MikeAa

Look forward to seeing your first impressions review! 😀

Just now, Spile said:

I would go for the Bresser mainly due to the solid tube and Crayford focuser. 

Good point!

I have never used a Dob, but the Skywatcher you mention has a GOTO function, whereas the Bresser does not (unless I'm looking at the wrong model). The GoTo function, in my opinion, is worth having since once you have located your target, it's good that the scope can track it so you don't need to keep nudging it. I'm sure accomplished Dob owners will say that it's not an issue, and I can accept that. It comes down to personal preference. I would imagine that the optical performance of the two candidates would be similar. Welcome to the hobby!

The thing is, you had a go and you enjoyed what you did!! Bravo!!

Oh well done turbobomb. Nice work! 😀

Glad you solved it! I wouldn't have considered the power supply give that the other motor was working correctly. Something else I learned today!! 😀

So excessive current flow caused the bead to fail, therefore  something else on the board is faulty?

Nice job! Now I have to ask: what was burnt on the handset?

Thanks for explaining malc-c! Totally unrelated but I used to travel to Milan for work sometimes. Love the place!! Good luck with the repair.

Not familiar with an EQ6 mount, but what is port 232?

Hmmm. Are you able to swap the motor for the AZ one and check if the fault follows the motor? Reason for saying is that I am wondering if the drive electronics is working correctly.  I think this is a stepper motor, so it needs drive to a pair of coils to make it rotate. The motor is unlikely to seize if it's been stored inside. 

The PIC is the chip on the top of the board with a red paint dot, U3.

Looks like it sheared flush, so there's not enough left to grab with pliers or cut a screw slot.

Hi Stephen, apologies for being dumb - which bit is actually broken? Edit: Yes, I am dumb, I can see it now!! The challenge is to get the old one out: You might have to drill it out and then get a replacement thumbscrew - not sure if its an M4 on there?

Satellites are best viewed naked-eye. They move too fast to track!!

Tried it on my EQ5 and ALT-AZ mounts: Works a treat. Now just need to get outside 🥶

I started to write a reply, then became unsure about what I had put, so deleted it! I assume you have admin rights? You must have if you re-installed.

I'd be interested to see what malc-c thinks about it. I suspect he has far superior knowledge than I on this, judging from other posts of a similar nature. I also note that the original pwm control chip and its suggested pin/pin replacement are both now obsolete.

Can you pop the case and check if you have power to the switching regulator? Pin 5 on U5. I have no experience fixing these.... yet!

On 15/01/2024 at 22:09, MikeAa said:

I'm going to have to give it a go aren't I?! FLO - order incoming!!

Ordered Tuesday afternoon, arrived Wednesday lunchtime - marvellous! Thanks FLO. Just need the temperature to rise a little otherwise I will freeze to death checking it out!!

2 hours ago, wookie1965 said:

I used it on my EQ5 Pro goto it worked really well although I use android I believe it can be a bit tricky with ios. 

I had to tell my phone to forget my home wifi as your phone searches for strongest signal the dongle kept dropping from the mount until I did the forget the wifi then it worked brilliant. 

I went back to the handset as my mount wasn't that accurate, I sent it away to be tuned and actually forgot about the dongle until a friend mentioned it so sold it to him. 

Oh, now you've prompted another question! You sent your mount away to be tuned: Any idea what that involves? I have never heard of that before.

17 hours ago, happy-kat said:

What do you intend to use the dongle on? I like the mobile app it's ok to use and do what I need

Hi happy-kat! I will be using it on my EQ5 Pro mount. If it is super impressive, I might treat myself to the Celestron WiFi dooberry for my SCT, although I struggle a bit with the price of the Celestron unit!

1 hour ago, Backyardscope said:

Warm room. with telescope automation.

That's cheating! 🤣

I'm going to have to give it a go aren't I?! FLO - order incoming!!

I often think (and my wife also tells me!) that I don't need any telescopes. But then I realise that I do. So yes, it's worth it. Hope that helps! 🤣