[g__day (Matthew)]

David,

A few things, is it a SkySensor2000 or a SkySensor2000-PC?

If it has a port on the hand controller thus allowing you to connect it to a PC with the right cable then I'd say it's the PC version, in which case always select the LX200 protocol and 9600 baud and it will likely be picked up on your controlling PC on COM1 port.

What EPROM version are you using - when it powers on it should say something from Version 2.05 -> 2.10. Which version are you on? Version 2.04, 05, 06 and 2.10 use MT4 motors, versions 2.07, 08, 09 use MT3 motors.Latest update EPROM is 2.10, however 2.10 cannot be used with the MT3 motors.

The versions prior to 2.08 were a bit buggy with reliably establishing the PC connection, whereas I have never had a fail connecting since upgrading from version 2.06 to 2.10. A guy in Hawaii still has spare of the 2.10 EPROMS if you wish or need to upgrade I can pass on his contact details.

When you issue gotos - do you do it from the hand controller or a connected PC control program? If its not the SS2K itself where you are selecting stars we should know - as this can be confusing things if the astronomy program isn't set up correctly (e.g. location, date, timezone or local time is wrong).

Gearing - for me using EPROM v2.10 it asks on a battery re-instal am I a controlling an Atlux or a GPD2. The gearing comes from that decision point. You can over ride, for a GPD2 I would expect your Gear ratio settings have to be (from page 67 of the manual - which I can send you):

-36 144 -36 144

Get this wrong and everything you have encountered is to be expected. Triple check this with others and the Yahoo group please! Re-reading your experience makes me initially think the mount believes it is in the wrong hemisphere - for reasons I am trying to understand given your Latitude is correctly set as South denoted as a negative number. Please recheck you don't have Lat and Long entered as each other - that too would account for the strange behaviour. The tracking being correct for a negative Lat with a positive RA gear ratio doesn't make sense to me - again a sign of hemisphere reversal.

Your first slew should not be be "way off" - can you please qualify - how off is it and in which direction? If your first slew was to the Moon - how far off would you say it is.

I generally doesn't choose a reference star near the South Celestial Pole, Antares might be a better first alignment point. With a One star alignment - if you go into settings, Polar Axis Direction - what does El (elevation - which should be your latitude ~31) and Az (Azimuth) read.

Also in Settings please check that Encoder Menu settings are selecting Internal (I) encoders not external Encoders (E). It should read I (+0400 +0400). If you set External encoders the SS2K ignores the position read outs of the mounts internal sensors!

Matthew

PS

Really dumb questions here, to rule out the naivety errors sorry - I am just trying to be exhaustive in my check list - not offensive! So:

1. When you say the Scope on set up is facing due East - you do mean the front of the scope where the light goes in correct?
2. The Mount is level and the head of the mount is elevated to around 31 degrees above the horizon correct?
3. The Mount is pointing South - so the rear (lower end of the Mount head) is facing due North and the high end of the Mount head looks due South?
4. In your settings menu - Telescope Configuration, Motor Key Direction Up arrow, down arrow Left and right are respectively mapped to N S E and W?