Fried EQ6?

[pvelez]

I have been wrestling with guiding on my EQ6 for some weeks now. At first I put it down to the new QSI and not being able to bring it to focus. So I switched back to the guidescope. Still, the errors kept on coming - a slow drift in the Y axis.

Having exhausted all different settings I could think of, I decided to try and move the mount using the move button in Maxim - and the problem became apparent.

For ome reason, I can't move the mount in the Y axis - but only in 1 direction. It willingly responds to positive moves, but not negative. I thought it was backlash that needed to run out so I set the move instruction to the maximum - 50 seconds - thinking that eventually it would move. After about 8 attempts, I gave up.

Now here's the odd thing - I can move the mount in any direction with the hand controller - I am using EQMOD with a wireless Logitech controller. Guiding is via the ST-4 port.

So I suspect the issue is with the ST-4 cable, an internal conflict in EQMOD or Maxim or I have fried some of the electronics in the mount itself. I have checked that I haven't turned off any mount movement tabs in Maxim.

I'll have a test (indoors) today to see if I have the same problem with pulse guiding.

Has anyone else had this issue?

At least (at this stage) it doesn't look like pilot error - a small consolation.

Pete

[Tandum]

Under maxim guiding click on settings and make sure all the Y axis boxes are ticked.
I'm wondering how it can calibrate if one axis isn't working?

[pvelez]

Hi Robin

it is odd isn't it.

I checked the settings and they are all ticked.

I have noticed before that when calibrating, the reference star moved back and forward in the x-axis but only one way in the y-axis. In other words, the star move throughout the calibration phase through the L, but steadfastly refused to move in the last stage. However, because the y-axis changed when calibrating in x (not because the y axis moved, only because the star moved diagonally when doing the x-axis calibrating), Maxim sees that the target star has moved more than 5 pixels in both x and y, it is happy that its done its calibration routine.

By the way, I can calibrate with PHD - but then not guide with it. The guiding is lousy with PHD - go figure!

Pete

[Tandum]

Fire up the pulse guiding then. You can dump the guider cable then anyway. I've just packed all my guide cables away in a zip lock bag, they really aren't needed anymore. In maxim you select telescope instead of guide relays not ascom as you'd expect.

[pvelez]

Tried that too

Seems very odd - would move the mount in 3 out of 4 directions with both Ascom and telescope setting

Pete

[Tandum]

Ohhh nooo. Doesn't sound right at all, especially if the handset buttons work. Do the move buttons in eqmod work?

[pvelez]

Tried pulse guiding tonight - this time without the ST-4 cable plugged in and set to Telescope

Rock solid - best guiding in months

I am a goose! Thanks for your tips Robin. I needed the extra data this evening for an SAO project due tomorrow

Pete

[renormalised]

Don't fry your EQ6 in oil...dry frying tastes a lot better:):P

Add some paprika and it's a done deal:):P

Better than goose or BBQ'ed robin:):P

[solissydney]

I had a similar problem using my ST-4.
It turned out to be a problem with the wiring in the 15 pin connector on the ST-4.
Ken