HEQ5Pro mount with Autoguider problem

[mgwhite.tas (Michael)]

I am using Orion Starshoot autoguider with PHD guiding on a HEQ5PRO mount which has suddenly developed problems. Selecting a star PHD guiding successfully tracks the star but once the crosshairs change to green the star very slowly drifts until red error messages start flashing after about 40 seconds.
I assume communication from the camera to the computer is OK and the problem lies between the camera and the motor board or in the motor board itself. I checked connections from the camera to the motor board using a multimeter and all checked OK. Before I go and buy a new motor board, any comments on my logic and who supplies motor boards for HEQ5Pro?

[Shiraz (Ray)]

Maybe check the dec tracking mode in phd if you have not already done so. it can be set up to track either north or south only and if it happens to be set up to track opposite to the way your star is drifting, it will not track at all. Try it with either north or south setting and see what happens. If it is set up incorrectly, the dec error will continue to increase until the star drifts too far and phd gives up.

[mgwhite.tas (Michael)]

Thanks for the tip. My Dec setting was set to OFF, how I don't know as it had been working previously Perhaps when I recently updated PHD guiding