From: [email protected] <[email protected]> on behalf of Paul Abel <pabel0418@...>
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2022 11:13:41 PM
To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
Subject: [ServoCAT] AN Reinitializing in Middle of Session

I am using a SC V3 and an AN with the latest firmware.? My last 2 or 3 outings have been cut short because when I am moving my scope manually with the SC handpad, the scope suddenly stops moving, the AN beeps and loses its previous 2 star alignment, and then goes into MODE FIX ALT REF.? It happened several times tonight and I paid more attention to what was happening.? Hopefully someone can help me figure this out.

After turning on the SC and AN, I set up MODE FIX ALT REF.? I then successfully performed a two star alignment by hitting Enter on the AN when the selected stars were in the middle of the FOV.? The red light on the SC changed from blinking to steady on.? Because the dome where the scope is located is somewhat cluttered, I want to control the direction the scope uses when finding the first catalog object.? So I am using the movement buttons on the SC handpad when the scope stops as described above.

So I repeat the two star alignment, am again successful and when I move the scope with the handpad the same thing happens.? I see something flash on the AN screen but I am too far away to see what it says.

So I align for a third time.? This time to align on the second star I use the GOTO button on the SC handpad.? I get the beeps, and the flashing red light on the SC goes steady on.? I realize that I did not hear the beeps the first two successful alignments.? To me this is strange because I thought hitting Enter on the AN or the GOTO button on the SC handpad were exact equivalents?

This time I am able to manually move the scope to the first object I want to observe.? After observation, I choose the second object I want to observe in the catalog and start moving the scope with the SC handpad.? Again I get the reset described in the first paragraph above.? This time however I am able to see that when the scope stops moving the AN screen says "Argo Navis Initializing" before going into MODE FIX ALT REF.

I am powering both the AN and the SC off the powered ground board on my dob (a Starstructure). The current is supplied by a Pyramid AC to DC converter.

Obviously this is very frustrating and I would appreciate any guidance anyone might have.

Paul