· Get a Cloudy Nights T-Shirt · Submit a Review / Article Click here if you are having trouble logging into the forums Privacy Policy | Please read our Terms of Service | Signup and Troubleshooting FAQ | Problems? PM a Red or a Green Gu… uh, User You are not logged in. [Login] Entrance · Main Index · Search · New user · Who's Online FAQ · Calendar Equipment Discussions >> Mounts Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Pages: 1 Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Loc: Louisiana SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module       #5585537 - 12/23/12 12:44 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I received my SkyWatcher GPS module from KSTElescopes yesterday and I connected it to the SynScan. The SynScan initialized, found the GPS unit and after a while the controller asked for the time zone and daylight or standard time. So I assumed it was working properly. Later that day, I went to try it out again. The SynScan went to initializing and never progressed. The instructions say that the initialization process should only take 2 seconds. After about 5 minutes, I shut down the mount, removed the GPS cable from the SynScan and started up the mount. All worked fine. Today, I took the GPS and SynScan outside. I left the mount inside. I attached the GPS module to the SynScan, applied power, and the controller stuck in the initialization mode. I disconnected the power, disconnected the GPS module, powered the SynScan up and it worked properly. Is there an issue with the GPS module? Does it need a firmware update? I updated the mount to V3.32. Jack Huerekamp Post Extras:       johnpd sage Reged: 04/13/08 Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #5585964 - 12/23/12 05:09 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jack, When I first tried mine, it took quite a while for the GPS to get its info. I was doing it inside, so I figured it would take some time plus the manual says the first time would take a while. There is no update for the GPS that I am aware of. Mine came with three different cables. Not sure why. There was one with the RJ-11 and a female mouse connectors. This is the one I used. A second had RJ-11 and male mouse connectors, and a third had a female mouse and USB connectors. Not sure what the second one was for. The third one might be for updating the GPS. Sounds like you might have a defective mouse or cable? JohnD Post Extras:       johnpd sage Reged: 04/13/08 Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: johnpd]       #5586242 - 12/23/12 08:43 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Jack, Try installing the software that came on a mini CD along with the GPS. See if that can communicate with the GPS module. There is an instruction manual that comes on the CD that explains what all the cables are used for and how to use the software. JohnD Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Loc: Louisiana Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: johnpd]       #5586304 - 12/23/12 09:35 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   John, I installed the software onto my desktop PC and when I try to sync onto the unit, it failed. I will try tomorrow on my laptop as maybe being indoors caused the failure. I did have the GPS module near a window though. Jack Post Extras:       johnpd sage Reged: 04/13/08 Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #5586426 - 12/23/12 11:08 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Make sure you have the BAUD setting at 4800 instead of the normal 9600. JohnD Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Loc: Louisiana Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: johnpd]       #5586653 - 12/24/12 04:55 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   John, I had the Baud rate set to 4800 and I had the correct COM port picked as well. I will try it again outide today. Jack Post Extras:       gonzosc1 super member Reged: 11/08/12 Loc: South Carolina Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #5586854 - 12/24/12 09:27 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I had this same problem when I setup in the house. but I did as you did and just took the HC and gps outside and it worked fine. but it will not go past the initialization screen when hooked up to the mount. I can live with it as long as it works with the HC by itself. no need to have it hooked up to the mount as it hold last location entered into it, and HC port could be used for something else when needed.. Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Loc: Louisiana Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: gonzosc1]       #5586902 - 12/24/12 09:54 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   When I took just the hand controller and GPS module outside, I could not get past the initialization screen. It just stuck there. After removing the GPS module from the hand controller, the hand controller initialized and then said that the mount was not connected. So the hand controller is working without the GPS and not with it connected. Brian at KWTelescopes is checking to see what the issue may be. Jack Post Extras:       gonzosc1 super member Reged: 11/08/12 Loc: South Carolina Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #5587009 - 12/24/12 11:06 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   oh it would not work by itself outside....uhmmmm.. maybe try a reset then go outside.. its just a thought! as I said, with mine it will not work whan hooked up to the mount but does work stand alone with HC.. maybe its a firmware problem in the HC. anybody know if that would be the problem.. Post Extras:       gonzosc1 super member Reged: 11/08/12 Loc: South Carolina Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: gonzosc1]       #5587023 - 12/24/12 11:14 AM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I just remembered something.. I forgot to mention that I had to push the DIN connector cables together very hard before I got a connection. give that a try.. Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Loc: Louisiana Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: gonzosc1]       #5588522 - 12/25/12 01:51 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   Yesterday, I connected the GPS module to my laptop and outside I was able to get it to link to 8-10 satellites. So I knew the GPS module was working. I then went to the AZ-EQ6, changed the longitude to 120W instead of 90W and the time zone to -7 instead of -6. I faked an alignment and shut the mount down. I then attached the GPS module to the mount, started it up and it took a while to get past "initialization". Eventually it did, it asked for the time zone and if time was daylight savings or regular. I then did another fake alignment and shut the mount down. I disconnected the GPS module and started up the mount. The latitude and longitude were those of my home. The GPS module is working. Thanks to all who responded to my request for assistance. Jack Post Extras:       gonzosc1 super member Reged: 11/08/12 Loc: South Carolina Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: Jack Huerkamp]       #5589961 - 12/26/12 04:39 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   how long was the wait?? maybe I did not wait long enough with mine! Post Extras:       Jack Huerkamp Vendor - Waning Moon Reged: 10/13/05 Loc: Louisiana Re: SkyWatcher AZ-EQ6 GPS Module [Re: gonzosc1]       #5590381 - 12/26/12 10:01 PM Edit   Reply   Quote Quick Reply   I was not keeping time, but I would guess less than 2 minutes. Jack Post Extras:       Pages: 1 Previous   Index   Next   Threaded   Extra information 10 registered and 36 anonymous users are browsing this forum. 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