G11 alignment not working

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

My G11 is refusing to bright star align. I am running Gemini Level 4 1.0.4 with a Garmin GPS plugged in.

I cold start and get a first star aligned e.g. Canopus but whatever star I then try and go to for an additional alignment the hand controller tells me error not available. This is whether I choose a star like Acrux or Sirius or Betelgeuse.

Any one with any idea what's wrong.

Thanks

Frank

[pmrid (Peter)]

Originally Posted by telecasterguru

My G11 is refusing to bright star align. I am running Gemini Level 4 1.0.4 with a Garmin GPS plugged in.

I cold start and get a first star aligned e.g. Canopus but whatever star I then try and go to for an additional alignment the hand controller tells me error not available. This is whether I choose a star like Acrux or Sirius or Betelgeuse.

Any one with any idea what's wrong.

Thanks

Frank

You have to go back to basics: check all site data, time zone etc. Are you doing this with the Gemini also connected to a PC? Is an Gemini.net trying to alter any of these settings and trying to change the HC settings?
Assuming this has checked out, watch for signs on the hand controller - error messages such as "WD reset" or indications that the CMOS battery is on the way out. That can cause erratic behaviour.
If you do have PC control, try doing one star alignment via the hand controller before connecting the PC and doing a second one from there followed by a Plate Solve and Sync via Maxim.
Peter

[desler]

Most of my problems seem to be caused by the cmos battery failure. It really can make the mount do some very strange things, ie. motor stalled - failure to guide and just not doing what it should. also try running it without the gps attached. I've noticed occassionally the gps, for whatever reason can list the cooridantes as 0000 - 0000, strange but true.

Good luck with it.

Darren

[telecasterguru (Frank)]

Peter,

I don't run the mount with my PC although I do have Starry Night but have never used it to control the mount. Also I don't have maxim. There are no errors coming up except when I try and go to a second star.

I think there is something wrong with my settings but I can't find it.

Darren,

I always remove the GPS after start up.

Thanks

[mithrandir (Andrew)]

Frank,

Have you checked the date/time/location in the Gemini after you've unplugged the GPS? I've had mine come up with the year and month being wrong.

If you cold start from CWD, is your first goto close? Being off in multiples of 15 deg suggests wrong timezone/DST. This is why I always use UTC.

[allan gould]

Check all settings in your handset by doing a warm start and let it scroll through what it thinks are your site/mount details. If they are correct then a pound to a penny its the 3V battery.

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Hi Frank, as others have said check your cmos battery voltage. Also try forcing a factory rest, I had a similar prob a couple of years ago, forced a factory rest and everything fixed