CN FORUMS ARCHIVE Telescope Reviews: 5i hand controller + PC oddities

First, may I just say that I've had my 5i for less than two weeks now, and aside from receiving the first one with the wrong rear cell and having only two decent nights so far I love it. I've inhaled everything I can find on the scope in terms of documentation, tips, software etc. I have as much fun prepping for a view as I do on the view itself.

Now, a question. From what I've read and from what Celestron tech support has reiterated, I * SHOULDN'T * be able to use the hand controller while running controlling software such as SN or NOL. However, I have no problem using the slew controls (including the RATE button) even when navigating via Starry Night. Has anyone else experienced this? Have recent (or not so recent) updates to the firmware made the documentation incorrect?

I've also noticed something else that should work, but apparently doesn't. If I fire up the scope and use the hand controller to align, I CANNOT then plug in my laptop and begin using controller software. I get a connection error from the software (no scope). If I want to use controlling software, I have to perform my alignments via NexRemote and connect the controlling software via the Virtual Port that NexRemote offers. Everything works perfectly then and I can even use the hand controllers slew buttons during alignments via NexRemote, but it's annoying to have to walk to the laptop to hit ALIGN or ENTER via the NexRemote interface.

Seems like this: If I use the ENTER or ALIGN buttons on the hand controller BEFORE I engage remote software, the hand controller will not accept/pass through remote commands. If I engage remote software before using the hand controller, then all but basic slew commands are offline via the hand controller.

Does this sound right? Thanks.