With Starry Night controlling the scope via the RS232 connection to the handset and using the Celestron controller in the software the scope finds the sun.
Moving back to EQMOD/EQDIR/serial it has no idea - pointing west of sun by ~45 degrees and nearly pointing to the horizon and it is nearly noon.
Not sure where this evidence takes me - but it demonstrates that the observatory software and mount time and location are ok as these are independently of EQMOD.
What can be wrong with the EQMOD ASCOM EQDIR interface?
Thank for the assistance by-the-way.
PS does your mount still make a small electronic whining noise when it is parked? When the mount is swithced on in park position it is quiet