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Scope will not connect - SkyFi 3 + Az-EQ5 + SynScan V5 Handcontroller + SS6 Pro + Android 9 (Solution: Use The Multi-Purpose Port On The Hand Controller)

Rwsmythe

May 19, 2021 02:11

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I can connect to the SkyFi3 adhoc network, I can connect to the SkyFi webpage.  Following a two-star alignment, SS6 gives the error message: "SkySafari 6 Pro can make a wireless network connection to the scope, but the scope is not responding.  Make sure it is connected and powered on.  Also check that your scope type is correct."  I have been able to connect to the scope once out of approximately one hundred attempts.  I have not been able to replicate the success.  The equipment data is below:

SS6 Pro v6.8.3.0

Android 9 v. 4.4.153-17214672 on a Galaxy S8+

Telescopes used: AWB 130mm reflector, AT102EDL refractor

SynScan V5 Handcontroller, firmware v. 4.39.15

SkyFi 3 using adhoc connection, connection is good (the config webpage is accessible)

Connecting to the SynScan controller via USB cable (USB in the SkyFi, USB in the SynScan)

SS6 Scope Setting: SkyWatcher SynScan

Alignment process is 2-star.

Additionally, I have verified that I can control the mount directly from a computer via USB connection using EQMOD.  I have also verified that I can control the mount via EQMOD and the SynScan app through the USB connection to the hand controller.

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12 comments

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  Keiron Smith May 19, 2021 15:42

  Please attach a photo showing this...

  Connecting to the SynScan controller via USB cable (USB in the SkyFi, USB in the SynScan)

  Thanks!

   

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  Rwsmythe May 20, 2021 03:29

  

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  Keiron Smith May 20, 2021 18:44

  What is the other port on the bottom of the hand controller?  What is the other port & wire being used for?

  Thanks!

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  Rwsmythe May 20, 2021 21:31

  The far left is the connection to the mount, the middle is a 'Multi-Purpose' port.  Attached are the pages of the hand controller instruction manual showing brief descriptions of the ports, a wiring diagram for the multi-purpose port, and some additional technical information.

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  Keiron Smith May 20, 2021 23:48

  Please try the Multi-Purpose Port in the middle.  Its not clear from the manual that USB can be used for computer control.  It may just be for firmware updates.  

  Thanks!

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  Rwsmythe May 21, 2021 00:51

  I anticipated that might be the case and have the Orion/Skywatcher version of https://store.simulationcurriculum.com/collections/accessories/products/telescope-serial-cable arriving on saturday.  Based on the wiring diagram included above, will that cable work with this version of the hand controller?

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  Keiron Smith May 21, 2021 02:04

  Excellent!  Should work!  Let me know.

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  Rwsmythe May 21, 2021 22:16

  The cable arrived today.  Following calibration, the mount immediately connected in SS6 and I was able to slew it in the app.  It looks like things are good, I will to a final test tonight to verify.

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  Rwsmythe May 22, 2021 20:05

  Testing last night was good, no issues connecting.  I had one unrelated issue with SS6 where activating the compass would cause it to behave erratically, but clearing the cache from the phone's maintenance boot mode menu cleared the issue.  Thank you for your assistance!

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  Raul Ortega June 09, 2021 21:18

  According to the same Orion manual, the GoTo controller should be able to use the USB port for control as well. However, I am having the same issues and ordered the cable just now. Very disappointing as I now how to wait longer when all the documentation states it should work via the USB cable.

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  Woody January 24, 2022 10:23

  Interesting thread.  I just received a new SkyWatcher AZ-EQ5 mount and am experiencing similar problems.  The manual says that the mount can be computer controlled from both the USB port on the bottom of the HC as well as the USB port on the mount itself.  As well as the "Multi-use" serial connections.  I'm currently using a known good SkyFi-III WiFi device with a known good Android phone.  I use both the SkyFi-III and phone successfully with all the rest of my mounts (AP, Tak, iOptron and Celestron).  I'm using SkySafari-6 Pro.

  So far I've never been able to connect to the USB port on the mount.  But I have been able to connect to the USB port on the HC -- about 6 out of 50 tries!  What was different about those 6 times it worked?  Beats me.  And I tried two different USB cables -- and was able to connect 5 times with one of the cables and once with the other one.  But once connected, I never lost the connection -- and everything worked as usual.

  All I can imagine is that the built-in USB to Serial adapter is crap.  For example, some cheap Chinese one instead of a good one using the FTDI chipset -- that actually works -- all the time -- on all devices.  Good thing there's a genuine RS-232 serial port on these mounts.  Well, at least it seems that way.

  I just ordered the serial cable mentioned above -- and have another much cheaper one (but supposedly also for my SkyWatcher AZ-EQ5 mount) from Amazon coming.

  If the regular RS-232 serial cables work, but not USB -- I'll take this up with SkyWatcher.  But to be honest, I much prefer using good old-fashioned RS-232 serial cables anyway.  And that way I can also use my old RN-270/SkyBT Serial to Bluetooth devices -- which I prefer for several reasons.

   

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  Woody January 24, 2022 10:27

  Oh, another really strange thing I just discovered with my SkyWatcher AZ-EQ5 and SkyFi-III device.  When I turn the mount's power OFF, but leave the USB cable plugged into the HC and SkyFi-III -- the mount's HC remains ON!  It's getting powered from the SkyFi-III.  What the heck?