SkySafari 5 & Celestron CPC connection?

[Dave47tuc]

Hi All,
Has anyone used this Celestron Skyportal wifi module http://www.celestron.com/browse-shop/astronomy/accessories/navigation/skyportal-wifi-module
With a CPC scope and Sky Safari 5 ?
Or with the Skyportal app ?
And a iPad ?

I cannot get the IPad to link to the scope!
In my settings on the iPad in the wifi I see
Celestron-17 I can click on that get the tick of ok.

But either app will not connect from there !
Just comes up unable to connect check settings.
In the SkySafari settings I have it set to scope type to Celestron wifi , but there must be something else that is wrong in the settings.

Does anyone who uses Celestron CPC and iPad
And SkySafari 5 know of the exact setting please.

Many thanks

David :)

[jeelan]

hey mate

i have the hardwire link between Skysafari 5 Pro and my CPC so none of your issues.

I note that you said you have scope TYPE set to Celestron Wifi? should it not be CPC? That's what I have on mine.

There's a couple of threads on CN regarding some potential issues with wifi connection. Not sure if any of these apply to you.

http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/527194-skysafari-5-pro-and-a-cpc1100-telescope/

hope that helps.

cheers
Jeelan

[jeelan]

User manual for Sky Safari 5

http://www.southernstars.com/support/manual/scope_setup.shtml

cheers
Jeelan

[Dave47tuc]

Hi Jeelan,
Thanks for your replies, I did set the setting to CPC but that still did not work!
I posted a query on CN and see what happens.
Cheers,
David.

[ChrisV]

Skysafari won't work with the skyportal wifi device. Which sounds stupid since Celestrons Skyportal app uses the skysafari platform. Whatever ...

The skyportal wifi device will only work with the skyportal app on an ipad or an android phone. That's what I've used. First time you do it use the direct mode.

[Dave47tuc]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for your reply,
The wifi unit did not connect with the Skyportal app either , but I have searched CN more and as I have only tried once I need to try again and change a few things to see what happens.

I really wanted it to work with SkySafari 5 as it has a much bigger data base especially my interest on double stars.

I won't give up and if the unit I have and thinking of going to the SkyQ and maybe should have gone their but I thought the units are the same :question:

[ChrisV]

David

Yes skysafari is much better. I bought a bluetooth-adaptor on ebay for ~$45 and run that through my ipad or android phone. Its easier to setup - I followed some instruction on usbconverters and cloudynights.

Chris

[ChrisV]

David

Here's the links to get usb-serial-bluetooth adaptors going.

On Cloudynights
http://www.cloudynights.com/page/articles/cat/articles/how-to-connect-a-celestron-mount-over-bluetooth-r2929
And on that postthere's a link to instructions on the usconverters website. I got usb-serial from mwave and a serial-bluetooth from ebay.

I have a celelstron advanced GT (not so advanced anymore). Depending on what I doing I use a usb-serial adaptor (using Cartes Ceil or Stellarium on a PC - Ceil has better control) OR a serial-bluetooth (Skysafari Plus on android).

Cheers, Chris

[Dave47tuc]

Well I tried again last night to no avail! I got the wifi unit to connect to the iPad but a message came up on both apps saying , wifi connected but unable to connect to telescope !
No matter what settings I changed the same message came up.

So I posted the same thread on CN and it has come back to me the wifi
Unit itself maybe defective.
How can one tell with out trying another one.
All a bit to hard for something that should be easy. I will buy a new wifi unit
But not Celestron and maybe I got burnt buying this second hand one I don't know.
Oh the the other message I get in the iPad settings is Celestron -17 and what I have read this is not right not enough power in the wifi unit !
As I'm only getting one red light not the full 3 .

So I will look for another alternative .

David.

[kon1966]

Hi guys, just thought I would let you know what I did to get SS5 and control working on android and ipad tablet, I just worked it out today, direct connect only and have SkyQ1 accessory.

I updated my ipad with latest SS5 software from apple store and could not connect to telescope via SS5 even though I had connected directly to skyq 1 adapter.

Android Tablet...
SS5 - no software version yet
SS4 - no support for direct connect via skyq adapter.
Celestron Sky portal - latest version supports direct connnect, have set the scope settings to "celestron wifi" telescope.

Apple Ipad...
SS5 - Direct connect as usual, go into settings and select "Celestron wifi" as the scope.
Celestron Sky portal - latest version supports direct connnect, have set the scope settings to "celestron wifi" telescope.

This saved me looking at getting the bluetooth adapter and should work with other celestron mounts which use skyQ and I assume the inbuilt wifi on the new evolution mounts.

Remember when in settings to set cord wrap, slew limits and backlash.

Hope this helps.

Regards
Kon

[ChrisV]

Thanks for the update. That's good.

So you couldn't get the ipad to do indirect access point so you can extend skyq range via a router etc ?

[kon1966]

Have not tried that method yet but should give it a go.

Regards
Kon

[Dave47tuc]

Well I pondered for a while what to do with getting my CPC to work with
Sky Safari 5 on my IPad, so I finally took the punt and ordered SkyFi3 !
https://store.simulationcurriculum.com/collections/skysafari/products/skyfi-iii-usb-wireless-telescope-adapter

I hope this unit will solve all my issues. Let you know when it arrives and I
Have it up and running.

David.

[Dave47tuc]

Hi all,
An update on this and yes it's been a long time , but the SkyFi3 works perfectly
Well with my CPC 800 HD . No drop outs even from my patio I can work the scope just fine in the observatory.
I just do a alignment with the hand controller then connect to the iPad and all good. So all those problems I had now all good.

David.