Repairing the EQ6-R Pro Mount after destroying the USB port due to a cable snag
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- Опубликовано: 7 авг 2024
- In astrophotography, cable snags are bad but some more than others. This one destroyed the USB port on my SkyWatcher EQ6-R Pro equatorial mount. Here is how I repaired the mount but I had to find a new motherboard first and that was in another portion of the world!
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Chapters:
0:00 Introduction
1:01 The EQ6-R Pro Motherboard
2:55 Replacing the Motherboard
4:35 Testing the Hand Controller
5:24 Testing the USB port
7:38 Summary & Night testing
#astrophotography,#TBAIC,#backyardastronomy,
I was talking with my friend today saying I was probably the only person who has technical problems 😅 Glad you got it fixed quickly. Clear skies are precious! Good luck 👍
Ha, you are certainly are not the only one. I've had my fair share of issues, but this one was my own fault. At least I was able to fix it ... for a cost. Oh, and the clouds are still floating through.
Clear Skies
Nice job Pat cable snags are always a worry now we need to wait for those pesky clouds to disappear.
Thank you,
Yep, those clouds are certainly dippy right now, which several more nights of them on the way ... ugh!
Thanks for watching my video.
Thanks for sharing this Pat and am glad you were able to fix it. I have had cable snags as well, fortunately I just ruined the cable. Cheers Kurt
Hi Kurt,
Yep, that is what usually happens to me ... I ruin the cable, but, as you can see, this time I wasn't so fortunate.
Thanks for watching, Kurt.
Hi Pat, I had to replace my board to of my EQ6. Mine didn't had a USB but was with a serial port connecter. I had replaced it with a board with USB connector. Much better than with a this special serial to UBS cable.
Hi Rob,
Oh yes, the USB connecting is much better than those old serial ports. I also ordered a special "Pegasus Astro EQDir USB Stick Adapter for EQMOD with RJ45 / DB9 Connectors" that plugs into the Hand Controller port. I will try that out and hopefully, will be a backup in the event I "screw up" again ... Ha!
Clear Skies, Rob
Good thing that worked. Thanks for sharing Pat. 👍🏻👍🏻
Hi Ron,
Thank you. Now that it is working, my sky has filled with clouds. Oh well.
Clear Skies for you, I hope
😮
Definitely saving this video in case this happens to me!!! Thx, Pat.
Hi Doug,
Well, I hope you never need to look at this video again, but I am glad I now have it available in the event you need it.
Clear Skies
Unbelievable what they charge for the replacement board. Even if the PCB is not produced at crazy high volumes like other consumer electronic devices, this still consts mayby around 15usd to manufacture + the aluminum plate. But I'm glad it's working again!
Thank you, Don.
I fixed it just in time for several weeks of clouds and rain. Oh well. Thanks for watching my video and your comment.
That’s awesome Pat, glad it works again! You’ve given me the inspiration to do this now😀 I have a motherboard for my EQ6R Pro, it’s been sitting there for months, but I’ve not done it. The mount works, it’s just the led light doesn’t come on anymore, but because the mount works, I’ve been reluctant to do it! Only problem is, I don’t have any paperwork with the new board!
I’m sure I’ll work it out🤣
Clear skies!
Hi Simon,
Heads up ... I had a devil of a time pulling the RA and DEC pins out of their sockets. Once out, they went into the new Motherboard easily. When you do get around to it, just do what I did ... take a picture of the MB before you pull out the connectors. That way, you'll have a reference source to fall back on.
Clear Skies
Thanks for sharing...it's good to know I wasn't the only one who had this happen as well. My issue was one night the scope didn't do its meridian flip and damaged the female USB socket on my 2600MC Pro camera. I ordered a new USB socket and soldered in the replacement. Over time I had to replace the USB female socket on my EQ6R Pro because it became unuseable due to wear (I bought the EQ6R used), but I didn't have to replace the plate or motherboard - just the USB receptacle. Not the greatest soldering, mind you, but it still works on both devices. Whew!
🙂
Hi Jeff,
Oh, I wouldn't want to de-solder the USB port, remove, then insert a new one and solder it in. But, in your case, it might not be pretty, but it works, and that's the bottom line. I have had snags in the past, but the USB cable usually was the only casualty, not the actual port.
Clear Skies.
Great Job Pat!! dodged a bullet for sure! CS.
Thanks Jason.
Okay, just how hot is it there now???
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy 114 today but gonna be cooler tomorrow only 109 😁. lows in high 80s.
Ouch! Too hot for me.
We've been in the low to mid-90s but with the influx of humidity, it feels more like around 105. Next week, our heat index will be flirting with 110. With all that humidity in the air, it makes for bad seeing, even if the sky is clear. I try to work the lawn/garden each day before it gets too hot. usually quitting before 2 pm.
Good result Pat. I had to replace my motherboard on the HEQ5. Hopefully you won't need to do it again but just in case Rother Valley Optics here in the UK stock motherboards and spares for most Skywatcher mounts and they are happy to give advice on fitting if needed.
Good to know, Clive. Thank you. Now, about those clouds...
Nice work.
Thank you
I just googled breakaway cables. Looks like they make them for gaming controllers. I guess I can see that - I always know when a game's not going well for one of my kids... We could use something like that for astro gear.
I've been looking at short extension cables to use as just that.
Hopefully, I won't need it.
You are lucky that you only damaged one board, I blew two one after the other. I have the same mount, and I was unfortunate to connect up a faulty cable (new). I sent it to SkyWatcher for repair (under warranty) when it returned I connected everything back up and the same thing happened, this time it cost me, and I was lucky that they had one left in stock. When I buy cables I often buy 2 one for spare so to speak, but this spare cable is hidden away never to be used. Cheers Robert Aust'
Hi Robert,
Wow! You blew out two motherboards? I didn't know a faulty cable by itself could do that. When it comes to USB cables, I have acquired numerous ones in different length, USB 2 & 3, USB A, and USB C. I would hate to shut down a rig for a lack of a cable.
Clear skies
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy Unfortunately it was a made up cable, it had the standard USB male A one end and a RJ-45 the other, purchased from a reputable astro dealer. I was unaware that the cable was the fault when the first board went, but when the second one went then I disposed of the cable, and the spare. Originally the mount was the EQ6-R but while it was at SkyWatcher for repairs they were kind enough to up grade it to the pro version with the USB port. Cheers Robert
@@newbee1016 ... I just acquired the Pegasus Astro EQDir USB Stick Adapter for EQMOD (on a 1-meter cable). It does have a special chip embedded within the USB plug for communication. I wanted to see if that would work as well, in the event I damaged the USB port again (you gotta know me). Well, it works but the baud rate needs to be changed from 115200 (from the USB connection) to 9600 bits per second ... both in the port setting on the computer and in EQMOD for it to work.
Well, I guess you learn something new every day.
Clear Skies, Robert
Hi Pat, I am building a rig to use from inside the house using NINA. To simplify everything was thinking that I won't need a USB Hub to connect everything on the scope if the WiFi Micro PC I use has 5 USB ports. Do you think that will work?
Well, you will still need to connect your camera, guidescope, and other accessories, such as a focuser to the mini-computer at the rig. If the mini-computer has enough ports, then you won't need a hub. Also, if your mount has WiFi, you can connect to it that way, otherwise you will need another USB port to connect it.
Does that make sense?
@@HeavenlyBackyardAstronomy Yes it does, thanks for your help, I have LeME Quieter4C winging its way to me now. I will see how well it connects using wifi and take it from there. cheers