ASIair Plus direct connect to laptop?

[Swoop1]

I have seen lots of information about the ASIair operating as a wireless link to laptopes etc.

I don't image remotley (yet) and would directly connect the unit to the laptop itself.

Is this possible with the ASIair range?

I suspect it is via the ethernet port?

Love and kisses

Swoop1- a technnodunce

[saac]

I use mine connected via ethernet.  AsiAir connects to Ethernet power link adapter (TP Link) in the observatory. The other TP Link adapter is then connected to the router via a patch cable in the house and same with laptop.  Once connected I don't really experience any drop outs. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Adapter-Starter/dp/B00A0VBPLM/ref=asc_df_B00A0VBPLM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697232424421&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5975611752227285667&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9195049&hvtargid=pla-351804171988&psc=1&mcid=b160440fd238340f9170c277aa2e0a40&gad_source=1

Jim 

Edited July 1 by saac

[saac]

It should also be possible to connect a laptop directly to the AsiAir using an ethernet cable if you are not operating remotely - so no need for the powerlink adapters. This thread in the user forum explains the setup. If using a Windows laptop you would of course need to install BlueStacks to run the AsiAir App first.  Hope that helps. 

https://bbs.zwoastro.com/d/16636-connecting-asiair-plus-to-windows-11-notebook-via-ethernet

Jim  

Edited July 2 by saac

[Elp]

17 minutes ago, saac said:

It should also be possible to connect a laptop directly to the AsiAir using an ethernet cable

If the laptop has one, most modern ones don't, but some sort of an adaptor would be available.

Just a query, why not connect to the asiair over WiFi, it's certainly the most convenient unless transmission distance is the issue?

[saac]

6 minutes ago, Elp said:

If the laptop has one, most modern ones don't, but some sort of an adaptor would be available.

Just a query, why not connect to the asiair over WiFi, it's certainly the most convenient unless transmission distance is the issue?

I use a Dell Alienware which is one year old and came with ethernet as standard. I find the ethernet connection to the observatory is a lot simpler and far more reliable than the wif connection.  It's good to have the option. One of the reasons why I bought a second AsiAir Plus rather than the mini was the lack of ethernet  connection on the mini. 

Jim 

[Elp]

I went the other way, the WiFi connection is better on the mini so have more of them, though I think they've addressed this on the V3/4 or whatever version of plus now exists.

Also depends on laptop chassis, mines quite slim so doesn't have ethernet though has all the other modern connections.

Edited July 2 by Elp

[Swoop1]

1 hour ago, Elp said:

If the laptop has one, most modern ones don't, but some sort of an adaptor would be available.

Just a query, why not connect to the asiair over WiFi, it's certainly the most convenient unless transmission distance is the issue?

At ther moment, I stay with the scope whilst imaging (often looking like the Michelin Man when fully wrapped up) and prefer the data transfer speed of direct connect.

I am toying with ASIair or a Peagasus Powerbox as, the main reason for getting either is cable management.

Remote imaging as a future prospect is the reason the ASIair is a potential candidate.

[Elp]

2 minutes ago, Swoop1 said:

prefer the data transfer speed of direct connect

What camera are you using, even with a 294 my WiFi data transfer speed is decent from 10-15 metres away. It's not instant but why would you want it to be when doing long exposure?

With a DSLR I'd understand, you also have a data transfer delay between camera and air.

Edited July 2 by Elp

[saac]

My observatory is about 50m away so it was really no contest the ethernet connection is nothing but reliable. I also have ethernet running directly to the observatory but the powrline adapter provides extra flexibility in terms of where I can operate from in the house. 

@Swoop1 I don't know if you saw the post about the Toup Tek Astro Station.  This will compete directly with the AsiAir, not sure when it lands here in UK though.  The bonus is that it does not restrict you any particular brand of equipment. It may be something to watch out for. 

https://www.opticscentral.com.au/touptek-astro-station.html?ff=2&fp=5572

Jim 

Edited July 2 by saac

[Swoop1]

1 hour ago, Elp said:

What camera are you using, even with a 294 my WiFi data transfer speed is decent from 10-15 metres away. It's not instant but why would you want it to be when doing long exposure?

With a DSLR I'd understand, you also have a data transfer delay between camera and air.

Most of my imaging is done with a 290MC or a 533MC Pro.

I suppose my reluctance re wireless is experience of wireless instability, though when I use my Sony a6300, I control it using a crusty gen 1 iPad.....

[Swoop1]

1 hour ago, saac said:

My observatory is about 50m away so it was really no contest the ethernet connection is nothing but reliable. I also have ethernet running directly to the observatory but the powrline adapter provides extra flexibility in terms of where I can operate from in the house. 

@Swoop1 I don't know if you saw the post about the Toup Tek Astro Station.  This will compete directly with the AsiAir, not sure when it lands here in UK though.  The bonus is that it does not restrict you any particular brand of equipment. It may be something to watch out for. 

https://www.opticscentral.com.au/touptek-astro-station.html?ff=2&fp=5572

Jim 

Thanks Jim.

Not seen the Toup Tek. 

Visually, it looks like a covert ASIair......

I am happy with ZWO cameras so would probably stick with them when upgrading/ growing my collection so am not troubled by the lack of compatibility with other camera makes.

[Elp]

11 minutes ago, Swoop1 said:

Most of my imaging is done with a 290MC or a 533MC Pro.

I suppose my reluctance re wireless is experience of wireless instability, though when I use my Sony a6300, I control it using a crusty gen 1 iPad.....

You'll be fine with those astro cameras, transfer is quick over WiFi within 10-15M as long as you don't have interference (thick building materials/metals in between). The Sony might take a bit longer (hence the focus routine can be a bit annoying) but I've used my a6400 with it fine.

[TheChief]

On 01/07/2024 at 21:55, saac said:

I use mine connected via ethernet.  AsiAir connects to Ethernet power link adapter (TP Link) in the observatory. The other TP Link adapter is then connected to the router via a patch cable in the house and same with laptop.  Once connected I don't really experience any drop outs. 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-PA4010KIT-Powerline-Adapter-Starter/dp/B00A0VBPLM/ref=asc_df_B00A0VBPLM/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697232424421&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=5975611752227285667&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9195049&hvtargid=pla-351804171988&psc=1&mcid=b160440fd238340f9170c277aa2e0a40&gad_source=1

Jim 

Hello Jim,

Please excuse my ignorance on all of this but . . . . Right now my mount is set up in the backyard. Straight shot between mount and the tower in my living room is about 14 meters. However, our house is 8-years-old so we are well insulated and the walls block probably 50% of the Wi-Fi signal strength to begin with and completely knock it out probably 50% of the time. This resulted in me running a 30-meter Ethernet cable from the mount through the garage, laundry room, dining room, kitchen, and finally to the living room and my tower. I am desperate for a solution to this so I have been looking at this ASIAIR. After reading the posts on this forum, what you describe may be the solution I am looking for.

As I read your post, one of the power link adapters is connected to the router in the house and the other to the ASIAIR in your observatory and there is NO cable connection between the two power adapters? And, the power adapter in your observatory is NOT connected to the Wi-Fi with an Ethernet cable? When we designed our house we had several rooms wired with Ethernet. My tower is connected to the router (Wi-Fi?) via a very short Ethernet cable from the tower to the R45 outlet in the wall. That Ethernet connection increased the download speed from about 45 Mbps via just the Wi-Fi signal to over 410 Mbps when connected via the Ethernet cable. 

If I am understanding this, I plug one power adapter in to the wall socket in my garage and run an Ethernet cable from that to the ASIAIR that, if I buy one, is attached to my mount. This adapter is NOT connected to the Wi-Fi via an Ethernet cable. The other power adapter is then plugged into the outlet by my tower in the living room and a short Ethernet cable runs from that power adapter to my tower without being connected to the router (Wi-Fi) via a second Ethernet cable?

Am I understanding all of this correctly and writing it clearly enough for you to understand?

I need to do something to get rid of the 30m Ethernet cable before my wife or I trip over it one night and break a leg or something else. This sounds like a reasonable solution if I have understood everything correctly. A lot of help here is greatly appreciated.

TheChief

 

[Elp]

22 minutes ago, TheChief said:

Ethernet cable

I use mine at around 10-15M from upstairs, direct WiFi connection between my phone and air. The best airs for WiFi range are the gen3 plus, or the normal mini.

It's likely your home router WiFi extends far into the front or back of your house, the alternative for further range because router antennas are far better than mini computer ones is to connect the air to your home router wifi, then your controlling device connects to your home router. With either option there are zero cables involved.

[Tony Acorn]

I use the ASiAir-Mini and this sits on the west side of my 7-year-old house (also well insultated). In order for the wi-fi signal to reach my iPad in my kitchen (in the east part of the house), the signal has to pass through two double-skin, insulated and plastered walls and two single skin blockwork walls , also plastered on each side. The distance is 14 metres and all walls have electrical cables running down through them supplying light switches and power sockets.

The only time I have had issues is when the ASiAir-Mini is trying to resolve guiding issues due to haze / mist / cloud bands. When the OP's wi-fi becomes unstable, is it because the ASiAir unit is too busy trying to focus / guide? Just a thought.

Tony

[saac]

40 minutes ago, TheChief said:

If I am understanding this, I plug one power adapter in to the wall socket in my garage and run an Ethernet cable from that to the ASIAIR that, if I buy one, is attached to my mount. This adapter is NOT connected to the Wi-Fi via an Ethernet cable. The other power adapter is then plugged into the outlet by my tower in the living room and a short Ethernet cable runs from that power adapter to my tower without being connected to the router (Wi-Fi) via a second Ethernet cable?

Am I understanding all of this correctly and writing it clearly enough for you to understand?

I need to do something to get rid of the 30m Ethernet cable before my wife or I trip over it one night and break a leg or something else. This sounds like a reasonable solution if I have understood everything correctly. A lot of help here is greatly appreciated.

TheChief

 

That's basically what you do. The powerline adapter that is connected directly to your router effectively turns the electrical circuit (cables) in your house into a wired local area network allowing you to communicate to anything that is connected via another powerline adapter.  So long as you have an electrical socket that you can use that is nearby your AsiAir on your scope you should be good to go.  In the house once your main powerline adapter is connected to the router your laptop can either be connected to the router with an ethernet cable or if you buy a third slave powerline adapter you can use any electrical socket in the house and connect the laptop to it. Hopefully the diagram below makes sense but if you need any more infor just ask, happy to help. 

Jim 

Edited November 25 by saac

[TheChief]

More stupid from me. But first - the diagram is absolutely great in showing the connections!!

My router (Wi-Fi box) is located in the meterkast by the front door. I just checked and there is another wall outlet in the meterkast and one last empty R45 socket on the router.

Again, if I am understanding all of this, with the power adapters located as shown in the diagram and with the power adapter tucked away in the meterkast, I can still connect my tower using the short Ethernet cable from the tower to the R45 outlet in the wall next to the tower? And, I still control everything with my tower running APT and PHD2? Or, does PHD2 go away with the ASIAIR?

I just read your edit so I really hope you do not mind "holding my hand" through all of this because even with my background this astro business is still new and rather complicated for my old brain to make sense of.

I read your diagram again after posting this and just now saw the remark about a third power adapter. Would that be required when I can plug the tower into the house LAN with an Ethernet cable?

Edited November 25 by TheChief

[Swoop1]

I am finding that the connection between the controlling device and the ASIAIR Plus dropping out isn't causing a problem- the ASIAIR just keeps doing what I tell it to and, when I pop outside to check progress/ that the sky gremlins haven't parked their clouds overhead, I just connect to the ASIAIR again and take it from there.

[Elp]

You can improve the airs WiFi by connecting an SMA extension cable on the antenna port and then the aerial to the end of the cable and siting the antenna away from your OTA (IE on the floor). It improved my gen1 Plus WiFi connection significantly (though it was still problematic), so I've stuck with minis.

[Swoop1]

@TheChief- I use a powerline adapter to improve the internet stability on my home computer- ethernet cable from router to powerline adapter in the same room as the router- paired powerline adapter in wall socket in the same room as the computer with ethernet cable from this adapter to the computer.

In your example, your ASIAIR replaces the home computer.

[saac]

2 hours ago, TheChief said:

More stupid from me. But first - the diagram is absolutely great in showing the connections!!

My router (Wi-Fi box) is located in the meterkast by the front door. I just checked and there is another wall outlet in the meterkast and one last empty R45 socket on the router.

Again, if I am understanding all of this, with the power adapters located as shown in the diagram and with the power adapter tucked away in the meterkast, I can still connect my tower using the short Ethernet cable from the tower to the R45 outlet in the wall next to the tower? And, I still control everything with my tower running APT and PHD2? Or, does PHD2 go away with the ASIAIR?

I just read your edit so I really hope you do not mind "holding my hand" through all of this because even with my background this astro business is still new and rather complicated for my old brain to make sense of.

I read your diagram again after posting this and just now saw the remark about a third power adapter. Would that be required when I can plug the tower into the house LAN with an Ethernet cable?

Not sure what you mean by "tower, is that your PC?  Anyway, once you connect the main powerline adapter (the one that connects directly to your router) then all of the electrical sockets in the house become potential access points to your network (router) and, in turn anything connected to it. To gain access to the network at any electrical socket you will need to plug in a Power Line adapter - these will typically have one or two ethernet ports to allow it to then connect to your laptop/pc. Some Power Line adapters also come with a wifi repeater.

If you are using the AsiAir then there really is no need to run anything else in terms of controlling the mount - this will allow you to focus (assuming you have auto focuser fitted), do an initial plate solve, target acquisition, guiding and image capture. Regarding guiding, yes the AsiAir has a version of PHD2 embedded.  Once your image run is underway you shouldn't really have any need to run APT concurrently. Note if you are using a PC (running presumably windows) you will need to install Blue Stacks - this is an emulator for android and will allow you to install and run the AsiAir app. The AsiAir app will not run directly on windows itself but will run fine on via Blue Stacks. 

Remember as @Swoop1 said, once the AsiAir is up and running it is effectively autonomous and will carry on even if you should lose connection from the house. Of course the beauty of connecting through the ethernet or wifi from the house allows you to simply monitor how the imaging run is doing from the warmth and comfort of inside. The Air will however run and do its own thing without being connected to your laptop. That said, what I typically do is once set up and connected, I will use the laptop in the house to set-up say a mosaic and image plan and then run it, using the laptop to monitor and review the images as they roll in. 

 

Just spotted your question here. 

"Again, if I am understanding all of this, with the power adapters located as shown in the diagram and with the power adapter tucked away in the meterkast, I can still connect my tower using the short Ethernet cable from the tower to the R45 outlet in the wall next to the tower?"

If I understood you correctly the R45 outlet in your wall is the separate ethernet cable you have already installed in the house and presumably that connects to your router?  I'll be honest I'm not entirely sure how the powerline adapters would connect to that - I'm not sure you would need to as you effectively have the same thing now in your house's electrical network. 

Jim 

 

 

Edited November 25 by saac

[TheChief]

My main computer is an old HP tower. It seems, at least to me, that everyone now uses a laptop as their main computer. I am old school in that I have been using the standard full sized tower for a few decades starting way back when the cases were a light beige. My main computer is an old HP ENVY 700-327c. Still works just fine. 

I just finished reading the rest of your post! A lot of information to absorb. Just when I am finally understanding how run PHD2 with APT along comes ASIAIR to really mess up my poor brain. 

My main problem has been the Wi-Fi issue with running my mount in the backyard and controlling everything from my living room. Thinking this through, it may be better for me to try these power adapters first to see if that "fixes" the Wi-Fi issue. After that, then I will think about trying out the ASIAIR. I am just now feeling a little better about my feeble post-processing skills so I should not overload myself at this stage. Besides, from your location you should know that my weather has not been very nice lately - about 15 cm of snow the other day - so I am not spending very much time with imaging!

I greatly appreciate the information you have provided - you answered many questions that I will think about before I dive into the ASIAIR. The power adapter link you provided was for the TP-Link TL-PA4010 KIT AV600 kit. There is the TP-Link TL-PA7027P KIT advertised at €59,90 which looks very promising. 

Edited November 25 by TheChief

[Swoop1]

Before you get too deep into PHD2, it may be worth getting to grips with the ASIAIR as, I believe that guiding comes pre installed so the AIR will look after that also.

I will add here that I haven't delved into the guiding element of my ASIAIR PLUS yet, I'm still doing 120 sec unguided subs with no issues.

[saac]

4 hours ago, TheChief said:

I greatly appreciate the information you have provided - you answered many questions that I will think about before I dive into the ASIAIR. The power adapter link you provided was for the TP-Link TL-PA4010 KIT AV600 kit. There is the TP-Link TL-PA7027P KIT advertised at €59,90 which looks very promising. 

Yes my powerline adapters will have been superseded by now as I bought them about 5 years ago I think. The ones you list (PA7027P) look good. So with these two adapters,  the main adapter plugs into the router (via ethernet) and the slave (the second) would be located with your telescope and the asi air would plug into that.  That means your AsiAir is now connected to your router over your domestic electrical circuit. If you can now connect your tower to your router with an ethernet cable you are good to go and will be able to access your AsiAir from your tower pc in the comfort of your house.  If you cannot connect your tower to your router because of location or lack of ethernet ports on router then a third Powerline Adapter plugged into a socket close to your tower will sort you out. 

As commented on by @Swoop, AsiAir has Phd guiding embedded in the software and it is as easy as it gets to set up and run.  Good luck and keep us posted how you get on. 

Jim 

Edited November 25 by saac

[saac]

@TheChief I don't know if you have access to this model but it gives 3 adapters (one main and two slaves). 

Jim 

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