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SkySafari 5 Plus | Celestron CPC + StarSense + SkyFi 3 Connection Fail (Solution: Try Another USB-A To USB-Mini Cable - They Don't All Work)

Got a new Celestron CPC with StarSense (V01.18.17088) and SkySafari 5 Plus on Android phone (V.7.1.1)
After successful StarSense alignment I plug in the SkyFi (V. 1.3.4), turn it on, connect my phone to the SkyFi WLAN and I am also able to show the SkyFi settings page there (Mobile data needs to be disabled on my phone to do that). SkySafari's Auto-Detect displays "Detected at 10.0.0.1" in its communication settings.
The SkyFi box is connected from its Micro-USB port to the StarSense hand controller USB port using a USB 2.0 Micro-B/Mini-B OTG cable (LINDY 31718).
But when trying to connect to the scope in SkySafari, it shows the message: "Connection  Failure - SkySafari Plus can make a wireless connection to the scope, but the scope is not responding..."
Am I using the wrong cable or do I need to do some firmware update first, or what else could be wrong?

11 comments

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    Bill Tschumy

    Stefan,

    You have the latest firmware so no upgrade should be needed.

    Is the "Set Time & Location" checkbox on or off?  If it is On, try turning it off.  I don't recall for sure, but it is possible that when using StarSense, you shouldn't tell the mount the time and location.

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    Stefan Heer

    Hi Bill,

    "Set Time & Location" was already turned off.

    How about the cable I mentioned? Or any other ideas?

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    Bill Tschumy

    Sorry, I didn't originally notice you were using a mini-to-micro cable.  It probably is the cable.  You need to be plugging into the larger USB port on the SkyFi.  The micro port on the SkyFi is just for changing.  So you need a standard USB-A to mini cable. This is spelled out in the Quick Start Guide that came with the SkyFi

    "With USB telescopes, use a standard USB cable to connect SkyFi III’s USB “A” port (1, Fig. 2) to the telescope’s USB “B” port.  On Meade LS telescopes, the USB “B” port is on the mount base. With iOptron telescopes, the USB “B” port is on the GOTONova hand controller."

    Looks like we need to update this description to include a USB-mini connector on the hand controller.

     

     

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    Stefan Heer

    OK, I will try this out later. Thanks for the quick reply.

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    Stefan Heer

     Just did a StarSense Solar Align but then after plugging in USB-A on SkyFi and USB-Mini port on StarSense HC I still get the same error 'Connection Failure'. I also think my CPC8 is a serial telesope and only the StarSense controller has a USB port. I tried using the original NexStar hand controller and it woks just fine with the SkyFi DB9 port. So no problem with the SkyFi box.
    Perhaps my next best chance to get it running with StarSense is also using the DB9 port on the SkyFi box also? Could this work (don't have the DB0-USB-mini cable yet)?

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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Stefan,

    1. What is the exact error message?  Is it really the same as the one you reported in your first post here.
    2. When you say you "tried the original NexStar hand controller and it works" do you mean you could connect an control the scope via SkySafari 5 + SkyFi 3?
    3. You should connect to the USB-mini port on the StarSense hand controller using the SkyFi 3 USB-A port.

    Thanks!

     

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    Stefan Heer

    Hi Bill,
    1. Yes, it is exactly the same message as in the first post
    2. Yes, with NexStar HC + SkyFi3 DB9 + SkySafari 5 Plus I can connect and control the scope.
    3. SkyFi USB-A to USB-Mini on StarSense does not work. It shows the same connection failure message. Are there differently wired types of USB-A to USB-mini cables and I got one that is not fully wired or faulty? Or do I need a SkyFi3 DB9 serial to StarSense USB-mini cable to get it running with StarSense?

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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Stefan, 

    1. You should connect to the USB-mini port on the StarSense hand controller using the SkyFi 3 USB-A port.
    2. I suggest trying a different USB-A to USB-Mini cable (or two).  I was unsuccessful with some cables for no reason that I could ascertain.

    Thanks!

  • 0
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    Stefan Heer

    Hi Keiron,

    OK. Then I will search for another or order a new USB-A to USB-mini cable and try again.

    Will then post my result here.Thanks for clarifying things.

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    Stefan Heer

    I found another fitting USB cable from some old Apple device and with that it works fine! Sorry for bothering you with the whole issue. You could add a note on the Quick Start Guide regarding cable issues. Thanks again for your help - I am all happy now.

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    Keiron Smith

    An excellent result, Stefan!  And thanks for your feedback!  Enjoy Celestron CPC, SkyFi and SkySafari - awesome combo ;)

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