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Problems Aligning Celestron Evolution WiFi + StarSense (Solution: Update Your Mount And HC Firmware Using The Latest Celestron CFM Updater And Everything Should Work - Read On!)

 

Total frustration, please help!

History first:

2 night ago I was having complete success doing manual, three-star alignments with my Evolution WiFi using SkySafari 6 Pro, but couldn’t get close enough to target objects (at least 3-5 degrees off target). Tried numerous calibrations, nothing helped.

Celestron advised me to go to the Starsense HC and restore the Starsense Camera (i.e., reset AIS camera). Also, Celestron said that my trying to calibrate on Polaris was a problem.

Yesterday, I reset AIS Camera and also, for good measure, on the Starsense HC I restored defaults (don’t know if this was a mistake). After the restore, I reset the time zone to -5 (Eastern United States) and daylight savings. (Note: I didn’t do anything with the original Evo HC, should I have checked the time zone, etc. on that HC?)

Last night, I could not achieve a manual, three-star alignment (one exception is noted below). Typically, I would get two stars to align and then get a failure notice, i.e., “Alignment pointing error too large, please try another alignment.” I tried this both in Skysafari and Skyportal—same results. After numerous other attempts (perhaps 15 tries), Skysafari froze (wheel kept spinning). Then, went to Skyportal and somehow managed to get three of three stars aligned!!! I pressed “done.” After all this frustration, I decided to see if, in fact, I had finally achieved any kind of substantial alignment. I targeted Polaris on my iPad, hit Go-To, and wound up pointing more toward Cassiopeia rather than Polaris!!!

I simply can’t imagine what else to do….

199 comments

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    Bill Tschumy

    Hopefully Dan is still reading this thread and can comment on this.  I do know the radio in the newer Wi-Fi modules has a stronger signal.  So I would think you should stick with the new unit.

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    Joseph Luciani

    Thanks Bill, and Daniel if you're reading this thread, CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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    Conrad Sanders

    Bill,

    I also had a ticket open with Celestron so we could track this issue and I got the same update from Lisa today:

     

    Dear Mr. Sanders,

    Thank you so much for your patience. We are happy to report that an update to SkyPortal (version 3.1.0.9067) has just been made available and this update should address the reported issue.

    SkyPortal on iOS has just been released to the store, and Android is on hold for approximately one more week while the app team adds translations support for Italian and French.

    We apologize for the extended delay and thank you for the opportunity to serve you.

    If there is anything else we can do to be of assistance, please let us know.

    Best regards,

    Lisa M. Cudal
    Senior Operations Manager
    Celestron

    So I am one of those with the Evolution mounts using the newer WiFi and Star Sense should I wait for the firmware update to fix the bug or just go ahead and try the newer Sky Portal?  

    Conrad

     

     

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    Bill Tschumy

    Dan said the Wi-Fi units with the problem broadcast an SSID that looks like Celestron-xxx( where xxx are some numbers).  Personally I'd go ahead and try it even if you have the newer  Wi-Fi module.  It is not at all clear that that will affect the original problem we've been talking about.

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    Conrad Sanders

    Bill,

    It looks like the weather is going to break by the end of week so I plan on downloading the newer Celestron Sky Portal and will be trying it out.  I normally don't use Sky Portal since I have Sky Safari but I understand why you need it tested by a few of us.

    I assume that I can just go to the Apple Store and I will get the fixed version?

    I checked on my Ipad and the current version I have installed is 3.0.1.2.

     

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    Bill Tschumy

    Conrad,

    Yes, SkyPortal is free on the iTunes App Store.  Thanks for testing.

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    Conrad Sanders

    Bill,

    I was able to get out for a few hours tonight before the clouds rolled in and I am happy to report that I had a successful align and calibrate using the new version of Celestron Sky Portal.  My calibration numbers were 851,252.

    Just curious when these fixes will be put into Sky Safari Plus or Pro ?

    Thanks.

     

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    Doranmd3

    Bill,

    I was also able to get out and test new version of SkyPortal with success. I performed SS aligned, ASPA align, and SS calibration. Performed these operations several times.

    Mark

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    Joseph Luciani

    Doranmd3 and Conrad,

    Are either of you using Celestron's latest WiFi module (SSID / Celestron XXX)?

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    Conrad Sanders

    Joe,

    I am using the built in WiFi on my Evolution Mount which I connect to from my Ipad and the name is Celestron-44.

    It sounds like they are working on a new firmware update which could effect me but last night, I had no issues.

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    Bill Tschumy

    Conrad,

    We hope to release new versions of SkySafari in the next couple of weeks.  Thanks for testing.

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    Doranmd3

    Joe,

    I am doing a Direct connect. I am not sure how to identify my SkyPortal Wifi Module.

    Mark

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    Joseph Luciani

    Because of the situation below, I am prevented from testing new SkyPortal fix. Here’s the situation:

    USING THE NEW WIFI MODULE

    1. Access Mode / SkySafari slew controls are working

    2. Access Mode / In SkyPortal after selecting manual alignment, the slew buttons are inoperable

    USING THE MOUNT’S WIFi

    1. Using Direct Connect / SkySafari slew control are working

    2. Using Direct Connect / SkyPortal after selecting manual alignment, slew buttons are inoperable

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    Joseph Luciani

    P.S. I’m using the latest version of SkyPortal downloaded yesterday

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    Joseph Luciani

    Should have thought of this the other night, but I decided  to delete the SkyPortal app and reload it. Now the slew buttons are working in SkyPortal and I will be able to test.  Don’t know what’s next, but I’m hoping all of this frustration of the past six months is coming to an end (my lips to god’s ears, huh?)

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    Joseph Luciani

    SkyPortal NOT working! 

    I tried every configuration last night to obtain a StarSense manual align (i.e., using the Celestron mount's WiFi, both in direct and in access mode; using the new WiFi doggle both in direct and access mode) I was never able to get one star aligned before the app would "crash" (i.e., spinning wheel would freeze the app, had to reboot the iPad in order to reboot the app). During my many, many attempts, sometimes the skew buttons would not respond at all, other times the app would freeze as soon as I hit "align". I was not able to get one star aligned...app simply would freeze every attempt. No error messages. Anyone want to buy a telescope!!!

     

    Joe

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    Conrad Sanders

    Joe,

    Have you considered updating your firmware on the motor  or hand control?  I just did that for the first time the other night after I made sure that the Sky Portal was working again after the fix was provided by Celestron.  I need to go back and re-test Sky Portal since the firmware update and make sure that everything still works. But so far since the firmware update, everything is still working using the Star Sense Hand Control.

     

     

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    Joseph Luciani

    Thanks Conrad,

    I updated my firmware about a month ago, guess it won't hurt to update again, perhaps deleting the Skyportal app and re-loading it. This is getting absurd.

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    Joseph Luciani

    HELP!

    BASIC QUESTION: IS MY PROBLEM WITH MY MOUNT, MY STARSENSE CAMERA, OR SKYPORTAL?

    Last night I tried to align (using both direct and access mode) in SkyPortal. I've recently reset everything and downloaded all the latest CFM files.

    1.) In direct mode, using manual alignment, I was able to get 2 stars aligned, but kept getting the error message, "could not solve plate. Got this message no less then 10 times (it was a perfectly clear night)

    2. Switched to access mode. Kept getting same error message, after about 15 attempts (took me about an hour) I finally managed to get a three star alignment. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO ACHIEVE ALIGNMENT ONLY SOMETIMES? DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. FYI; go-to alignment was not good, star not near the field of my 40mm eyepiece.

    3. After this successful 3-star alignment, I did get a successful calibration, but when I tried to do the suggested next alignment, the app froze (I didn't mention that this no less then 8 other times the app froze. I had to reboot my iPad to get out of the app.) The wheel was still spinning this morning on my iPad.

    4.) Previously (not last night), I was able to achieve alignment with the HC

    Does anyone have a guess as to where this problem resides? Mount? App? Camera?

    I appreciate any support or suggestions

     

     

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    Bill Tschumy

    Joseph,

    I don't think the SimCur people are going to be able to help you with this.  If others on the forum can't help, you will have to take this up with Celestron.

    Bill

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    Joseph Luciani

    Bill,

    Any word on when the bug fix will be available for SkySafari?

     

    Joe

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    Bill Tschumy

    I am hoping to release next week.  Lots of little nits to take care of but I'm almost done.

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    Joseph Luciani

    FANTASTIC! Thanks for the update Bill

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    Conrad Sanders

    Bill,

     

    Could you let us know when Sky Safari Pro is ready for prime time to fix this problem? I have already test the Celestron Sky Portal version and it worked.

    In the interim, I am doing a Star Sense Auto Align using the SS Hand Control then connecting up to the SkyFi III device and just connecting to Sky Safari Pro.

     

  • 0
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    Bill Tschumy

    We decided to run a short beta program before releasing.  Should be out by end of week.

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    Joseph Luciani

    Great news Bill, let us know if we can help with the testing

  • 0
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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Celestron Users, 

    Has anyone here installed the 6.4.0.1 SkySafari Pro iOS beta and tested?

    Thanks! 

  • 0
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    Joseph Luciani

    Keiron,

    No, please instruct how to install and I'll test.

     

    Joe

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    Keiron Smith

    Hi Joe,

    Please read this initial post here:

    Beta Testing SkySafari 6 (iOS Only) - Read This To Participate!

    Please also read the last post in that thread, from me, regarding the TestFlight redeem code.

    You are approved to access the SkySafari iOS beta testing forum.

    Thanks, Joe!

     

  • 0
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    Conrad Sanders

    I would be willing to test the Beta.  Please send me the link so I can download it on my Ipad.

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