LVI Smartguider

[wetcoaster]

I am having great difficulty is getting my SmartGuider 2 to find a star. I have tried 3 different scopes as guide scopes - Orion Guidescope, ZWO guidescope and an AT65EDQ. I have managed to get the device to start tracking exactly once. The problem is that when I get the g-scope to focus using the Smart eyepiece, with a star centered, it appears that it isn't in focus for the SG2. Has anyone here run into that problem? Part of my problem is that I removed the little plastic spacer ring from the Smart e-p and then lost it. I was having a problem with the Orion g-scope and felt I needed more in-focus and the spacer prevented that. I have gotten the proper set back distance of 9mm from a retailer but that doesn't work. To complicate the situation, the only time the SG2 did work was also when I didn't use the 9mm spacing. Something is amiss. I would appreciate any suggestions as how to isolate and fix the problem.