new V3 synscan update (3.12)

[h0ughy]

taken from the official update

1). More options available for alignment star selection—Auto select or manual select, and alignment stars sorted by magnitude or alphabet. See “Alignment Stars” under submenu “SETUP”.

2).“Clear PAE data” added under “Utility”.

3). Three parking positions available:
HOME—+90 degrees (Northern Hemisphere) or -90 degrees (Southern Hemisphere) in DEC.
Current Position—Park the scope at currently position.
Custom Position—Slew and park the scope to the previously saved parking position.

To save a parking position, choose one of the above parking positions under Utility-Park Scope, then turn off the power. (ESC to cancel and escape from the Utility menu.)
If there is a parking position stored in the system, SynScan will prompt "Start from park position?" at power up.

4). IMPORTANT!! Re-enter the Time Zone data on your hand control after installing the V3.12 firmware.


loaded it up and hooked up the gps - simple makes life a breeze

[Radar]

Three parking positions is a good idea.

[h0ughy]

Three parking positions is a good idea.

Sure IS:eartoear: :eartoear: , you can park it on its side in a roll off roof observatory looking at a light box or area where you can take flats and then park it and switch off:thumbsupmate: versatility!! and together with the GPS, timing and correct location everytime, no need to enter a thing.

[Radar]

Is a flat the same thing as taking a dark frame?

[h0ughy]

Is a flat the same thing as taking a dark frame?

no . . . . .

[Tenacious Del]

Houghy have you got this system setup yet? I got told it was full of bugs. Apparently it has a mind of it's own sometimes and does weird things.

[h0ughy]

Houghy have you got this system setup yet? I got told it was full of bugs. Apparently it has a mind of it's own sometimes and does weird things.


I have updated it, and only had a brief chance at using it last friday night, no real problems that night. extensive testing will be at SPSP

[h0ughy]

A little reminder for the unknowing - which included me. After you do the update via the PC, remember at the first plugin to change your backlash settings from 0deg 02m 00seconds to all 0 for everything. I thought I had a problem when I went to guide and it moved heaps in the eyepiece when I pressed any guiding button. its fine now.

[Radar]

Is there much of a noticable difference between the two versions?

[h0ughy]

Is there much of a noticable difference between the two versions?
yes, subtle but yes

[scorpius]

Houghy have you got this system setup yet? I got told it was full of bugs. Apparently it has a mind of it's own sometimes and does weird things.

I have tried to install, but it just says "Cannot find device" regardless of all the various tricks suggested.... The EQ6 works on the laptop OK with RTGUI/Ascom

Tried altering the port speed etc etc.. No go :bah:

[scorpius]

I have been in tutch wid the powers to be on the subject of the firmware and received this information from Skywatcher:Chessy_Smile: .

Running it on the now imfamous Laptop with Vista, after installing Ascom and RTGUI and establishing communication between the laptop and the EQ6 handpiece and noting the port number I carried out the correct method of installing it and no problemo Worked great. Takes quite a while but now have 3.12 firmware.

Quote.........

Thank you for your report.

We have tested our Firmware Loader(Ver2.6) on Windows Vista Home Premium,it works with no problem.

The hardwares that we used is a Dell laptop and a Prolific USB-to-Serial cable.

The problem might relate to the driver software of your USB-to-Serial adapter. We recommend that you try a Prolific USB-to-Serial adapter.

We also suggest that you try the low-speed-update mode by press the "SETUP" button after you power on the hand control to "SynScan Update" mode,
"Lo" will show at the end of the second line of the LCD.

If you still have problem, please provide the following information when you contact us.
1. Do you press and hold both "0" and "8" buttons befor you power up the
hand control when you try to update the firmware?
2. Does the first line of the LCD show "SynScan Update" after you power up
the hand control with both "0" and "8" buttons pressed?
3. What's the message from the Firmware Loader (Ver 2.6)?

Thank you, Jack

Unquote.

Thought of the day
If I can do it, anyone can can do it :eartoear:

[Radar]

Hi Dave, serial adpaters? This is why I can't get my ST4 to work on my laptop. The usb to serial adapter I have just won't do it. I'll try a prolific one.

[scorpius]

Hi Dave, serial adpaters? This is why I can't get my ST4 to work on my laptop. The usb to serial adapter I have just won't do it. I'll try a prolific one.

Firstly try here for drivers for XP http://www.ramelectronics.net/HTML/usb_serial.htm
after you have installed it look in device manager for com ports and it should be there. (prolific usb/serial port com *

Prolific have announced they will not be releasing drivers for Vista.......No comment...!!!

If you run into probs I can let you have the generic drivers. The ones I have for the USB/Serial adapter which uses the prolific chipset, works in XP and Vista Its around 11mb bit large for an email I could burn the disk for you if needs be. The adapter I have is a generic common garden device. Incidently on that update I set the transfer rate to LO

Oh boy am I learning about Vista, seems it wants drivers for every USB device you plug in. Seems like the old PNP has gone out the windows (sic) :duh:

[AstroTasmania]

Hi,

I have V3.12 (latest) plus a GPS and it all seems to work OK on my SkyWatcher EQ6. Not had many nights to try it out either and it is only my portable system if I need to use it.

What I have been trying is the "EQMOD" which operates the EQ6 mount direct from the laptop without the handset being connected. This system provides a much higher pointing accuracy and interfaces with the various planetarium software. I am using Starry Night Pro Plus.

This system uses the EQDIRECT dongle from Shoestring Astronomy which connects between the laptop & mount to provide correct signals. Also, EQMOD can autoguide (pulse guide) through the same software & dongle. The EQMOD software is free.

Anyone interested locate the EQMOD user group and take it from there. EQMOD@yahoogroups.com

I am using a "Targa" brand USB to serial from my DELL which only has 6 USB 2.0 ports. I have also connected a multifunction "Targa" brand Parallel, serial, USB 2.0 port interface with great success, so I have 8 USB plus serial & parallel access.

Google "Targa" to find the various hardware combo's available.



Clear skies...

[scorpius]

USB Hubs are the way to go. I added a 4way my son gave me on the new laptop and works like a charm. The laptop has 3 USB ports, one which I have dedicated to USB/Serial for the EQ6.

Incidently I have now added a 5amp 5Volt regulated voltage output to my power box for field work to run an USB hub. Used an LM338 on a small heatsink.

I was in Big Dub yesterday and noted they had some very neat and small 4 port USB hubs with mains power pack for $37.

Looks like I have now got the Laptop with vista running all the things I need. A field test will be the proving ground.

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Scorpius,

My "Targa" brand multi port device came with a power pack to add external power to the hub, which is a good idea because it saves the laptop battery. When I ordered my DELL I got the big battery pack 7+hours. Laptops as standard only ever come with a small battery, like so many electronic devices - just the minimum.

I guess USB will be the standard for quite sometime. One thing though, hang on to XP Pro OS for all the astro stuff. I have expensive slide scanners etc that are redundant because XP drivers were never made, so I have one PC running XP and Win95SE, and another with Win 2000 (NT). It will be a long time before I go Vista - not until I am forced to.

I also use Firewire as much as possible. On an older laptop I have a 12Volt powered LaCie card which has 2x USB & 2x Firewire ports, which allows me to use three cameras simultaneously, LPI, ToUcam and a Firewire web cam.

I build my own PC's so all this is not a hassle, I have PC's for special applications as stand alone units as well as my 5 on a network scattered around the place. I made up a couple of slimline desktops for the new "OctaDome", which I have started putting the cladding on. WoW!!


Clear skies...

Clear skies...

[Radar]

Hey Shev, when you say cladding, does that mean that the base of your octadome is made from metal?

[AstroTasmania]

Hi Radar,

The base and frames are all timber, the panels are Colorbond which I have had made to size. The 8 roof petals are also Colorbond which is the last stage.

The timber frames also support the floor timbers.

Clear skies...