Shimrod

Don't know if you've made any progress with this, but I've been having another play around with my handset and windows drivers. I've tried some older drivers (like the one given above) as well as the current drivers from Prolific and each time I get the Prolific driver and port showing without any issues. For interest I downloaded the chip checker utility to see what version chip was in my handset. I don't think this will help you as the tool wants a com port for checking. Of interest is the chip - PL-2303SA is not supported in windows 11. I know you said you've tried a variety of windows machines, but if you have just done your latest testing on windows 11 it might be worth going back and trying again on a windows 7 or 10 machine (of course not supported does not mean the same as will not work). https://www.prolific.com.tw/US/ShowProduct.aspx?p_id=225&pcid=41

I've just done the factory reset on my handset - you need to have it connected to the mount. Hold down the zero key while powering on the mount - it only takes a few seconds and does not restore to an earlier firmware version - just clears all settings (more so than just using the 'restore defaults' option of the handset menu).

I am not certain, but I think the Starsense HC with usb port only shipped with 1.16 firmware, as it was only released mid 2016 - the 1.1.6 firmware was released around March 2016 and 1.15 was released August 2015. So I definitely don't think your firmware would go back beyond 1.15 - assuming it restores firmware and doesn't just clear all the settings. I don't use my handset so I will try later and see what happens! https://www.celestron.com/pages/firmware-update-history

I have read on Cloudy Nights that some people have resolved this issue (device descriptor request failed) by performing a factory reset on their handset (Hold down 0 while powering on the handset). It is starting to sound like a handset failure. I'm guessing this is the first time you have connected the handset to a PC and have not previously used it with a laptop to control the mount?

My mistake on the Power on/off - I think I was getting mixed up with my Meade LX90 which needs a USB/serial cable adapter so definitely needs power on at the mount. I've just run through the process on my AVX and it works fine with the mount off. On my PC I have the prolific driver installed - version 3.8.39 - Prolific did change the chip some years back and my Meade (circa 2004) would not work with the new driver - I had to buy a new cable (with a new chip) for connection to the handset. The 3.8.39 driver works fine with the Starsense hand controller. You can download it from the links below (Microsoft) or a slightly newer 3.8.41 (Prolific) Microsoft 3.8.39 Prolific 3.8.41 When I connect the handset to the PC and start CFM (version 2.7.9144) it detects the handset and shows it is on COM5 If you don't find anything initially, check the connections settings in CFM (Options menu, connections....) and make sure the connection type and discovery method are set correctly. If I navigate to device manager I can see the port settings - if you can see the port at this point it is worth checking the port communication settings are the same as those below It's also worth trying a different USB port on your computer - I have two front mounted USB ports neither of which will detect the handset, but everything works fine when connected to a hub driven by a direct motherboard USB port. Possibly power related. I have the same thing on my laptop - it has two USB 3.2 ports but only one will drive my astro-camera, the other just keeps disconnecting each time I try to take an image. Hopefully this gives you a couple of things to try and check, one of which will get you a connection!

Well....you inspired me and I all can say is don't do it! I've been a customer since 1999 (after they took over DVD Express) and total orders is a scary number!

Can I just check - when you are connecting the handset to the PC you also have the handset connected to the mount (and the mount powered on)? I don't recall installing any specific drivers for my Starsense handset, but I mostly control my AVX using CPWI and skyportal these days. I can check my astronomy laptop later to see if I have anything special installed.

Not many reviews on here, but all positive - I can't really comment having never used them - it's not uncommon to see a mark-up on Ebay to cover the shop's fees. ENS optical does the same.

Check Microglobe as well - they are showing as in stock again for the basic set (all kits were out of stock when I looked earlier this week) .

If you had a set of rare eyepieces that as a collection were worth more than the individual eyepieces you would want to list those as a collection. I have four telescopes and a mish-mash of eyepieces - which would not be considered a collection (or any of them curios) which would need to be listed separately. Some of this will depend on the insurer - with my previous insurer, I just had to give an appropriate 'all-risks' (for items taken away from the home) value which also determined the maximum claim value of a single item. With my current insurer, MoreThan, I have to list high-value items in the home individually (anything over £1000) as well as an overall total risk value. I have in the past collected books, so I have two separate collections of signed first edition books that I have listed, although my overall library of (normal?) books does not need to be listed, even though the overall replacement cost of those is higher than the two collections. Going around the house trying to identify high-value items is harder than it sounds, hence the spreadsheet to understand the cost of the astronomy items (for the overall risk) as well as identifying anything over £1000. I've also just realised my EdgeHD now has a replacement cost of £1800 and I might need to revisit my insurance in light of all the prices rises over the last two years.

On a more mundane level, I have done something similar to make sure I have enough 'all risks' insurance cover. It's amazing how all those small items add up to a big number!

It might be worth trying for the planets with what you've got already. Have you seen this thread on imaging the planets with an untracked dob?

Not quite what you're asking for, but Asterion do 'push to' kits https://www.firstlightoptics.com/asterion.html For a bit less money, you could have a look at buying the cheapest Celestron Starsense explorer scope (which uses your phone as the push-to device) and converting your Dob to use that. There are various threads on here about how people have done it.

Congratulations on the mount purchase! For guide scopes, try here: https://stargazerslounge.com/forum/184-getting-started-with-imaging/ For software, you could use the same sub-forum or try this one here: https://stargazerslounge.com/forum/128-discussions-software/

If you check the Glendale aurora alerts website, there were sightings south of your location at Stranraer, but very faint. The local area on a global scale) can also have an effect on the strength of the aurora and the alerts often cover a period of time rather than an immediate point in time. The three day forecast on NOAA covers a 3 hour period. I've had the same experience of sitting in a car in the cold waiting for something to happen in the sky! https://aurora-alerts.uk/

Sounds like March 1989, which was strong enough to knock out some power stations in Quebec. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1989_geomagnetic_storm

I've seen aurora quite a few times as the result of many trips to Iceland. I have only ever seen it twice from the UK, both times when on holiday in Skye in the autumn. On both those occasions, I was able to capture the aurora on camera, and if you knew what you were looking for it was visible as a faint grey, moving fuzz. If you didn't know what you were looking for, you would have just dismissed it as cloud.

Weather will most likely be the same for me! You'll be best doing a 10-15 second exposure on a camera to check for the presence of aurora. Streetlights will wipe out any chance of seeing it visually. If it wasn't a work night I might consider a trip to Formby or Southport - that gives a view north over the sea which would improve chances of seeing aurora

The cumulative effect of several CME is giving a forecast of G3 (KP Index 7) geomagnetic storms overnight tonight. @ScouseSpaceCadet you might want to get ready for a late night! https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/3-day-forecast https://spaceweather.com/

That looks like a pretty good book, and is at a level that would suit both of them. Thanks.

I've bought a small Dobsonian scope for my nephew and niece - they've moved to a Bortle 3 area and have recently shown some interest in the night sky. I'd like to get them a book to go with it to encourage the interest. My niece (the older child) would be fine with something like Turn Left at Orion, but at £22 that's a little expensive for what may be a passing fad. The younger child would need something a bit simpler to understand. I'd be interested in suggestions for any books people have that provide a good guide to navigating the night sky that might also help keep their interest. I'm thinking around the £10 price point and preferably from Amazon as I can have the books delivered direct for free. thanks

I guess most of their equipment is available as other brands - although some telescopes like the larger dob intelliscope (push to) systems seemed to be unique to Orion. For those with larger binoculars and poor DIY skills, possibly the Orion Monster Parallelogram mount will be particularly missed. While not cheap, it had good reviews and I don't think any real competition at the price.

Orion Optics offer the sort of servicing you are asking about, but you may want to read elsewhere on here about their customer service before sending anything off to them. https://www.orionoptics.co.uk/servicing/

First time I've looked at their website in a while, and they have an announcement they have closed their warehouse in the Netherlands and pulling out of Europe. The reason given is supply chain issues have meant the operation is no longer feasible. website: https://uk.telescope.com/home.jsp

I've sent you a PM with the 3.20 firmware attached. It is the AZ/EQ version, I don't have a copy of the standard 3.20