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[Scope Control]* Sticky Scope Control Buttons Lead To Runaway Slews Using Celestron WiFi (Solution: Will Be Fixed In A Future App Update)

Recently when using SkySafari Pro 7 with my Celestron Nexstar 4SE with the Celestron SkyPortal Wifi adaptor I found the altitude and azimuth controls would sometimes stick on. This was not related to issues with communication. A second tap on the control stops the motion immediately.

Didn't matter whether I was in Access Point mode or Direct Mode, or the readout speed (moved from 2 per second to 10 per second without any effect).

Telescope firmware was updated to the very latest version. iOS was at latest version on iPhone 14.

Is this intentional that the controls are sticky to allow for long slews or is there a bug?

Date Votes

74 comments

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    Keiron Smith Official comment

    DevOps reference: https://starrynight.unfuddle.com/a#/projects/7965/tickets/by_number/2724

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    Keiron Smith

    We will have this fixed in a future update - thanks for your report, Keith!

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    Dale Page

    Just wondered if there was an eta on this fix. Driving me mad:-).  This is so frustrating I’ve ditched sky safari for the time being.

    Thanks
    Dale

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    Keiron Smith

    Developers are aware of the issue and will provide a fix in a future update.

    Thanks for your patience.

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    Michael Haase

    Additional notes on this issue:
    1. The buttons stick if the user (accidentally) slides a finger more than about 1mm while touching a slew button.
    2. This is 100% reproducible, even in the “Demo Interface” preset.
    3. Contrary to another thread on this topic, turning off Multitasking on the iPad/iPhone has no effect.

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    mark mcintosh

    Additionally, I have found that the more you use the app in a session, trying to find a cause for "button stick", the worst the sticking gets. I have had a full lockout, where it was necessary to power down the mount to stop a runaway from crashing the OTA into the mount. My issue began the spring of 2023.

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    Keiron Smith

    Thank you Mark for these finer troubleshooting details!

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    Keiron Smith

    Thank you Michael for these finer troubleshooting details as well!

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    Mike Atkins

    Nice to see this is being looked into. I've been experiencing this since getting my XX12G. When runaway slewing happens I can usually stop it by just tapping a directional button. Since going to the Bluetooth dongle I have gotten rid of several SynScan WiFi issues.

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    Jeff Fishman

    This has been happening to me as well and its a PAIN. WHEN will this be fixed. I see it was reported 6 months ago.

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    Michael Haase

    It is supremely disappointing that this critical usability bug was not addressed in v7.3.3.

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    Jeff Fishman

    Got the new update today and I’ve heard the sticky keys are not fixed.
    I hope this isn’t the case, since it was reported over 1/2 year ago.

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    Dale Page

    Just tested. Still not fixed. This is appalling. Can I get my money back

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    Keith Fowler

    This is very disappointing. If this were open source, I could fix it myself.

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    Mike Atkins

    @Keiron

    I sent you a logfile when it happened to me this evening. Connection type is irrelevant, happens when connected to my SynScan Dob via Wifi or BT. Using or not using the SynScan app has no relevance either. Look towards the end of the log.

    SkySafari 7 Pro Beta v7.4.0.0
    Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
    Android 14/OneUI 6.1
    Build UP1A.231005.007.S918USQU2CXCG (Just updated to Android 14/OneUI 6.1 today)

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    Keiron Smith

    Thanks Mike!  Developers are working on it!

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    Bill Schroeder

    Now, April and the slew of buttons still have a plan of their own. I am a yearly subscriber. Please fix this problem. It can't be that complicated!

    Thanks

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    Behyar

    It would be great if this issue was addressed.

    Thanks!

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    Michael Barnett

    This issue is infuriating, not just a little.  If I cannot align my scope because of run away slewing, then SkySafari 7 Pro is useless for me.

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    Keiron Smith

    We have an app update coming soon, and this issue is being reviewed by developers.

    Thanks for your extended patience.

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    Dale Page

    @Michale Barnet: I hope this will be helpfull: I've got around it by using a windows laptop and Celestron's CPWI software. If you use a gamepad with CPWI the control can be really fine (better than with app).  Not quite so convenient but at least I can get aligned and do some viewing. CPWI has a reasonable database and you can always manually enter RA/Dec from Sky Safari, or any other software, in fact I've started using Stellarium as that will talk directly to CPWI

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    Jeff Fishman

    Yeah, tried to use Sky Safari Pro 7 with my Celestron 2 nights ago and the directional keys still have a mind of their own - Sticky.
    I really alienates me, as it makes the scope hard to use and slew to targets - and, isn’t that the point.
    This has been a known bug since late 2023z come on team - shouldn’t be that hard to fix. It worked BEFORE

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    Michael Barnett

    Dale Page: Thank you.  I like Stellarium and am becoming oriented with that and CPWI together on a laptop.  What I am missing is my observation lists in SkySafaria Pro that are very handy.  I hope Keiron Smith's "update coming soon" actually is soon.

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    Keiron Smith

    Developers are reviewing this issue for the next app update.

    Consider using Celestron's SkyPortal app for scope control at this time.  It does not have the sticky buttons issue AFAIK.

    Thanks for your patience.  We will get it done.

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    Dale Page

    @Michael Barnett: Had chance to look at Stellarium again today.  There is a way to create observation lists, just pretty hidden.  Try playing with bookmark lists (alt-b should get you there). You might get a couple of errors until you have an initial list set up but I think it may do what you want. 

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    David Wheelock

    Keiron Smith
    This is happening with me on Celestron SkyPortal on Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.  So, SkyPortal is not a solution or a workaround but another part of the problem.

    Very frustrating.

    I have a Celestron NexStar 4SE with the latest firmware updates.  I'm using it with the SkyPortal WiFi Module that I got about a year an a half ago.

    Curiously, the most recent version of SkyPortal available for my phone is from August 2023.  I have had many successful viewing sessions since then up until about 2 months ago.  There were occasional runaway slew issues during this time but not too bothersome.

    However, about a month ago the runaway slew issue became dreadful and makes it almost impossible to align the telescope using the SkyPortal software.  So, something changed.  One thing that happened between the time when it worked OK and the time when the serious problem appeared is that my phone upgraded to the new version OS, One UI 6.1.  Could that have introduced behavior that doesn't work well with SkyPortal?

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    Jeff Fishman

    Keiron Smith - Hello - WHEN is the next version to be released with the fix?

    We all want to know.

    Thank You 

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    mark mcintosh

    If it helps, my sticky button troubles began after updates 7.1.9 and 7.2 were downloaded.

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    Keiron Smith

    I think we can expect an app update in the next month or two.

    Thanks for everyone's patience with this very annoying bug.

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    Keiron Smith

    David, 

    Please test further and confirm the sticky button issues affects SkyPortal app.  As the app has not received the same update that affected the SS7 users, it is very unlikely the issue you are experiencing is related.

    Please test further with SkyPortal vs SS7 and let me know what you find.

    Does anyone else have sticky buttons on SkyPortal app?

    Thanks!

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