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Sorry I had forgot about this thread - apologies !! 1. I use UDP not serial to talk to the ESP8266/ESP32 - later is faster but there are some problems. One as they use RTOS you have to be vary careful of the delays in your code(use none if possible or very small) else you will get time outs and no connections. The serial/TTL link is from the ESP8266/ESP32 to the mount using just 3 connections RX,TX and ground - 9600,N,8,1 works. 2. The other problem is that , depending on the hardware (so many clones), you will have problems using any serial connection pins on the ESP8266 as most are shared with memory SPIFF extentions(Wemos was the most reliable) and using the USB port on ESP8266/ESP32 is not reliable. I have found that ESP32's (best with built in OLED for info) at least allow you to use H/W serial pins but the info is sketchy/inaccurate to say the least - I used https://github.com/espressif/arduino-esp32/blob/master/cores/esp32/HardwareSerial.cpp. 3. The Android SynScan App does have some hidden extra's - tap the blank line between "Wifi" and "help" eight times move the screen up and down and extra inputs appear - a. The ability to input fixed IP address , resend tries ,read timeout,serial port . the resend and time out are important as this allows you time lag in getting replies over Wifi. The Fixed IP address also makes it easier to connect the Android Synscan App to the ESP device (in AP or STA mode) 4. You need to convert TTL on some mounts from 3.3v to 5v else ESP devices wont work and will be damaged. 4 channel logic converter work fine. 5. Depending on your Wifi set up on your ESP you may need to use ESP8266 Smart Config (works for both esp8266 and esp32) - this enables you to configure your Wifi on your ESP device - i.e. which AP to connect to if you are using the ESP in STA mode. Be very careful where you put the code for this as I had many problems (ESP device rebooting) until I found the correct place in my code plus a good delay(300) seemed to help after the smart config. The documentation is very bad about this - trial and error I am afraid. 6. My code (lots of versions) does not look anything like the clone bridge softwareI stared with (totally rewritten) but I may upload it at some point. 7. The set up works 75% of the time but ESP32 is still in raw dev and as I say ESP8266 has serial problems. I have found that using Ser2net (UDP version) and a RPI zero W(plus a CH340 or FDTI TTL serial convert) is far more reliable and at £12 better value and support is better. But I am still playing with ESP devices

If you are using Ascom and the Synscan Pro mobile Ascom driver you can use PHD2 to do guiding with the Synscan Adapter. You just get PHD2 to connect to the SynScan Mobile Ascom driver AFTER you have started(and connected the mount successfully) the Windows SynScan Pro program . You can still use Safari from your Android phone/tablet - you just connect to the IP address of the Windows PC. I have ignored ST4 method as I dont use it - but someone who has will explain the different set up.

Can even see the cars headlights across the fields the cloud is so low here - its b@@@@@y depressing - must be suffering from SAD

If I read you right you want to have both the Wifi Adapter and the Lynx cable connected at the same time? - if so my first answer would be no as there is no connection port that allows both and you are talking about two different interfaces - RS232/TTL to Wifi(Sky Wifi adapter) and RS232/TTL to USB/Serial Com port(Lynx). You can of course just do the obvious and swap them about as required. Maybe I am not getting what you mean

You mentioned "Pad" - is that an Apple Pad - maybe its not been updated but I can verify its on Android version 1.8 where "Prusling" states it is. Does make it bigger (buttons are the same size) just comes further up the screen. One question to all users does your App rotate ok ?

Pics from project - sorry for focus - hopefully it might inspire others to try similar approach. Basis of ESP8266 software (but modified) based on https://github.com/roboremo/ESP8266-WiFi-UART-Bridge. No able to control my Grab and Go dslr kit from just my Sony Android Phone using Synscan Pro App and Sky Safari 5 -line of sight comms about 20 feet max to keep 5 bar Wifi level On mounts that are 3.3v logic (Thinks thats AZeq6/5 - BUT check) tou could do away with the 5v-3.3v Logic Level converter.

Still the Apple O/S short coming/restriction I am afraid - oh well - one area Android/Windows wins

Sorry Kerry just trying to get things straight in my head - when you say App on Iphone - which App - I presume Synscan Pro - so What was the App that was unable to connect and was that on the same Iphone ?

Doesn't surprise me - but for the record what hardware(not Apple) did you have connected to the Mount and did this have Synscan App running on it and it connected to the AZEQ6 ? - the latter doesn't work then the rest wont ! As I say I have only tested this out with Android type hardware - weakness of Apple O/S !

Yes I did see them advertised on Flea Bay. "I trust there should be a very simple solution to connect via wifi or bluetooth." - LOL There is a balance between size the SOC and power consumption plus functionality - you are not going to get a pretty GUI interface,long range Wifi or Bluetooth etc They are small/cheap for a reason ! If you want the above I would suggest going down the RPI route with a 5ghz Network dongle (or dual) perferably with an Omni aerial - this one is without an aerial but is dual Wifi band https://www.modmypi.com/raspberry-pi/communication-1068/wifi-wireless-1070/wifi-dongle-dual-band-5ghz or https://www.modmypi.com/raspberry-pi/communication-1068/wifi-wireless-1070/wifi-dongle-ultra-long-range-high-gain-w-5dbi-antenna- you could then use the older non RPI (or zero) - this is perhaps more what you are looking for. This would give you remote access to the PI (via inbuilt ( Stretch PI OS) realvnc) , Longer range (2nd one says 100m line of sight), no hubs / external power and low power consumption , Ser2net (needs to be installed onto PI) using UDP (Wifi protocol) o connect to a USB/TTl-Serial cable. I have used this approach and it works but the costs do start to add up (£30 for the PI ,£15 for the Wifi dongle,£12 for the USB/Serial-TTl cable, £5 for the PI case plus sundries/time). or just buy a Sky Watcher Wifi Adapter . I am creating my "Esp8266 link" for my "Grab and Go DSLR" - where no of items,size,power usage etc does matter - it isn't being built to be pretty or even easy to set up via a GUI!

When I am totally convinced it works 99% of the time I will but for now its too new. So W.I.P

it would be simpler to use a cheap Android phone or Android TV box ,put the phone next to the mount(not compulsory) and connect to it via Sky Safari from you Apple thingy's. You could then do anything you like(again not tried on Apple)! I suspect but havn't tried it out you go use one of those cheap Android TV box's (£30) put that next to the mount , connect Synscan App on the TV box to the mounts SW Wifi Adapter do your 2 or 3 point Alignment then connect Sky Safari to the Android TV box (ip address and port 11882 on Sky Safari - if Apple version the same as Android). You would need to use something like VMlite VNC server on the TV box and have a Vnc viewer app on Apple (- think Apple allows you Vnc Viewer via Itunes) but only to load and do the initial alignment on Synscan App then disconnect and run Sky Safari. Stress I have not tested this as I dont use Apple I have tried the SynScan App (pro) on my TV Box - looks big on a 40inch TV

"I actually suspect not as I would assume that the Synscan app might only work with the Skywatcher WiFi unit." - no it works with any device that connects using either COM device (Windows version of Synscan app) or a device that uses UDP port 11880 AND it talks to the source port that Synscan app sent the message from. e.g. Synscan says hello to port 11880 on a device IP address of 192.168.2.3,via UDP, on outgoing port 1000 - device replies "Hi nice to meet you" from any port number BUT with a destination of port 1000. The trick being you have to set the device in the Synscan app and not use "Find Devices" . I have this running using a ESP8266 device. Works on Android and Windows even with ASCOM dont know if it works on Apple. Note try tapping the blank line 8 times between "Wifi setting" and "Help" under "settings ",then scroll up and down and it will show extra line "connect settings" which will allow you to put in a "fixed ip address" and switch off "find devices". -Works on Android not needed on Windows version no idea if that exists on Apple. But whatever device (thats the mount WiFi Adapter or Equiv) you use it must do the above "hand shaking" with UDP. Unsupported feature !!!!!!!

I have just finished testing my Alternative to Sky Watchers Wifi Adapter - I use ESP2866 chip wired directly to the SW AZ GoTo mount (should work with other SW mounts). The Esp2866 chip is loaded with a UDP to UART bridge (sends/converts signals from UDP (ip- ethernet) to UART(TTL3.3v) which goes thru a voltage level converter as the AZGOTO uses 5v for TX/RX - Ground is also used - else bang goes the ESP2866 chip). After pulling most of my remaining hair out I have got the device to work with Sky Watchers SynScan App Pro and Sky Safari on Android (Sony Xperia St21i tepo)- plus SynScan App Pro / CDC /Sky Safari (via Android but connected to SynScan via Windows) on Windows using Ascom Synscan Mobile driver. In a nutshell I now have an another Alternative to the Sky Watcher Wifi Adapter @ £60 costing £15. Last ones I made were using Raspberry Pi 3 and Raspberry Pi Zero(w) but using ESP2866 means no SD cards or operating systems I don know if my version would get over the Apple Ipad problems with the SynScan/Sky Safari App's - I dont own an Apple :-) Still have some more real world testing to do but looking good

IMHO and experience, not true in that 95% of mounts that can be IP/UDP wired controlled can be controlled via WiFi - e.g. Old SW AZ Goto mounts can easily be controlled via WiFi. E.G using Sky Watcher Wifi Adapter(£70) or build yours own. but there are caveats ! You can then use Planetarium software to point the device/Dslr (although horizon limitation problems come into play) if you are into Python programming you can supply AZ/Alt or RA/Dec positions(depends on the mount type) via Ascom (assuming your Mount can be controlled by Ascom) mount driver to point your mount You can even convert a lot of none WiFi Dslr's to Wifi devices using an RPI Zero W , VirtualHere and either Windows ,Linux or OSX PC's/Tablets - but yes the download to he PC is slower but acceptable. Then use something like APT/ByEos to control the DSLR - so about £70 including APT/RPI Zero/VirtualHere So there are ways and not at a great expense - especially if you already have some older kit - else buy the AZ-GTI which is a nicely priced item ( I dont work for Sky Watcher , FLO etc ) that could be "adapted" for normal photography - but watch he horizon limits. So not as bad as you "one finger" in IMO Now if it could follow a laser pointer that would be cool!!!!

Yep been there got the Tee shirt - always do it indoors - well unless its summer :-)

Tried the same thing using Stellarium(and stellarium scope) using Synscanpro in az emulator mode - works it seems even on an old Vista PC. I dont use Stellarium to control my mount normally!!!

What connection setting did you choose in the SynScan Pro App - if you are using a real Skywatcher Wifi adapter then it should be set (clicked) to UDP ! Was your Firewall blocking your connection to your Adapter. When you say "No sign of Ascom Chooser" what App/program did you use to connect to Ascom - should have been something like CDC , Byeos,APT or any other program that has an Ascom Interface. The SynScan App does not show the "Chooser" it only connects to the mount - this then allows Ascom interfaced software to connect to the mount via the SynScan App. Stellarium will not connect to Ascom without using Stellarium Scope! Have you tried using the "Emulator" connection setting in SunScanPro App - this will enable you to test out that Ascom is working correctly - if this works then Ascom is ok. Note you will be asked by the Synscan Pro App which mode (AZ or EQ) you want - this does not happen when you connect to a real mount as it knows what the mount is (except mounts which can be AZ and EQ - e.g. AZEQ6-GT) For testing purposes try using CDC even if you remove it later - its less confusing on Telescope Settings

So long as the hardware cable is correct it should - Both the Synscan App Pro and Ascom Synscan Pro (Mobile) do work with AZ mounts that I have tested BUT I use my own hardware not a Skywatcher Wifi kit. But it does show AZ connection is possible - my test was with an Old SWAZ goto which I have converted into a DSLR mount - works fines with CDC,APT but you need to connect in a set order (I have found). 1. Connect SynScan Pro to your hardware - it should recognise the mounts board as AZ (Note AZeq6 allows you to choose either EQ or AZ) 2. Once (1) is connected start you application - e.g. CDC choose Ascom and when shown the Chooser select SynScanMobile and press "ok" - you will be shown another window showing an IP address (I get 2 one is the PC and the other is the Mount) - note this window seems to like hiding behind other windows .You may not get it using UDP type connections. 3. Start any other App's and do (2) . Repeat until all app's connected 4. When finishing you should close the App's down leaving just the Synscan Pro app running this way you should be able to use the "Hibernation" button on the Synscan App - it remembers your settings and then reminds you to power down the mount. As I say I use my own Wifi hardware which presents a serial interface to SynScan App but the Skywatcher Wifi adapter should also work. I have not tried out the Skywatcher Ascom Mount (not to be confused with the Sky Watcher Ascom Mobile driver) so I dont know if that works at all with AZ mounts. Also note my set up uses Windows 10 and/or Windows Vista - works on both ! It would be interesting to know that the Skywatcher Wifi Adapter works - it should Clear Skies

Hi Ron , If you use Windows and APT (and maybe BYEOS) to control your mount via the Synscan Pro Mobile Ascom driver APT will park "your" scope and the App will ask you if you want to store the details for loading next time - as per the handset of old that asked about staring from stored position instead of doing alignment again. Certainly works this way on Windows Tablets even on AZ mounts - Fully supported Ascom of course doesn't run on Android/Linux/Apple(except Win emulator)

Yep - same on all Goto mounts/software - totally relies on Alignment of some sort - which of course then comes down to clever Maths and hopefully accurate engineering plus human feed back or Platesolving to keep the Maths/Engineering correct. Simples - LOL wish it was! Android version number is the only thing to watch out for(i.e. older kit) - assuming its got full networking capabilities. It even runs on my "Smart" TV - LOL

As a FYI - I have been playing with the SynScan Pro app on Windows(Vista -- 10) and I have found that I can drive my old SWAZ GoTo using a WiFi RS232 I have had for a while - so thats SynScan App pro loaded then CDC loaded and connected via the SynScan App Ascom driver(hence the App has to be loaded first). CDC tracks telescope ok and you can Slew from CDC ok. Now APT got a bit upset ,when I connected it to the SWAZGoTo, bit that could be APT not being written for AZ scopes(!!). Anyway puts new life into old kit for a Grab and Go - if testing works out. Should also work with SkyWatchers own Wifi adapter if it supports older SWAZ goto kit = Happy Days

No don't do - Its not a good idea for reason explained else where (TTL signal,RS232 signals and voltages). If you want Wireless Ipad/Iphone and sky Safari you will have to buy SkyFi(£160) - maybe others Else it cheaper to buy an dedicated Android phone

So in a nutshell you can't use Skywatchers Wifi and Synscan app with IOS(1x) if using Sky Safari. Brilliant many thanks for the info

So does that mean ,on the AZGTI, Skywire gives you the "Serial" link that the Synscan App can use instead of a network connection - but you connect serial(RS232) Skywire into the Handset serial port and then connect the normal handset to mount cable. I.E. Wired not wireless ??????