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[SOLVED] Synscan mount connection delayed due to serial timeout errors

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Hello!

I am currently trying to set up a Raspberry Pi 4B to use it out on the field. Installed INDI, PHD2, INDI Web Manager etc. via AstroPi3.

Installation and setup worked fine, but now I have a strange problem with my EQ6 Synscan mount. The Synscan-Driver successfully connects to the mount, but tells me that there are Serial errors:
2020-05-10T12:49:56: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:55: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:53: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:52: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:50: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:49: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:47: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:45: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:43: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:42: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:40: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:39: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:38: [INFO] Mount is unparked. 
2020-05-10T12:49:38: [INFO] InitPark: No Park data in file /home/pi/.indi/ParkData.xml: No such file or directory 
2020-05-10T12:49:38: [INFO] Mount UTC Time 1999-11-30T0:00:00 Offset 0 
2020-05-10T12:49:38: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:37: [INFO] Mount Longitude  0:00:00 Latitude  0:00:00 
2020-05-10T12:49:37: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:36: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error. 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [WARNING] Firmware version is too old. Update Synscan firmware to v3.38+ 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [INFO] Firmware version: 0.000000 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [ERROR] Failed to parse  to integer. 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [ERROR] Failed to parse # to integer. 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [ERROR] Failed to parse  to integer. 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [INFO] SynScan is online. 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [INFO] Detected mount: EQ3 GOTO Series. Mount must be aligned from the handcontroller before using the driver. 
2020-05-10T12:49:35: [INFO] Driver is running in Equatorial mode.

In fact, the Mount does react to all my commands from both the Indi-Panel and also from PHD2 (tried only the Manual-Guiding yet), but there is a certain delay, which could affect trouble while auto-guiding. The delay is as long as the time interval between the error messages.
I found out, that you can change this interval with the variable "SYN_TIMEOUT" in the "synscandriver.h", but because it is an integer, I can only bring it down to 1 second.
I connect the Handbox with an USB-to-serial adaptor (www.amazon.de/Sedna-USB-2-0-zu-RS232-Serial-Kabel/dp/B014KOI486), but I also tried to use another one from UGREEN, unfortunately with the same issue.
Could it be a problem with the chipset inside the adaptors? The one from Sedna has a CH341 Chip, while the other one has a FTDI 232R Chipset.

Also, I tried to connect to the mount with the EQMod Mount driver, but with this one I also get a serial error and I am not even able to connect:
2020-05-10T12:51:05: [ERROR] Error: Communication failed -> tty read failed, check connection: Timeout error[/code>]
 
A last suggestion was to use the Celestron GPS Driver which works perfectly with the EQ6 on Windows.
The driver tells me that it is connected, but also that the mount does not support pulse guiding. I can control the Mount delayless via INDI, but PHD2 tells me about a connection timeout... Log is also attached
 
[code]2020-05-10T13:09:22: [INFO] Movement toward South halted. 
2020-05-10T13:09:20: [INFO] Moving toward South. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Mount does not support retrieval of date, time and location. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Firmware v2.02 does not support date and time setting. Minimum required version is 2.30 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [INFO] Mount does not support guiding. Tracking mode must be set in handset to either EQ-North or EQ-South. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [INFO] Mount is unparked. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [INFO] InitPark: No Park data in file /home/pi/.indi/ParkData.xml: No such file or directory 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Firmware v2.02 does not support track mode. Minimum required version is 2.30 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Mount firmware does not support getting pier side. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Mount firmware does not support track on off. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Firmware v2.02 does not support track on/off. Minimum required version is 2.30 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Firmware v2.02 does not support updating time and location settings. Minimum required version is 2.30 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Firmware v2.02 does not support sync. Minimum required version is 4.10 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Firmware v2.02 does not support park. Minimum required version is 2.30 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [WARNING] Failed to retrieve firmware information. 
2020-05-10T13:09:07: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error 
2020-05-10T13:09:02: [ERROR] Serial read error: Timeout error 
2020-05-10T13:08:57: [INFO] Controller version: 2.02 
2020-05-10T13:08:57: [INFO] Celestron GPS is online.
Do you have any further ideas what I could do?

Thanks
Tobi
Last edit: 3 years 11 months ago by Tobias Uhle.
3 years 11 months ago #53531

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For EQ6, it's best to use EQDir cable instead of connecting via Synscan. At any rate, the logs shows the issue:
 [WARNING] Firmware version is too old. Update Synscan firmware to v3.38+
3 years 11 months ago #53536

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Hi Jasem,

what is the difference of this cable to my RSR232-to-USB adaptor? The Picture looks pretty much the same as my Adaptor looks like. Just the variant for "EQ3, EQ5, HEQ5, AZEQ5, AZEQ6, EQ6R, EQ8" seems to be a direct USB-to-RJ45 that plugs directly in the handbox.

I will try to update the firmware. I hope this works because it is the black "old" version of the EQ6.

Thanks
Tobi
3 years 11 months ago #53539

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Well, IIRC EQ6 has a 9 DPI connector, and EQ6-R has an RJ45? At any rate, you need a cable directly from MOUNT to USB, bypassing synscan controller completely. Then you can use EQMod driver which is a lot better than synscan driver.
3 years 11 months ago #53541

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Ah okay, got this, thanks! So i do not use the Handbox anymore? I believe that all from date-config to alignment is made via the software then?

I will firstly try to update the firmware, if this does not work, i will try it with EQMod.

Tobi
3 years 11 months ago #53546

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Good news! The Firmware-Update has done its job. Synscan driver does anyhow still throw the serial timeouts, but the mount reacts without delay. Also, the Celestron GPS driver tells me that guiding is supported now and connects via PHD2.

I think, I will stay with this config then. The EQDir is a nice idea, but i think it is way easier to do all the alignment with the handbox instead of using the Raspi. It should only be needed for Guiding, which should work now!

Thanks
Tobi
3 years 11 months ago #53615

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