Tracking problems...again!

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #1 28-12-2013, 05:38 PM

Took some raw footage of the Sun today with my PST on my SLT mount. I swear there seems to be a tracking problem with my mount. Once aligned it locks onto the target then slowly drifts off bit by bit and then holds position.

Can I take the mount to a repair shop or something to get tested??

l3gendluk3 (Luke) · #2 28-12-2013, 07:00 PM

My SLT mount does that when my power source starts running out (powertank or AA batteries) although it did that only once because I rarely align it and ask it to track an object, so it might be something else. You should check your power supply and re-flash your hand controllers firmware and motor control firmware. A guide for which can be found here.
NOTE: The guide above is for the original Nexstar controller, if you have the Nexstar+ a guide can be found here.

If you have Windows 8, prepare for a wrestle with CFM!
Hope this works,
-Luke

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #3 28-12-2013, 07:54 PM

Thanks Luke I will have a look into this. I go XP installed on a VM so shouldn't have a problem.

With your mount does yours seem a bit lose when you touch it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by l3gendluk3

My SLT mount does that when my power source starts running out (powertank or AA batteries) although it did that only once because I rarely align it and ask it to track an object, so it might be something else. You should check your power supply and re-flash your hand controllers firmware and motor control firmware. A guide for which can be found here.
NOTE: The guide above is for the original Nexstar controller, if you have the Nexstar+ a guide can be found here.

If you have Windows 8, prepare for a wrestle with CFM!
Hope this works,
-Luke

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #4 28-12-2013, 08:02 PM

I can also confirm that the power supply has enough power and I have not flashed my firmware on the HC yet.

coldknights (Cathy) · #5 28-12-2013, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04Stefan07

Thanks Luke I will have a look into this. I go XP installed on a VM so shouldn't have a problem.

With your mount does yours seem a bit lose when you touch it?

Our small goto nexstar if you touch the scope with a small amount of pressure will move the scope the nut on the inside needs changing it is a lock nut but a elcheapo lock nut works it way loose buy its self and the washer behind it is not the best either.
Will take a few pics and show you which nut ! Also if we tighten the nut up and manually move the scope you can see the nut undo a little each time we move the scope.
This nut is not to be tightened up to much just enough too much will bind the gear to motor.
Hold a spanner on the nut on pic 1 and a spanner on the nut on pic 2 make small adjustments( don't go over board )
We just done it then and made it a lot better will try tomorrow have a sun filter.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #6 28-12-2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldknights

Our small goto nexstar if you touch the scope with a small amount of pressure will move the scope the nut on the inside needs changing it is a lock nut but a elcheapo lock nut works it way loose buy its self and the washer behind it is not the best either.
Will take a few pics and show you which nut ! Also if we tighten the nut up and manually move the scope you can see the nut undo a little each time we move the scope.
This nut is not to be tightened up to much just enough too much will bind the gear to motor.

I would so love to open it up and tweak a few things to improve stability. The movement of the Sun in my videos is making it hard to process them.

l3gendluk3 (Luke) · #7 28-12-2013, 10:25 PM

Quote:

With your mount does yours seem a bit lose when you touch it?

If you mean if I touch either end of the telescope, no not really, I have to put a small amount of force to move it. There is a small gap between the mount and the female dove connector but i'm too afraid to tighten the screws. I might have a chat with Celestron support.

Quote:

I have not flashed my firmware on the HC yet.

I'm starting to think that this might be the culprit. I was forced to update my HC and motor boards about a month after first light due to a bootloader error. After it completed I saw a improvement in alignment, tracking and GOTO functions. Unfortunately unless you have the right cable, you will have to buy one for around $50-$60. I got mine from Australian Geographic here. You will also need a RS232-USB adapter like this one. If you got all this your set to go!

I hope this helps,
-Luke

coldknights (Cathy) · #8 28-12-2013, 10:42 PM

Make your own Cable for a few dollars the cable in the pic and a RJ22 for the bottom of the hand controller.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #9 28-12-2013, 11:04 PM

Yep I got all those cables already!

Quote:

Originally Posted by l3gendluk3

If you mean if I touch either end of the telescope, no not really, I have to put a small amount of force to move it. There is a small gap between the mount and the female dove connector but i'm too afraid to tighten the screws. I might have a chat with Celestron support.

I'm starting to think that this might be the culprit. I was forced to update my HC and motor boards about a month after first light due to a bootloader error. After it completed I saw a improvement in alignment, tracking and GOTO functions. Unfortunately unless you have the right cable, you will have to buy one for around $50-$60. I got mine from Australian Geographic here. You will also need a RS232-USB adapter like this one. If you got all this your set to go!

I hope this helps,
-Luke

l3gendluk3 (Luke) · #10 28-12-2013, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Make your own Cable for a few dollars the cable in the pic and a RJ22 for the bottom of the hand controller.

Wow I thought it had logic controllers to handle the conversion. If you had posted this a couple of months ago, you could of saved me $60!

-Luke

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #11 28-12-2013, 11:37 PM

I am trying to update the firmware through an XP virtual machine.

I installed the drivers for this serial to usb adapter I got and it can detect the cable but the Celestron software can't.

coldknights (Cathy) · #12 29-12-2013, 12:05 AM

Have a read of this link below.

http://www.nexstarsite.com/PCControl.htm

l3gendluk3 (Luke) · #13 29-12-2013, 04:30 AM

Quote:

I am trying to update the firmware through an XP virtual machine.

I installed the drivers for this serial to usb adapter I got and it can detect the cable but the Celestron software can't.

If I recall correctly, Celestron doesn't like COM ports over 20 (something to do with Java I think) so if your adapter is working at COM20+ you will have to change it. A guide to find out/change the COM port can be found here.

Hope this helps,
-Luke

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #14 29-12-2013, 02:16 PM

I will have to try this out! I am a bit scared to open it up though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldknights

Our small goto nexstar if you touch the scope with a small amount of pressure will move the scope the nut on the inside needs changing it is a lock nut but a elcheapo lock nut works it way loose buy its self and the washer behind it is not the best either.
Will take a few pics and show you which nut ! Also if we tighten the nut up and manually move the scope you can see the nut undo a little each time we move the scope.
This nut is not to be tightened up to much just enough too much will bind the gear to motor.
Hold a spanner on the nut on pic 1 and a spanner on the nut on pic 2 make small adjustments( don't go over board )
We just done it then and made it a lot better will try tomorrow have a sun filter.

coldknights (Cathy) · #15 29-12-2013, 02:28 PM

Hi Stefan,
Had a few things to do today ! But will grab the grab and go Celestron Nextar and filter and go outside with it and see how it goes with the sun see if I get better tracking and get back to you in a hour or so.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #16 29-12-2013, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldknights

Hi Stefan,
Had a few things to do today ! But will grab the grab and go Celestron Nextar and filter and go outside with it and see how it goes with the sun see if I get better tracking and get back to you in a hour or so.

No worries.

Was just out there and I just had about enough. It is too wobbly to work with! I go to focus my PST and the whole bloody thing shakes and goes out of alignment.

The firmware upgrade did not work at all, it kept saying to turn the hand controller into programming mode which it was in. Now the Sun is missing from the hand controller.

I give up.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #17 29-12-2013, 02:54 PM

Between the mount and tripod head there is a lot of flex.

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #18 29-12-2013, 03:11 PM

OK the Sun is back on the controller.

coldknights (Cathy) · #19 29-12-2013, 03:26 PM

Does your hand controller version say HC 104 ?
I left it on the sun for 10 mins or so at a time and in that time it only moved a little bit off the center I did a alignment on the sun but had to change the settings in the menu to allow us to do the sun alignment.
Hope this helps was hot out there today at time of day.
Not a good pic I know was a iPhone

04Stefan07 (Stefan) · #20 29-12-2013, 05:43 PM

Thanks for taking out the scope today! I took mine out again after tweaking with the screws on the mount and it seemed to be locking onto the Sun better but still drifting out of alignment.

My HC says Firmware 4.20 and underneath says 5. something I can't remember.

Quote:

Originally Posted by coldknights

Does your hand controller version say HC 104 ?
I left it on the sun for 10 mins or so at a time and in that time it only moved a little bit off the center I did a alignment on the sun but had to change the settings in the menu to allow us to do the sun alignment.
Hope this helps was hot out there today at time of day.
Not a good pic I know was a iPhone