Paramount not homing properly

Paul Haese · #1 22-11-2013, 08:17 AM

This sort of turned up before I installed the mount. I thought it might be just a software glitch but I am just wanting to know if anyone else has experienced this problem.

I turn on the mount connect via the SkyX try to home the mount. It says finding home, moves just a bit then stops, I try homing the mount again, the mount moves a bit more and stops. Each time saying not homed. No error message, just stops. This goes on for several goes (so far the longest is 12 tries) until it finally homes. Once homed I can park, unpark, home, slew etc as many times as I want with no issues.

Undo the track locks and the mount moves freely (so it is not the cables in the dec axis) from one side to the next and over the entire part of the sky. There is no stiffness anywhere at all.

I wonder if this is some southern hemisphere thing that I have not attended to, perhaps a bung sensor, cable or connection with the computer.

I have only tried this with the skyX. I have not yet connected with the hand paddle alone. That would tell me if it is a problem with the computer, but did not think of this yesterday when I was down at the observatory.

I tried with the hand paddle connected and without. Each time the mount would perform the same tricks.

I have put up a thread on SB forum but you know how that goes if you have a Paramount. Questions that seem to lead no where and no suggestions in each post to try. A little tiresome I must say. So I am asking people here if they have any experience of this. So I can maybe sort the issue without going through 20 thousand questions of frustration before getting a "new sensor" or "new motor", software, daily build or whatever is causing this stupid glitch. I personally don't like talking to a brick wall. Feel free to chime in here Ernie and let me know what you think. Maybe it is software.

Anyway, thanks for any help in advance. My 12K paper weight is awaiting your suggestions.

Martin's PME is looking better all the time.

PRejto (Peter) · #2 22-11-2013, 04:03 PM

Hi Paul,

Other than what we spoke about off line yesteday, have you tried a different USB cable? I think you will possibly get another clue when you try operating the mount without connecting to any computer.

On my MX I've never had the slightest homing issue.

One thing I've learned during my trip to the USA, and in meeting some of the Bisque team, is that the impression one gets on the forum is not actually reality. Unfortunately knowing that doesn't exactly help when you are faced with a problem that isn't resolved. I'm fairly certain that behind the scene there are people pondering your issue. The issue at this point is most likely that the answer to your problem is unknown, or needs to be narrowed down before taking action. On the positive side you actually have had several responses from SB in a relatively short time. I think the problem that SB needs to address is one of keeping the customer informed and reassured that the problem is being considered even though an answer has yet to be formulated. It's the silence that creates the anxiety. With some luck let's hope this issue gets resolved quickly!

frolinmod · #3 22-11-2013, 05:48 PM

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