New EQ5/SynScan Mount...SUCCESS!!!!!

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

Doug

Just my opinion, but I would get the dealer to contact the Skywatcher distributer in Aus. ( Tasco ) and make sure they supplied you with a unit to your satisfaction.

Tasco seem to be quite reasonable people to deal with and I'm sure they would correct this matter. I would contact Ian James at Tasco on 02 9938 3244 and explain your problems to him.

Our first GoTo was a Meade ETX and we experienced several problems with this unit. After many contacts with Meade and Bintel,the unit was eventually replaced and the new unit worked as it should.

As I said above just my opinion, but I'm sure many others would agree.

Hope it all gets sorted out for you.

David

Hi David,
I picked it up on Friday night and didn't really try it out until last night.
The mount itself is sturdy enough for the scope and then some.
It's just this damn GoTo!!!!!
I'm seeing that others have had similar problems and have triumphed, so I'm hopeful too. Hope I don't have to go back to the dealer though - I hate that!!!
Cheers
Doug

PS Thanks for the contact number just in case

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

BIG SIGH OF RELIEF FROM ME!!!
GOT THE GOTO TO "GO TO"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (LOVE THAT DANCING BANANA)

GATHER ROUND, SO THAT I MAY TELL YE THE SECRET OF THE GOTO...

1. POLAR ALIGN AS BEST YOU CAN.
2. ENTER LAT/LONG, TIME ETC AS REQUIRED
3. DO 3 STAR ALIGNMENT. PICK 1st STAR - IF SCOPE POINTS TOWARDS GROUND OR DOES SOME SIMILAR CRAZINESS DONT WORRY. WHEN CRAZY SLEW HAS FINISHED, USE DIRECTIONAL ARROWS ON HANDSET AND FAST TRACK RATE (eg. 9) TO CENTRE ON THE STAR PICKED AS ALIGNMENT STAR. WHEN HAPPY PRESS ENTER. REPEAT PROCESS FOR 2nd AND 3rd STARS - WHEN COMPLETE DISPLAY WILL SAY "ALIGNMENT SUCCESSFUL".
4. PARK SCOPE - NOT TOO SURE IF THIS IS NECESSARY BUT I DID IT!
5. PICK OBJECT - GOTO SHOULD WORK...IT DID FOR ME! OBJECTS CENTRED IN 40X EP EVERY TIME...FANTASTIC! VIVA GOTO

ALTHOUGH, I NOTED THAT WHEN THE SCOPE CROSSED THE ZENITH TO LOCATE AN OBJECT FROM THE TOUR LIST THE GOTO FUNCTION STUFFED UP AND I HAD TO REALIGN.

I CAN GO TO BED A BIT HAPPIER TONIGHT!
GOING BACK OUTSIDE TO CHECK ON THE TRACKING NOW

DOUG

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

WOULD YOU ADAM N' EVE IT, IT'S CLOUDED OVER!!

[rumples riot]

I got the very first V3 controller in Australia 2 years ago and it was junk and it sounds like it is still junk. The person to speak to is Ian James from Tasco. They import these mounts from Synta. He is a good guy and will do what he can to help.

The error is in the HC not the mount. The mounts are fine, it is the HC that cannot work consistently. I found that some nights this worked well and other nights it was just terrible no matter which way you used it. I recommend you send the HC back and get a new one. Keep doing this until you get a good one.

BTW Doug, it is shouting when you use upper case all the time. :-)

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by rumples riot

BTW Doug, it is shouting when you use upper case all the time. :-)

SORRY PAUL, USED TO PLAY BASS IN A METAL BAND!!

There,that's better. I don't fancy going through this laboured alignment every time, so I'll give the Tasco guy a call if this persists.
Cheers
Doug

[Tamtarn]

Doug. Our mount goes straight to first star without any craziness. (first time every time).

Just for your info.

David

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Tamtarn

Doug. Our mount goes straight to first star without any craziness. (first time every time).

Just for your info.

David

Cheers David,
This handset gets one last chance then...
Cheers
Doug

[Tamtarn]

Originally Posted by Astroman

I havent seen a mount set up like that... If you set SA as -9 you are still going to be out unless you can adjust the 30minutes... I have heard if you set you time to UTC and run at 0Z it works just as well. What version Handset? Wonder if the Controller is compatible with EQMOD... hrmmm got me thinking now...

Anyway let us know how you go with the time, might as well eliminate one thing at a time.

Doug, did you try as per Andrew's quote above.

What would happen if you set time as +10 and then deducted 30minutes of your local time. - Just a Thought.

David

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Cloudy tonight!
I will try that suggestion David.
Last night, the initial slewing wasn't as crazy as the first night's attempts.
When scope was asked to go to Antares it went to the correct general area which might suggest that the time fix might be the way to go.
I'll post results when I try this.
Cheers
Doug

[Terry B]

For what it is worth I bought an EQ6pro recently with the same hand controller.
I felt the quality control is very good. I haven't fiddled with any of the mounts settings and I certainly don't need to pull it apart and fix gear meshing etc.
I do a pretty good polar align using the polar scope and start it up with the time set from my mobile phone. I usually use alpha centaurus as my first alignment star and it is usually in a low power field. The next 2 stars are always in the low power field. There is none of this aiming to the ground that you describe. I read in another thread about a hand controller being set for the northern hemisphere. Maybe this is the problem.

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by Terry B

For what it is worth I bought an EQ6pro recently with the same hand controller.
I felt the quality control is very good. I haven't fiddled with any of the mounts settings and I certainly don't need to pull it apart and fix gear meshing etc.
I do a pretty good polar align using the polar scope and start it up with the time set from my mobile phone. I usually use alpha centaurus as my first alignment star and it is usually in a low power field. The next 2 stars are always in the low power field. There is none of this aiming to the ground that you describe. I read in another thread about a hand controller being set for the northern hemisphere. Maybe this is the problem.

Thanks Terry,
Good to see that your experience is a happy one with the mount.
The scope aimed towards ground on the first night I tried it. Since then (after implementing the fix posted above) it slews in roughly the right direction of the alignment star chosen. Makes me think that the problem could be the 30 min difference...We'll see!!
I've followed the other SynScan threads with interest too.
Cheers
Doug

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Hi All,

Well, got the thing working perfectly by using +8 with my current time!!
Tried +9 and +10 with +/- 30 minutes and the slewing was way off.
But, +8 nailed all the alignment stars - put them all in the finder scope field.
So I'm happy but confused...is this an Adelaide thing being 30 mins out of whack!! Or is the hand controller stuffed!?
Anyway imaging M17 now so I'm smiling!
Doug

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Originally Posted by dugnsuz

Hi All,

Well, got the thing working perfectly by using +8 with my current time!!
Tried +9 and +10 with +/- 30 minutes and the slewing was way off.
But, +8 nailed all the alignment stars - put them all in the finder scope field.
So I'm happy but confused...is this an Adelaide thing being 30 mins out of whack!! Or is the hand controller stuffed!?
Anyway imaging M17 now so I'm smiling!
Doug

That's totally weird Doug.

If anything, it should be dead accurate by setting your time half an hour out!

Strange.

[Tamtarn]

That's great Doug. Whatever works go for it.

David

[dugnsuz (Doug)]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

That's totally weird Doug.

If anything, it should be dead accurate by setting your time half an hour out!

Strange.

Exactly Ken - makes me think Hand Controller is stuffed, but in a good way!!!
I couldn't believe it when as my last resort I punched in +8 as the time zone and the thing worked perfectly!!