New Skywire trying to connect to new Tak EM-200 Temma 2-Z. Connection is from the scope to the supplied Tak cable to the Skywire with the lightening port. Running SkySafari Pro 6 latest version. Used a couple times inside to test with both iPhone and iPad. When I took it outside to use it for real, it failed to make a connection and evidently was seeking to make a wireless connection instead, which of course failed.
So is this thing unreliable, broke, what? Any help appreciated.
Hi Robert,
With the TEMMA mounts, you need to:
After that you should be good to go with accurate GoTos.
You should be able to test this indoors during the day. Use SkySafari to locate a star about 30º above the horizon in the east. Select the star in SkySafari and point the scope in that same general area (no need to be exact). Then turn the mount on, connect and then tap align. The FOV indicator should jump to that star. Slew the mount around and see if the on-screen circles move correctly.
These Temma setup tips have been taken from a discussion with Bill Tschumy here:
Thanks!
Thanks but respectfully you’re missing the point. The sky wire does not connect to the scope and instead looks for Wi-Fi.
Hi Robert,
SkyWire does not look for WiFi. So, I don't really follow what you are describing.
When you have a moment please setup your scope, do a fake align as described in my first reply, and document the procedure, and connections that you are following. Please reply here with this info, and be precise about each step. And, please attach a screenshot of the SkySafari error message you encounter if the connection fails to be achieved.
FWIW, if it worked once indoors, it will probably work again. Some step has been missed. It is highly unlikely that the SkyWire is broken.
Thanks!
Robert,
I know that configuration works ... I have the same setup.
One question. Start SkySafari, turn on the mount, and THEN plug the SkyWire into the lightning port. SkySafari should pop up a message box that says something like “the device connected”. Do you see that?
Other Robert
Thanks Keiron and Robert, but -- alas -- I think you both misunderstand the issue.
The issue I'm experiencing is the SkyWire is simply NOT connecting to any iOS device running Skysafari Pro latest iteration.
SkySafari is configured to "Tak Temma 2 / Equitorial Goto (German)" in Settings. Auto detect SkyFi is OFF.
I have a Tak EM-200 Temma 2-Z. I have a new iPhone/iPad with latest OS. This is my procedure:
1. Polar align scope, power on is necessary to illuminate polar scope, then power off
2. Place scope is ready portion: i.e. RA level with scope on west (left) side, DEC axis with scope pointing straight up
3. Open SkySafari
4. Engage tracking motor on scope.
5. Plug Tak RS-232 plug into "PC" port on scope control box -- picture below
6. Plug SkyWire (connected to RS-232 into lightening port on iPhone/iPad. (SkyWire is attached to RS-232 wire.)
7. Press Scope/Connect in SkySafari
At this point I get an error message saying the connection failed. (See below.)
Quite obviously, the SkyWire is NOT connecting to or recognized by the IOS device. I get not alert when I plug in the cable that the device is connected. Thereupon SkySafari begins to look for a wireless connection, which of course it cannot find, and it throws an error.
I've spent hours working this on the assumption that the SkyWire is failure-proof, but nothing helps.
Also, as stated, I was able to connect a couple times inside during a dry run using the above setup procedure, but it was only after I went out at night to observe that it began to fail to connect.
Thank you Robert Nielsen for following, and offering help!
Let's look at the SkyWire connection first. I'm doing the following:
Do you get this message following the same procedure as I have outlined above?
If not, then there must be something wrong with the connection from the SkyWire to iPad.
Piece by piece, we will get there.
Keiron, thanks, no I do not get this message, neither with the SkyWire plugged into the scope or not.
But, as I say, the SkyWire DID connect to the scope a couple times inside during a trial run, and I did not get this message.
I'm running an iPhone 7 os 12.3.1, ie the latest.
No message on an iPad Air 2 running os 12.3.1.
Should also add I've rebooted both devices and reinstalled Skysafari.
Appreciate the help, but I think we're at the point of admitting the cable is bad and needs to be replaced.
Robert,
Our sales person (Matt) should be contacting you about a replacement.
Bill
He did. His solution was to tell me it wasn't your company's problem, but he would be glad to sell me a SkyFi . . .
Not exactly the help I was looking for.
Pathetic customer service
Bought another at my own expense. It works. Do you intend to make good for the bad SkyWire or not?
No reply. Pretty sad.
