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Does SkySafari Pro Work With The iOptron iEQ45 Pro Dual EQ/AZ (And iOptron AZ Mount Pro Alt-Az Go-To) Using The Built In StarFi WiFi? (Answer: We Made Changes To Support iOptron's New Firmware)

I have SkySafari 5 Pro on three Android devices. They have worked successfully with a DM-6 Basic Encoders Alt-Az Push-To using Astro Devices Nexus-II WiFi, and with an iOptron AZ Mount Pro Alt-Az Go-To using the built in WiFi.

I purchased an iOptron iEQ45 Pro Dual EQ/AZ with the 8407+ hand controller and their StarFi WiFi. The StarFi instructions for using it with SkySafari say the mount type should be "iOptron iEQPro & 8407+" . This mount type is not shown in SkySafari on any of my devices. Just in case I tried all the iOptron mounts listed with no joy. I also checked the Play Store and Sky Safari Pro 5 is up to date.

Can I use this mount with SkySafari? How?

Regards.....................Frank

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18 comments

  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    Frank,

    We have not had an opportunity to test with this mount.  Have you asked iOptron about this?  They are the ones that indicate this should work.

    Bill

  • 0
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    Mucklow, Glenn

    I could not get Sky Safari 5 to work with my AZ Mount Pro with the 8407 controller from my Apple MacBookPro, but it does work with the new Sky Safari Pro 6.  I understand that Sky Safari 6 was developed from scratch, not as an update.  Also, if you test it at home, get close to the mount to avoid interference.  I can also control the AZ Mount Pro from my iPad Pro and IPhone 7 with Sky Safari Pro 6.  Again, try moving closer to the mount if you have problems.

  • 0
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    Frank Davis
    Bill,
     
    I tried iOptron, but I think we have a failure to communicate, as they just referred me to their FAQs.  My guess is that they just listed the mount type in their instruction with the assumption that it was in SkySarafi. 
     
    I do hope that you can get this mount into SkySafari as I like both the mount and app very much.
     
    Regards...............Frank
  • 0
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    Frank Davis
    Glenn,
     
    Thanks for the tip, but I guess I will have to wait for the Android version of 6.  Too late (and old!) to change horses.
     
    Cheers...........Frank
  • 0
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    Frank Davis

    Hi Bill,

    Based on Glenn Mucklow's comment, I got a Mini iPad and bought SS 6 Pro for Apple.  The list of supported iOptron scopes is exactly the same in SS 6 Pro for Apple as in SS 5 Pro for Android.   Again tried all the iOptron types in SS 6 with no joy.  The WiFi connections worked but the scope did not respond.

    Is there any hope for me to get SkySafari to work with the AZ Mount Pro with 8407+ hand controller?

    BTW I like some of the changes I saw in SS 6.

    Regards.....................Frank

     

  • 0
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    Mucklow, Glenn

    I let the iOptron AZ Mount Pro go through its automatic alignment/GPS Satellite acquisition sequence and align it on whatever is visible to me first.  Then I try to connect with the Sky Safari 6 Pro SW on the iOS iPad Pro mobile device.  Again, try from very close to the mount at first if you are home with other WiFi systems around and not out in a field somewhere.  IF all else fails, I have also had success with the SkyWire direct RS-232 connection to the iOptron AZ Mount Pro.  The iOptron cable plus the SkyWire cable total 11 feet.

     

     

  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    Frank,

    Very soon we are going to work on iOptron scope control.  They have added some new scope types and (as usual) they have made some slight changes to the commands necessary to control them.  At that time we will see if we can re-verify all the scope types and make sure they are working.

    I know this has worked in the past with the 8407+ hand controller.  They must have changes something again in the firmware.

  • 0
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    Frank Davis

    Hi Bill and Glenn,

    I'm afraid I muddied the waters when I titled this thread saying it was about the iOptron AZ Mount Pro.  I should have said the  iOptron iEQ45 Pro Dual EQ/AZ.  I apologize.

    Glenn, your advice for the AZ Mount Pro is spot on.  I also have this mount and it works well with the built-in WiFi on both SS 5 and 6.   I got the iEQ45 for it's greater load capacity.  My confusion as to which mount you were referring to gave me an excuse to get an iPad Mini and SS-6, both of which I like.  Thanks.

    I think Bill understands which mount I am concerned about.

    Regards....................Frank

     

  • 0
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    Larry Hall

    Has the wireless connectivity problem with SkySafari (6 Pro) and the iOptron iEQ45 Pro Dual EQ/AZ mount been resolved yet?

    Thanks,

    Larry

  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    We have made the changes to support iOptron's new firmware.  IOptron has tested our changes .  Hopefully this will resolve all the problems.  We should be releasing the iOS version in a couple of days.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Frank Davis

    Hi Bill,

    I am still unable to get SS6 Pro to control my iEQ 45-Pro with the 8407+ hand controller.  The app says it can make a wireless connection when I use iOptron's Star Fi, but it can't control the 'scope.  I have tried with both Android and iOS tablets with no joy.  I just updated the Android version and the closest telescope that it shows is iEQ45 & 8407 which doesn't work for me.

    Regards........................Frank

  • 0
    Avatar
    Frank Davis

    Hi Bill,

     

    I posted the following on March 28th of this year and haven't heard back.  Still have the same problem:

     

    "Hi Bill,

    I am still unable to get SS6 Pro to control my iEQ 45-Pro with the 8407+ hand controller.  The app says it can make a wireless connection when I use iOptron's Star Fi, but it can't control the 'scope.  I have tried with both Android and iOS tablets with no joy.  I just updated the Android version and the closest telescope that it shows is iEQ45 & 8407 which doesn't work for me.

    Regards........................Frank"

     

    This telescope and HC still not listed.  Sure would like to be able to use it with SkySafari.

     

    Cheers.......Frank

     

     

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Frank, 

    You need to consult with iOptron support.  Also, any SkySafari fixes regarding iOptron firmware changes will only be included in version 6.  We are not updating previous versions of SkySafari.

  • 0
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    Luca Porfiri

    Hi Frank,

    I bought a SS6 plus Android, to control my iEQ 45-Pro with the 8407+ hand controller, using Starfi wif controller

    I can connect with Android app, using SS6 Plus, but scope cannot move.

    I can connect via web to settings page of the starfi, using both android and my macbook.

    May be possible to try SS5 to verify if the problem is in SS6? I have read people using SS5 without problem.

    Thanks

  • 0
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    Luca Porfiri

    Sorry! Mine was the error. I had not used the IOPTROPN Port to connect the Starfi controller.

    Now, it works fine, but ... the app hangs and sometimes crashes using the arrows to move the scope.

    If I use the goto ... no prob.

    Why?

    Thanks

  • 1
    Avatar
    CES Dewar

    I used to control my iOptron AZ Mount Pro  (firmware version 170410, controller: 8407+) just fine with my Android phone (Galaxy S8 with OS/7) using Sky Safari Pro (V-6.3.2.46). I had not used the mount since early this year, and just came back a week ago to try and control it with my Pixel 3 phone (Android 10), but with zero success.

    Have selected ScopeType: iOptron CEM/EQ Pro/AZ Mount Pro, with mount type = Alt-Az Go To
    Have CONNECT VIA WIFI checked, IP Address is 010.010.100.254 and port number is 8899 which matches iOptron mount. I see the iOptron WiFi network on my phone, and can connect to it (and stay connected), but all I get is Connection Failure when I tap the CONNECT button. There are three other astronomers with this identical mount, and none of them can connect either, so I (as an advanced Android programmer) have been designated to figure out where the problem is coming from. I have tried this not once, three times, but probably at least fifty times over the last week, constantly re-entering everything, double-triple checking that the IP address is correct, that the iOptron mount settings are good, etc. but absolutely no luck. I am going to try and update the mount to the latest V-190221 firmware (have to get a serial<->USB adapter to do that) - but it's not likely to resolve anything as this DID all work fine last year and revision history says it only covers "minor" bugs.

    At this point, I can see nothing else to try - there's always the possibility I am overlooking something, but I have spent most of a day googling and reading about this identical issue and various resolutions - all of which I have tried.Someone said the 'latest"SkySafari fixed it for them, but as near as I can tell I am already running the latest version of SkySafari Pro. I can connect my phone to the mount via HTTP://10.10.100.254  (I changed the iOptron mount name etc.) - so I know the network connection is valid - so It has to be an issue at the SkySafari end, right?

    Thoughts?

     

  • 1
    Avatar
    CES Dewar

    Just an update. SkySafari Pro still works fine to control my mount on my Galaxy S8 running Android OS/9 with the 170410 firmware, but the identical configuration on my Pixel 3 running Android 10 constantly fails. I have upgraded/downgraded from 170410 to 190221 and the Android 10 phone still fails. So there is DEFINITELY an issue with Android 10 that Sky Safari needs to address (which is a SEPARATE issue from getting 190221 to work with Android Sky Safari Pro) - just want to be sure that Simulation Curriculum programmers are aware of that).

    Regards,
    CESDewar

     

  • 0
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    Asimov

    I am in a similar situation as CES Dewar. I have an iOptron iEq 45 Pro which I am currently using in Alt Az mode (it supports EQ mode as well as Alt Az). I do not have the firmware updated (current firmware version 170410, controller: 8407+). I also have iOptron's Starfi. I purchased SkySafari 6 plus, on my Samsung S7 Edge running Android 8. When I try to connect to the mount from SS6+, I get the error; "The app can connect to the mount, but unable to control the mount. Please check if you have selected the mount correctly."

    I have selected ScopeType: iOptron CEM/EQ Pro/AZ Mount Pro, with mount type = Alt-Az Go To. I am trying to connect via wifi to the IP address 10.10.100.254 and Port Number to 8899. Please note I am trying to follow the directions on Page 3 on Starfi manual - http://www.ioptron.us/Manual/8434_StarFi_Manual.pdf

    Please help!!

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