Please help! Heq5 pro not tracking with ASIAir

[vpp536 (Vik)]

Hi all

Sorry for the long post. I’m trying to provide as many details as possible so someone can help me.

I have been using my Heq5 Pro (bought 2nd hand) with a DSLR and my ASIAir Plus for a couple of months with no issues.
I bought a Redcat51, 533MM, guide scope (with 290MM guide cam), EFW and EAF and now for some unknown reason the mount has stopped tracking.


The EFW and guide cam are connected to the 533MM by usb, and the 533MM connected to the ASIAir.
The EAF is connected directly to the ASIAir.
The mount has a separate power supply and is connected to the ASIair via the hand controller with a usb cable connected to the multi purpose port. The hand controller is connected to the mount.

I have been using the mount connected to the ASIAir via the hand controller without any issues. It could be a coincidence that the issues started when I bought the new kit, but that seems unlikely.

At the moment, the mount is slewing to targets correctly and I am able to polar align briefly (the mount veers out of alignment because it’s not tracking). So I know the motor is working. The ASIAir is showing the green light saying that tracking is turned on. But even a 10 second exposure is causing trails. I am also not able to hear any mechanical activity from the mount to suggest tracking.

I have also ordered an Eqmod cable but this is going to take a couple of weeks to arrive and obviously there is no guarantee this will fix it. and it’s killing me trying to figure out what’s wrong.

Could the mount be faulty if it’s slewing to targets fine but not able to track?
If the ASIAir is recognising the mount and able to control it to slew then surely it can’t be a communication issue between the 2?
Could my other kit be somehow interfering?

Please help!!!

[Leo.G (Leo)]

Just spit balling but could it be a cable issue?
Though if the mount is slewing I'd imagine the RA and DEC cables to be fine and they are the same as what you're using for tracking but it could possibly be another cable.
You say alignment is fine?
Is date format correct, it sounds stupid but myself and others have had u\issues with a reset and incorrect date (I forgot to change the year from 2023 to 2024 and wasn't that fun, nothing was in the same place one year later).
But if it's slewing to input targets fine probably not date format come to think of it.
Could it be a balancing issue?
so many variables. Sorry if this is all useless information!


https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3...acking-issues/


https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3...g-please-help/



Are you on the right tracking rate


https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/...d.php?t=152977


sidereal/solar/lunar?
Also an easy mistake probably more so for an idiot like myself (Murphy's law Astronomy inc, lol).


Good luck!

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Hi Vik, I note that you say that the issues started when you bought the new kit and that you are controlling the mount by connecting the asi air via the hand controller. If you haven’t done so already, I would recommend disconnecting the asi air and just use the handset controller to do a star alignment on the mount and confirm that the mount is tracking. This will isolate the issue to either the mount or the asi air.

CS,
Rodney

[vpp536 (Vik)]

Thanks

I have checked all of those things unfortunately without success!

Originally Posted by Leo.G

Just spit balling but could it be a cable issue?
Though if the mount is slewing I'd imagine the RA and DEC cables to be fine and they are the same as what you're using for tracking but it could possibly be another cable.
You say alignment is fine?
Is date format correct, it sounds stupid but myself and others have had u\issues with a reset and incorrect date (I forgot to change the year from 2023 to 2024 and wasn't that fun, nothing was in the same place one year later).
But if it's slewing to input targets fine probably not date format come to think of it.
Could it be a balancing issue?
so many variables. Sorry if this is all useless information!


https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3...acking-issues/


https://stargazerslounge.com/topic/3...g-please-help/



Are you on the right tracking rate


https://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/...d.php?t=152977


sidereal/solar/lunar?
Also an easy mistake probably more so for an idiot like myself (Murphy's law Astronomy inc, lol).


Good luck!

[vpp536 (Vik)]

Thanks

Thanks. I have figured something last night.
It turns out the tracking works when the mount is initially switched on and I click tracking on using the ASIAir. But as soon as the tracking stops for any reason e.g. the mount slewing, or rotating with polar alignment etc, the tracking fails and won’t restart (either automatically or manually). Turning the power off to the mount and restarting it seems to sort it out and the tracking will start again. Does that help?

I will give 3 star alignment a go tonight. I didn’t try that.

Originally Posted by Ryderscope

Hi Vik, I note that you say that the issues started when you bought the new kit and that you are controlling the mount by connecting the asi air via the hand controller. If you haven’t done so already, I would recommend disconnecting the asi air and just use the handset controller to do a star alignment on the mount and confirm that the mount is tracking. This will isolate the issue to either the mount or the asi air.

CS,
Rodney

[Ryderscope (Rodney)]

Originally Posted by vpp536

Thanks

Thanks. I have figured something last night.
It turns out the tracking works when the mount is initially switched on and I click tracking on using the ASIAir. But as soon as the tracking stops for any reason e.g. the mount slewing, or rotating with polar alignment etc, the tracking fails and won’t restart (either automatically or manually). Turning the power off to the mount and restarting it seems to sort it out and the tracking will start again. Does that help?

I will give 3 star alignment a go tonight. I didn’t try that.

Sounds good it is definitely worth testing the mount without the asi air involved to narrow down where the issue is. If it works fine with just the hand controller operating the mount (which I suspect it will ) then we can concentrate on what is going on with the asi air.

I’m wondering if there is a configuration setting in the asi air that is turn off tracking?

[vpp536 (Vik)]

Thank you.

I have set up the mount on easy tracking mode and took the plate off covering the gear. It’s not aligned but the gears are definitely rotating whilst tracking. The odd thing is after 2 nights of issues the mount was still working via the ASIair too (or at least the ASIair was able to start and stop the tracking).

That was just in the house this morning though. The real test will be when I get it out tonight. Now I’m wondering whether the problem is whether something is off with the rate of tracking, rather than it not tracking at all. I have confirmed it’s set on the sidereal tracking mode though.

Appreciate your help and will report back. Thanks again

Originally Posted by Ryderscope

Sounds good it is definitely worth testing the mount without the asi air involved to narrow down where the issue is. If it works fine with just the hand controller operating the mount (which I suspect it will ) then we can concentrate on what is going on with the asi air.

I’m wondering if there is a configuration setting in the asi air that is turn off tracking?

[ronson]

How are you powering the mount? Have you tried different powering method?

[vpp536 (Vik)]

Originally Posted by ronson

How are you powering the mount? Have you tried different powering method?

Yes I originally powered it via the ASIAir which my initial research told me was a no-no. So now it has its own independent power supply using a AC/DC adapter to a wall socket. Which didn't make any difference

[Startrek (Martin)]

Only my observation, but if I understand your description of connection correctly, your using the handcontroller to connect the ASIair ?? I recommend you ditch the PC direct mode of connecting your mount using EQMOD ( ie not through Handcontroller)
See attached info directly from the EQMOD Project regarding the use of PC Direct method of connection !!
All Synta mounts ( Skywatcher and other retail brands ) should be connected via EQdirect to avoid any flakey functionality.
The EQdirect method of the connection should be done using an approved EQdirect cable from the handcontroller port of the mount via ASIair or direct to Laptop.
For a HEQ5 mount using a EQdirect cable , the USB Com port setting in Device Manager should have a baud rate of 9600.

Martin

NB: PC direct mode has connected and controlled many mounts successfully but it is not the preferred or recommended method of connection by the developers of EQMOD ( Chris and many others )
The EQMOD Project originally designed the EQAscom driver to completely replace the Synscan Handcontroller for control of the mount directly or remotely via a PC plus provide many more features.
PC direct was a feature designed by Synta (Skywatcher and other retail brands ) in the Synscan Handcontroller , not an EQMOD feature.

[Nikolas (Nik)]

Are you using the correct cable from the mount to the asiair? you need this cable in order to use eqmod on the asiair bypassing the hand controller


Also turn tracking on in the asiair under mount settings