14 replies to this topic

[slapshot17]

I somehow blew the board pictured here. I get "Both Axes No Response" when I turn on my Orion Sirius Mount. I replaced the power board and get the same error. I was able to find someone with the same SynScan controller and I still get the same error so I'm certain that it's the main board. With Orion no longer around I'm out of luck. I tried with Sky Watcher, but no luck either.

 

Does anyone know where I can have the board looked at and perhaps repaired?

 

I've also done an extensive search to buy this same board, but no luck.

 

Much appreciated.

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[c2m2t]

Hi slapshot17!

I am surprised that Skywatcher would not entertain the possibility of selling you a new HEQ5 board...after all, it is an HEQ5 board that is in your Sirius mount. The Orion/Skywatcher mounts are very popular in the UK and there are several business that do repairs and rebuilds for these mounts. It would surprise the heck out of me that these boards are not available. Getting your board repaired has lower odds than finding a replacement. My suggestion is to check out some of these UK astro shops for possible new or used boards. Here is a link to one shop that I found:

 

https://www.darkfram...e/mount-repairs

 

I hope you are able to track a replacement board downm

 

Cheer, Chris.

[EFT]

I would recommend going back to SkyWatcher and only indicating that you have an HEQ5 Pro.  Don't even approach things as an Orion anymore.  However, right now, it could be difficult to get one, even from SkyWatcher, due to all the tariff problems.  I haven't seen a notice from Celestron (they are both Synta companies) indicating that they are back to selling and shipping products.

[Reid W]

I found my replacement board (for my Orion Atlas) at,

 

microglobe.co.uk

 

search Sky-Watcher  motherboard.

 

I had made contact with Skywatcher here, but I could not learn if the part was correct.  The microglobe part arrived from Europe, installed it, works grea…even better than before.

Microglobe has the HEQ5 in stock- shipping is pricy.

 

FLO also carries the motherboards too.  Search Sky-Watcher replacement board HEQ5 pro

Edited by Reid W, 24 May 2025 - 05:54 PM.

[slapshot17]

Hi slapshot17!

I am surprised that Skywatcher would not entertain the possibility of selling you a new HEQ5 board...after all, it is an HEQ5 board that is in your Sirius mount. The Orion/Skywatcher mounts are very popular in the UK and there are several business that do repairs and rebuilds for these mounts. It would surprise the heck out of me that these boards are not available. Getting your board repaired has lower odds than finding a replacement. My suggestion is to check out some of these UK astro shops for possible new or used boards. Here is a link to one shop that I found:

 

https://www.darkfram...e/mount-repairs

 

I hope you are able to track a replacement board downm

 

Cheer, Chris.

Thank you Chris. Shywatcher does have an HEQ5 Rev. C board, but they won't guarantee that it will work and I would have to get a version 5 Synscan too. I guess that's the way I might just have to go to see if it works. This has been a good mount and I'd hate to have to replace it just because of the board. Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Cheers!

[slapshot17]

I would recommend going back to SkyWatcher and only indicating that you have an HEQ5 Pro.  Don't even approach things as an Orion anymore.  However, right now, it could be difficult to get one, even from SkyWatcher, due to all the tariff problems.  I haven't seen a notice from Celestron (they are both Synta companies) indicating that they are back to selling and shipping products.

Thanks Ed, that just might be the route I've got to take here.

[EFT]

In the case of the Sirius mount, there is really no question that it will work.  The mount is identical other than the color. 

 

When it comes to the Orion mounts like the Atlas and Atlas AZ-EQ Pro, if you look at the SkyWatcher mount and it has the same face plate, with the same plugs, as the one on your mount, you can be sure that the board will work.  The difference you may find, depending on the age for your mount, is that newer mounts/boards have a USB socket.  If your mount doesn't have the USB socket, then you will also need the face plate.  But they can sell those together.  It will mean that your black mount will have a white face plate, but who cares, if it works.  You just have to tell them that you have an older version of the mount without the USB.  For the Sirius, this isn't a issue because of how the mount is configured.

 

I also used to get boards from KW Telescope in Canada.  But I don't know if he still sells them.

[c2m2t]

Hi slapshoot 17!

A very small light bulb went on in my head...in spite of the message on your hand-controller, is there any chance the HC is the problem...have you tried using another hand-controller?? Circuit boards tend to be very durable and it takes some real rough handling to get them to fail, whereas, a hand-controller can be dropped, kicked, yanked on...etc. It may be as simple as a broken wire on the HC's cord!!

 

Cheers, Chris.

[emflocater]

Hi slapshoot 17!

A very small light bulb went on in my head...in spite of the message on your hand-controller, is there any chance the HC is the problem...have you tried using another hand-controller?? Circuit boards tend to be very durable and it takes some real rough handling to get them to fail, whereas, a hand-controller can be dropped, kicked, yanked on...etc. It may be as simple as a broken wire on the HC's cord!!

 

Cheers, Chris.

I believe the OP stated in post #1 he tried another HC from someone else and still same issue.

 

Cheers

Don

[c2m2t]

My Bad...missed that comment!!

 

Cheers, Chris.

[PIEJr]

Maybe the Fates are saying to consider an upgrade?

 

You probably deserve a new mount. 

[louisr65]

I believe the OP stated in post #1 he tried another HC from someone else and still same issue.

 

Cheers

Don

 

 

Hi slapshoot 17!

A very small light bulb went on in my head...in spite of the message on your hand-controller, is there any chance the HC is the problem...have you tried using another hand-controller?? Circuit boards tend to be very durable and it takes some real rough handling to get them to fail, whereas, a hand-controller can be dropped, kicked, yanked on...etc. It may be as simple as a broken wire on the HC's cord!!

 

Cheers, Chris.

That message is typical of a communication issue, in which case it could be not the controller, but the socket on the mount that's the issue. If so and if it can be pinned down to that, any local shop that handles computer repairs could replace the connector, probably for much less than the cost of a new board and controller.

[CharLakeAstro]

You can buy a replacement in Europe...

https://www.microglo...ro-p-15281.html

[LauraMS]

When I needed a replacement board for my Skywatcher Az-EQ6GT, the only source for me was teleskop-express.de here in Europe at the time. No idea about Tarifs, but if everything fails you may check there.

[Chris K]

I want to share this with the thread because astronomy gear was the first thing I thought of when my friend told me about UPFIX.com.

Quick story, he has a treadmill that wasn’t working correctly. He is handy, and determined that the issue was not in the motors but was the circuit board. ChatGPT recommended upfix.com. His treadmill is back in action.

They fix any circuit board for $170, and if they can’t there’s a nominal bench fee.

With so many stories of “bad boards” in mounts I thought this would be a good resource for us.

Chris