From: Milton Aupperle <milton@outcastsoft.com>

Date: October 1, 2008 1:05:24 PM MDT

To: Astro_IIDC@yahoogroups.com

Subject: Re: [Astro_IIDC] Re: Custom drive ratios disrupt tracking?

Hi KirkusMcGurkus;

On 1-Oct-08, at 12:48 PM, KirkusMcGurkus wrote:

-------- SNIP --------

Then something has changed internally. It worked before and now that  

your using the new motors (and likely firmware too?) it changed  

something internally that causes it to behave differently which is no  

longer the same.

There really isn't anything I can do about that, we send it the  

correct commands to move (which worked before) and now it doesn't,  

especially since Astro IIDC 3.x is no longer supported.

I was sure you were going to tell me, "Oh yeah. Go here and so this.

That'll fix the problem." LOL.

Unfortunately no. The commands we send over the serial port are pretty well cut and dried.

I may end up reverting back to the original gears. The thing was a

little noisier and didn't move quite as smooth... but at least I was

further along in the game!

As a possible suggestion If you were going on upgrading to Version 4 anyhow, why not upgrade (it's $35 USD) 

http://www.outcastsoft.com/UpgradingToAstroIIDC4.html

now and see if that works before you un-spend all the time changing it back to where it was?

We did make changes in Version 4 to only issue a "stop command" in the direction it's moving when guiding for LX 200  type mounts too, which might have been part of the issue. And version 4 can optionally issue 2 commands to guide on both axis at the same time too, so it's responds and corrects faster too.

Laslty, because Astro IIDC 4.01.00 is still in Alpha - maybe we can fix the issue your having if it's not too "weird" a behavior with the new motors.

HTH..

Milton J. Aupperle