Wirelessly Control Telescopes with Stellarium, ASCOM, SharpCap & SynScan App
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 พ.ย. 2021
- A detailed video of how to set up your PC to fully control your telescopes wirelessly. Many of you have asked about the drivers and ASCOM Hub software. You can find them here at this site: ascom-standards.org/Downloads...
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This is a fantastic video. I was trying for ages to connect my HEQ5 to EQMOD, trying to convert IP addresses, to COM ports, etc, but nothing was working.
But literally everything I tried here worked, first time, and same with connecting to N.I.N.A too. Even connecting to my home wifi.
Thanks man!
Awesome! So glad it helped you out. Please let me know how your journey goes! Subscribe!
This video has to be the most helpful video I have ever seen!! Solves my problems, answers my questions....thank you so much for this!
Thank you! Glad you found it useful!
After trying different programs using ASCOM, I had pretty much given up on using my laptop to drive the mount. I then discovered the synscan WiFi dongle.
Your video is just fantastic as a guide. Being able to use stellarium is a game changer. Thank you
I am so glad this helped! Thanks for the feedback! This is exactly why I made it. Subscribe!
Same here. Started off with the Synscan dongle method. then tried the whole ascom eqmod via USB from the hand controller. Nearly lost my mind. The WiFi method is the way to go!
@@trufflehunter58 Nice!
Very clear and concise tutorial - brillliantly structured - I have been struggling for the last 6 (at least) weeks with all those setup and connection combinations (and failing...) - I was ready to ditch my top notebook, Sharpcap, Stellarium licenses, also Nina , and then move - tail between my legs - to Asiair Plus and a much weaker Android tablet, despite my mount and SynScan WiFi working very well - not anymore!
Eternal thanks from Down Under, mate!
This indeed made my day! I am glad to hear it was helpful and I am grateful for the feedback. Let me know how your set up is going and keep me posted!
I just wanted to say that I'm so glad I found this video. I followed it, but just had to go download the Synscan app drivers from their website. I don't think you mentioned getting the driver.
I got the Orion dongle a while back, but had the opposite experience with it you seemed to have. The phone app was bad and was pretty glitchy and I just packed it up and stuck to the hand controller. After finding this video, I got it back out and hooked it up to my Atlas EZ/EQ Pro, since I saw you use it with sharp cap and I've been doing everything through that. It worked like a charm! Now I just need to get the plate solving to work and I'm golden.
That is great news and I am glad it worked out! Curious, what smart device are you/were you using that gave you the issues? Regarding plate solving, are you using SharpCap? Keep in touch and let me know how it all goes.
New to the hobby, have the az-gti goto mount with a Mak127.
I have found it easy to use my iPhone / iPad to control the mount and scope but not so easy when using sharp cap and the iPhone / iPad at the same time!. Took me a few hours and a bit of patience but your video has now allowed me to use Stellarium to control my mount and scope on the laptop independently which makes it so much easier to find targets and I now also have the ability control the mount and scope on sharpcap making it easier to keep objects where they should be whilst I capture video and images!.
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your knowledge!
Man I am so glad to have been of assistance. That is why I make these videos. Please keep me posted on your progress!
I didnt know about station mode and was struggling with using a mini pc to control my synscan dob. Ill try this next clear night. Thank you for sharing your knowledge
Thank you very much, I am glad it was helpful!
Hi, I just come across your video, I found it at the right time because I have just got my Star Adventurer GTi WiFi, and I am having a great time getting it to talk to other programs on my pc. Now through your video I can add SharpCap to the mix. I have it working with Ascom, Stellarium, SynScan Pro. I have filed the video away with all my other TH-cam videos that I keep for future reference. Cheers Robert Aust'
You sir are awesome. I have been trying to understand how to get my new EQ6-R mount hooked via my WiFi dongle into a PC setup and this did it right off the bat. Thanks for making the video.
So with the ASCOM hub, this is used to control multiple devices at once via the application? I'm a bit confused what this app is used for and why you would want it.
I love hearing this news! This is exactly why I make these videos. I am glad it helped. Let me know how it goes in the near future setup-wise. BTW, I want an EQ-6 R Pro - one day perhaps.
@@seafurymike Afirm. The ASCOM hub can control the telescope mount, a dome, and a focuser.
Great video, very clear and interesting. I can't wait to try it out when my WiFi adapter arrives.
Thank you very much! Let me know how it goes. Subscribe!
Great video. More people need to see this. Thanks!
Thank you!
Excellent tutorial! Thx
Thank you!
great video i will have a go at setting this up myself, it will be nice to be able to sync these programs at last
Thank you! Let me know how it works out.
Thanks friend. Greetings from Argentina
Greetings!
Interesting- subbed 😮. PS, what’s the Viper? This is an excellent vid. Thanks for taking the time. Just watched to the end - the home wifi stuff is amazing! Great job.
Thank you very much!! Subscribe!
Great video! This video helped me to get all my equipment working together seamlessly! Also, were you an F16 pilot previously? I used to be an E&E flightline maintainer from 2012 to 2018 and all I ever worked were F16s. I did 5 years at Ft. Worth TX and a year in Kunsan.
Hats off to you and other maintainers! Yes, drove Vipers in a previous life.
@@vyperpilot thats cool! Glad I'm not the only USAF guy into astronomy!
Hi - Many thanks for your tutorial - I was struggling to get my AZ Gte to work in EQ mode with its in-built WiFi module with Stellarium. I don't have a dongle like you use but I managed to get it to work exactly as you instructed after a bit of faffing about. Hopefully, this will significantly reduce the amount of time I usually spend swearing at the system telling it to work as it is supposed to!
You are very welcomed! I am so glad it helped out. Stay in touch and let me know how everything works out. Subscribe!
Thank you for this very helpful video! Without it, I surely was not able to combine Synscan and Stellarium. However: still not able to connect sharpcap to synscan 😞. But... I will keep on trying.
Great Video I Couleur realize everthing thanks so much
Thank you. Hope all works out. Keep me informed!
Great! Thanks for Sharing!! :)
Thank you!
Thanks.
My pleasure...thanks for watching!
*Please see update at end. - I have used my AZ-GTI via the Synscan app, under Android, connected wirelessly, and controlled it from either Skysafari or Stellarium. Works great, but I hate trying to center the star, or whatever, in the eyepiece using the touchscreen on my tablet. Can't feel the keys (because there aren't any). I just got a Synscan hand contoller. Can I use it, plugged into the AZ-GTI directly, to do the final centering while still using Stellarium (or any other app) to actually do the major control functions via wi-fi? I am just worried, that having two Synscan apps, one in the controller and one in the tablet, they are going to trip over one another. The keys on the hand controller are a heck of a lot easier to use in the dark. But the astronomy apps are wonderful for getting from one place in the sky to another! And thanks for the video! It is great and really ties it all together.
* To answer my own question, nope! The Synscan app on the tablet takes priority and slews the scope back to wherever it had pointed it as soon as I stop pressing the buttons on the hand controller. But, section 9.1 in the hand controller V5 manual does say that planetarium apps can communicate with the hand controller via the USB port on the controller. There is hope! Will try that and report.
Pretty interesting. Thanks for the update!
So once configured you are able to click/touch on the object on the screen and the mount will automatically go there without alignment? UPDATE. I got my SkyWatcher 150P Virtuoso to connect SynScan and Stellerium together. What a game changer.
That's awesome! So all is working now?
How are you porting the camera data over into these apps? I am glad I found your site as I am trying to set up a virtuoso alt az and ASIAIR doesn’t support. I heard you mention wireless device and cameras!🎉
The camera I use mostly on my dob is a QX-1. The camera data remains with the camera on a micro SD card. Although the ASI Air doesnt support Synscan Dob mounts, you can still use it to control the camera and store the date on in the built in storage or on the optional micro SD card. You can also use a guidescope on your Dob as well...not for guiding, but for finding and framing your targets. Thanks for subscribing!
The up and right control buttons need to be pressed once the target star is reached, and will flash to remind you of this.
Yes. Part of the syncing process.
Question about location. Do you have to manually enter your coordinates in every app? Or can you populate the Synscan and the rest will read from there? I rarely to never use my scope from home so constantly have to change locations.
This was very informative and got me to where I needed to be for control.
Thank you! Glad you found it helpful. The SynScan app on your smart device will use your devices location and time and then send it to the dongle. All of the other apps just tell the dongle what to do (where to slew, etc). During which time, the dongle used the location and time sent do it by the smart device. If you use the dongle with a laptop/computer (using the synscan app for PC) then the app will grab your PCs time and location and send it (if you have this function enabled). If not, then you enter it in the app manually and the app will send to the dongle.
Great Video!!! 1 Question, Can I connect all 3 apps? Synscan App, Stellarium, and Sharpcap at once through the usb serial cable? not through wifi
Thank you. Stellarium and Sharpcap, yes. However, you will need to use a virtual serial port splitter. I have a video on that subject as well. The synscan app needs the wifi network created by the dongle.
I have the Primalucelab Eagle LE computer mounted on my scope, it communicates with my main computer through WiFi, so I cannot have control of that computer and the SynScan dongle on the EQ6-R at the same time, they cant share the WiFi. How do I connect from the USB port on the mount directly to the Eagle LE computer, I have a cable ready to go but cant get the drivers I need. Thanks for any help, I have been stalled for days with this venture.
Not sure. Connect the mount to the Eagle with a USB 2.0. Then see if the ASCOM hub controller can "see" the mount.
@@vyperpilot I do have it connected this way. I can use my phone to connect to the dongle, just not my laptop.
So will the SynScan wifi dongle work with Celestron mounts that have the Celestron Hand Controller port?
Great question and you know, I have a Celestron GEM and didnt even check. That mount is boxed up now so I cant test. Reach out directly to SkyWatcher and see what they say. I know Celestron has their own proprietary dongle (I have one) so the Synscan one may not be compatible.
Incredible video. I am a total newbie to all this. So I am just wondering can this setup be used with a DSLR camera or does it have to be something like the ZWO camera system? I have a HEQ5 Pro with wifi and I also have the hand controller. I very much appreciate your video. Thank you very much. I guess at worst I can use your tutorial for guidance and manually adjust the focus and save the photos to the SD card in the camera?? Thanks for your help. Also, I'm a retired Air Force flight engineer on the C-130, C-141 and C5a.
Thank you for the compliments. You can put any camera you want using this setup. This setup is specifically for mount control. What camera you put on the focuser doesn't matter. With that being said, you can still run a USB 2 cable out to your scope and control a focuser (like the ZWO AEF) or use a USB 3 and control a camera. I sometimes use a USB 3.0 HUB and run two separate USB cables off of that (one to the focuser and one to the camera). Congrats on your FE career. Lastly, you can use the mount's independent WiFi to control it. You may be able to set it up such that your laptop can connect to it and therefore so will Stellarium.
@@vyperpilot Thank you for your reply and advice. I greatly appreciate it.
@viper pilot I go to the ascom site you have listed but i don't know what exactly to download
Go to their main site and download the Platform first. The link (button) is up in the upper right corner. Then go to the divers page and download the drivers specific to your type/brand of mount. Your mount's manufacturer may have its own ASCOM driver but that is rare. Here are the links: platform: github.com/ASCOMInitiative/ASCOMPlatform/releases/download/v6.6SP1Release/AscomPlatform661.3673.exe
The link to the mount/telescope drivers section: ascom-standards.org/Downloads/ScopeDrivers.htm
Thanks for watching. Subscribe!
@@vyperpilot got it thank you
Thanks for the video. Not sure how this setup could be used to capture photos, guide the mount and use a focuser as the cameras and focusing equipment used for that purpose are not connected via the synscan wifi-Am I correct or have I missed something?
You are correct. The app and the wifi/dongle are used to control the mount only. You can control the other devices through a USB 3.0 cable running to your scope. At your scope, use a powered USB 3.0 hub. Now, connect all your devices (camera, focuser, etc) into the USB 3.0 hub.
@@vyperpilot Hi thanks for your update appreciate taking the time. Thats how I eventually set up my kit. I have tried Asair air and stellarmate to go completely wireless but both are not as reliable as the cable to laptop from my experience, with everything else going on the last thing you want is the comms failing.
Thanks again
Have you ever managed to get this dongle working with ios. SynScan and Stellarium for example?
Yes. I’m slewing the mount in the video.
I have watched this vid six times. Got my connections sorted. So it seems. But it disconnects after 20 seconds.
Skywatcher 300 dob goto. Built in wifi.
MacBook Air M1
What am I doing wrong please?
I wish I had the answer for you. If I had to guess, I would say it comes down to your Mac's connectivity. Have you tried another machine?
Do you need the dongle to use the app. I am trying to use the app via a cable to the syn scan control panel it says i can not fin a connection
Yes. The app (both on your phone or the app for a desktop) uses the dongle. The dongle will either use its own wifi network or it will latch on to your home network. You are running a cable from your computer to your synscan hand controller?
@Viper Pilot So how do I actually plug the adaptor in my telescope?? There is no port to plug it in
The Wi-Fi dongle?
@@vyperpilot Yes
@@david-mp6dt unplug the hand controller then plug the dongle into the hand controller receptacle
@@vyperpilot What do you mean? I have a celestron astromaster 130 eq would it still work with my telescope?
@@david-mp6dt use the Celestron Wi-Fi dongle and use their app to control it.
Hey what is the Sky watcher Synscan app name for Windows PC? I tired searching for it but only found Apps for mobile devices and not PC versions.
Synscan Pro App. You can find it here: skywatcher.com/download/software/synscan-app/ Subscribe! Thanks!
@@vyperpilot thanks
Also can you tell me what must i do in order to start Tracking and slewing to different targets correctly if i am using the stellarium wifi method?must i first polar align and after that do a star alignment or is there something im missing?
@@daggerspine1337 why type of mount?
@@vyperpilot sky watcher eq3 pro goto
That synscan pro app is garbage man,just as the reviews say,mine just crashes upon opening,any fix for this?
It is more Android specific I believe. It seems on FB you found the solution.
Corey, did you ever get this fixed? Also, dont tell me you are not a subscriber!
I cant press ok its just doing nothing
Which "ok?" When, where, during what process? Screen shots? etc.
Very good video but my telescope won't move when I slew
I did a mock one star alignment, is that the problem or is their some kind of braking system I have to take off?
How are you attempting to slew? With the hand controller, stellarium, or the SynScan app?
@@backwoodsmedia6865 See my question directed to you.
@@vyperpilot ok I got it working I just need to figure out how to get the tracking to work because I'm getting star trails now