Help with goto

[MissE_40]

Hi all, hoping someone can give any suggestions for my sw 10” goto.

I purchased in March and have never been able to get the goto function to work correctly. Alignment is apparently successful but when I choose an object to goto it never goes to the correct place. AZ is fairly close, alt is off - to the point I can be looking at said object with my eyes - but the scope looks for it below the horizon or tries pointing straight up.

I have it north, I have it flat (spirit level checked), I have had an experienced user check the coordinates are entered correctly and also use synscannit, I have disabled the auxillery encoders, I have tried two star and brightest star, my hand controller is updated (4.39.15). I have checked the power input on the hand controller. I have no idea what else to do. I have contacted Sky-Watcher snd are waiting for a response (they suggested the power, checked that and replied with all the issues).

Does anyone have any further ideas? I’m confident that the alt clutch is tight enough and not loose as I can track the planets without too much problem (recently did tighten az clutch as it was a bit fast and this has improved tracking). It is a truss dob with the clutches being a locknut under the covers. I can manually slew with the hand controller….it just can’t ‘goto’.

Thanks!

[m11]

Hi Emma,

I have a 14inch Skywatcher goto and the steps I do from memory:

1) Ensure the scope is flat
2) Collimate the scope
3) 12volt battery is charged and connections stable to connect the cigarette plug
4) Ensure the clutch knobs are tensioned
5) Turn on the scope with the power switch
6) Enter latitude and longittude co-ordinates in hours and minutes.
7) Set Timezone
8) Elevation input
9) Enter Date and time - US format of MM/DD/YY.
10) Enter Daylight savings - yes or no
11) Begin Alignment - 1) yes
12) 2 Star Align - pick two stars in different regions
( Now I pick Alpha Centauri and you need to move the scope so that star is in the eyepiece) and then hit enter.
13) Pick the second star (currently I use Antares) and the scope should automatically slew to Antares. It will be a way off usually and you will need to get the scope to the point where the star is in the eyepiece of the scope.
Once the star is in the eyepiece hit enter and it should say alignment succesful.
14) Test the goto by using any of the messier/ngc/planet catalogues and pick an object - hit enter a few times to go to it. Once it does it should track the object.

If you need help doing it , ping me in iceinspace happy to help or happy to have a call.

Mel

[MissE_40]

Thanks for your reply Mel

I do all of that (except I plug direct into mains power and don’t have clutch knobs).

I have been using Alpha Centauri and Spica…are they far enough apart?

When you say ‘hit enter a few times’ do you mean it’s a few times to get to where it says ‘goto object’ or do you hit enter again once it’s tried to go to the chosen object? As in - goto, miss, hit enter again, miss, enter again? That won’t really be an option as I often have to cancel it because it’s trying to point down further than it can…

I’ve also compared the hand controller coordinates to sky guide and they match…so I’ve no idea why it’s missing targets so badly.

[m11]

As long as the battery has enough charge its ok. Its more in the cold I find some batteries cut out and I lose my power to the handset and motors.

Alpha Centauri is ok but I think Spica might be getting too low. Can you try using Antares as its higher in the sky?

I mean hit enter a few times to goto the object you have chosen.

It sounds to me its got the wrong information in the handset if it goes straight down or up.

In regards to the co-ordinates its got S and not N to confirm? I would check all your settings after alignment to confirm they are set correctly.

The other option is to try with another synscan handset to test if its faulty as the motors sound they are working ok?

Mel

[bluesilver]

Is it a Dobsonian that you a referring to?
Is it brand new or second hand?
Only reason i am asking is that i have had the exact same issue with a 10" Skywatcher goto Dobsonian from new.
For me it was a faulty unit, I had the dealer send it to Tasco for a warranty job and they fixed it right away.
I might be looking at things a bit the wrong way here, but it just sounds like the same exact issue i had with mine from new.

[MissE_40]

Bluesilver - interesting! It’s not second hand but it was a display model. I bought it in March. I’ve been emailing Skywatcher….response is a little slow but hoping they will get on it. Just thought I would ask here in case someone had another suggestion I hadn’t tried.

Mel - Im in WA - Spica is probably around the same alt as Alpha Centauri when I’m aligning…is that still to low? Will try Antares as well though…although pretty sure I’ve tried Arcturus as well. I’ve checked and double checked the coordinates. Will look at them again after alignment next time (once the clouds clear…🙄😬)

[Malcolm]

I found the handset to be clunky and a PITA to use. I use a SynScan WiFi dongle, the free SynScan app and SkySafari 6 Pro to run my three Goto dobs. I read somewhere that one handset version was buggy and users were rolling back to another version. Using WiFi there's no need to enter any data, the phone GPS does it all. Works on iOS now on a single device if that's your device type. I use SkySafari 6 Plus on an iPad and the Pro version on an Android.
Power supply should be minimum 2A, and 5A is better and a 13.8v output is better still. I use an SCA 4cyl jumper pack in the field for my dobs and a 240v-13.8v 12A transformer at home. I don't use cig lighter sockets and plugs, Jaycar bullet plugs give a better connection.

I suspect it's a handset fault and you're really better off going WiFi so you're not tied to a handset. Also, fit Bunnings leveling feet with timber spike nuts to the groundboard and a bullseye spirit level in front of the azimuth motor. Screw three 19mm thick hardwood blocks to the groundboard to accept the leveling feet threads. That way the feet threads will not go right through the groundboard. Put a bit of electrical tape on the drill bit as a depth gauge. :-)

[Astronovice]

Hi Emma,

Welcome to IIS. Lots of really helpful people on here so hopefully you can soon be up and running.

Not too sure which Skywatcher go to you have, but you mention in your first post that you point it North. I may be barking up entirely the wrong tree (my name totally accurately describes my astronomy proficiency) but with my Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro I have to align it with the Southern Celestrial Pole, a consequence of living in the Southern Hemisphere.

Hope this helps as I know well from experience how frustrating getting go to and tracking was when I first started.

Calvin

[m11]

Hi Emma,

Yah fair enough, I found the alignment stars need to be around ~40 degrees above the horizon to provide a good reference.

Does it say Alignment successful after going through the routine? Does the settings look right when checking after the alignment on the handset?

Based on what you saying is occurring. I reckon try with a different handset or as Malcolm has suggested to test with the Synscan wifi dongle.

I did have a Synscan v3 handset I would have sent to you for no cost but I gave it away to another person.

Not sure if you can find someone local who would be kind enough to lend the handset to test or get Skywatcher to give you one? A Synscan handset v4 costs around $220 so preferable to borrow and see if that fixes the goto issue you have.

[MissE_40]

I have just pulled the manual out again and have noticed something I haven’t noticed before. Under ‘initial setup’ step 1 is making sure the mount is level (done)…but step 2 is to point to the brightest star to your naked eye. Then it goes through entering latitude etc into handset and then onto alignment! So from this - I’m guessing perhaps it doesn’t start at north OR south. A few rainy days expected here but I will be trying this out!

[m11]

As mentioned, I would check your settings ie 37° S , 145 E which is for Melbourne. You will need to enter for Perth and confirm the settings are correct. The alignment should say alignment successful.

[MissE_40]

Thanks Mel, yes I have definitely done this and also use synscannit to double check.

[AdamJL]

Silly question, but how are you entering the coordinates? -33 and S for South or 33 and S for South?
If it's trying to go below the horizon, it might think it's in the wrong hemisphere.

[m11]

Ok - so it does say alignment successful?
A hint that you may have the wrong info like date/time/location is the available alignment stars available. If you get Sirius then the info entered is off for example.

Probably worth testing with another handset if possible?

[MissE_40]

Mel - are you happy for me to message you? I can send the photos of my settings to be sure…

[MissE_40]

Adam…I have 32…should it be -32??

[MissE_40]

Mel…yes it says alignment successful

[m11]

Hi Emma,

Apologies If I am asking questions that you have already done.:confused2:

Happy if you want to message.

Mel

[MissE_40]

Mel…I have no idea if my messages are going through or how to send a photo…:shrug::shrug:

[m11]

Hi Emma,

Got the messages but no attachments.

I have sent my email details if that makes it easier and phone info.

[Startrek]

I’ve had my Skywatcher 12” Goto dob for 3 years without any alignment issues
A few key points for alignment which may not have been mentioned

1/ Power Supply
As you run off mains like I do , make sure you use at least a 5amp preferably a 7.5 amp 12v power supply ( I use the Powertech 12VDC 7.5amp Power Adaptor model no MP-3575 available from Jaycar or Bintel )

2/ Home Position
Your OTA or truss tubes central axis should be horizontally level and aligned to True North / South , end of OTA facing True North ( as close as possible) Not Magnetic North / South ( I have 2 small drill holes marked in the concrete driveway 1.8m apart to align my OTA or truss tube ( see attached how to find True South using the Sun )
Your base must be level on all sides as well using a bubble level or digital inclinometer
I don’t use the level indicator provided by Skywatcher just above the main pivot as when you set it zero 0, the OTA is not level , it’s usually a few degrees out which can mean alignment will be way out

3/ 2 Star Alignment
Choose 2 alignment stars on the “same side of the meridian” , that are between 35 and 55 degrees in elevation and no further apart than 100 degrees in azimuth
Important !! Disable your Star Alignment Filter in the Syncan to allow a wider choice of alignment stars
Go to Set up > Alignment Stars > Adv Filter > Enter, then choose Off
In Perth at the moment around 8.00pm I would choose Altair and Altair as your alignment stars ( 1st Star Alnair )
1st Alignment Star is always a manual slew with Syncan HC to the first star and centre it in your eye piece then press Enter. Choose 2nd alignment star and press Enter , scope will slew to second star ( within FOV )The accuracy of your Home Position set up and the 1st alignment Star centering determines how close to centre you will be on your 2nd Star


4/ Alignment Accuracy
These Skywatcher Goto dobs only have accuracy up to 5 arc minutes so don’t expect the star or object to be perfectly centered after a successful alignment and Goto . I always have to use the Syncan HC to move the Star or object into the centre of FOV

5/ Alignment Centering Eye Piece
For visual 2 star alignment process with the Syncan, I use the Orion 20mm 70 degree illuminated reticle eye piece for star alignment centering. The Celestron mini centering eye pieces are junk (I sold mine immediately and bought the Orion 20 /70 ) as your squinting into a very small optics )
It’s a brilliant eye piece with wide field , good eye relief and good optics plus a red illuminated reticle which is a must for better alignment accuracy

6/ Like everyone else mentioned , Date MM/ DD/ YY, local Time , Time Zone , Longitude and Latitude are extremely important

Good Luck and hope you get to the bottom of your alignment issues

Cheers
Martin

[AdamJL]

Okay so I just plugged in my handset. It's been a year since I used it, and my apologies, it looks as if negative numbers can't be input.

I did some searching though, and I've read some people have had success performing a factory reset. Have you tried that?

[mura_gadi]

Hello,

Date format is mmddyy? I think you should be able to set N/S and E/W with the scroll keys after you enter the number.

Steve
To help setup the base, I got three spirit level bubbles and spaced them between the legs. Get the base squared as well as the tube level and pointed north.

[Allan_L]

I had a SW 12" GOTO a few years back



Yes, that is odd! and confusing. I don't recall ever doing that. From memory my procedure (like other mentioned) was Level the base.
Point North.
Level the scope.
Turn on.
Enter data from Synscaninit.
Select 2 star align
Push to 1st star
align
select 2nd star
scope slews to vicinity, etc

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Synscaninit is a great app. It gives you all the data needed in the correct format. If using this you should not go wrong. (in my experience)
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I don't understand what or why you have done this, or what the effect would be.

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Unfortunately sounds like you may have a bad unit. It has been reported here previously; albeit only once or twice.
Keep at your retailer for help.