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What Happened To The SkyWatcher SynScan Link Scope Type Option On Android? (Answer: It Is Now Called SkyWatcher SynScan - Read On!)

Up until last week, I was able to select the "Skywatcher Synscan Link" option from the scope control list in settings on my android device which is a "Fire 7" tablet running  OS 7.3.2.6. I have been controlling my HEQ5 for a number of years now with this setup. Suddenly, for some unexplained reason, the "Skywatcher Synscan Link" option was dropped from the supported scope list. On my iPhone, the Apple version of SSP6 still has the "Skywatcher Synscan Link" still available.

 I have uninstalled SSP6 and reinstalled it with no success, the "Skywatcher Synscan Link" option is simply, not listed. The Android version of SSP6 is 6.8.6.16 and the Apple version on my iPhone is 6.8.5.2. I would appreciate knowing how I can regain the "Skywatcher Synscan Link" scope option.

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12 comments

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Chris,

    Please update to the latest version of SkySafari 6 Pro for Android - 6.8.7.0.

    Then check your settings again.

    Amazon Fire tablets and the Amazon App Store are not officially supported, so not sure if that has something to do with the version number you are receiving.

    Thanks!

  • 0
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    Chris THuemen

    Hi Keiron!

    Thank-you for the reply. SSP ver 6.8.7.0 is not available from what I can see. Version 6.8.6.16 is what I am seeing at Google Play Store as I write. Is there somewhere else where one can access the most current version that you identified?

    Cheers, Chris.

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    SkySafari is only supported on Android and iOS devices, and MacOS computers - using the official Google and Apple app stores.  

    Amazon is not supported.  Fire tablets are not supported.  APKs are not supported.

    If you have a supported device the latest version will be available.

    Thanks!

  • 0
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    Chris

    I'm only seeing 6.8.6.16 on my Galaxy S22 in the Google play store.

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Chris, do you see the Skywatcher Synscan Link option in Telescope Presets?

    Thanks!

  • 0
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    Chris THuemen

    Hi Keiron!

    No I do not. But here is the rub. It was there last week. I have been using it for at least a couple of years now. It strangely and suddenly has disappeared from my device. Hard to image but that is what happened. I have reinstalled the app 3 times now, but to no avail. I am not sure this is a Fire Tablet issue. Is anyone else with version 6.8.6.16 able to access the Skywatcher Synscan link option??

     

    Cheers, Chris.

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Apologies, I checked with Ros about this previously, and we don’t have Scope Type "SkyWatcher Synscan Link" on Android anymore.

    SkySafari still communicates through the Synscan app, but on Android the Scope Type is just called "SkyWatcher Synscan".

    We know it is different in the iOS presets.  So, it would help if we unified the Scope Type names so they are the same on both iOS and Android in the near future.

    6.8.6.16 is the latest version.

    But, my statements about no-official support for Amazon Fire devices and the Amazon store still hold true.

    Thanks, Chris (x2) !

  • 0
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    Chris THuemen

    Hi Keiron!

    I appreciate the follow-up., but I am a bit concerned as to why the latest Android update, apparently quite suddenly,  has dropped the "Skywatcher Synscan Link" capability. The single remaining Skywatcher option  of "Skywatcher Synscan" does not follow what I would assume is an android protocol because what remains, it is looking for SkyFi connection that looks more like an iOS protocol with an IP address and a Port number. I cannot find any place to enter a port number in the Android protocols. I will be totally honest here, I have little to no programming knowledge but what I am seeing for the latest Android version of SSP6 on my Fire tablet, the "Skywatcher Synscan" scope option looks very much like iOS version on my iPhone...I have both open in front of me right now. What is still very much a mystery is that my Fire Tablet has worked well for 2 years or more and now is virtually useless from point of getting SSP6 running alongside the Synscan app. 

    What are the changes that SSP6 ver 6.8.6.16 has a simple typo in the code specific to the "Skywatcher Synscan" scope option.

     

    Cheers, Chris.

  • 0
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    Chris THuemen

    ...What are the chances....

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Please review the discussion here:

    Why Do I Get A Connection Failure Error Using SkySafari 6 Pro On iOS And The SkyWatcher SynScan WiFi Module? (Answer: Open SkySafari On The 1st iOS Device And Enter The IP Address Of The 2nd iOS Device, Not The IP Address Of The Mount - Enter Port 11882).

    If you want further assistance configuring the scope settings you need to provide all the following info:

    1. Apps and version
    2. OS version
    3. Device
    4. SynScan firmware, if applicable.
    5. SynScan app version.
    6. Screenshots of settings entered in SkySafari Telescope Setup
    7. Screenshots of settings entered in SkyScan Pro app setup.
    8. Screenshots of error messages.
    9. Etc.

    With all info we can ask another SkyWatcher user to help figure out why your settings are not correct.

    Thanks!

  • 0
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    Chris THuemen

    Hi Kieron!

    Once again, thank-you for your time and patience. I am not trying to operate the mount using iOS...really don't want to be using 2 apple devices for mount control. I am just trying to simply reinstate the functionality that I have enjoyed for the last two years while using my Android device and SSP6 which up until last week was working beautifully. It makes little to no sense that it so suddenly drops its connectivity after 2 years of relatively flawless functionality. I believe you would have to agree. It will be interesting to see if anyone else has a similar sudden issue.

     

    Cheers, Chris.

  • 0
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    Chris THuemen

    Folks!

    I may have stumbled upon a solution that appears to work for my Fire Tablet and SSP6. When I selected the "Synscan_WiFi_20ed" wifi option on my tablet, I checked the settings under that wifi selection(tablet specific) and it provided an IP address of 192.168.4.4. If you check in the Synscan app, you will see that the dongle has a default IP address of 192.168.4.1. So when it comes time in SSP6 to enter an IP address, I had to use the 192.168.4.4 as per what the settings on my tablet indicated the address was. Now, here is where the big leap in faith happened. Keiron, in one of the other queries in this section, a 2 page PDF from Teleskop in Europe titled, "SynscanWiFi_HowToSetupSkySafariForSynscanApp" was recommended and in this pdf they provided a port number of 11882. So...I entered this port number in SSP6 along with the 192.168.4.4 IP address and voila, it connected.

    There is, unfortunately, an issue now in that the connection is not very stable. Maybe, Keiron, you or others could offer some suggestions at this point. Getting connected is good, but dropping every few minutes is a frustration.

    I look forward to any thoughts!!

     

    Cheers, Chris.

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