johnfdean
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 1073
Loc: southern tip of Illinois
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I just did the down loads on my new SkyScout. While the location reading is probably correct (reads very close to a community 3 miles from me), the magnet icon never goes off. And, it is very inaccurate at identifying stars. Yes, the shields are on the batteries. I even removed my watch and traded off my metal framed glasses for plastic frames. I walked all over my 11 acres and the problem never went away. Yes, I rebooted several times. Assuming that my property is not loaded with deposites of iron ore, can anyone provide help with the problem?
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Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10
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johnfdean
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 1073
Loc: southern tip of Illinois
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I tried it early this AM and it works great. I have no idea. It even works sitting next to my computer. The only difference was that last night I was wearing a jacket with a metal zipper. But like I said, this AM it works next to my operating computer.
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Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10
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Covey32
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 949
Loc: Georgia
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The SS is HEAVILY sensitive to small metallic objects close to it as opposed to large ones farther away.
A single steel screw used to mount mine on my Dob will trigger the indicator, while a large metallic antenna and iron porch furniture 10 feet away does not bother it a bit.
The zipper could very well have been the culprit.
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Homebuilt F5 Newtonian
Skywatcher 6" F8 Achro Refractor
Antares/Vixen 120mm F8.3 Achro Refractor
Intes 6" Mak
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
25 pounds of eyepieces
Ioptron Mini-Tower
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johnfdean
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 06/04/06
Posts: 1073
Loc: southern tip of Illinois
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Hi Hank,
It looks as if I have some experiementing to do. I bought the darned thing to use at public sessions. The reduced price made it too tempting. Now I have to figure out what I am up against.
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Celestron C6 f/5 by Vixen with Polaris GEM
14" Tscope dob f/4.7 with Argo Navis
80mm Nighthawk on Eq 2
Celestron C-4 f/10
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Covey32
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 949
Loc: Georgia
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I can only add that the one time I had mag interference problems was with the metal screws on the mount I was using.
I have never seen it with either myself or other folks being close or looking through it or with OTAs with metal tubes.
That might vary, I guess, with individual SS units.
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Homebuilt F5 Newtonian
Skywatcher 6" F8 Achro Refractor
Antares/Vixen 120mm F8.3 Achro Refractor
Intes 6" Mak
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
25 pounds of eyepieces
Ioptron Mini-Tower
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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 6820
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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I thought metal zippers are made from non-ferrous metal so they don't rust 
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Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M110 Doublet ED, AT 102Achro, ZS80FD 10th Anniv, ZS66SD, PST
CG5-AGT, EZ-Touch, Voyager
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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Mopman
sage
Reged: 10/14/06
Posts: 321
Loc: Richland, WA, USA
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Good point  ... 400 series stainless steel is magnetic though, maybe that's it?
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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I just received my new SkyScout this weekend, and unfortunately, I have the permanent magnet logo and no matter where I go or what I do, I can't get it to work. I tried updating firmware, replacing batteries with a different brand (and yes, the shields are on), going to different locations, etc. and nothing has resolved the problem. The thing just won't work. GPS location is marginal too (five satellites barely at best case). Note that in the same locations I've tried, my digital compass on my watch works fine, and so does another GPS, so it's all the SkyScout that's the problem. There's no reason it should be having these problems other than it's poorly designed/manufactured!
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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namrats
member
Reged: 02/29/08
Posts: 69
Loc: California
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even been in a wreck? steel plates etc etc ...
of if youre older and youre a vet....shrapnel?
probably none of the above ....just an idea...probably a dud machine...call em
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When im right no one remembers
when Im wrong no one forgets
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Covey32
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 949
Loc: Georgia
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The magnet icon doesn't shut the SS off.
Try hitting continue and ignoring it long enough to see if your accuracy is actually being affected.
Some are just more sensitive than others.
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Homebuilt F5 Newtonian
Skywatcher 6" F8 Achro Refractor
Antares/Vixen 120mm F8.3 Achro Refractor
Intes 6" Mak
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
25 pounds of eyepieces
Ioptron Mini-Tower
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Nope, 'fraid not. I didn't mention it, but I also changed users, so it's not person or clothing related either.
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Nope, it won't locate either. If I try to have it target something, the arrows will have me circling the sky continuously. And if I try to identify, I get random stuff based on the elevation only.
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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Covey32
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 949
Loc: Georgia
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You've just got a bad one. I originally had to send the first one back to Celestron as well. Got a real good one when they sent a replacement back.
Their customer service on this unit seems pretty good, probably because they get a lot of practice.
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Homebuilt F5 Newtonian
Skywatcher 6" F8 Achro Refractor
Antares/Vixen 120mm F8.3 Achro Refractor
Intes 6" Mak
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
25 pounds of eyepieces
Ioptron Mini-Tower
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Well, mine's off for repair (the vendor was out of them so I couldn't get an exchange). We'll see what comes back whenever I get it. So much for the Christmas gift!
Beo
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Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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rmollise
Postmaster
Reged: 07/06/07
Posts: 5299
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Quote:
Well, mine's off for repair (the vendor was out of them so I couldn't get an exchange). We'll see what comes back whenever I get it. So much for the Christmas gift!
Beo
It'll be worth the wait...and...it would have been cloudy anyhow. 
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Uncle Rod
Rod's New Book:
Choosing and Using a New CAT
Available now!
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4820
Loc: Sunny California
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I had the exact same problem. It always told me it was suffering from magnetic interference. I thought it might be the metal roof on my house so I walked down the street and still couldn't get it to work. It finally worked when I went to a large park. This tells me that any vehicle, anything metal or even overhead power lines causes it to be virtually useless. I know others who had the same problem using it in the city. I guess you need to be out in the country.
I'm not impressed with these gadgets. I had a Meade My Sky and it failed on me.
Right now I rely on Stellarium and a good sky chart. Much more reliable.
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Televue Gibraltar 5
Vixen Portamount
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Covey32
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 12/09/04
Posts: 949
Loc: Georgia
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My experience with the SS is that it is much more likely to be affected by the CLOSE proximity of a SMALL ferrous or magnetic source than by LARGE ferrous or magnetic sources that are farther away.
I think Celestron has been remiss in not publicizing this tendency. I also think they could have done a better job with insulating it, however there may be good technical reasons that made it impractical.
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Hank
12.5" Mag1 Portaball
Homebuilt F5 Newtonian
Skywatcher 6" F8 Achro Refractor
Antares/Vixen 120mm F8.3 Achro Refractor
Intes 6" Mak
Celestron ED80 Refractor with Lunt 50mm HA
25 pounds of eyepieces
Ioptron Mini-Tower
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Lord Beowulf
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/13/08
Posts: 773
Loc: Cedar Park, TX
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Well, I received an e-mail from Celestron that they've received my unit for repair. In the meantime I decided to pick one up locally for testing. While it doesn't have the magnet icon problem, it doesn't target very accurately either, with the target object always at the far left of the viewfinder (outside the rings), so it's going back... Hopefully after Celestron spends some quality time with the unit I sent back it will actually work as intended/expected!
Beo
--------------------
Celestron 8SE w/ Zhumell Focuser, SkyWatcher ED100, Orion ST-80, & 11" NexStar GPS w/ MotoFocus.
CGEM w/ ADM Saddle, Knobs, and SBS Dual Saddles.
Modded Canon 450D, Nikon D90, StarShoot AG, & HD webcam.
Denk PowerxSwitch S2, WO 1.25" & 2" Diel. Diags.
TV 8, 13, 17 mm Ethos, Astro Tech 40 mm, Celestron 1.25" EP & filter kit.
Filters: TV OIII Filter; Lumicon selector, UHC, H-Beta, & Deep Sky; reducers, correctors.
www.orionranchobservatory.com
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slide
newbie
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 2
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Got mine yesterday for XMAS.. Whoa...Guess what??? Doesn't work worth a damn!! I get the magnetic icon wherever I walk
around the property. Later today, I'll try it in a big open field with no watches/metal. The fun begins!!!
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Starlighter
Post Laureate
Reged: 08/03/07
Posts: 4820
Loc: Sunny California
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When mine did work is told me Mars was in the middle of a rose bush. At least it got the color correct. They were red roses!
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Celestron C4-R 102mm achromat
Celeston Nexstar 6SE SCT
Meade 80mm APO Triplet
Televue NP-101
Televue TV-85
Vixen A70Lf
Vixen A80Mf
William Optics 66mm Zenithstar Patriot
Celestron CG4 EQ mount
Orion Skyview Pro AZ mount
Televue Gibraltar 5
Vixen Portamount
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