Skywatcher Virtuoso, Synscan HC v3, which firmware?

[bthoven 23]

I have Skywatcher Synscan V3 working with my EQ6 without problem.

I've lately flashed firmware v.3.39.05 and tried using it with my Skywatcher Virtuoso. I have problem with 2-star alignment. After manually move the mount to point to the first bright star, align; then choose the 2nd alignment star, the mount will slew to the sky very far away from the 2nd star. After I managed to complete the 2-star alignment successfully, the goto accuracy was very bad. It always placed my scope quite far away from the targets. I've tried the whole night and gave up.

I then begin to wonder whether I have to flash the hand controller with the firmware for Allview mount (v.3.09.06) instead. Anyone can share your experience on this?

 

Thank you.

[happy-kat 4,868]

I use a v3 handset with the Virtuoso. I've only found alignment off if I put the details in wrong on startup and the mount location latitude is not setup or the mount is not level. Always start the mount level, zero on altitude scale with telescope facing north then turn it on (assumes local latitude previously set).

Edited December 20, 2018 by happy-kat

[Geoff Lister 372]

8 hours ago, bthoven said:

Skywatcher Synscan V3 working with my EQ6

I believe that there are 2 standards of Synscan V3. One for Az/Alt mounts, and one for EQ mounts. I assume that yours is programmed for EQ mounts. I have used my Az/Alt V3 handsets from my Skymax 127 and Skyliner 250PX with my Virtuoso 90 mount without any problems.

Geoff

[Cornelius Varley 2,362]

19 minutes ago, Geoff Lister said:

I believe that there are 2 standards of Synscan V3. One for Az/Alt mounts, and one for EQ mounts. I assume that yours is programmed for EQ mounts. I have used my Az/Alt V3 handsets from my Skymax 127 and Skyliner 250PX with my Virtuoso 90 mount without any problems.

Geoff

The most recent versions of the v3 firmware, v3.27 and up, include eq and alt-az alignment routines so can be used for either type of mount.

[bthoven 23]

5 hours ago, happy-kat said:

I use a v3 handset with the Virtuoso. I've only found alignment off if I put the details in wrong on startup and the mount location latitude is not setup or the mount is not level. Always start the mount level, zero on altitude scale with telescope facing north then turn it on (assumes local latitude previously set).

Thank you. That was what I did every time.

[bthoven 23]

3 hours ago, Cornelius Varley said:

The most recent versions of the v3 firmware, v3.27 and up, include eq and alt-az alignment routines so can be used for either type of mount.

Mine is latest version 3.39.05 which is supposed to work with either EQ or ALTAZ mount?

[Cornelius Varley 2,362]

5 minutes ago, bthoven said:

Mine is latest version 3.39.05 which is supposed to work with either EQ or ALTAZ mount?

Yes it does.

[bthoven 23]

Got confirmation from Skywatcher help desk that we can use both firmwares for Virtuoso. The main difference is Allview firmware has panorama scan feature.

 

Still not sure what went wrong with my setup.

 

ps. Just know that Celestron owns Skywatcher because my ticket created on Skywatcher website, but got an auto-reply from Celestron!

Edited December 21, 2018 by bthoven

[happy-kat 4,868]

Does that suggest you can get all the panoramic functions the virtuoso has but through the handset rather than the on mount button interface. Might go and read the all view manual to see how/if it differs from the virtuoso.

Do you have an older Virtuoso that still supports the EQ mode option? On testing my virtuoso appears to not support the function that was on the mount when they first came out.

[Cornelius Varley 2,362]

8 hours ago, bthoven said:

Got confirmation from Skywatcher help desk that we can use both firmwares for Virtuoso. The main difference is Allview firmware has panorama scan feature.

 

Still not sure what went wrong with my setup.

 

ps. Just know that Celestron owns Skywatcher because my ticket created on Skywatcher website, but got an auto-reply from Celestron!

Its actually the other way round. Skywatcher (Synta) own Celestron.