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Why Does My Celestron SkyQLink WiFi Randomly Disconnect? (Answer: Suggest Replacing SkyQLink)

Joseph Luciani

October 31, 2018 12:58

Answered

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Last night I was using SkySafari 6 Pro with my evolution 8 WiFi scope with StarSense. I had no problems for about two hours and then I received the message that SkySafari could not connect with the telescope's WiFi. I tried turning the scope on and off, I checked to be sure the proper network was checked (SkyQlink) on my iPad, re-booted the iPad, nothing allowed me to connect. I tried for another half-hour and quit. This happened abruptly during normal operation. There wasn't any outside WiFi interference.

Any suggestions will be most appreciated.

Update:

I may have inadvertently figured out why my Evolution 8 with StarSense (using SkySafari 6 Pro) had a problem with connecting to the telescope's WiFi. I was using my lap top to try to focus SharpCap and had this laying next to my scope. My laptop was using the house WiFi and the Scope the SkyQLink. Do you thing this would have caused the connecting problem?

 

Joe 

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10 comments

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  Keiron Smith October 31, 2018 18:51

  Hi Joe, 

  SkyQLink is known to have a weak/flaky signal at times.  I can't say whether another device interfered with the connection.  I would guess not.  But I can't be sure.  Best you can do it try again, and test with and without the laptop present.

  Thanks!

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  Joseph Luciani October 31, 2018 20:14

  Assuming it isn't interference from the laptop, is there anything that can be done when the iPad can't connect with the scope? Is there any way to continue....I think I tried everything, i.e., rebooting iPad, on off with the scope, etc.

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  Keiron Smith October 31, 2018 21:01

  It important to be clear what the actual issue is.

  1. Did the iPad lose the connection to the SkyQlink WiFi network?
  2. Did SkySafari lose the connection to the mount?
  3. What is the exact error message?

  We can't guess at it. 

  A weak/flaky signal is #1. 

  #2 and #3 could be resolved with more info.

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  Joseph Luciani October 31, 2018 21:18

  To the best of my recollection, SkySafari abruptly stopped working with the error message saying "unable to connect to telescope's WiFi network." I'll have to wait for another clear night to confirm this. I'm assuming #1 is correct, I wish I could be more precise. 

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  Keiron Smith October 31, 2018 21:20

  You can fake align. for testing, on a cloudy night too.

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  Joseph Luciani October 31, 2018 21:22

  Good to know, I'll get back to you. FYI: this has happened in the past, it occurs randomly, I will, however, try to replicate the problem and get back to you.

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  Joseph Luciani November 11, 2018 15:45

  Celestron Evolution 8 SCT using StarSense and SkySafari 6 Pro

  Replication of problem

  In the above exchange-thread I wrote to you because of the error message, i.e., not being able to connect to telescope. Last night was the first cloudless night to try replicate the problem again. Here's the sequence of mishaps:

  1. Managed a successful manual alignment. Went to view Polaris and then selected the Andromeda Galaxy for my next Go-To target.

  2. At this point, after going to Androdmeda, the app froze, i.e., nothing worked, there was a spinning "wheel" on the screen. I couldn't do anything, i.e., go to another target, slew, etc.--frozen.

  3. I tried turning the iPad on and off, went to settings and tried "forget" for SkyQLink. Kept trying on-off, reboot, etc. and at some point, for some unknown reason, I was able to "connect"--i.e., no longer frozen!

  4. Once I connected with the scope I began another manual alignment, got two stars aligned, but this time the error message (same as a few weeks ago) appeared: Connection Failure: SkySafari 6 Pro can't make a wireless network connection to the scope. Make sure you've joined its Wi-Fi network"  I assume this means that SkySafari lost the connection to the scope.

  5. I checked and SkyQlink was connected on my ipad. I then went in and go my iPhone, went to SkySafari and to the exact same error message as above. Turned everything off, on-off scope, etc., etc., and then, for some unknown reason was able to "connect to telescope" ! At this point I tried another alignment, however the scope went crazy! It wouldn't stop slewing. I couldn't stop the slewing with any of the iPad controls. I turned everything off and called it a night.

  6. I'm thinking this may be a defective mount, which would be strange as this is my second mount.

   

  Any help/suggestions would be most appreciated,

  Joe

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  Keiron Smith November 12, 2018 17:30

  Hi Joe, 

  I think you should ask Celestron for support and to replace the SkyQLink.  You're not the first to report issues with SkyQLink.  And a new replacement SkyQLink has resolved these kinds of issues for another customer.  See here:

  https://support.simulationcurriculum.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360017955393-SkySafari-6-Plus-Celestron-GT-Celestron-WiFi-Adapter-Slow-Responses-Solution-Replaced-Celestron-WiFi-Adapter-And-New-One-Works-Properly-

  Thanks!

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  Joseph Luciani November 13, 2018 21:41

  Keiron,

  After a long discussion with Celestron and trying to change from SkyQLink to Direct Access (using my home network) the connection failure persisted. As per our discussion, it was determined that the problem was with the mount. I have shipped my mount to Celestron for repair/replace. I do hope this is the answer. Also, I was told that a direct link to my home network (rather than SkyQLink) would, in general, be more reliable. Do you agree with this?

   

  Thank you,

  Joe

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  Keiron Smith November 14, 2018 17:33

  Hi Joe, 

  I have to defer to Celestron on this question.  It is their hardware.  Sorry to see you've encountered so much trouble with what is actually an amazing telescope!

  Thanks!