This is a personal observation...only...and it relates to one of the smaller settings in 'Utilities.' It's the LED brightness for the illuminated polar alignment scope in the RA axis. You mentioned how to adjust it, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness and comprehensive approach to this topic. My observation, and a wish for the Sky Watcher engineers, is that any setting higher than about 6, or about the least you can manage to set it on the app, is almost too bright. The mount is factory set to full brightness, which means that one sees only a bright red disk, and barely the reticle. The stars beyond are all but invisible, and only the very brightest can be seen. Not Polaris. So, for those reading, if you have a new-to-you EQ6R mount, you will want to get into the app or the control paddle and into 'Utilities', scroll down the menu that opens, find the polar scope LED, and reduce it as much as you can. Off is useless, of course, but much more than a smidge upwards into illumination will make Polaris very difficult to see. At least, this was my experience on my brand new mount. Yours may be quite different.
Edward...Thank you again..I.Followed the directions as you presented them and all worked well just as you Presented...Thank you Edward...You will make me an astronomer yet...
This video is so well done, particularly with the inset smartphone screen mirroring Edward's actions in real-time. Kudos to Edward on his engaging presence and execution. I am, however, puzzled as to how Edward was able to achieve a new and (apparently) successful 2-Star-Alignment with Vega and Arcturus even though he tells us later in the video that he didn't Polar Align the mount at the outset. Also, does Sky-Watcher offer (and High Point sell) a similarly-capable, featured, and equipped mount that offers all this one does with a lower payload capacity (~half or so) and lower price? Thanks very much!
Thanks so much for your kind words Robin, and good question! The way this, and most other mounts, work is with a good deal of trust in the user. In the case of this two-star alignment, the mount here was trusting that I properly polar aligned it, verified the location/ time/ date were correct, and importantly for this process - that I've visually centered the stars when I hit the checkmark. There is not much stopping the user from 'lying' to the mount, however; you can see here that while it prevented me from making grossly incorrect adjustments, it happily accepted the smaller random adjustments I did for the purposes of demonstration. This is why it's always important to double-check the information you're providing to the mount! Regarding a lighter payload mount in the Sky-Watcher family, they do have the EQM-35 mount which comes in at about half the capacity of the EQ6-R Pro from this video; and also have the HEQ5 Pro that nests in between the two. These are both Go To mounts that can broadly be said to be similar to the EQ6-R Pro; however if there are specific features from that unit you're looking for, or if you have any questions about these or other mounts in that weight class, please just give us a call or an email and we'd be happy to speak on those points further!
OK, I'm confused....as usual. Are the black screws that hold the scope supposed to start on the same side as the remote and power plugins or on the other side as shown when the vid starts. Of doesn't make a difference?
Edward...Fantastic....You Literally Give Me Hope.....Question? Yesterday at the bottom of this page you had the step by step procedures relating to this discussion....I was hoping today to copy them...but I do not see them available...Are they still available or did an Alien steal them...
Thank you, Willis! Our step-by-step guide is still available and can be found here: www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/how-tos/controlling-a-sky-watcher-eq6-r-pro-mount-through-wi-fi?
Thanks for the demo video Ed, very informative. I couple of questions: (1) I've pre-ordered the GTi and wondered if the instructions and steps would translate to that mount also ? As it uses the same app, correct ? (2) With the right cable connection, this app would also allow me to control my DSLR shutter ? So no need to use an intervalometer ? Thanks.
Hi there Eric, I'm glad you found the video helpful! You are correct the GTi currently uses the same SynScan apps, which as far as different modes go only have EQ and AZ as options at this time. As a result the instructions in this video should largely transfer over to the GTi, or any other Sky-Watcher EQ mount that uses the SynScan app or Wi-Fi dongle. Regarding the shutter release feature, this is something that is accessible via the app - albeit at this point, only the Pro version (same menu as the polar scope illuminator). At this point in time that allows you to set the number of photos to take, exposure time, and the duration of the pause between photos; and so should be able to replace an intervalometer with the correct cable.
Hi Keith! In terms of what we can recommend, there isn't much unfortunately; we don't currently offer any kits for that mount, nor do I have enough experience with any outside kits to comfortably direct you towards them. However there was an OEM upgrade kit made for the EQ-6, the EQ6 SynScan Upgrade Kit, that added the SynScan Go-To controller and an autoguide port and which you can still view on the Sky-Watcher global site (and find a bit more information on it via the "EQ6 GOTO Upgrade Kit Installation" manual in the SynScan GoTo Mount tab of the Product Manuals page). Whether Sky-Watcher will offer this again, and whether you could further use adapters to control this via PC or the Wi-Fi dongle from this video, I can't say and would direct you to Sky-Watcher on; however I hope this has still been helpful in directing your search!
Hello Jeffrey, the WiFi adapter from this video is model number S30103. Thanks for your interest and support, and if you have any other questions don't hesitate to send us an email or give us a call!
Help me! .. I think it needs to be explained better that the mount is simply transmitting a radio signal to your phone , in I assume, WIFI Protocol, and I have to assume , that your phone transmits back, in Bluetooth Protocol? ... When you say Wi-Fi , I was thinking that both items needed to connect to Wi-Fi (internet) and was working through the internet .. so I put myself out in the middle of a field dark sky site miles away from any Wi-Fi and then I try to turn on my 'Wi-Fi Hotspot' on my phone to operate the mount. But no, that didn't work.. I needed to connect to the Wi-Fi that the mount is transmitting, like it's Wi-Fi in your home and the mount is internet.. but the internet of only one thing, an eq6r. Now show us how we use an app like stellarium to click on an item and the mount slews to it..
This is a personal observation...only...and it relates to one of the smaller settings in 'Utilities.' It's the LED brightness for the illuminated polar alignment scope in the RA axis. You mentioned how to adjust it, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness and comprehensive approach to this topic. My observation, and a wish for the Sky Watcher engineers, is that any setting higher than about 6, or about the least you can manage to set it on the app, is almost too bright. The mount is factory set to full brightness, which means that one sees only a bright red disk, and barely the reticle. The stars beyond are all but invisible, and only the very brightest can be seen. Not Polaris. So, for those reading, if you have a new-to-you EQ6R mount, you will want to get into the app or the control paddle and into 'Utilities', scroll down the menu that opens, find the polar scope LED, and reduce it as much as you can. Off is useless, of course, but much more than a smidge upwards into illumination will make Polaris very difficult to see. At least, this was my experience on my brand new mount. Yours may be quite different.
Excellent presentation and very informative video. Thank you for your time and effort.
Very well done. Finally a worthy replacement to the 1990s era hand controller
This video is extremely well presented, kudos to this gentleman, he has the personality for television for sure.
Thank you, we appreciate that!
Good Job! Thx!
Edward...Thank you again..I.Followed the directions as you presented them and all worked well just as you Presented...Thank you Edward...You will make me an astronomer yet...
Awesome features for skywatcher eq6-pr0
Great video Ed.....I'll be placing an order for that wifi dongle soon. 👍
Great Vid and presentation.
This video is so well done, particularly with the inset smartphone screen mirroring Edward's actions in real-time. Kudos to Edward on his engaging presence and execution. I am, however, puzzled as to how Edward was able to achieve a new and (apparently) successful 2-Star-Alignment with Vega and Arcturus even though he tells us later in the video that he didn't Polar Align the mount at the outset. Also, does Sky-Watcher offer (and High Point sell) a similarly-capable, featured, and equipped mount that offers all this one does with a lower payload capacity (~half or so) and lower price? Thanks very much!
Thanks so much for your kind words Robin, and good question! The way this, and most other mounts, work is with a good deal of trust in the user. In the case of this two-star alignment, the mount here was trusting that I properly polar aligned it, verified the location/ time/ date were correct, and importantly for this process - that I've visually centered the stars when I hit the checkmark. There is not much stopping the user from 'lying' to the mount, however; you can see here that while it prevented me from making grossly incorrect adjustments, it happily accepted the smaller random adjustments I did for the purposes of demonstration. This is why it's always important to double-check the information you're providing to the mount!
Regarding a lighter payload mount in the Sky-Watcher family, they do have the EQM-35 mount which comes in at about half the capacity of the EQ6-R Pro from this video; and also have the HEQ5 Pro that nests in between the two. These are both Go To mounts that can broadly be said to be similar to the EQ6-R Pro; however if there are specific features from that unit you're looking for, or if you have any questions about these or other mounts in that weight class, please just give us a call or an email and we'd be happy to speak on those points further!
Great Job my friend" Your very good and clear on your presaentation ./././ Keep up the great work!
Good video. Well done
Thank you very much!
OK, I'm confused....as usual. Are the black screws that hold the scope supposed to start on the same side as the remote and power plugins or on the other side as shown when the vid starts. Of doesn't make a difference?
Hi viewers or HPS. Does anyone with this wifi dongle know if it works with sky safari plus on a iPad? Thanks for your reply
Edward...Fantastic....You Literally Give Me Hope.....Question? Yesterday at the bottom of this page you had the step by step procedures relating to this discussion....I was hoping today to copy them...but I do not see them available...Are they still available or did an Alien steal them...
Thank you, Willis! Our step-by-step guide is still available and can be found here: www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/how-tos/controlling-a-sky-watcher-eq6-r-pro-mount-through-wi-fi?
Thanks Edward for the steps...I appreciate
Thanks for the demo video Ed, very informative. I couple of questions:
(1) I've pre-ordered the GTi and wondered if the instructions and steps would translate to that mount also ? As it uses the same app, correct ?
(2) With the right cable connection, this app would also allow me to control my DSLR shutter ? So no need to use an intervalometer ?
Thanks.
Hi there Eric, I'm glad you found the video helpful! You are correct the GTi currently uses the same SynScan apps, which as far as different modes go only have EQ and AZ as options at this time. As a result the instructions in this video should largely transfer over to the GTi, or any other Sky-Watcher EQ mount that uses the SynScan app or Wi-Fi dongle. Regarding the shutter release feature, this is something that is accessible via the app - albeit at this point, only the Pro version (same menu as the polar scope illuminator). At this point in time that allows you to set the number of photos to take, exposure time, and the duration of the pause between photos; and so should be able to replace an intervalometer with the correct cable.
Ed - I have one of the original Sky Watcher EQ6s (the all black version). Would you happen to know if there is an upgrade kit to bring it up to date?
Hi Keith! In terms of what we can recommend, there isn't much unfortunately; we don't currently offer any kits for that mount, nor do I have enough experience with any outside kits to comfortably direct you towards them. However there was an OEM upgrade kit made for the EQ-6, the EQ6 SynScan Upgrade Kit, that added the SynScan Go-To controller and an autoguide port and which you can still view on the Sky-Watcher global site (and find a bit more information on it via the "EQ6 GOTO Upgrade Kit Installation" manual in the SynScan GoTo Mount tab of the Product Manuals page). Whether Sky-Watcher will offer this again, and whether you could further use adapters to control this via PC or the Wi-Fi dongle from this video, I can't say and would direct you to Sky-Watcher on; however I hope this has still been helpful in directing your search!
@@highpointscientific Thanks guys. I have an email into Skywatcher !!
For those of us who have the EQ6-R Pro and want to purchase the wifi dongle, what is the part number?
Hello Jeffrey, the WiFi adapter from this video is model number S30103. Thanks for your interest and support, and if you have any other questions don't hesitate to send us an email or give us a call!
Help me! ..
I think it needs to be explained better that the mount is simply transmitting a radio signal to your phone , in I assume, WIFI Protocol, and I have to assume , that your phone transmits back, in Bluetooth Protocol? ...
When you say Wi-Fi , I was thinking that both items needed to connect to Wi-Fi (internet) and was working through the internet .. so I put myself out in the middle of a field dark sky site miles away from any Wi-Fi and then I try to turn on my 'Wi-Fi Hotspot' on my phone to operate the mount.
But no, that didn't work..
I needed to connect to the Wi-Fi that the mount is transmitting, like it's Wi-Fi in your home and the mount is internet.. but the internet of only one thing, an eq6r.
Now show us how we use an app like stellarium to click on an item and the mount slews to it..