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HC not connecting to Gemini

 

I realize this is an ancient topic, but I hope there are new things to try.? I took a stry G11 in and the G2 controller has this problem: G2 powers up, the hand controller displays the "welcome screen and the recalibration screen before switching to the black screen with "Connecting to Gemini" at the bottom.? And there it stays.??
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  1. I checked the battery I use as a power supply and it's fine.
  2. I changed the internal battery first off.
  3. I've reseated both mini-SD cards.? I notices there is a 2GB card in the G2 controller and a 4GB card in the hand controller.? Could they be reversed?? Is this a possible solution?
  4. I've tried four different cables.? Admittedly none of them is confirmed to work with a Gemini controller, but two of them work with old stepper motors, so some of the conductors are continuous.
  5. I've tried each cable is both Port 1 and Port 2.??
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Does anyone have any other ideas?
 

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Hi,
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Please start a new message topic with a better subject line and delete you post or better yet point to the new topic for best results.?
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Chip Louie Chief Daydreamer Imagination Hardware?

Astrospheric - South Pasadena, CA?
 

Have you connected a PC to your Gemini over Ethernet or USB or Serial? While the HC is not starting up, does Gemini respond to commands, report status, track at Sidereal, slew/goto, etc.?
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On Tue, May 13, 2025 at 06:52 PM, macdonjh wrote:

I realize this is an ancient topic, but I hope there are new things to try.? I took a stry G11 in and the G2 controller has this problem: G2 powers up, the hand controller displays the "welcome screen and the recalibration screen before switching to the black screen with "Connecting to Gemini" at the bottom.? And there it stays.??
?
  1. I checked the battery I use as a power supply and it's fine.
  2. I changed the internal battery first off.
  3. I've reseated both mini-SD cards.? I notices there is a 2GB card in the G2 controller and a 4GB card in the hand controller.? Could they be reversed?? Is this a possible solution?
  4. I've tried four different cables.? Admittedly none of them is confirmed to work with a Gemini controller, but two of them work with old stepper motors, so some of the conductors are continuous.
  5. I've tried each cable is both Port 1 and Port 2.??
?
Does anyone have any other ideas?
 

I'm assuming G2 tallboy
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First do you have another HC to try?
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Have you set Serial ports to ?? Sometimes serial ports are different baud rates (for GPS etc), the HC needs this baud. .??
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Its possible the microSD cars have been swapped over....you can read them on a computer to see their file contents.?? If they look ok you can still try rebuilding the appropriate cards files but do it one at a time to see results (but format the cards first).?? The MU SD card does write to the HC ARM and card.??
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If you are concerned....you can redo the SD cards with the correct files and reinserting them to write to the HC (of MU) by downloading combined.zip file.....and rebuilding both cards.?? Of course doing them one at a time or letting the MU update the HC.? Then inserting them....letting the unit to update itself directly.?? But just as easy to just do the MU card and it will write to the HC.
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Lastly...if you have disassembled the HC......be very careful reassembling the RJ port "case end Plate" of the HC!?? It is cut lower on one side and you can make it fit both ways (aka upside down).?? But if you do this (put it in upside down) the port RJ fingers will be pressed or forced up away from contact with the cable pins.?? Only close inspection shows this.?? this drops out coms to the HC....all you ever see...if it gets power and GND....is the splash screen.?? Now you would think that this forces away all the contact fingers....no I did it it just forced the rxd pin away, it still have pwr (5V) and GND....just contacting (intermittently).
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Get back
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Cheers
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Brendan
 

WRT To the HC end plate "wrong way round".....these images show the issue and what happens.?? Its important users know this if they take the HC apart.?? There should be no reason except to clean the screen.?? But......if you go further you can cause this.
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This HC has been operating now is not....but it does have cracked display....and that Rj pin in the air...is it contacting the RJ plug?
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Brendan
 

Thank you for taking time to answer my question.? Here are answers to specific questions in previous posts:?
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  • I do not have another G2, I was able to test the motors using one of my Gemini I units.? The motors work fine.? The G2 unit appears to start up properly, but the G2 hand controller gets hung up after the RESET screen.
  • I don not have a second G2 hand controller, nor do I have access to one.
  • I have not used the ethernet connection to connect G2 directly to my computer.? I haven't had a G2 in several years, so I'll have to learn how to do that again.? I know there's a YouTube video for that. :-)
  • I did remove the back cover of the hand controller to check the mini-SD card, but I didn't remove the end "plate".? Hopefully I didn't do any damage to the RJ jack, but I'll check.?
  • I hope I don't have to rewrite the SD card, one more thing to learn for a mount which will be sold soon.? :-)
Off to remind myself how to connect via ethernet...? Hopefully it's just baud rate.?
 

Apparently the unit I have in a Gemini 2 "original", as Brendan said, "tall boy".? When I open GeminiTelescope (which itself is pretty old), the only option I see in Telescope set-up is ethernet, there are no USB options.? Should I download a new copy???
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I have tried connecting using ethernet, both directly connected (with an ethernet/USB adapter, my laptop doesn't have an ethernet port) and through our router.? No luck with the "direct" connection (is it still direct if you have an adapter?).? No luck through our router, but then I haven't been able to trouble shoot that.? It's been so long since I logged in to our router I can't do it so I don't know if our router has even recognized the Gemini unit.??
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I've posted screen shots of the error pop-ups I get when Gemini fails to connect.
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I guess I need a bit of a break to figure out what to try next.? At this moment I'm flailing.?

G2 unknown.jpg
G2 connection error.jpg
G2 telescope setup.jpg

 

John
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Some routers you can log in to and see if the Gemini is being seen on your router (or network). ? Aka to find if the Gemini is on a different Ethernet address, for some reason.?

By far easiest is to use ? ?Plug in a USB cable to your computer and your Gemini USB ¡°B port¡±. ?In windows go to system ¡­.. and under Ports ¡°Com & LPT¡± look for a USB virtual com port and its number and baud rate. ? If working it¡¯ll show a virtual com port (for your connection) and assign a port number.?

You can enter these port details in your (see figure 5) to connect to the Gemini. ?If it¡¯s all ok and you see the same com port in the ASCOM ¡°port¡± drop down box ¡­..set it and connect ¡­..you should be able to control the Gemini now over USB.?
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If the USB port is not being recognised you may need the from Gemini FAQs. ?

If you cannot connect to Gemini by Ethernet or USB and your HC is not getting past the ¡°splash screen¡± then it¡¯s most likely needs a repair ( or Losmandy) . ?If all this is not working I¡¯d expect the ARM is not right. ?You can open the cover, earth yourself to the case by touching it and gently put a finger on the ARM processor (centre of it¡­not the legs) to feel its temperature. ?If it¡¯s warm or hot¡­.the ARM is dead causing all these issue. ?Definitely need a repairer or return to Losmandy.?

Try the above. ?Lastly another neat ¡°cheat trick¡± is to use Gemini FAQs Web tutorial page, . ?On this page ¡­.if you have your Gemini connected via Ethernet, you can open this web tutorial page (linked above) and click on the hyperlink to or the other hyperlink: (or if it has a different address you found by logging into your router¡­.write that to your web page address bar)¡­.and click on it¡­.and it will open the Gemini web browser of your unit ¡­..if can be seen by your router or computer.
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If not¡­.then the system is not being seen it sounds like it needs to be looked at. ?

It¡¯s either your HC screen died¡­.then you should be able to still connect to the Gemini via ethernet or USB. ?If you cannot ¡­.then the problem is larger than just a bad HC.?
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FWIW some things to try. ?Get back on how this goes happy to assist. ? ?I know it¡¯s trying but best to try the USB and Ethernet ¡­.if you can connect via one of these. ? Then it¡¯s probably a dead HC screen.?

Do get back on this?
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cheers
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Brendan

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