vixen ss hand controller

[blink138 (Pat)]

hello members
on behalf of my brother whom has a GPD2 SS 2000............... he is having a problen with the hand controller whereby without touching any buttons it suddenly slews uncontrollably in some wayward direction

1 has this happened to any gpd2 owners here, i would like to here from Lewis on this too if he is listening

2 he has changed a power pack just in case it was voltage related, same thing

3 he does not think it is possible(?) that it is the H/C cable? i have checked myastro today and the replacement cable is $221.00...... so an expensive gamble if it is not that / perhaps someone has a cable for us to try?

4 if the H/C is completely "cattle trucked" is there a way of bypassing the HC to operate from a laptop?

5 we cannot believe that you would literally have to throw the baby away with the bathwater over a hand controller!

6 a retro fit is the last option but a very expensive one

any ideas guys n gals?
pat

[rrussell1962]

Sounds very much like a fault in the motor control cable. The SS2K handsets are very robust but the motor control cable is prone to faults with age particularly with the bending of the Dec cable near the Dec motor or with breaks due to flexing at the hand control end. The fault you describe is typical of a broken wire to an encoder. Is your brother the guy that posted on Astro Buy and Sell for a new handset? If so I would look at the cable first. I did look at reworking the cable connector to something more robust but the integrated power makes it tricky.

[blink138 (Pat)]

well done russell, not thought of that one, and no as far as i know that was not him
we will look at that then mate well done
pat

[LewisM]

Pat, I sold my last one I had to Richard...and it needed work.

Best option is to replace the cables as suggested, or if that fails, buy an EQ5 Synscan GOTO upgrade kit - expensive (cheapest is myastroshop.com.au) - these can be had 2nd hand for around the $350 to $400 mark usually (I sold my last one - again - to Richard lol).

[blink138 (Pat)]

thanks for chipping in lewis
pat

[rrussell1962]

Spot the pattern? My determination to keep my GPD mount working!

[LewisM]

And a noble cause it is too - very few mounts come close to it for the size/weight/accuracy niche it fills. I deeply regret selling all mine (again, one to Richard, but I got a superb SXP out of the trade over, so not at all upset).

[blink138 (Pat)]

well i hope my brother can keep his going just as happily peeps!
pat