Ok, I got it to connect and slice ok.. as it turns out I had an acceleration modifier of 20 set which it didn't like.  When I set it to 0, everything sliced ok.

Now I've progressed to another problem.  Although it slices and goes through the motions of printing, it doesn't home itself or raise the print bed to start printing.  If I load something, slice it and hit print, it starts printing from wherever the printhead is and just strings filament off into space.

Sounds to me like you need a custom start code.  I am no where near my PC or I'd shoot you a screenshot.  I bet I can find a link though.

Now I've progressed to another problem.  Although it slices and goes through the motions of printing, it doesn't home itself or raise the print bed to start printing.  If I load something, slice it and hit print, it starts printing from wherever the printhead is and just strings filament off into space.

Is there an idiots guide to upgrading these two things?  I'm having problems printing any sort of bridge or span at .1mm with RH.85 and the default slicer, and understand that upgraded software wills help. Problem is, when I tried to upgrade it just generated errors when trying to slice.

I'm reasonably proficient t with software, but am obviously missing something.

With RH, you can install parallel versions. IIRC it is the same with Slic3r.

What platform are you on?

What are the errors?

I'm reasonably proficient t with software, but am obviously missing something.