EQ6Pro auto guide port not working-has this happened to anyone.

[batema (Mark)]

Hello again,

I have relayed this message to a member who has offerred to help me which I am very gratefull for but said I would post it as someone else may have had this issue (i believe this to be the case after trying to rule everything out,

On my EQ6Pro everything worked fine but about 2 months ago I noticed that the axis on PHD did not immediately come up when starting to callibrate but did appear at the completion of the west callibration and then worked fine as the the star moved in the opposite direction (showed E callibration) and up and down. Just over a week ago I set up the EQ6Pro and using a DMK (same guide camera as always) and would get about 53 callibrations in the first direction and then I get a message saying RA Callibration failed Star did not move enough. I have changed to a toucam and same result. I have used my friends GPUSB which is what I use and I get the same message. I have tried new cables and still the same message. Tonight I changed to a HEQ5Pro and tried guiding on a star and when the callibration started I got no axis until the completion of the first callibration W but as soon as the movement of the star changed direction the axis came up and the star started to move as normal in an east direction and then up or down. It is similar to the start of my problem a couple of weeks ago but at least I am guiding with this mount.
It leads me to believe that the autoguide port on my EQ6Pro is not working but I may be wrong. It is the only conlusion I can come up with after about ruling everything out.
if you have had a similar situation please help as I am out of ideas.

Thank you

Mark

[wasyoungonce (Brendan)]

Mark

I don't know the EQ6 but does it (the HC) come up with auto guide signals like "E"/"W" or "N"/"S" somewhere on the handset display when a correction is made?

If not can you connect using ASCOM POTH (or EQMOD) I think these was a setting to watch communications traffic (is this possible in EQMOD) to an from the mount, since ST4 connects to computer then mount you should see these commands being sent.

If so you can make a cable RJ12 6P6 to fit the ST4 port and stimulate (STIM) the circuit with pules by touching each N/S/E/W connector to earth (actually Autoguider common) and watch the POTH coms for the correct "Mn#", "Ms#" "Me#" and "Mw#" signals. I do something similar with Gemini 1's but measure the buffer inverter circuit IC outputs for the correct output. I guess if you identify the IC on the PCB then look up the specs you could do the same.

Of course you could do the same and watch the gear train for movement!...very slow!

Lastly have you tried pulse guide instead?

FWIW.