Help with my new EQ6

[TidaLpHasE]

:cool:I picked up my new EQ6 with SkyScan today, and i am very happy with the quality in the build and the looks, soon to see just how good she will track for me though:confuse3:

A couple of questions for those who have this mount.
What is the best way to set it up without being hooked up to the computer?

Obviously i connect the hand controller into the h/c port on the mount, but where do i connect the DC from the battery? if i put the power into the mount, the h/c doesn't work, if i put the power into the h/c the h/c will work but the mount doesn't work??

Is this right?, do i need a DC lead for both the mount and the h/c?

Any help you can give is appreciated.

[h0ughy]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=4730&highlight=eq6

the answer is in the pictures you connect the power to the mount not the hand controllers

[TidaLpHasE]

Thanks Houghy, i think i have done the same thing as in your pics, but the h/c has no power, if i connect to the mount.

If i connect to the h/c it powers up:confuse2:

[h0ughy]

something is not right there obviously the mount has power, check your controllers connections

[TidaLpHasE]

:confuse2:All connections lookin good, took the DB9 connector apart and all wires seem o.k., unless there is a dry solder joint somewhere?????

I am googling as much as i can, but hit a wall getting it up and running tonight.:mad2:

[TidaLpHasE]

:mad2:Well after searching the net most of the night, i haven't come up with much at all.

Whenever i power the h/c up, i get an error message, "COMM ERROR!!!
Or No Connection"

Beats me:confuse3:

I'll keep looking for a solution and until then:sad::sad::sad:

[h0ughy]

i would say that your hand controller has no connection to the scope. IE the cable is the problem. take it back to where you bought it and show them

[zipdrive]

I agree with Houghy, I found that the solder joints in the db9 connetor was really dodgey with my skyscan, I had to resolder them all, also at the same time I replaced the plastic db9 case aluminium one (just for looks :) ).

[Jonathan]

Hi Trevor. It sounds like the exact same problem I had with mine. My controller wouldn't fire up unless the power was plugged directly into it, and even when I plugged the power into the hand controller it wouldn't scroll through the menu's, it'd just have the "COMM ERROR Or No Connection" on the display. If your controller is working OK apart from the error you might just have to send the cable back.
Mine turned out to be a bad cable, hand controller and a motor was out of position. I had to send the whole lot to Tasco (at my expense) to be repaired under warranty. They replaced the hand controller and lead and repositioned a motor to the correct tolerances and to their credit the turnaround time was quick. I hope yours isn't that bad. It is very disappointing to see I'm not the only one that got a dud. A cable is such a simple item to check during manufacturing and obviously they don't bother, that's terrible QC policy. :mad2:

[TidaLpHasE]

:)Thanks for the replies, i am having a go at soldering the DB9 connector now, it did look a bit dodgy when i first looked at it, but didn't think much of it.

Too right about the so called qc Jonathan, how hard would it be to check these things:confuse2: I am hoping some new solder will fix the problem.

[Jonathan]

My electronic engineer brother checked and fixed the faulty connections on my cable and it didn't help. He questioned whether the wires were even in the right spot to begin with. I'm useless when it comes to anything electrical so I can't offer you any advice.

[TidaLpHasE]

:P I am only a screwdriver technican at the best of times, and a bad one at that.

The solder didn't fix the problem, so it looks like a service is on the cards.

I thought i betta check that there was actually motors inside the mount, and was thinking there might not have been, motors are there, just not doing what i want them to do:sad:

[Ambermile]

There also appears to be a problem with some EQ6's (I only know about the ones in the UK though) where the importer has sent out "Sorry about this, but..." letters and a bag of grease. Seems "some" EQ's (and they include HEQ5 in this) were assembled with no grease. Anyone your end had this?

Apparently heads have rolled at Synta :wink2:

Arthur

[Jonathan]

I haven't heard that one but it doesn't suprise me. Heads should be rolling, that's pathetic from a QC point of view.

[Striker]

Whats been said so far is correct....no power is needed to run the hand contoller....take it back

Did you fit the skyscan or did they...I heard they are not selling the skyscan to be fitted by the customer anymore....all skyscans must be sold with fitting included by a technician.

[TidaLpHasE]

:)Contacted the supplier today and the man i need to speak to was away.

Looks like a 120 km return trip when he's back at the shop.

The SkyScan came fitted with the mount, i wouldn't know where to start in assembling the motors, and don't think i would even try.


It's definately a communication issue with the lead on the h/c.

Thanks again for your advice.

cheers.....

[TidaLpHasE]

Can anyone tell me what the latest version of sky/synscan is?

I have got version 2.02, I see that yours Houghy is 2.04??

Have i got an older version in a newer mount:confuse2:

[h0ughy]

yes it looks like that

[asimov]

Trevor I know you must be extremely annoyed at this stage, your having a rough trot with astro-gear mate....sorry to hear it. I've been googling as well to try to find an answer to your problem but no real luck.

[h0ughy]

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EQ6/

try this link

[TidaLpHasE]

:)Thanks Houghy, i just got an answer.

The cuurent version is 2.05:confuse2::confuse2:

My mount must have been gathering dust for some time over at Tasco:scared:

[h0ughy]

Well on that note I have been dudded to mate, as you know I have v2.04. So what is involved in getting 2.05?

[Jonathan]

After Tasco recieved my mount for warranty repairs they emailed me to say that they would be fitting all the SkyScan upgrades in future and that retailers would no longer be able to do it themselves. I can only assume there were some bad installation jobs done and Tasco were getting stuck fixing them under warranty. It sounds like Trevor has got one that's been sitting around for a while. These problems probably wouldn't have occured if they were fitted and tested by Tasco.

[Jonathan]

I've been dudded too, mine is version 2.02. It sounds like mine and Trevor's are old stock.
As far as I know they can't be upgraded via PC like the Meade Autostar. The latest one apparently is upgradeable. It might be possible to buy the latest hand controller and swap it over with the existing one. I doubt it's really worth worrying about.

[Ambermile]

True. Not sure if you can dial into this thread from here but try a look here...

http://www.ukastroimaging.co.uk/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11835

If you need to join then do it, it's worth it, but if you can read thread you will know as much as I do about the "grease" issue.

Arthur

[slice of heaven]

How many Chinamen have you run over Trevor? You just cant take a trick. Every purchase you've made has had a downside. Sorry to hear it's happenned again.

Wiring is a common problem on the EQ6 , join up to the EQ6 Yahoo group and there's various threads on fixes for the wiring. Ask for some help and someone will post what your looking for. (edit: I see you did :thumbsup: )

V2.02 is fairly old stock, Houghy the only diff between 2.04 and 2.05 is the alignment stars and the way their listed and is no big deal. All versions can be upgraded when the new flash upgradeable HC is released early next year. The new version will also include Sync .

Having to have the Skyscan fitted by an authorized techy is not to my liking, unless their fitting it for $0.

[h0ughy]

Surely there has to be something else different, why would you alter the alignment star list. Also , it would be nice to have a complete list of objects and stuff stored in the memory of the hand controller!

[slice of heaven]

Nope that's it. Cant remember why :shrug:

[TidaLpHasE]

:lol::lol::lol:

Who me? nahh, i swear everything i buy comes from china:P

Returned the mount today, hoping for the replacement by the end of the week.:prey:

The supplier was helpful and will contact me with any info he gets from Tasco:)

[Ambermile]

Adding sync is the best thing I can imagine - it's the one thing I miss from the LX200. It's a pain with a pier-mount that you get the alignment right and then still have to go through alignment every time you switch on!:sad:

Got the thing running through CdC last night, that was a relief as well. I can now drive it from the house with the laptop running wireless outside ;)

Arthur

PS - having said that though, now I can run it through the laptop I can sync with the software anyway! Happy rabbit :)

[TidaLpHasE]

:sad:Well it looks like another weeks wait for the replacement mount to arrive.

The supplier said they had a look at it and it was faulty, gee you don't say:confuse2:

I suppose it gives me some time to order my scope, read up on the mounts operation and techniques, get some new astro mags, and generally wait in limbo again due to sub standard quality control:mad2: