How much fiddling?

[LewisM]

How much "user adjustment" is allowed by Tasco/Synta with their mounts before blowing the 5 year warranty?

I don't want to do ANYTHING with the motors unless it does NOT affect the warranty.

Ron at Sirius said replacing the motor board does NOT affect warranty, but how much further?

Also, seeing I am systematically ruling things out that could cause my dec issues, could possibly the hand controller be faulty and sending odd signals? I even tried PHD with Dec guiding ON tonight to see if it made ANY difference.

THe Dec seems to be "falling" to the north. When TRYING to guide on M42 tonight, it was definitely dropping north almost as if the telescope is nose heavy - which it assuredly is not.

[bert]

If its falling one way consistently, it may be a bad auto guider cable.

Have you tried eqmod to rule out the handset?

[LewisM]

I am going to try a new guider interface cable tonight - I take it they are just standard "phone" cable, and not reversed etc?

Already tried a new USB to the guider from computer.

I will see if I have the right cable in my stash, and if so, I may run EQMOD too.

[brian nordstrom]

:shrug: Lewis you say 'falling to the north' are you sure its an electronic issue ? it might be a slippage in the Dec drive system ? eg. mechanical .
Slipping gear in the gearbox ? or main gears ?
Is it constant ? does it slip a bit then stop?
Try a long exposure and have a look.
Just a thought .
Brian.

[LewisM]

Been there, done all that Brian. It's constant rate. Even trying counterweights on the south side, PHD Dec guide South etc doesn't work.

It's either time I pulled this thing apart, or Tasco does. Hence why I want to know if ME doing it kills the warranty.

[Terry B]

They are not the standard 4 cable RJ11 cable that most phones use.
The cable has 6 pins in a RJ12 connector. Whether it is reversed depends on the guider. My QHY5 used a reversed cable compared to my STi.
I found it easiest to make my own. The crimping tool is cheap (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MODULAR-CRIMPING-TOOL-PHONE-LAN-NETWORK-RJ45-RJ12-RJ11-CABLE-CRIMPER-cat5-cat6-/140865674884?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_15&hash=item20cc3f9e84) and easy to use. Plugs can be bought at Jaycar or on line (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/100PCS-RJ11-RJ12-6P6C-Tel-ADSL-Modular-Connector-Plug-/130798372531?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item1e7430c6b3).

[rmuhlack]

i doubt you will have an appropriate cable for EQMOD in your "stash"

The mount requires TTL signals through a DB9 serial port type connector at the scope end. So you need to convert RS232 into TTL, and if you don't have an RS232 port on your laptop you'll also need a USB-serial adapter.

I found it easier to just buy the cable from Bintel rather than try to cobble together my own. Once you've installed the driver for the USB-serial chip embedded in the cable you're away. http://www.bintel.com.au/Mounts---Tripods/Mount-Accessories/Shoestring-USB2-br--EQ6-Interface/775/productview.aspx

I now use EQMOD exclusively, and never use the Synscan hand controller. EQMOD gives you the flexibility and convenience of software polar alignment (i use alignmaster), PEC and, importantly, dithering in conjunction with PHD and BackyardEOS (APT may also have a dither feature). Not to mention that you can sync to any object you like with a mere keystroke in Stellarium. EQMOD will also provide guiding corrections from PHD, so no need to run an ST4 cable from the guider to the mount.

[bert]

Depends on the camera, sbig and ssag are opposite, one is straight and one is reversed. You need all 6 contacts.


Try ascom pulse guide with eqmod... Then you don't need a cable at all.

[LewisM]

Thank Richard - just ordered it. Been wanting to for a while, just never got around to it. 2 less cables now :)