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SkySafari 6 Pro | GoTos In Wrong Direction Using SkyFi + Celestron CGEM (Solution: Star Align After Polar Align)

Hi

Back in 2013 I purchased a SkyFi device for my then new CGEM mount.  I did not get much of a chance to use this device until recently.  Prior to use I upgraded the firmware successfully.  Using SkySafari 6 Pro I cannot get my mount to point in the right direction.  I have setup  SkyFi as follows

 

Telescope is CGEM (not Celestron WiFi)

I use Current Time and Location.

I am connected through the serial port on the bottom of the Nexstar Hand Controller.

I live in the Southern Hemisphere and have checked the coordinates .for my location and these agree with the cordsinates set in the Nexstar HC.

The scope is Polar Aligned

When I connect to SkySafari Prp 6 as a test and select say, one of the Octans stars close to SCP and press GoTo, the scope slews down and points rouchly 45 degrees toward the ground.  I do not seem to be able to get SkySafari to behave as I expected it would.  The manual is no help.

For interest my exact coordinates are Log +115deg 48 min 55.49 Sec Lat -32 Deg 10 min 53.91 sec ( Baldivis, Perth Western Australia)

Can you please explian why and what I must do to use SkyFi with my CGEM mount so it works?

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4 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Bill Tschumy

    Max,

    This should work without much difficulty.  A couple of questions:

    1. Is the "Set Time & Location" ON in the SkySafari Telescope Setup settings.  It probably should be.  This will ensure the mount and the software both think you are in the same location and the correct time.

    2. When you first connect, is the location shown on the screen the same as where the scope is actually pointed?  Is it only the GoTos that go in the wrong direction.  If so I bet you have either the mount of the software set to the wrong hemisphere.

    3. Did you enter the location in SkySafari or is it using "Current Location"?

  • 0
    Avatar
    Max Szmekura

    Thanks for your helpful and prompt response Bill.  Answers to your questions:

    1. I upgraded to SkySafari 6 Pro and you were right I forgot to reset the Telescope to my current Time and Location.  So that worked.  Problem is GoTo is out and I have to use the direction buttons a lot to slew to the right position.  I had to align a few times using the scopes Alt and Az controls but this did not result in any better pointing.  I must mention that I had polar aligned using Nexstar's Polar Alignment process.  Both the mount and SkySafari remained off centre no matter how well I thought I had Polar Aligned.  I think the mount was a tad better.  I purchased a StarSense and that worked very well for a couple of weeks and then refused to recognise my mount so I have returned it for replacement.  That as I say worked very well and needed very little adjustment.  I really would love to use SkyFi in tandem with SkySafari though as I it is easier to locate objects.  It just needs to be more patient I guess.
    2. The mount and the software are in the right hemisphere.
    3. Yes, I used "Current Location"

    All in all it has been a frustrating night.  I guess it will take some time before I get everything lined up properly.

    When I get my replacement Starsense, Can I use the Starsense HC which is USB connection at he base of the HC to use with my SkyFi which I think is first Gen?

    Once again thanks for your rapid response.

     

  • 0
    Avatar
    Bill Tschumy

    1. If GoTos using the hand controller are still off after polar aligning, then that indicates a problem.  I'll ask just in case, you did do a star alignment *after* polar aligning, right?  Both are needed.

    I seem to recall that the 1 generation SkyFi units had some sort of problem with the new Celestron USB hand controllers.  Maybe Keiron remembers for sure and can chime in.  Or maybe another forum member has experience with that.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Max Szmekura

    Come to think about it I may not have star aligned after polar alignment.  I did a lot of messing around tonight so my 67 year old brain probably overheated  :-)  

    I will have another go tomorrow evening when I am fresher and will tell you how I go.  

    It would be good to know if my SkyFi unit will work with the StarSense HC USB when I get the replacement so, if anyone out has had experience with the earlier generation of SkiFi I would be happy to hear from you.

     

    Once again thanks Bill.

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