{"id":1713,"date":"2021-03-26T13:22:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T13:22:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/?page_id=1713"},"modified":"2021-03-26T18:44:04","modified_gmt":"2021-03-26T18:44:04","slug":"eq6-appendix-development-and-software-releases","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/help\/rebuilding-the-skywatcher-eq6orion-atlas-mount\/eq6-appendix-development-and-software-releases\/","title":{"rendered":"EQ6 Appendix &#8211; Development and Software Releases"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-1714\" src=\"http:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/HEQ5-and-EQ6-History-Page.gif\" alt=\"\" width=\"915\" height=\"155\" \/><\/p>\n<table style=\"background-color: #181a3d; width: 100%;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>1-Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n<p>The Synta\/Skywatcher\/Orion Series of Equatorial Mounts have been around a considerable period of time. In an effort to capture a little of the history<br \/>\nI have created this potted history from web research. Dates where unknown are stated as such. Information was gleaned from Syntas own history<br \/>\nand various web research.<\/p>\n<p>As far as I know dates given are accurate but there may be discrepancies especially between country release dates for earlier mounts.<\/p>\n<table style=\"background-color: #181a3d; width: 100%;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>2-Release Dates and Versions of Mount Hardware<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Below is a potted history of the EQ6 and the HEQ5. You should note that due to the long supply chains and local stock situations some older mounts<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">were being shipped at various times and also some versions appear slightly different even from the factory.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The most easily visible differences in the mounts are the polar scope illuminators. No two mounts ever seem to be the same with some having very bright<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">LEDs and some having very dim ones. Some of the earlier versions have a dimmer control (EQ6 Only) set into the side panel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Mounts manufactured after 2008 are, based on\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">my own experience, better in many respects. The overall Quality Control (QC) seems better. Older<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">mounts were often loaded with a dreadful lubricant.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Even later mounts may suffer under lubrication and poor overall tuning. All mounts can be improved by<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">careful tuning and older ones imporved by cleaning out the factory lubricants and replacing witha modern lubricant such as TF2 or Superlube.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The EQ6\/NEQ6 and HEQ5 broadly comprise of three main units; The motors; the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">motor control board and the handset (the HEQ5 has two internal boards<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">one for the motors control and one for the power input the two boards are identical in function to the single board in the EQ6).<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">All of these are replaceable. The GoTo and Syntrek versions are identical as far as the mount hardware goes the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">only difference being the hand controller<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">while the non-GoTo versions use different motors and motor control boards.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">These are removed and replaced during a GoTo upgrade.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Early version mounts up to Early 2006 were shipped with version 1 or 2 handsets. These are non software upgradeable.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"su-table su-table-responsive\">\n<table cellspacing=\"2\" cellpadding=\"2\" bgcolor=\"#336666\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>2001 (Spring)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">First version of EQ6 Released. Tracking motors only. Rated payload for the EQ6 is 25kg.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>2001 (Fall)<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">First version of HEQ5 released. Tracking motors only. Rated payload for the HEQ5 is 15kg.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>2004<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">First version of Synscan released. Version 1 and 2 handsets are non-upgradeable.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>Early 2006<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">First version 3 handsets start to ship with GoTo (Pro) models. These feature flash upgrade options. A full listing of software updates is given below.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>Dates unknown<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Across the mounts development period some mounts feature slightly different features. Users had complained that early mounts had too bright an LED in the polar scope. Some mounts were supplied with a very reduced power LED while some other mounts feature a small rotary control that allows for variable LED power\/dimming.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>Date Unknown<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Syntrek versions appear. These have the same mount internals as the GoTo (Pro) version mounts but are not supplied with the GoTo handset. The GoTo functionality can be supplied via PC with third party add-ons. The Syntrek version may have only become available in 2008 with the roll out of Synscan Version 3.21 which allowed support for external serial commands to the Motor Control Board.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">2008 (May)<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">First NEQ6 versions of the EQ6 start to appear. These are initially supplied ONLY with the 300P telescope tube. First versions feature only an extended weight bar to help balance the 300P tube. Internals are identical to EQ6 versions. No data on Motor Board and some NEQ6s reported to have Version 1 MCBs (this is not validated).<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>2009<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Some mounts appear using an upgraded Motor Control Board (version 2). Version 2 Motor Control Boards allow for software dimming of the polar scope LED via the GoTo handset which combined with version 3.27 Software.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>2010\/2011<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">NEQ6 Mounts start to appear sold as EQ6s. Most have just the extended weight bar, a few start to appear with dual saddle plates which can be swapped out between a Vixen and a Losmandy Plate &#8211; this is a physical changeover rather than a dual plate and requires the user to remove the plate from the mount and replace it with the alternate plate.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>Various<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Across this period NEQ6 and EQ6 are often identical in everything but name plate although the NEQ6 always ships with a longer weight bar. All internals are identical. Some mounts ship with just a Vixen saddle, some with the kit which allows the saddles to be swapped and others with dual saddle plates which can accomodate either dovetails style.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>Mid 2011<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">All EQ6 Shipments are now of the NEQ6 version. This version features a single saddle plate which can accommodate either a Vixen or a Losmandy dovetail. All other specifications identical to later EQ6s.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>Dec 2012<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">EQ6 Alt Az First Shipments almost 1 year after being announced. Alt Az Mount features encoders, locking power plug (Country dependent) and belt drive. Synscan software is upgraded to accomodate features in Alt\/Az version (Version 3.32)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"CENTER\" bgcolor=\"#99CCCC\" width=\"130\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><b>April 2014<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<td bgcolor=\"#FFFFFF\" width=\"759\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">V4 Handset starts to ship to replace the older V3 handset. See software release notes below for full details of the changes.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#000000;border-radius:20px;-moz-border-radius:20px;-webkit-border-radius:20px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#000000;border-color:#cccccc;color:#ffffff;border-radius:20px;-moz-border-radius:20px;-webkit-border-radius:20px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1718 aligncenter\" src=\"http:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/HEQ5-v-EQ6.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/HEQ5-v-EQ6.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/HEQ5-v-EQ6-300x218.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>An EQ6 \/ NEQ6 Pro alongside my own modified HEQ5. Pro versions with GoTo are mostly white while the non-GoTo versions are most usually black. Weights for the mount head are given. <strong>Note<\/strong>: This applies only to European versions. American versions with the Orion Brand are often black even when GoTo equipped. Both mounts above are equipped with Astro Developments Alt\/Az Bolts.<\/div><\/div>\n<table style=\"background-color: #181a3d; width: 100%;\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr>\r\n<td><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><strong>3-Synscan Software Releases (most recent first)<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\n<table cellspacing=\"0\" cellpadding=\"0\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\">\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 4.36.02\u00a0Release Date 13th November, 2014<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><span style=\"color: #006699;\">Update to release version of V4 Handcontroller. See article below for details on differences<\/span><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><span style=\"color: #006699;\">between V4 hand controller and V3 hand controller<\/span><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<b><\/b><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">New Features:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">1. User configurable declination offset for a mount(e.g. EQ8) which supports Auto-Home function.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">2. Astronomical time-lapse photography.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3. Atmospheric refraction, cone error and non-perpendicular error compensations for better pointing accuracy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Cone error measured in 3-Star alignment can be used in subsequent 1-Star or 2-Star alignment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">4. Meridian flipping for GOTO can be enforced or disabled.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">5. New algorithm for alignment stars filtering to improve alignment quality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Bugs fixed:<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">1. Occasional irregular approaching at the end of GOTO.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">2. New firmware uses J.2000 coordinates for computer communication.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3. Unreliable Auto-Home when the mount is already at home position.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">4. Fix bug in time zone setting.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">5. Fix Astro Time-Lapse bug in v4.36.01 firmware and other minor bugs.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><b>Synscan Version 4 Handset versus Previous Version 3 Hand Conroller\/Paddle<\/b><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"color: #006699;\"><b>(Dateline January 2015)<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span>As of April 2014 the original V3 handset was replaced with the V4 handset. Some mounts shipped after April 2014 may contain<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">the V3 handset but all newly manufactured units will contain the V4 handset.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The handset has a slightly different appearance as can be seen below from the two line drawings. The change was required as<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">components used in the original V3 handset were no longer available forcing a redesign.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Functionality is more or less identical. Key changes are detailed below.<\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/astro-baby.com\/EQ6%20rebuild%20guide\/Synscan%20Hancontroller%20V3%20and%20V4.JPG\" width=\"567\" height=\"422\" border=\"0\" \/><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>POINTS TO NOTE ABOUT THE CHANGE FROM V3 TO V4 HAND CONTROLLER<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Unlike the V3 handset the V4 has no DC power input socket so it cannot be powered stand alone from the mount.<br \/>\nIt must be connected to a mount that has power in order to operate.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The V3 and V4 hand controllers are interoperable on any Skywatcher\/Orion GoTo system that uses the GoTo hand controller.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The V4 hand controller is\u00a0<b>NOT<\/b>\u00a0firmware compatible with the V3 hand controller. Skywatcher will provide firmware<br \/>\nupdates for\u00a0<b>BOTH V3 AND V4<\/b>\u00a0handcontrollers in the future as the requirements for upgrades arise.<\/span><\/span><span style=\"color: #990000;\"><b>BE AWARE THAT THE FIRMWARE LOADERS AND FOIRMWARE SETS ARE DIFFERENT<br \/>\nAND ENSURE YOU LOAD ONLY THE CORRECT V4 OR V4 UPDATES.<\/b><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">There is no need for existing V3 users to consider V4 as an upgrade. Functionality is not upgraded<br \/>\n(although there are some slight differences between the two hand controllers). However any users with<br \/>\na broken\/damaged V3 hand controller will have no choice but to move to a V4 hand controller as the<br \/>\nV3 hand contreoller is now no longer available.<\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Seperate manuals\/user guides are available for each handcontroller from the Skywatcher site.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\">\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.36\u00a0Release Date 11th July, 2014<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>New Features:<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<b><\/b><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">1. User configurable declination offset for a mount(e.g. EQ8) which supports Auto-Home function.<br \/>\n<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">2. Astronomical time-lapse photography.<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3. Atmospheric refraction, cone error and non-perpendicular error compensations for better pointing accuracy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Cone error measured in 3-Star alignment can be used in subsequent 1-Star or 2-Star alignment.<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">4. Meridian flipping for GOTO can be enforced or disabled.<\/span><\/b><br \/>\n<b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">5. New algorithm for alignment stars filtering to improve alignment quality.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>Bugs fixed:<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">1. Occasional irregular approaching at the end of GOTO.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">2. New firmware uses J.2000 coordinates for computer communication.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3. Unreliable Auto-Home when the mount is already at home position.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">4. Other minor bugs.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.35\u00a0Release Date 24th April, 2013<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<b><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Implemented an all new polar alignment algorithm.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The Latitude adjustment and Azimuth adjustment have been split into two steps.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. New adjustment allow users to set the maximum altitude for a GoTo slewing on equatorial mount.<\/b><\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>3. Some bugs were fixed<\/b>,\u00a0<b>including:<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">PAE inaccuracy in some regions of the sky, frozen of directional buttons after starting from parked position<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">and incorrect tracking speed after GoTo at the Moon.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\"><b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.34\u00a0Release Date 13th February, 2013<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<b><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Update from previous firmware of SynScan Ver.03.32.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/>\n<b>2. Fix the bug in connecting SynScan GPS at power up and enhance the reliability.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/>\n<b>3. In EQ Mode operation, recover displaying the Hour Angle of Polaris to providing assistant information for polar alignment.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The Hour Angle of Polaris can be viewed at the beginnig after the location and time settings, or can be browsed<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">at &#8220;Utility\\Show Information\\Polaris Pos&#8221; sub-menu. Under the sub-menu, Polaris Pos., press the scroll keys to<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">switch viewing between the Polaris position in polarscope and the hour angle of Polaris.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/>\n<b>4. Add editing of the interval time setting between exposures in the Configuration of Camera Control function in Utility.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">User may change and set the time interval between exposures from 1 seconds to 10 minutes or more.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><br \/>\n<span style=\"color: #cc0000;\"><b><span style=\"color: #000000;\">5. Temporarily disable the polar (re-)alignment function for the feature still under improvement.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<b><\/b><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\"><b><u><\/u><\/b><b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.32\u00a0Release Date 12th December, 2012<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<b><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Final version of 3.28 with all star polar alignment routine and software features to accommodate the EQ6 Alt\/Az version and the proposed EQ8 mount.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\"><b><u><\/u><\/b><b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.28\u00a0<span style=\"color: #cc0000;\">BETA<\/span>\u00a0&#8211; Release Date circa 31st March, 2012<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<b><\/b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">BETA TEST VERSION OF 3.28\u00a0<b><u>NOT\u00a0<\/u><\/b>the official SynScan EQ official firmware release.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">A new feature of Polar Re-alignment is added under Alignment sub-menu of the hand control in the firmware.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">This is an &#8216;any star&#8217; polar alignment routine.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td align=\"LEFT\"><b><u><\/u><\/b><b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.27 &#8211; Release Date 6th January, 2010<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Fix the bug in the SAO catalog regarding disabling the key- pressed slewing<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Problem: Unable to drive and slew the telescope with the directional keys after browsing the SAO catalog.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Result: The directional keys are properly activated after browsing the SAO catalog.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. Fix the bug in the User Object coordinate editing.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Problem: In the User Object function, under RA-Dec format, when the user enters an object with a declination angle between 0 and -1 degree the<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">value becomes positive after the coordinates are saved. This causes GoTo pointing inaccuracy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Result: The user-entered coordinates are saved properly.<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>3. Fix the error in the database of NGC, IC catalogs.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Problem: In the NGC and IC catalogs, the coordinates of the objects located between 0 and -1 degree in declination always read as positive.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">This causes GoTo pointing inaccuracy.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Result: The coordinates are read as their true values.<\/span><b><i><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3.27 also supports a polar scope dimming feature from the UTILITIES menus of the handset if the mounts<\/span><\/i><\/b><br \/>\n<b><i><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Motor Control Board is version 2 or above.<\/span><\/i><\/b><br \/>\n<b><i><span style=\"color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial;\">** This was not in the Synscan documentation.<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.25 &#8211; Release Date 24th June, 2009<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Fix the bug existed in the Time Zone Setting<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Problem: Unable to save the data entered by using the scroll-down key.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Result: Now the user is able to enter the data by pressing either the scroll-down and scroll-up key.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. Fix the bug existed in the PAE Function<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Problem: Incorrect data calculation occurred when the RA axis of the telescope (AX2) was pointed at a negative angle.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Solution: Now the PAE functions properly when the RA axis (AZ2) is pointed at a negative angle.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><u><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>Version 3.24 &#8211; Release Date 26th January, 2009<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<\/u><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1). Fix bugs in firmware version 3.23<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Now the hand control setting will remain upon power up, after the PAE function was performed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2). Improve LED and LCD backlight performance.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b><u><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Version<\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3.23 &#8211; Release Date 30th July, 2008<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Fix bugs existed in firmware version 3.22<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Now tracking mode is deactivated automatically when the goto object selected is an user-defined alt-azimuth position.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. Fix bugs existed in firmware version 3.22<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Now the hand control will not lock up when the user chooses to advance directly to the Show Position option, skipping the initial alignment procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.22 &#8211; Release Date 5th June, 2008<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Add SAO submenu in Object Catalog.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The total number of objects in database increased to 42,900.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. Enhance Show Position Function: display telescope current position by RA\/Dec, AZ\/ALT or motor drive readings of both axes.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The data display is accurate to one arc seconds.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>3. Add precession compensation in coordinates calculation.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>4. Additional information such as the rise, transit and set time of an object is available when browsing the information for an object.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">If a selected catalogue object is currently below horizon, the hand control will prompt &#8220;Below horizon!&#8221; for two seconds to notify user.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>5. Improve &#8220;PC Direct Mode&#8221; function and fix the directional key lock out problem in &#8220;PC Direct Mode&#8221;.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b><u><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Version<\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3.21 &#8211; Release Date 4th January, 2008<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. Smoother response to manual guiding and PC based autoguiding command.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. &#8220;PC Direct Mode&#8221; added.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">It allows the PC to communicate directly with the motor controller via RS-232C connection.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The RS-232C port of the PC should be configured as 9600bps, 1 start bit, 8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity check and no flow control.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Activate &#8220;PC Direct Mode&#8221; under &#8220;Utility\\PC Direct Mode&gt;&#8221;.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Press the &#8220;ESC&#8221; key to exit. The 4 direction buttons and rate controlling function operate as usual under this mode.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">This feature is also designed for future applications.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.20 &#8211; Release Date 16th November 2007<\/u><\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<b><u><\/u><\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><i>Improved the planet orbital calculation and fixed the inconsistent Double Star and Variable Star Catalogs.<\/i><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. The time zone setting has been changed to more precise in minutes for locations with half hour definition.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">For example, if you live in a region with -3.5 hours of time zone, the setting will be -03:30, indicating minus three hour and thirty minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. The planets&#8217; orbital calculations have been enhanced<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">based on &#8220;Keplerian Elements for Approximate Positions of the Major Planets&#8221;,<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">published by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The calculation data are available and reliable from 1800 AD to 2050 AD.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Most of the calculation precision will be within one arc minute and others such as Jupiter and Saturn will be within a few arc minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3. The Identify function has been improved to be able to identify planets.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/b><br \/>\n<b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">4. The inconsistency in Double Star and Variable Star database while scrolling the list has been corrected.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/b><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>5. In the SETUP menu, we add a Factory Setting function under the SETUP menu.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">You may choose to reset the settings to the default settings. Restarting the mount (switching off the power and turning it back on) is<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">required afterward.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Note: All the settings of Longitude, Latitude, time zone, daylight saving, backlash, PEC data, PAE data and previous alignment data will be<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">deleted, except for the user defined object coordinates.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.12 &#8211; Release Date 13th March, 2007<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1). More options available for alignment star selection<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Auto select or manual select, and alignment stars sorted by magnitude or alphabet. See &#8220;Alignment Stars&#8221; under submenu &#8220;SETUP&#8221;.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2).&#8221;Clear PAE data&#8221; added under &#8220;Utility&#8221;.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>3). Three parking positions available:<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">a. HOME +90 degrees (Northern Hemisphere) or -90 degrees (Southern Hemisphere) in DEC.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">b. Current Position Park the scope at currently position.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">c. Custom Position Slew and park the scope to the previously saved parking position.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">To save a parking position, choose one of the above parking positions under Utility-Park Scope, then turn off the power.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">(ESC to cancel and escape from the Utility menu.) If there is a parking position stored in the system, SynScan will prompt &#8220;Start from park position?&#8221;<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">at power up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><span style=\"color: #cc0000;\">4). IMPORTANT!! Re-enter the Time Zone data on your hand control after installing the V3.12 firmware.<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><b><u><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">Version<\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3.11 &#8211; Release Date 17th January, 2007<\/span><\/u><\/b><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">1. Firmware version and warning message displayed at power up, before the Initializing message.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">2. Daylight saving setup required throughout the year instead of just in summer.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">3. The hand control displays hour angle and clock position of Polaris after location, date and time are entered.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">4. Fix default backlash retrieving bug and set the default backlash as 0\u00b002&#8217;00&#8221; when the hand control is powered up for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">5. Fix bugs in PEC Training and PEC replaying.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b><u>Version 3.10 &#8211; Release Date 15th November, 2006 (First version for the V3.0 Handcontroller)<\/u><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>1. GPS function added<\/b>.<\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The SynScan hand control automatically retrieves Longitude, Latitude, and Universal Time for initial setup when the SynScan GPS is in use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>2. Criteria for alignment star selection implemented in the software.<\/b><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">The star alignment list contains only the appropriate stars for the time, location, and star alignment method selected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>3. Automatic backlash compensation when under PC control or slewing using directional keys.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\"><b>4. Adjustable beeper volume under SETUP menu &#8212; HANDSET SETTING.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">5. PAE function accessible from the UTILITY menu.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">6. Temperature and Power Voltage display under UTILITY menu &#8212; SHOW INFORMATION.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: Arial;\">7. Bugs reported in the 3.01 firmware fixed.<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Synta\/Skywatcher\/Orion Series of Equatorial Mounts have been around a considerable period of time. In an effort to capture a little of the history I have created this potted history from web research. Dates where unknown are stated as such. Information was gleaned from Syntas own history and various web research. As far as I &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":190,"menu_order":8,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-fullwidth.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1713","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1713"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1713\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1798,"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1713\/revisions\/1798"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astro-baby.com\/astrobaby\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}