IOptron Mini Tower Alt resets to 0 0 0

[cmr (Chris)]

I have not been able to use my
Ioptron mini tower for a few years and it has been stored. We recently moved and I have time to try to use it again, but have encountered a problem.

I have been able to manually position it on the moon and set alignment with the controller and then slew OK to Mars or Sirius etc. but not consistently. It will end up in crazy orientations and if I choose return to park position it may move a little or may just beep and say it is parked.

I noticed if I manually change the Azi - from south (180 0 0) it seems ok and will return to park - provided i have not moved the Alt at all. If I move the Alt - it goes blank and sets both Azi and Alt to 0 0 0 (see video)

I changed the battery in the hand controller - (CR 1220) and am running of AC power.

I should also say I have the same issue with GPS OK (video just shows GPS ON) and when manually making sure local time, location, hemisphere, mount type etc are correct.

Any ideas?

[Outcast (Carlton)]

This is just a wild stab in the dark but, GPS Rollover happened a little while ago... is it possible your GPS is not functioning properly...

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/6...-bug-its-2099/

Perhaps this might provide an idea of what's going on..? Maybe...

If so, I believe Ioptron have a fix, but... it's not free...


https://www.ioptron.com/product-p/s-8411r.htm

[cmr (Chris)]

Thanks for the suggestion, but sadly doesn't seem to be the problem. It happens if I disconnect the GPS Unit, or if I manually enter the Lat and Long etc, it happens on AC power and Battery. It happens if I use a USB cable and use ASCOM and SKYCHART to control the slew. I dismantled the scope and took the large cog out and cleaned the (alt) encoders and looked to see if there was any obvious problems - still happens.

I haven't taken the bottom off and look at the Azi encoders yet.

https://youtu.be/uFou1a7adVQ

https://youtu.be/Kn1YvN2W1es