Dave Smith

1 hour ago, JOC said:

 I assume the free version will do?

No. It needs to be either SkySafari 5 plus or SkySafari 5 Pro according to the instructions in the Synscan app.

Dave

Very much so. Earlier I couldn't get it to work again  but have now succeeded. It is important to have connection to the same IP address. So I am able to use my iPad as long as my Android phone is running Synscan. Phew ?

Dave

But it doesn't work the other way round, I.e. with Synscan on the iPad and SkySafari on the Android phone. So nothing is certain.

Dave

27 minutes ago, Stu said:

I agree with Dave here, I think Android is the better/safer bet.

If you did try then I don't think two adaptors are needed, you would just need to connect the device running Synscan to the Wifi adaptor and then the SkySafari device to the same network. It may work, but don't hold your breath!  

There is a good chance that will work. I have just used my Android phone to connect to the mount wirelessly with Synscan App and then ran SkySafari5 pro on my iP9ad and it worked!!!

I have an old iPod touch but couldn't get Synscan app to run so you may need to be careful your old phone is not too old.

Dave

The Synscan app will run fine. I'm not so sure about SkySafari. It may be possible with two adapters but I don't know how.

Simpler to get an Android phone.

Dave

OK I've plugged the wifi adapter in the handset but it doesn't power up so no go.

I'm not too keen to experiment much as I can use an android phone and don't want to risk damaging the wifi adapter.

Dave

2 hours ago, Stu said:

I hope I am understanding the question.

I think the AZGTi behaves the same way as other Synscan mounts. The handset connects to the mount as normal, then you plug the Skywire cable into the multi-purpose port and connect it to the iPhone. This gives serial connection and enables the phone to communicate. The key thing is that with iOS devices they cannot run two apps at once so you need the Synscan controller to control the mount as you cannot run the app alongside SkySafari.

SkyFi will (I believe) also act as the connection between handset and phone if you want to avoid cables. I'm not sure if the Skywatcher Wifi adapter will work in the same way but hopefully someone will check it out at some point.

Summary is that for iOS you need a handset to run SkySafari, you can't just use the Synscan app.

On my dob mount there isn't a multi-purpose port so if the hand set is plugged in then there is nowhere to possibly connect the wifi adapter. So I would agree with stash_old's conclusion.

However with an android phone or tablet all is fine

Dave

Very interesting. Thanks for the link.

Dave

23 minutes ago, stash_old said:

I think you will find that for some reason best known to Apple you need 2 Sky watcher Wifi adapters when using an Ipad and Sky Safari - Not done this myself but i am  reliable informed by someone who tests these items out!  Unless this is wrong now as something has changed!

Plus I seem to remember ,must be 3yrs ago since last used an handset , but by pressing ESC ESC you could realign an object and so not have to start realignment again -Again 3yrs since last used so might be wrong.

 

Clear Skies!

Thanks for that. I have seen that as well, but where on earth you would plug a second adapter in, I do not know? The Synscan app does work fine on the iPad. In the instructions for an iOS device it says enter the IP address of the device that runs the Synscan App. I haven't a clue how to find that. Anyone any ideas? Not urgent for me but others may find it useful.

Dave

Funny you should say that Ed. I'm on Wednesday evening if it is cloudy.

Dave

I have recently purchased this in the hope that I could control my SkyWatcher 250P GOTO dob with SkySafariPro on my Samsung Phone. The provided handset does not seem to have a straightforward means of correcting an imprecise alignment without going through the whole alignment process again. In SkySafari the align button does this with just one press.

The unit itself is quite small (see pic) and plugs in place of the handset.

The app "Synscan" is needed from Android Play Store or the Apple App Store for any ALT-AZ mount. "SynscanPro" is needed for RA-DEC mounts.

As long as the phone or device is set to connect via WiFi and the Synscan signal is chosen that is very straight forward and will connect readily.

For me the "fun" started when attempting to connect via SkySafari. I did watch a couple of YouTube videos but the instructions given did not work for me. There are no instructions provided with the adapter but there are some within the Synscan App. (although not very obvious).

The Synscan app needs to be active and connected to the mount and before trying SkySafari needs to have carried out an alignment. (This isn't necessary for testing purposes)

The settings for SkySafari need to be as follows.

Firstly choose the Scope type i.e SkyWatcher SynScan
then the mount type - in my case Alt-Az GoTo

Select Connect via WiFi
IP address 127.0.0.1
Port Number  11882

SkySafari should then be able to connect to the mount via the Synscan App.

In my case it did not. Much hair tearing (not that I have much!) and a few hours later it did connect and then later did not. Over the next 24 hours I managed to get connection twice but many times no connection.

To cut a long story short it turned out that I had my phone using a battery saving mode and the two occasions it had worked was when the phone was connected to the charger. So out of battery saving mode and it works smoothly every time.

Advantages of using the WiFi adapter.

1. Obviously no lead. It works at distances greater than you would need - I went into the next room and could still control the scope.

2. Much easier to read than the one line at a time on the handset. Particularly useful when choosing alignment stars - you can see a long list straight away.

3. The buttons on the Synscan App have more directions to choose (see pic)

4. Within the Synscan App there is a cool feature where the scope will goto the direction you are pointing the phone (or other controlling device) and you can then have all objects nearby listed for potential goto.

5. The Synscan App does also work on my iPad but have not yet managed to get SkySafari to connect yet. (I haven't tried very hard at this stage)

6. The sync facility in SkySafari is great e.g. on an open evening a child grabs the eyepiece and moves the scope off target, one button push and it will return.

7. The obvious advantage of using a star chart to choose an object. e.g. for finding things like the double cluster or double-double when you cannot remember the ngc or ic number.

WARNING - Since getting the adapter to work on my phone I have not had the opportunity to test it under the stars. Should I find it does not perform as expected I will report back.

At this stage I am delighted with my purchase.

Dave

Oh dear, the third eyepiece in a week! at least this time I managed to sell a couple of items to pay for it.

I now have 10mm XW, 17mm hyperion, 24mm hyperion, 32mm TV plossl and 30mm Moonfish. Also 2x and 3x barlows so am now happy.

There is an urgent need to now save as I would very much like to upgrade the focuser on my 250PX Flex tube dob and depending on how I get on with Barlowing the 10mm XW, may consider a 5mm XW.

Dave

13 hours ago, A40farinagolf said:

Hi,

I recognise that eyepiece ;-)  and I'm glad that you're happy with it, I have lots of kit for sale on UKABAS at the moment including a 5mm Pentax XW if you're interested.

I would love to have your 5mm and the other Hyperion but simply no funds at the moment. Fortunately the 10mm XW does Barlow well.

Dave

On 11/17/2017 at 13:09, Alan White said:

Looks like we are all buying nice eyepieces at present.
Also it's a fastest to the draw situation, some you win some you loose.

That is how I managed to get my 10mm XW Pentax. On AB&S it was the very latest ad so was able to snap it up.

Yesterday the postman brought this one along and the last two nights have been clear!!

I'm just getting back into observing (rather than imaging - which I will continue) and it has been great seeing old friends back in the sky. My view of M42 was the best I have ever seen in the 17mm (in a 10" SW flex tube dob)

and also had nice views of M81,82 the eskimo neb, M1, M36 and the double cluster. No more eyepiece spending from now on as I'm also on beans on toast for some time to come. I'm really looking forward to the next Kelling with dark skies.

Dave

The postman very kindly brought this one this afternoon courtesy of AB&S

It might even be clear tonight.

Dave

Many thanks for that Michael. I am just starting out in this game and that is so useful.

Dave

Thanks Mick. Downloaded and saved. Clicking the thumbnails works fine on my netbook.

Dave

An excellent idea, although I am far from completing the original 100. Unfortunately to access your files you have to create a Virgin Media account.

Dave