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Controlling CGX mount with just a USB cable?

Chris Watson

July 04, 2017 23:09

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So I have read and read and all I see is information on controlling the CGX mount via WiFi of some form. Wether it be skyfi, or Celestrons wifi module. But I am not finding an answer to wether you can simply plug in a USB cable to the bottom of the Nexstar+ controller that comes with the CGX and the other end into a USB port on the MacBook pro and have sky safari control the scope via that cable. Using the same cable the HC is updated with from the MacBook. It seems the celestron documentation states that USB mini port on the bottom of the controller is for 2 things only. Updating the HC firmware with the Celestron CFM software *and* controlling the scope with ASCOM software via the same cable. But I can't seem to find docs on wether Skysafari will work like that to control the scope.

 

Anyone?

 

Thanks,

Chris

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7 comments

• 1
  
  Bill Tschumy July 05, 2017 00:05

  Chris,

  Yes, a USB cable running from the Mac to the bottom of the Celestron Hand Controller will work.

  Bill

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  Chris Watson July 05, 2017 00:23

  Thank you for the clarification Bill!

   

  Chris

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  David October 04, 2017 19:15

  Same question except will it work through the Lightening port on an iPad?  I have a female to female adapter that will connect two USB cable ends that normally plug into computers. There are also Lightening to female adapter cables that should do the same but the above adapter would allow standard cables to be used.

  So the question is does SkySafari 5+ communicate through the Lightening connector?

   

  David

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  Bill Tschumy October 04, 2017 19:21

  David,

  You cannot got to a USB hand controller from a SkyWire.  The USB-to-Serial adapters all need drivers installed to work.  You cannot install the drivers on the iPad or SkyWire.

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  David October 04, 2017 20:31

  Bill, you are saying the Mac has a USB driver allowing SS to communicate with the USB port on the HC and iPad does not have that ability?

  So the SkyWire with the docking connector connects via serial, not USB therefore no USB to serial adapter driver is needed?

  So how does the iPad cable communicate with my PC through its USB port?  Does it have a driver for the PC but not for the HC?

   

  I have a feeling I'm about to learn something new!

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  Bill Tschumy October 04, 2017 21:03

  No,  I assumed you wanted to put a USB-to-Serial adapter between the SkyWire (which is RS-232 serial) to the USB hand controller.  This will not work.  On the Mac, you can just run straight USB cable between the two.

  The iPad does not have a USB port.  That is a Lightning port.  Apple has secret magic to talk serial over it.

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  David October 04, 2017 21:54

  Thanks Bill for the explanation.  I was hoping I could get SS to work with an iPad with a cable connection.  It just does not make sense to add more battery powered hardware.