SynScan / neq6 error - "no link to mc. Stand alone mode."

[ShineOn]

Hi,

After 2 months of faultless operation, I powered on tonight for my handset to say "no link to mc. Stand alone mode."

I guess I have some sort of comms problem? Does anyone know the cause of such an issue?

I disconnected the handset from the mount and powered it on using the skywatcher powertank I use, and it gave the same message. I presume the fault therefore lies with the handset?

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can try to resolve it? All connections were checked and appear fine.

Many thanks,

Simon

[derrickf]

Try Googling the error message - you will find several threads on this board and elsewhere that seem to indicate this is some kind of problem with motor controller (this is the MC in the error message). Good luck - I hope this is something as simple as a bad connection rather than a blown MC.

HTH

Derrick

[Helen]

I had something similar earlier this evening with my goto dob. It turned out I'd forgotten to reconnect the az motor So I don't know if you have a cable loose somewhere...

Helen

[Merlin66]

Double triple check your power supply.

99% of these problems are usually due to lack of power!

[Cornelius Varley]

You can check to see if you have a fault with the mount to handset cable by replacing it with a Cat5 computer network cable.

Peter

[ShineOn]

Well it's definitely not a loose / incorrect connection and my power tank appears ok. I'll try and swap out the handset cable as you suggest to try and isolate the issue.

Thanks all.

[Starlight 1]

The same thing on my heq5 and it was the MCB.

[Paul Laws]

Starlight 1 - what's the cost of a MC board, please? Easy fit?

[Starlight 1]

Well I got new full kit about £300. And SW replace the board not working for free.

[Rustysplit]

I had this and it turned out to be the MC board. £99 to replace. Are you under warranty still?. should not cost you a penny if you are. Have a word with your dealer. HTH

[Paul Laws]

Thanks Rustysplit. The price has been confirmed by 2 dealers.

I was also told it's not a stocked item so it looks like I would have a fairly long wait. The board will be checked for faults this weekend and I hope my 'glass is half empty' prognosis will be found to be wrong.

I haven't taken off the front panel but assume there's only the wiring for the 2 ports and the power on LED behind there?

The EQMOD logfile stated Connection timed out. RPC server unavailable.

Is that saying the controller isn't communicating with the control board? Or something completely different?

Whatever the problem is - the constant is nothing is passing through the controller port (either handset or EQDIR).

Regards.

[Rustysplit]

I got my replacement in under a week. so not too long. Dead easy to replace yourself.

[Paul Laws]

Did you ever find out or suspected why your board fried?

Yep I stripped the board out today and bagged it ready for it's health check tomorrow.

Cheers.

[Rustysplit]

one of the dec motor control chips had burnt out. you could see it glowing red and smoking when you powered up!!

[nameunknown]

I had this happen last weekend - which is why I was reading this post. Turned out the connector contacts on the handset were quite corroded (i.e. green). Cleaning them up (diamond file - DISCONNECT EVERYTHING FIRST) didn't help on its own, but flashing the latest download did. I can only assume the corrosion has led to some corruption of software.

Also tried "Servisol" but would not recommend as it runs inside the handset.

Replaced the "curly" cable with a Cat5 network cable which is more "moisture proof" (and longer). All working fine now.

N