knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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After several years of reliable service, the Autostar #497 handbox for my LX-90 8" has a strange case of trouble. It seems to work well initially. It aligns the scope. Drilling down through the menus is the same as always. The first few stops using the GoTo are flawless. The objects are centered when the scope stops slewing. After a few objects, when I select the next object and press go to the handbox announces that it is slewing but the OTA does not seem to move and certainly moves no where near the newly selected object.
After a new alignment, it is spot on again for several objects and then the same thing happens.
I can use the arrow keys to slew the scope about. They seem to be working pretty normally. However, when I use them to center a new target the clock drive does not operate.
The handbox has been dropped from time to time over the years. However, a drop did not immediately precede the onset of this problem.
I did use a conductive epoxy paint kit two years ago to restore the push sensitivity of the buttons. The handbox has functioned well since.
Tonight I will see what happens if I connect the handbox to my laptop and use Autostar Suite to select targets. I'll report the results here.
My best guess is that for some reason the handbox quits sending the slew signal to the drive motors. I have no idea why though. I can't think of any change that would cause that. I thought about a loose wire in the connecting cable. But, if that were the case I wuoldn't think the arrow keys would work. Loss of the clock drive is also a mystery.
Does anyone have any suggestions for diagnosis, further trouble shooting or remedies?
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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JAT Observatory
Space Freak
Reged: 02/20/05
Posts: 5606
Loc: Eastern PA
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Rick,
Your path of connecting the scope to the AutoStar Suite is good one, but I would be surprised if the symptoms went away when using the AS Suite.
I would execute a reset and a reload of the firmware. I would also as a minimum do a trash collect.
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-Marcus
The problem with free speech is even the stupid have a voice.
http://jatobservatory.org
12" LX200R on a Paramount ME
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Marcus-
Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not familiar with "Trash Collect." Could you explain that a bit?
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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KimB
member
Reged: 02/28/08
Posts: 90
Loc: UK
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Also check the HBX cable. I've had lots of problems with badly crimped plugs.
Remember the cable is reverse wired, so you can't use a network cable. see pinouts.
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8" Meade lx90 LNT
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2542
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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In the Autostar suite software is an option called "trash collect" --- it removes bits and bytes of JUNK code that might be left in the hand-controller.
As Marcus said--- do a trash collect--- then a RESET-- and re-load the firmware. Re-train the drives, and put in time, date, site-- Then Calibrate sensors on Polaris. Don't rule out a bad cable-- I have had two Meade cables go bad-- and switched to the one sold on scopestuff.com, it is much better quality and more flexible, with better connectors.
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s.
"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein
Edited by Joe Lalumia (07/15/08 09:34 AM)
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Thanks folks. I'm going to try your suggestions at my first opportunity. Work intervenes at the moment. But I should get a chance later this week.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2542
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Your PM --- answered--
Joe
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s.
"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Thanks Joe. I still haven't found Trash Collect. I forgot to look when I had the handbox connected.
But, it looks like upgrading from version 3.0 to 5.0 did the trick anyway. I'll know for sure as soon as we get a night clear enough to center some targets.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Well, I just thought I had this one solved. Now though, I'm thinking the problem might not be in the handbox. Last night I went for a target almost at the zenith. I acquired that target fine. But, when I hit the GoTo command for the next target, nothing: no movement, no motor sound, no nothing. After I realigned everything worked reliably again.
Does anyone have any thoughts?
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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Joe Lalumia
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/24/07
Posts: 2542
Loc: Rockwall, Texas, USA
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Did you hit ENTER first-- then GOTO?
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LX90 8" LNT, SV Nighthawk & TelePOD, SV 80/9D & M4 mount, ETX 90, Orion XT10i, 20x80 binoculars, SV-BV3s.
"The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax." - Albert Einstein
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Don't think so, but I'll keep an eye on that one.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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Joseph Gillman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 12/06/05
Posts: 2335
Loc: Boothwyn, PA
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If you don't hit ENTER to *select* the next desired object, it will GOTO the *previous* selected object, which is usually the object you are currently looking at! So the scope doesn't move at all and then dutifully reports, "Requested Target Acquired, Sir!!"
Be sure Autostar thinks you pressed ENTER first. I say that because sometimes the button connections can get flaky (that too can be fixed easily...)
The ENTER then GOTO thing is the culprit in 99% of these "problems"
PS the display on the handbox should change once you press ENTER, to display some info on the object on the second line
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Meade RCX400 30cm --
People dont like when I stick up for Meade but they're just jealous of my RCX 
Edited by Joseph Gillman (07/21/08 05:09 PM)
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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I applied the paint the back of the buttons fix a couple of years ago. It improved things immensely.
I'm going to point the dang thing at the zenith tonight. Be careful about how I push buttons and see what happens.
It won't be the first time this scope has been repaired by removal of operator error.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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knuklhdastnmr
Pepperbelly
Reged: 02/24/05
Posts: 3564
Loc: Beerpuddle, Colorado
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Dang Operator Error
Thanks guys.
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Knucklhead Astronomer
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