gruuder

Yes I'm resurrecting an old thread but hopefully it will help someone who, like me, thinks they bricked their Synscan goto after flashing it to the latest firmware. I recently upgraded a Synscan V4 hand controller (HC) to Version 4.39.10)and afterwards got the "Both Axis No Response". In my case I was upgrading from an older firmware version (4.38.09). After some trial and error, I was able to solve the problem. The new firmware was not compatible with my motor controller firmware (which was 02.04.02), but the motor control (MC) firmware updater utility would not work (the one that has you put the HC into "PC Direct" mode). The solution was to temporarily flash the hand controller to Synscan's "Synscan Relay" firmware (available on the Sky-Watcher website). This firmware significantly improves the communication between the PC and the motor controller. After flashing the Synscan Relay firmware into the HC and rebooting it, I was able to successfully run the motor controller firmware update utility and flash the MC firmware to the current version. After flashing the MC firmware, I restored the Synscan 4.39.10 firmware to the HC, rebooted it, and everything worked! Somewhere in the process of doing all this I also performed a system restore. I don't know if that was necessary, but it might be. Here are the basic steps for upgrading older firmware in a Synscan V4 hand controller: • Download the HC firmware uploader, the MC firmware uploader, the latest MC and HC firmware versions, and the latest "Synscan Relay" firmware from the Sky-Watcher website. • Unzip all of the downloads to a convenient folder or desktop • Boot the HC into flash mode by pressing 0 and 8 together on the HC and turning on the power, then plug in the Serial cable to the HC and the serial to USB converter to a computer (I used a Sabrent serial to USB 2.0 converter with Windows 10 and Prolific drivers). • Open the HC controller firmware updater utility, and flash the firmware on the HC to the latest version (this may not be necessary, but it’s what I did) • Restore the factory settings on the HC (this also may or may not be necessary) • Turn off the power to the Synscan, then turn it back on while pressing 0 and 8 (i.e, reboot the HC into HC flash mode) • Open the HC controller firmware updater utility and flash the HC with the Synscan Relay firmware. • Reboot the HC - it will boot into Synscan Relay mode • Open the MC firmware updater utility and flash the new MC firmware • Reboot the HC into HC flash mode • Open the HC controller firmware updater utility, and flash the firmware on the HC back to the latest version • Reboot the HC • At this point both the HC and MC firmware should be compatible and the system should work Remember that you have to press 0 and 8 together then power up the HC to flash the HC firmware. You don't have to do that to update the MC firmware; it boots directly into "Synscan Relay" mode after you flash that firmware.