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SkySafari 7 Pro + SkyFI 3 Connects To Celestron AVX But Cant Connect To Celestron CGX Using All The Same Settings And Cables

I have indeed read a ton of other posts before making this one.

 

I am pulling my hair out on this one.   I just setup my brand new Celestron CGX mount and can not get SS7 to connect.  I get the dreaded message about connecting but mount not responding.   I have been through dozens of forum entries to no avail.

  1. First of all, I also own a Celestron AVX mount and everything works perfectly.  I am using the USB connection from Skyfi to the Celestron Hand controller.
  2. My skyfi and hand controller cable works on my AVX
  3. The same does NOT work with the CGX - it connects, but no response from CGX
  4. I have tried SS7 and SS6 on the CGX to no avail.  Again, both work on the AVX
  5. I can use the same cable from my Windows 10 PC.  Using Skytools4, I can connect and control the scope.  This uses ASCOM.  I believe it is therefore not the cable. 
  6. I have verified countless as per other entries the settings (i.e. mount type, port, IP, auto-detect, etc)

I am currently researching to see if there is some HC setting on the CGX that I need to change.  I think this is a long shot.

I believe in Occam's razor

Rich

Date Votes

7 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Richard DeMidio

    I was able to create a log file when trying to connect.  Trying to figure out what the error code means.

    =========

    Sent ASCII at 2023/10/01 23:18:02 with error 0:
    V#
    Received ASCII at 2023/10/01 23:18:10 with error -13:

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Richard, 

    1. Please link me to the Celestron product page for your specific CGX mount.
    2. Please attach a screenshot of the error message.
    3. Are you trying to use Windows 10 to make the connection with regard to this report?  
    4. Have you tried iOS or Android?
    5. What OS version are you using?
    6. Does your mount come with built-in Celestron WiFi?  Have you tried the Celestron WiFi connection?

    The -13 error is a timeout.  The mount has not responded to SkySafari commands in the expected amount of time.  Using SkyFi 3 we could say this problem is generally caused by:

    • 1. Failure to star align the scope before trying to connect.
    • 2. Choosing the wrong Preset in the SkySafari Scope settings.
    • 3. Some sort of cabling problem.

    But, depending on your answers the issue could be elsewhere.

    Thanks!

     

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Please also include your SS7 pro version number in your next reply.  Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
    Richard DeMidio

    Thank you for responding.  See my answers below. I am running SkyFi3, SS7 PRO, 7.3.0 (1101) on my iPhone and iPad.  

    1. Please link me to the Celestron product page for your specific CGX mount.

      I purchased through High Point Scientific but this is the link to the mount I purchased:

    https://www.celestron.com/products/cgx-equatorial-mount-and-tripod
    Please attach a screenshot of the error message.

    I will have setup everything in order to generate the screenshot.  It’s the message that says it can establish a connection to SkyFi, but the telescope is not responding.  I saw it tons of times on other posts.

    1. Are you trying to use Windows 10 to make the connection with regard to this report?  

      I am running SS7 PRO, 7.3.0 (1101) on my iPhone and iPad.  The reference to Windows 10 was an attempt to troubleshoot the cable.  I connected the same cable from the SkyFi to my PC and the other end into the Celestron hand controller.  The USB end that goes into SkyFi goes into a PC USB port.  The other end connects to the hand controller port.  I have ASCOM on the PC.  The mount was recognized and I ran software on the PC that connects to the scope and controls it.  I slewed to several objects as a test.  So, I do not think it could be the cable.

    2. Have you tried iOS or Android?

      Yes, my default is my iPhone running IOS 16.6.1.  Recall that I can connect to my AVX mount with the same SkyFi hardware and my iPhone.

    3. What OS version are you using?

      IOS 16.6.1

    4. Does your mount come with built-in Celestron WiFi?  Have you tried the Celestron WiFi connection?

      No, wifi not included.  I am  deploying the same usage model as I did with AVX which ran perfectly.

    The -13 error is a timeout.  The mount has not responded to SkySafari commands in the expected amount of time.  Using SkyFi 3 we could say this problem is generally caused by:

    • 1. Failure to star align the scope before trying to connect.

      I did a two-star alignment with 4 calibration stars, then polar alignment.  I can use the hand controller to navigate and view objects.  The scope slewed many times to targets that were spot on.  Then, I connected SkyFi and ran into the issues.  The scope is definitely aligned.

    • 2. Choosing the wrong Preset in the SkySafari Scope settings.

      I verified the presets and even deleted the CGX instance.   I recreated it and the wizard step checking the connection passed.  Mount type is Equatorial Goto (German) and scope type is Celestron AVX/CGE/CGEM/CGX.  It’s only when I press Connect in SS7 does it fail.  I also changed the timeout to 8 seconds at one just for giggles.  I can tell you that when I connect to my AVX, it is nearly instant for a successful connection. 

    • 3. Some sort of cabling problem.

      I tried a second cable and the same problem persists.  The fact that I can use the cable with my AVX leads me to believe it is not a cabling issue.

      I suppose that I could do a factory reset on the mount.  It was the second night that I have used the mount.  I did not attempt SS7 until last night.

    But, depending on your answers the issue could be elsewhere.

    Thanks!

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    Is this a CGX purchased new from Celestron or used?

    If you are successfully using a USB-A-to-USB-Mini cable from SkyFi 3 USB-A port to the AVX hand controller USB-Mini port; i.e. connecting and controlling the AVX with SkySafari 7 Pro - then it is not a cable issue. 

    Everything seems to be in order.

    Confirm the hand controller firmware is up-to-date.

    Factory reset the mount.

    Try again.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Richard DeMidio

    It's a brand new CGX purchased through High Point Scientific.

    My rig is setup for imaging right now so I will try your suggestions the next time I have a visual observing session.  Everything is working perfectly for my imaging so not going to disrupt that.  In fact last night, I imaged M11, Veil Nebula, M33, NGC 891, Needle Galaxy, and M1.

    Thank You,

    Rich

  • 0
    Avatar
    Richard DeMidio

    Factory reset on mount and SkyFi did not work. I will check on firmware but mount is 3months old. Nina and skytools4 work fine with same cable and hand controller. Ready to give up

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