NEQ6 not behaving

[Carole]

I have had my NEQ6 for almost a year, and up until very recently it has been really wonderful, but suddenly in the last few weeks it has become very inaccurate when I do an alignment.  It never goes to an alignment star and is always quite a bit out.  If I adjust the position on each star to complete the alignment it either says alignment failed or alignment might not be accurate.

This has happened consistently for the last half dozen times I have used it, both before BST came into effect and now after it has come into effect both at Home and at SGL7.  I have checked dates, co-ordinates etc etc, always start and finish in the Home position, tried putting it back to factory settings, but the problem persists.  

At SGL7 I overcame this by doing a single star alignment and had to slew around to get to the star and then sync'd on Alnitak, so the GOTO on the HH was accurate, but why it keeps missing the alignment stars is bugging me.

I have E mailed the retailer (FLO) as it might just still be under guarantee, but just wondered whether any-one had any thoughts on this.  

I am currently spending more time trying to align and find the object I want to image than actually doing the imaging.  Guiding is fine.

Is it worth reflashing the handset? 
If so, how do I do this, never done it before?

I use the handset, but am wondering whether using EQmod (which I have installed but not got around to using) might make any difference.

Or does it just need a "service", if so I am not able to do anything like this.

Carole

[Mike]

Have you checked your long/lat co-ordinates are correct?

Is the date correct (remember its in US format) ?

Is the scope parked at the end of the session?

Do you start with the mount off and the weight pointing down?

[Carole]

Yes to all Mike.

I'm going to have a go at updating the firmware, but as I have never done it before, having to read all the instructions.  Just found my receipt, I ordered it on 12th April 2011, so just gets in before the guarantee runs out (if needed), phew!!!

The handset needs power apparently, so do I assume I can use the power cable that I normally use to power the mount?  Gives loads of electrical specifications, but I am crap on electricity.

Carole

[Ian]

I have no experience of the mount but I find it hard to believe that the issue is related to firmware. I'd assume nothing and go back to the beginning with the alignment...

[Ivor]

I had a similar problem with this mount a while ago and it eliminated itself once I started being more precise with the polar alignment ensuring Polaris was in the little circle on the circumference of the polar path circle (not sure of the technical name for this but hopefully you know what I mean).

I'm using v3.23 firmware.

[Mike]

I agree, i've got old firmware on my handset and it doen't give me trouble. I would check all of your settings, ensure you have a decent polar alignment and start again. The first star is usually off but after the first sync stars 2 (and 3 if you do a 3 star) are usually spot on or near as damnit.

[Mac]

is it off by about 15 degrees?

Mac.

[Carole]

Well up until I went to SGL7 the mount had not been moved for months and therefore neither had the polar alignment, it was working fine until the middle of March.

I have E mailed the retailer (FLO) and they suggested updating the firmware in the first instance which I have now done, so will have to wait for a clear night to check it out.

Will also re-check the polar alignment, but I've been polar aligning this mount on and off for the past year (DSCs, Astro camps and on and off the pier) and not had any problems like this before, it was always accurate.

FLO said

Just like computers the software does become corrupt.

Will report back when I've had a chance to try it out.

is it off by about 15 degrees?

I thought of that one too Mac, but it was going wrong before BST.

Carole

[mickw]

Do mounts remember star positions (that have been synched) after they have been switched off ?

It's possible the mount could be confused by apparent conflicting inputs regarding it's position and star position.
Can the database simply be reset ?

[Carole]

It's possible the mount could be confused by apparent conflicting inputs regarding it's position and star position.

I agree with your reasoning Mick, but the only reason I had to do a sync in the first place was because of it misbehaving.   
i.e. bad behaviour came first
sync was trying to overcome the problem, I never had to do one before. 

Can the database simply be reset ?[/

I already did that, took it back to factory settings but still the same. 

Well we'll see if the firmware update makes any difference and if it doesn't I'll contact the retailer.

Carole

[Mike]

One way I get around alignment issues that are way off is to let the mount point where it thinks the first alignment star is then unlock the clutches and physically move it to where the star is, then fine tune with the handset and sync. This usually solves the problem.

[Carole]

Yes I have heard this before Mike, but surely this is just a quick fix and the same thing will happen the next time I go out.  Also when you return to Park, the clutches will all be in the wrong positions, so do you just leave it where it is so you can get an alignment next time?  Or are you actually tricking the mount if you switch off and manually move the clutches back to the Home position, I am having a job trying to get my head around this.

Obviously worth a try though if all else fails.

Carole

[Mac]

Are you using the computer to move the mount?
i.e do you click on what you want the mount to goto and then select goto within the computer software?
or do you select your objects through the handset?

With my one EQ6, when the mount is not where it thinks it is, I do the same as what Mike said.
Select something that you know to be visible, and make the scope move to that position using the software on the computer.
Once it has finished its move undo the clutches and then move the mount so that the object is visible in the eyepiece ect,

fine tune the position using the handset so its dead center and then in the software on the computer, select the object you just went to and
then select sync on object, that way the mount knows exactly where its pointing.

As for loosing the park position, it wont, because it always parks at 90 Deg N and 0 E/W it should always park correctly.
If your pointing is off then by the same token your park position should also be off,

Just another thing to check, you haven't got E&W or N&S reversed in the setup?

Mac.

[Rocket Pooch]

Install Windows XP on it.

[julian]

Carole

1.    Have you checked connections from the hand controller to the mount as you could have a broken connection cable?
2.     Have you got any play on the mount when the clutches are locked into position?   Allan screws or motors could be loose on the cogs.

If you can't check the cable out, I will bring a spare to Kelling Heath as I use EQ mod.

Julian