How can I run synscan from android device on the cheap?

[spaceboy]

Basically as the title suggests. I'm looking to run a synscan mount from either stellarium or sky safari plus on an android device, tablet or phone. I'm aware there is some skysafari dongle thing but it's a bit on the expensive side for the amount of use I would see out of it so I was wondering if any members are aware of a way to do this on the cheap. It needs not be wireless or anything fancy. The intension is to make life easier to find double stars more so than anything else. I have always found this is the one area that is lacking and not very user friendly when just using the synscan handset.

 

Any suggestions welcomed.

[nightfisher]

Not sure about this, would you be able to connect the tablet via an OTG adaptor, i might investigate whether i can do this with my star discovery synscan 

[spaceboy]

There are ways to do it mate but it's whether I can get one within a budget. As with anything astronomy related it seems stuff costs the earth despite being what are relatively common components.

[michaelmorris]

Is there any particular reason why you are looking to use Android?  The reason I ask is that there are some very inexpensive Windows 10 tablets out there that will run EQASCOM and pretty much all other Windows astro software, much of which is free or very low cost.

https://www.debenhamsplus.com/p/1183249/zoostorm-sl8-i75-intel-atom-z3735g-1gb-16gb-7.5-inch-windows-10-tablet?refsource=DEadwords&refsource=Deadwords&gclid=CjwKCAjw5PDLBRB0EiwAh-27MoaIdjqD6prOlUAYloN7XYKYhBBAYYA9nDxf28ormdGyF4upyRjYbhoCezgQAvD_BwE

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Linx-810-8-Inch-Tablet-Bluetooth/dp/B01272MMQI

http://amzn.eu/2F59zDi

 

[Dr_Ju_ju]

If you are going to use a tablet, then use Ubuntu on it & run a full INDILib\KStars system (http://indilib.org/), which can then be remotely controlled from an Android device. Instead of a tablet you could use a Pi3 which will also run the mount cameras etc...

[spaceboy]

3 hours ago, michaelmorris said:

Is there any particular reason why you are looking to use Android?  

 

I already have an android tablet so it's one less expense. If the EQ mount got more use (prefer manual AZ) then it would be worth me throwing money at it but it doesn't. The only thing it really gets used for is high magnification on double stars and seeing rarely permits this.

[happy-kat]

It's £69 for the Bluetooth dongle 365astronomy do. How much would you save trying to make and splice one together. Could take a read of the virtuoso controlled by bluetooth thread it might be relevant.