Synscan hand controller dead?

[cometcatcher]

Was using my HEQ5 pro goto this morning and it just stopped working. The red light was on the mount but no writing on the hand unit. Plugged cables in and out, switched on/off several times, tried alternate power sources etc. At one stage I got gibberish on the hand unit, next time I tried nothing at all.

Rang Andrews and have sent the hand unit back. This is a real bummer with comets coming up. I'll be back to the EQ2. Oh yay, not. But then the EQ2 is still going after 40 years, the HEQ5 didn't make it to a year. :(

[raymo]

I've only just seen your post, or I would have responded earlier.
These mounts have always had an inordinately high incidence of
naff cables between the hand controller and the mount, resulting
in many different symptoms; one of which being your problem.
I'm on my third cable. If the cable turns out to be the problem,
it can usually be fixed by re-crimping both ends of the cable, it's just a matter of knowing someone who has the right crimper.
Be interesting to see what your problem turns out to be; my
HEQ5 has never missed a beat since curing the cable problem.
raymo

[cometcatcher]

Thanks Ray. I hope it's just the cable. I sent that back also for testing. Can't say I've ever liked the curly cord.

[RobF]

Another trick is to replace the curly cable with a normal Cat5 networking cable. That'll soon show if its handcontroller or cable.
My first cable was terrible - Andrews replaced and everything was much better.

[Astro_Bot]

Timely advice, as I was just looking for a way to increase the cable length. Thanks. :thumbsup:

[Merlin66]

Kevin,
Over on SGL a HEQ5 owner was getting gobily gook symbols on his Synscan display.....
""
A quick question to David at A10 Optical who suggested dismantling the handset and cleaning the contacts on the back of the PCB and the contacts on the back of the keypad .

A quick rub over with a Q-Tip dampened with Baader Wonder fluid and "Hey Presto" everything's back as it should be .....

""
May be worth trying the same

[cometcatcher]

Okay thanks. Might be worth a try next time. It's at Andrews atm getting tested.