Frozen SynScan Handset

[stargazerlily]

Yes ... had a problem with my SynScan handset last night. I was trying to access the Tracking menu when suddenly the handset froze ... quite literally (nothing to do with the -3C temperature last night).

The read out seemed to be 'stuck' in the enter the Date prompt. What was really bizarre was that the mount was slewing the OTA around the RA axis, all 360 degrees!! Tried to stop the slewing but there was no response from any of the keys including the Esc key. I had to power off the mount to stop the slewing.

When I powered up again, I got the 'Initializing' message, then the FW version (3.27) ... then nothing again ... no response from any button on the handset ... nothing. Switched it off again and left it for a while. Came back, switched on and everything was working again. I could use the keys and enter details.

Very bizarre ...

Just wondering if anyone else had a similar problem?

Thanks

Pete

[brantuk]

In my experience - this sorta thing happens with dodgey connections, dodgey leads, and dogey powerpacks. Anything else is sometimes more serious. I just wiggle everything to make sure it's still connected and/or swap the spare fully charged battery in (which I usually take). A reset then does the job. Never had the problem with Celestron mounts though - allways SW

[SaraG]

Is the Celestron and Skywatcher the same firmware? If not then that's most likely why

[brantuk]

The software and object databases are definitely different - and if by firmware you mean drivers and encoders then I'm pretty sure they're different are too. Even though they both do similar stuff.

[SaraG]

The software and object databases are definitely different - and if by firmware you mean drivers and encoders then I'm pretty sure they're different are too. Even though they both do similar stuff.

That's why, the SW firmware has little error checking or goes into panic (freezes) once something happens that is not normal wheras the Celestron firmware is most likely more better tested rather than hacked out cheap. It could also be that the handsets use different hardware too.

[sulaco]

I've just had the very same problem, the dec motor seems to be running but with no movement and the handset display only comes up with the sw software number and that's it, any solutions?

[Dan13]

On 03/11/2012 at 22:34, sulaco said:

I've just had the very same problem, the dec motor seems to be running but with no movement and the handset display only comes up with the sw software number and that's it, any solutions?

sorry to jump in on an old post but did you resolve this as im having the same issues now