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Why Does SkyBT Only Connect Via Bluetooth With One Of Three Android Devices? (Answer: It Scans The List Of Available Bluetooth Devices And Picks The First "Serial" Device It Finds)

Don Crossley

June 26, 2018 03:23

Answered

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Hi,
I have your SkyBT telescope controller, purchased online last August directly from Simulation Curriculum. I never got around to trying it out until yesterday. I can get a blutooth connection with my tablet running Android 6.0.1, but not my cellphone Nexus 5X running Android 8.1.0, nor my old cellphone a Samsung Galaxy S2 running Android 4.1.2. I want to be able to use the cellphones, not the tablet. Because it works with the tablet, I know its not a problem with the telescope or the cable. The SkyBT appears to pair with the cellphones, but they will not connect via bluetooth. I have no problem getting the cellphones to connect via bluetooth with other devices, they just won't connect to the SkyBT.

Please help.

Also, while I have you attention, your web page https://www.skysafariastronomy.com/support/index.html has a link to a Yahoo group. The link does not work, perhaps you should fix it?

Thanks,
Don

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4 comments

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  Don Crossley June 26, 2018 03:30

  As a follow up to my original post, I have discovered that I can get the bluetooth to connect to SkyBT, but I have to delete all other paired devices from the list on the phone. When I add a new device to the paired list, then the SkyBT fails again. This is not a workable solution as the other paired devices are used daily, such as the bluetooth telephone connection in my car, or a music connection to stereo.

  Thanks for your help.

  Don

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  Bill Tschumy June 26, 2018 13:15

  Don,

  When SkySafari tries to make a Bluetooth connection, it scan the list of available bluetooth devices and picks the first "serial" device it finds.  This normally works fine as it is somewhat unusual for a mobile device to be paired with a serial device.

  It sounds like SkySafari is picking the wrong device to talk to.  Fortunately you can explicitly specify the Bluetooth device you want to use.  In the Telescope Setup settings, tap the "Connect via Bluetooth" option while it is already selected.  This should bring up a "Bluetooth Device Picker" UI.  Choose the device that starts with "Firefly".  That will hopefully solve the problem of using the wrong device.

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  Don Crossley June 26, 2018 20:32

  Yes, that works, thanks! Maybe this procedure should be included in the SkyBT manual under troubleshooting?

  Thanks again,

  Don

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  Bill Tschumy June 26, 2018 20:34

  Glad it works.  This should be in the Knowledge Base but I'll see if I can make it more accessible.