades not less than 12 months! Especially considering the cost of it!!!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 10:34:30 GMT
ohh also...i dunno if your mount has these same options or not but with meade scopes (im sure most do too) There are 2 options called 'Calibrate motors' (think it checks the power or something) and 'Train drives' (remember and do both axis). Doing these 2 helped my goto accuracy. Its advised its done every couple of months. Im sure you already know about these tho.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 10:36:51 GMT
Sounds brutal Karl! Hope you get it sorted! Have you tried upgrading the firmware or anything on the hand controller? I think to be honest we need to expect some level of problems. As we are all introducing so many possible points of failure with the addition of all the electronics, cables, power source, connectors and software etc. I dunno about you guys but it all gets very complicated in my head! I remember the days i would just pick my scope up and walk out lol. No power cables or anything... just my hands, eyes and scope Ignorance is bliss Dont think i could ever go back to just visual tho!! My session was cut short last night by a simple act of not fully charging my powertank lol. Also instantly send it back to SW! These things should be lasting decades not less than 12 months! Especially considering the cost of it!!! Yes it was Chris I was effing and jeffing like a complete and utter loon! It was perfect conditions too just rub salt in! You are right of course, with my set up today there are a million things that can potentially ruin the night and to get everything working correctly in perfect conditions would be very lucky indeed. That said, the problems experienced last night really should not be happening with a mount like the AZ EQ6 less than 12 months old! Waiting to here back from FLO and hope to get it sorted as soon as poss....
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 10:38:31 GMT
ohh also...i dunno if your mount has these same options or not but with meade scopes (im sure most do too) There are 2 options called 'Calibrate motors' (think it checks the power or something) and 'Train drives' (remember and do both axis). Doing these 2 helped my goto accuracy. Its advised its done every couple of months. Im sure you already know about these tho. Not seen that in the options but I'll check the manual, thanks Chris.
|
|
|
Post by johnno on Jan 24, 2014 10:42:51 GMT
I think I've read about this problem before, but cant remember which mount it was on, I did a search last night but had no luck. I know its on the net somewhere.
You'll just have to see what FLO come up with, it can be a right pain packing it off and then they have to test it and replicate the fault and then waiting for parts to arrive and re-test, can take sometime, unless they have come across the problem before they could just send you the parts needed.
Karl have you tried a different power supply to it? and have you tried it in EQ mode , it can really be only 2 things the hand controller or the main board.
oh another thing, have you tried to re-flash the hand controller, new firmware and software for it just in case its got a corrupt file, just a thought
|
|
|
Post by Dragon Man on Jan 24, 2014 12:04:36 GMT
Also another thought came to my mind. You have very cold temperatures up there in the UK. Electronics HATE very cold temps and damp air.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 16:04:54 GMT
I think I've read about this problem before, but cant remember which mount it was on, I did a search last night but had no luck. I know its on the net somewhere. You'll just have to see what FLO come up with, it can be a right pain packing it off and then they have to test it and replicate the fault and then waiting for parts to arrive and re-test, can take sometime, unless they have come across the problem before they could just send you the parts needed. Karl have you tried a different power supply to it? and have you tried it in EQ mode , it can really be only 2 things the hand controller or the main board. oh another thing, have you tried to re-flash the hand controller, new firmware and software for it just in case its got a corrupt file, just a thought Hi John,
FLO have come back and said they will report the fault to the supplier. hopefully they will have a quick fix otherwise it will get shipped off and you know when that happens it will be clear skies for weeks!
I've not tried another power supply as I've always gone through mains supply. I need to get hold of a power tank to test this. I've also never tried EQ mode as I could not get my head around how to do it but may have another go at that shortly. As for firmware I've had the latest version 3.35 for a while now and there has been no update since. I have thought about trying to go back to the previous firmware 3.32 but I want to see what advice I get first before trying anything else. That said the weather looks grim for the next week so I could not use it anyway but fingers crossed it will get sorted before the next clear night!
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 16:09:20 GMT
Also another thought came to my mind. You have very cold temperatures up there in the UK. Electronics HATE very cold temps and damp air. Thanks Ken, Yes we have had very high humidity recently so this could be causing issues with the mount but not the HC as that is used indoors only. Hope it's not that though as it means I can only use the mount in the summer time or perfect conditions which would not be ideal!
|
|
|
Post by johnno on Jan 24, 2014 16:17:41 GMT
What I'm saying about the firmware /software is to do a re-install, just in case a file may of got corrupted, just thinking of things to try and eliminate.
Another good point is what Ken said about the temps, I know on my SW goto if it gets down to zero and below my hand controller seems to lag and very slow to respond to key presses. I don't know if its the electronics in the mount or HC causing it
Had another search and for the life of me I cant find it, buy I know its out there somewhere. lets hope the supplier comes up with a solution What about bringing the mount in for a couple of nights and let it get up to room temp and then give it another try?
for the power pack, just get 8 AA batteries and a holder and fit a plug on it and it should do for testing purposes, should last about 4hrs of testing
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 18:13:56 GMT
Also another thought came to my mind. You have very cold temperatures up there in the UK. Electronics HATE very cold temps and damp air. Thanks Ken, Yes we have had very high humidity recently so this could be causing issues with the mount but not the HC as that is used indoors only. Hope it's not that though as it means I can only use the mount in the summer time or perfect conditions which would not be ideal! Nah no chance. Isn't this like one of the very best mounts you can buy? No way they would design something only for hot places and instantly kill off around half their market. Plus we haven't even had a cold winter in the UK this year.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 18:49:15 GMT
What I'm saying about the firmware /software is to do a re-install, just in case a file may of got corrupted, just thinking of things to try and eliminate.
Another good point is what Ken said about the temps, I know on my SW goto if it gets down to zero and below my hand controller seems to lag and very slow to respond to key presses. I don't know if its the electronics in the mount or HC causing it
Had another search and for the life of me I cant find it, buy I know its out there somewhere. lets hope the supplier comes up with a solution What about bringing the mount in for a couple of nights and let it get up to room temp and then give it another try?
for the power pack, just get 8 AA batteries and a holder and fit a plug on it and it should do for testing purposes, should last about 4hrs of testing Hello John,
Great advice and I will try both. I'll bring in the mount tonight and leave it somewhere warm for a few days and I'll also do a re-install of the firmware. I believe there is an update for the mount itself so I'll d that also. I would be surprised if it is the temperature though as it's not been that cold in Bedfordshire recently though with all the humidity damp could be an issue. However, it is kept under cover locked up in my shed. This would be no different to leaving it permanently set up in an observatory which I would have thought would be okay. ether way I'll try everything possible as you never know.
I have actually got a power pack but lent it out as I never use it, time for a recall me thinks...
Thanks John
Karl
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 18:52:28 GMT
Thanks Ken, Yes we have had very high humidity recently so this could be causing issues with the mount but not the HC as that is used indoors only. Hope it's not that though as it means I can only use the mount in the summer time or perfect conditions which would not be ideal! Nah no chance. Isn't this like one of the very best mounts you can buy? No way they would design something only for hot places and instantly kill off around half their market. Plus we haven't even had a cold winter in the UK this year. I wish it was Chris but no there are much better mounts you can get if you have a spare £5-£10,000! It is highly rated though so it's is a surprise but I would imagine in the end it will be something quite simple
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 19:26:39 GMT
I'll also do a re-install of the firmware. I believe there is an update for the mount itself so I'll d that also. Have a look at the patch notes for that update. You never know it might be to fix your very issue
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 19:54:41 GMT
I'll also do a re-install of the firmware. I believe there is an update for the mount itself so I'll d that also. Have a look at the patch notes for that update. You never know it might be to fix your very issue Good point Chris will do thanks.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 20:18:01 GMT
Have a look at the patch notes for that update. You never know it might be to fix your very issue Good point Chris will do thanks. Changes made in the AZ-EQ6 motor controller firmware version 2.09:
1. Fixed a bug which might cause random spikes during autoguiding via the autoguider port.
Does not look like my issues and I never autoguide but I'll update just in case.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2014 20:20:48 GMT
Also one thing Karl prob nothing to do with it but... again... i can only speak for meade scopes... i know polaris is not an option to use as an alignment star. And theres a chance im making this up but i think i may have read somewhere that you shouldnt use polaris when aligning an alt/az. I might have made that up tho lol
Do you always use polaris?
|
|