looks pretty routine for an EQ8 Rodney - similar to mine (remarkable how consistent these things are). I wouldn't be concerned about the drifts, unless you are doing very long exposures when field rotation may be an issue. Like mine, yours has regions with fairly abrupt variation in the RA rate - I need to guide at 1hz framerate to keep this under control. Would be nice to have PEC going to help in these regions, but that function doesn't want to work in EQMOD.
Apparently PPEC now works with the latest motor control firmware upgrade (V211).
In the hope that the new MC software also fixed the problems with PEC in EQMOD, I tried updating. The update failed about 1/3 the way through and the download management software advised to power down reset the mount and try again. On power up, the mount had no power indicator light and, although the handset still worked, it was unable to establish contact with the mount - Oh joy, a new boat anchor....
While I was starting to dismantle the setup to send the dead mount in for repairs, it suddenly clicked - the power light and the handset connection may drop out if the motor firmware is not fully functional, but with some luck, the bit of firmware that manages the upgrade may still be working. Thankfully that was the case and, even though the mount seemed dead and the handset could not connect to it, PCdirect still worked and the upgraded motor firmware eventually installed OK - and everything was back to normal.
However, autoPEC still does not work properly in EQMOD - it still tries to use EQ6 drive parameters.
Just a small note about an issue that happened when I attended the 2015 Queensland Astrofest. Don't upgrade the hand controller and the motor firmware in the field without thinking things through well. I upgraded the hand controller from 3.35 to 3.37( had not done this since I got it) in the field but then when I went to do the motor firmware it failed, leaving the mount "dead" and not recognising the motors. This was done stupidly with a 7m extension cable that I had plugged into the hand controller then had that plugged into the mount - note to self must use short cables to upgrade ANY firmware. Thankfully someone on the field had either read or heard of this problem before and was fixed by resetting the hand controller to factory settings and then reconnected the computer to the mount then upgrade the software. That worked!!
just a note that 6 years on the mount is going great
Good to see you bumping this thread David. Mine has been going strong since I purchased it in 2013 and it has been located in my obs since 2014. Have adjusted the clutch once and the backlash and also found that I needed to disable the auxiliary encoders in EQMOD and thats it. Mine gets a work out most new moon periods whether permitting.
Well as the poor thing only ever got used for astrofest I managed to get an adapter made which will allow it to go in the doghouse observatory as the spare mount replacing the Titan 50 when it has its service. I also was able to adapt it to the Meade giant field tripod I have. So it's even more portable than before!!
So for all these years the original is still going strong. I added a V5 hand controller as well.
well to add to this its 2022 and nearly April, like most things on April 1 you would think mother nature is indeed playing a practical joke on those living on the east coast of Australia. Covid/la Nina/ more la Nina/ mre covid.... the mount is still sitting temporarily in the doghouse, G clamped to the pier and still works the same as the day i got it. awesome mount, just cant really get to use it , though as a sculpture it does have spider issues, a web of intrigue...........
It’s painful reading about and looking at all you EQ8 owners photos and comments whilst I patiently wait for my new EQ8-R pro to arrive in Australia
Suppose to be June but like everything at the moment it’s slow as a snail
I guess one positive out it all , the weather has been crap for 6 months and so haven’t missed anything and Winter is looming so looking forward to long dark skies down south at my Obs
Eq8 still going strong - I was one of the first in oz. probably due for a service
The exchange rate at the time made them an absolute steal from memory ~$4300 for an eq8 w/ tripod