New post
0

SkySafari 6 Pro On Macbook Running macOS 10.12.6 Does Not Communicate Through USB Cable With iOptron CEM40 Mount (Answer: User Needs Help)

This is an issue that I have already submitted several times without a satisfactory response.

IT IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT CAN BE SOLVED BY THE COMMUNITY FORUM, PARTICULARLY THE CELESTRON COMMUNITY.
IT IS A CODING ISSUE IN SKY SAFARI 6 PRO FOR THE MAC.

SS6P makes a connection to the iOptron CEM 40 using the Connection: usbserial-D306TFRL but receives an error message that the scope is not responding. The selected scope type is "iOptron CEM/iEQ Pro/AZ Mount Pro" (as confirmed by iOptron) and the Mount Type: Equatorial GoTo. A high quality USB cable connects the USB port on the body of the CEM40 to my MacBook Pro running OS 10.12.6. I have not problem connecting my other iOptron mounts and my Losmandy G-11 to SS6 using a Keyspan USA-19HS USB to serial adapter but the difference is the CEM40 uses a direct USB cable and a virtual com port instead.

Following a conversation with iOptron techs the problem seems to be with properly addressing/utilizing the virtual com port. The CEM40 can communicate via USB with the latest version (3.3.9) of Kstars/Ekos software and works through WiFi with SS6P on my iPad Pro when the connection is made by ASIair. For direct communication with telescope mounts, particularly when used in an observatory setting, the trend seems to the use of USB thus eliminating the the need for a serial/USB converter.

Since my CEM 40 will be used in my observatory I would like to be able to use it with SkySafari through a cabled connection to my Mac. If this type of connection is not going to be supported by SS then I will seek other telescope control software but SS is by far my preferred application.

4 comments

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    David, 

    David,

    Thanks for posting in the community forums!

    1. Are you using an iOptron-specific serial cable? A "high quality serial cable" is not sufficient.  The serial cable must be made for use with iOptron mounts.
    2. Virtual com ports are beyond the scope of official support.  If you are using third party software or hardware then you must reach out to their support departments for assistance troubleshooting the setup.
    3. Direct USB is not a "choice" unless it is officially supported by your mount.  Can you run a direct USB cable from your Mac to your mount?  I think you need to use our SkyFi 3 along with an iOptron-specific serial cable + a USBtoSerial cable.

    Mac > USBtoSerial > iOptron-specific serial cable > SkyFi 3 > iOptron CEM40

    ^^^ This setup should work fine. 

  • 0
    Avatar
    David Murray

     

    Keiron,

    Thanks for the quick reply.  I will try to answer your questions and explain the difficulty here.

    1.  This question is irrelevant since the connection between the mount and the computer is through a USB cable as described in appendix F of the iOptron CEM40 manual:

    Connect to a computer via USB port on the mount main board using a USB cable. You may need to install a FTDI USB to RS232 VCP driver (https://www.ftdichip.com/Drivers/VCP.htm). The mount can be controlled via ASCOM protocol (Windows OS), or directly by some software, such as Sky Safari (Mac OS).   I do have the VCP driver installed.

       According to iOptron the serial port (RJ9 cable connection) on the hand controller (8407+) of the CEM40 no longer functions as a communication port for controlling the mount. I have confirmed this by testing it.  The mount can only be controlled through the USB port on the mount body.

    2. If the virtual com port is beyond the scope of official support than the newest iOptron mounts will no longer be compatible with SkySafari through direct cabled connection. Currently the CEM40 appears to be the only iOptron mount that uses only USB for telescope control. The CEM120 has both serial and USB ports.

    There are a number of reasons not to use a mount to computer WiFi connection, the principle one being that connection to my local WiFi network and thus the internet is no longer possible. This makes remote control of a telescope/observatory impossible.

    3. Direct USB IS supported by the CEM40. The mount IS connected to the computer by a USB cable, however SkySafari does recognize the USB connection – working through the virtual COM port – to the CEM40 as: usbserial-D306TFRL, but reports an error "The scope is not responding."  This suggests that the virtual COM port is not implemented properly by SS. 

    If you do not have a CEM40 mount to work with at least the manual is available at: https://www.ioptron.com/v/Manuals/7400_CEM40_Manual.pdf

    Also, Kevin at iOptron told me that they gave ZW Optical a CEM40 mount to work with during development of the ASIair. It may be possible that they would offer SC the same courtesy. 

  • 0
    Avatar
    Keiron Smith

    David, 

    Why do you need to use a virtual COM port?  SkySafari can see a direct USB cable connection from a macOS connecting to a Celestron SE mount - no virtual COM port is required.  So, why do you need to use one for your CEM40 mount?

    Thanks!

  • 0
    Avatar
Post is closed for comments.