I'm hoping to home (or is reference?still not sure of the terminology)
The controlling software, namely Mach3 does not know the actual physical location of an axis until told. The controlling software does keep track of how the axes move and the basis is it's owne value. When the axes have been moved to some location that your happy with to have as a reference, and tell Mach, then you have referenced the machine.
Now home is another location which can be anywhere but is usualy user chosen for convenience. Home can also be the referenced position.
Hopefully that covers it from a high level for basic understanding.
Alternatively, has anyone successfully used any other method for logging missed steps?
Why even bother looking for them? What do you consider correct?
DRO is position of the axes and is correct if the "system", i repeat "the system", is perfect. There is no such animal! We did test thats showed how adjusting the timing belt tension can have an affect on posiiton. We ran controlled tests and conpared pulse steams to an accuracy of 1 part in 29,000,000. Special equipment used both for the electronic and mechanical items. If you loose or gain motion for say 20000 steps per inch, then one step or pulse would be 0.000050" and that my friend is rather difficult to find even with a caibrated standard and 1000x microscope!
FWIW,
RICH