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[Alpaca] Skysafari Can Not Reach IP Address/Network Using Manual Configuration + VPN (Answer: Read On!)

Hoi

The new telescope support feature, so great. I directly switched from 6 to 7. Unfortanly Alpaca is not working on the iPad for me

Oke, think it has to do with my setup. My telescope remote 200km. I can reach the observatory via Zerotier (https://zerotier.com/). This is a kind of VPN construct on the iPad. A different IP address (another network) than the default local network one.  It looks like Skysafari can not reach that address/network even give manual configuration, Possible a router issue in the application container of safari. (message Could not connect to Ascom Alpaca Server, I have Ascom remote running)

Small extra question how to change the horizon colour from purple to green, it feels not well to my eyes, but that me ;-)

 

Chris

 

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6 comments

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    Keiron Smith

    Perhaps Ros Hartigan or Bob Denny can assist.

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    Bob Denny

    Chris — Alpaca’s design is not meant to run over the Public internet. It’s purpose is to provide in-observatory connectivity like we get from USB today. You may want to think twice before exposing you or remote telescope to the public net via ASCOM Remote. However with a VPN it is practical. But I don’t know what an “application container” is. I am unfamiliar with Zerotier. However with SS7 Alpaca manual configuration you just need the reachable IP address and TCP Port of ASCOM Remote. If the “kind of VPN” needs the port to be opened, that may be the issue. This is not a restriction in SkySafari, it is a network configuration and connectivity issue that may best be solved with helpers from Zerotier.

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    Chris Alberts

    Hoi Bob

    First good news it working, I don't know what setting was wrong on my iPad, but after a reboot of the iPad, it start to work.

    Bob good to see that you are on this forum as well.
    Alpaca can run over the internet, only if you do this on a secure matter. Like VPN connection eg zerotier.com (have look on that, must-see)
    I build some web API calls to switch equipment remotely in the observatory. it's not part of alpaca but the principle is the same

    Like in my case I have a site to site VPN based on zerotier with my remote observatory. Both sites are fibre and high-speed internet.
    You say that purpose is to provide in-observatory but why?. The biggest bottleneck can be the network latency it's depending on the equipment. Like auto-guiding, I don't advise doing that over the internet but other things can be used over the internet like SS7
    You see here I go over the Alpaca design boundaries. we are going to the next level due to alpaca ;-) I love it. And special now with SS7 it's so cool, all thanks for that.

    If you Like you can send me a private message to have personal chat.

    @ Developers how to change the colour appearance & Behaviour, of the horizon. purple is not that handy colour for me I like to select the green colour of SS6 because that's better for my eyes and also the telescope pointer. I hope you can help me how to configure that

    Thanks

    Chris

     

     

     

     

     

  • 0
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    Chris Alberts

    The color thing is also solveed

     

    The issue can be closed

     

    Chris

  • 0
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    Bob Denny

    Hi Chris — I understand what you’re saying. Of course one may pipe Alpaca through a VPN, etc and use it to connect to devices over the public internet and a long way away. The issue is not what is possible, it is what we at the ASCOM Initiative want to explicitly support and stand behind. Once one gets past in-observatory connectivity, things get complex, possibly less reliable, etc. Have a look at the ASCOM Talk Forum to see the level of support we provide. I hope you understand.

  • 1
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    Chris Alberts

    Bob

    Fair Point in relation to support. But realise that by creating Ascom WAPI (alpaca) the boundaries of solution will be looked up,  like we all look up the boundaries of the universe. Still the credits of this fantastic idea ;-)

    And guys from  SS7 also credit to add the indi and alpaca function in to your software

    Chris

     

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