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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

    So far, reports are looking good.  We still want more beta testers.  So, if this sticky button issue was a problem for you please join the beta and test the latest version.  You don't need a clear night.  You can fake align at home, indoors.

    Thanks, Dale, good to know!

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    Michael Haase

    I tested the beta SkySafari 7 Pro 7.3.6 (1111). The sticky button issue is resolved for all three of the presets I tested: Demo Interface, Celestron WiFi, and SkyWatcher SynScanLink.
    iOS 17.5.1, iPad Pro M4.

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    Keiron Smith

    Excellent, Michael!  Thank you for testing!

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    Michael Barnett

    Initial impression:

    From iPhone 11 Pro direct connect to Celestron Nexstar, mock run indoors - navigating to random stars, I did notice what appeared to be 1-4 second sticking, but only the arrow button illumination was on; no movement of the scope occurred (almost always 1 sec, rarely 4 sec).  I also noticed a couple of instances when response was delayed by 1 second.  Runaway slewing did not occur.  I could not deliberately stick the buttons on.  All slew rates 1-4 tested.

    From iPad 2 direct connect to Celestron Evolution, mock run indoors - navigating to random stars, I did not experience any sticking or delays.  Slew was active when my finger was in contact with the buttons and inactive upon release.  I could not force the buttons to stick.  All slew rates 1-4 tested.

    I will continue tonight with full activities from alignment to precise navigation while viewing thorough EP and follow up.  I'll also report in TestFlight.

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    Michael Barnett

    Performance under clear skies was flawless using iPad 2 with Evolution mount.  No sticking.  No runaway at all.  Operating slew buttons while viewing through EP is excellent.

    Not so much using iPhone 11 Pro with Nexstar.  Aligning to 3 stars was somewhat cumbersome, although vastly improved.  While runaway did occur, the duration did not exceed 1 second or so at slew rate 4.  Lower slew rates showed some over-shooting that required adjusting back and forth to center an object but never sent the scope across the sky.  These issues were also not consistent and entirely unpredictable as I could not force buttons to stick at all.  Compared with previous operation, this is nothing to complain about.

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    Keiron Smith

    Michael B, please provide the following info for your devices:

    1. iPad 2 iPadOS version
    2. iPhone 11 iOS version

    Thanks so much for your testing and reports!

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    Michael Barnett

    iPad 2 MGKL2LL/A running 15.8

    iPhone 11 Pro MW9H2LL/A running 16.6.1

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    mark mcintosh

    I have had 2 opportunities to use SkySafari 7 Pro 7.3.6 (1111) for Sticking Buttons.

    Using iPhone 14 pro running iOS 17.5.1. - Celestron Evolution Mount - and starsense auto align.

    The first test showed some minor sticking (less than 1 sec.) in the first 30 min. of use... Not every time I used the buttons, and only for left/right - Quite intermittent .... Then settled down to no problem for the remaining 2 hours of use. 

    The second test was for only 30 min., and I experienced no sticking.

    I did find the movement speeds to be irritating.  Speed 1 was way to slooooow - 2 was a little too fast. 3-4 seemed to be ok. Yes, I know this is about button sticking, but felt like venting.

     

     

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    Michael Barnett

    For what it's worth, I concur that movement at rate 1 is virtually indiscernible.

    I'll update my iPhone 11 Pro to iOS 17 and test for sticky buttons over the weekend.

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    Keiron Smith

    Mark, Michael, 

    Please be very specific about the issue with rate speed.

    What are you comparing this rate speed to?  Please be clear about the comparison of speed vs your expectations.

    Speed 1 is supposed to be very slow, you will notice the change if using a high powered eyepiece.  

    I believe the rate speed is controlled by the mount, not the app.  

    You choose Speed 1, and that sets Speed 1 on your mount, meaning, using the mount alone (without SkySafari), you should find the same speeds if using Speeds 1, 2, 3, 4, from the hand controller settings.

    Have you checked this?

    Thanks!

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    Michael Barnett

    Good point that I had not considered.  Thanks Keiron.  I will test at high power this weekend as well and follow up.

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    mark mcintosh

    When using an 6.5mm eyepiece and SS7 at speed 1, the movement is extremely slow. This is after the gears in the evolution mount have made full contact and drive has begun. I do not use the hand controller, which has 9 speeds, with the Evolution mount, and Starsense auto align. I am comparing this slow movement to the speed I have with SS6.

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    Michael Barnett

    Using iPhone 11 Pro/iOS 17.5.1 with Nexstar, I experienced no sticking worth mentioning - a few weird glitches that I could not reproduce deliberately.  Otherwise, I did notice that slew rate 1 moves only one direction for azimuth whereas alt is fine.  This is easily resolved by switching to 2 and then back to 1 for precise alignment if necessary.  Since rate 1 is limited to very high power viewing, it's not much of an issue.

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    David Wheelock

    Keiron Smith.

    Regarding the problem of the interaction between SkyPortal and OneUI 6.1, do we need to start a separate thread for that or can you proceed with the information that I have posted on this thread?

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