The SkyFi 3 was a dream come true for a few weeks, then suddenly stopped working. The problem is that it will not Connect to the scope. The Wi Fi works, I get the Status page at 10.0.0.1, but then no scope connection. Last night, after doing a reset and firmware upgrade to the latest, it did start doing the Connect using my iPhone. But no connection using my iPad. The iPad Wi Fi works just fine on my home network. The iPad previously worked with the SkyFi. Both iPhone and iPad are running the latest version of SkySafari. Settings in SkySafari are the same for both iPhone and iPad. The scope has an Argo Navis, which has two serial ports. Both ports are used and working, and I have swapped functions of the two ports (the other port connects to a SiTech controller). The scope is wired for the SkyFi, and I have done continuity checks several times, but I can also use a known-good external cable. I also have a new Orion StarSeek -- after doing a reset on it, it does exactly the same as the SkyFi, that is, no Connect. Last night, I tried powering down the iPhone, which had no effect on the iPad. I'm running out of things to try.
15 comments
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Bill Tschumy Roy,
Not sure what is going on. It doesn't sound like a SkyFi hardware problem but rather a configuration issue.
1. Are both devices running the same version of iOS?
2. Given that you can get to the status page at 10.0.0.1 on the iPad, that would imply the Wi-Fi connection is fine.
3. We have identified a problem in the shipping version where the scope connection doesn't complete properly if you have fewer than 3 FOV indicators defined. You might check the iPad to see if that could be the case. The symptom is different than you are describing, but it is a possibility.
4. I know you have said the SkySafari scope settings are the same on the two devices, but some difference is the most likely explanation. You might try copying the [CurrentSettings].skyset file from the iPhone and putting it on the iPad. This will ensure they are the same. Use iTunes File Sharing to do this.
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Roy 1. iPhone is running iOS 10.3.3, iPad is running 10.3.2.
2. Yes, Wi-Fi is working.
3. Please provide an example of "FOV indicators" -- not sure what you mean.
4. Will do.
Thanks for the quick response.
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Bill Tschumy Go to Observe > Scope Display. How many Fields of View do you have defined? If less than 3, you might try creating a few more. They do not have to be ON, they just have to exist.
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Roy I used iTunes File Transfer to copy my iPhone's [current settings].skyset file to my PC, then overwrite the same file name on my iPad with the stored file. First time doing that but turned out to be pretty simple. I verified that both iPhone and iPad had 5 FOV's defined in SkySafari.
I tried it again last night. Results were the same as previously found. That is, the iPhone Connects, the iPad does not -- no change.
However, I should also mention that after each failed connection attempt, the SkyFi module produces no Status page at 10.0.0.1, in SkySafari or the browser. It may be hung, although the SkyFi Wi-Fi connection is still there.
In that condition, trying to connect produces an instant failed connection message. To get it working again I cycle power on the SkyFi. Then I get a better connection attempt, or at least more delay before the failure message. I never saw this behavior when it was working correctly. -
Bill Tschumy I've never seen the SkyFi get "hung". More likely the iPad has dropped the connection in some way. When you go to 10.0.0.1 and the status page isn't displayed, is there an error message?
When you say that "SkyFi Wi-Fi connection is still there", do you mean that the iOS settings is still showing you connected to SkyFi? If it is showing you still connected, tap the blue info button to the right side. The IP address assigned by SkyFi to the iPad should be something like 10.0.0.2 (The SkyFi itself is 10.0.0.1). Is that what you see? If you tap "Renew Lease", does that make it start working?
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Roy I started the session last night by verifying the previous symptoms -- that is, that the iPhone alone did Connect to the Scope in SkySafari and could do GoTo's, but the iPad did not Connect. To answer your questions:
>When you go to 10.0.0.1 and the status page isn't displayed, is there an error message?<
Yes, after a short delay: "Safari cannot open the page because it could not connect to the server."
>When you say that "SkyFi Wi-Fi connection is still there", do you mean that the iOS settings is still showing you connected to SkyFi? <
Yes, the iOS Settings page shows that I have a Wi-Fi connection to "SkyFi".
>The IP address assigned by SkyFi to the iPad should be something like 10.0.0.2 (The SkyFi itself is 10.0.0.1). Is that what you see?<
It was 10.0.0.3. I also had my iPhone on and I connected it to SkyFi Wi-Fi first, so it was probably 10.0.0.2.
>If you tap "Renew Lease", does that make it start working?<
I clicked "Renew Lease" and answered the follow-up question to, yes, renew the lease. I saw no difference after doing this -- still didn't work.
All the above responses involved the iPad. After about 10 - 15 minutes doing the above, I tried the iPhone again and found that it was no longer showing "Connected" to the Scope in SkySafari. And when I tried to Connect, it could not. I then checked to see if the iPhone was still showing a SkyFi Wi-Fi connection on the iOS Settings page -- it was. I went to the 10.0.0.1 address on the iPhone browser and got this error message:
Safari could not open the page because the server stopped responding.
After 5 - 10 more minutes passed, the iPhone stopped showing that it was connected to SkyFi Wi-Fi on the iOS Settings page. In fact, although SkyFi was listed as available I could not connect to SkyFi Wi-Fi. I got only the familiar endlessly rotating circle wait response. After about 30 - 40 minutes total in this session, the iPhone.no longer listed SkyFi as an available Wi-Fi connection. It was also no longer listed as available on the iPad. Also, when I later tried to connect my iPhone to my home Wi-Fi network, that didn't work either -- I cycled the iPhone power to restore that function. The iPad didn't have this problem -- it worked normally on home Wi-Fi.
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Bill Tschumy "All the above responses involved the iPad. After about 10 - 15 minutes doing the above, I tried the iPhone again and found that it was no longer showing "Connected" to the Scope in SkySafari. And when I tried to Connect, it could not."
This sounds like you are trying to connect to the scope via iPad while it is *already* connected via the iPhone. This is not supported and I can't predict what would happen - probably nothing good. Surely that is not the cause of all your problems, is it? You have tested the iPad while not connected via the iPhone?
I'm running out of ideas here.
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Roy Oh yes, I have tested the iPad alone (see my initial message), and that had no effect -- the iPad just doesn't Connect to the Scope now.
Actually, when my SkyFi was new and working wonderfully well, both iPad and iPhone connected at the same time to the same telescope was no problem at all. In fact it was great. A change on one device would immediately be reflected on the other. So I used the handy iPhone while up the ladder at the eyepiece, and the iPad with its larger screen while on the ground. And both stayed connected to the scope and synchronized despite going into standby when not used for a few minutes. I saw no reason why this shouldn't work since the SkyFi creates a "normal" Wi-Fi network, just like my home router, which also handles multiple devices. Also, the SkyFi setup info includes warnings to use a password, etc. to prevent others from controlling my telescope -- I just turned that around to make use of that "capability".
But what about the SkyFi Wi-Fi disappearing from the iOS Settings page? Does that indicate that the SkyFi device has stopped working?
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Bill Tschumy I said: "This is not supported and I can't predict what would happen - probably nothing good". It might work partially. This is not like a router that can service many clients. When we send a command to the mount, we often expect a response. It is not clear which of the client apps will receive the response. Possibly it is sent to both. But then an app may receive the response without being the one that asked for the data and who knows what might happen. If it is working for you then great, but it is not a mode we claim to support.
I have no idea why the SkyFi disappears off the iOS settings page. Something is confused somewhere. Could be iOS of it could be the SkyFi. If you can still join the SkyFi from a different device when in this state, that would imply it is not SkyFi.
I don't know how to track this down further. It is something very specific to your configuration. There are two more things I can suggest:
1. Reboot the iPad if you haven't
2. Make sure the SkyFi is updated to the latest firmware (http://www.skysafariastronomy.com/skyfi-3-professional-astronomy-telescope-control.html). Look midway down the page.
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Keiron Smith Hi Roy,
You said "I also have a new Orion StarSeek -- after doing a reset on it, it does exactly the same as the SkyFi, that is, no Connect."
Do you get the same result with the Orion StarSeek in that you CAN connect with SkySafari on the iPhone but you can NOT connect with SkySafari on the iPad?
Thanks!
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Keiron Smith Hi Roy,
Please also tell us which version of SkySafari you are running.
And, is it the same version of SkySafari on both the iPhone and iPad.
Thanks!
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Roy Bill - I have updated the firmware and reset the SkyFi. And then I redid both. I don't remember recently rebooting the iPad so will try that.
Keiron - Yes, when I tried it the StarSeek also did not Connect on the iPad, did Connect on the iPhone. Although not sure beyond that since I have not done all the testing with it that Bill has had me do with the SkyFi.
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Roy Keiron - SkySafari 6 Pro, Version 6.0.4.30 on both iPhone and iPad.
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Roy I'll answer my own question here -- it seems the cure to my difficulty with the iPad Mini is to always start from a cold boot. That is, power down the iPad, wait, power on again, connect WiFi, then start Sky Safari. When I have done that the SkyFi connected and worked well. Don't know why, but it's simple to do and avoids problems, so that's now my standard procedure. It has not failed to connect in months, knock wood. Thanks for the help.
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Bill Tschumy Roy,
Glad you have a work around.